Christian Leaders Institute Course Catalogue
Getting Started Orientation class (0 Credit)
This class can be done in 2 hours. It gets you going at Christian Leaders Institute. This class gives you an overview of what study is going to be like at CLI.
Ministry Track
Christian Leaders Connection (3 Credits)
The Christian Leaders Connection course gets you going on your ministry training journey. This course connects your ministry calling to your walk with God. This course also introduces you to the culture of Christian Leaders Institute. This important class helps you do well in all your studies at Christian Leaders Institute. This class is required for your first awards and your deacon Ministry ordination.
Ministry 101 (3 Credits)
Ministry 101 gives you a great foundation for pursuing basic ministry. This course is foundational for those who want to serve in a voluntary (bi-vocational) or salary position in ministry. This Ministry 101 class is required for the Basic Ministry Award. .
Christian Basics (3 Credits)
This foundational ministry training course focuses on some of the most basic truths in God’s Word, the Bible, for guiding Christian belief and behavior. Students will learn these truths, find where they are taught in Scripture, and grow in their ability to state Christian truths clearly and briefly to others.
IMPORTANT: This course is for those who have already taken the Getting Started Classes (1 credit) and Ministry 101 (3 Credits). It is required to receive the Christian Basics Certificate
New Testament Survey (3 Credits)
This class explores God’s Word in the New Testament, paying particular attention to literary, historical, and theological dimensions.
Old Testament Survey (3 Credits)
This ministry training course examines the historical writings of the Old Testament, focusing on the stories of God’s dealings with Israel in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. The class also shows some applications for contemporary Christian living and preaching. (The Old Testament’s detailed laws, Psalms, wisdom writings, and prophets are featured in other classes.)
Church and Ministry (3 Credits)
This course explores some key aspects of pastoring a church including: Your Family and Ministry, Leading the Leaders, Helping People Through Grief, The Nine Facets of Training your Ministry and Small Group Volunteers (Carl George), Sharing the Gospel, Hospitality, and tools for pastors as they set up a discipleship culture in homes of those they influence. This course also offers guidance for dealing with important transitional events, such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.
Church History (4 Credits)
This course looks at major events and key persons in the history of the Christian church. Such study helps us to see God’s faithfulness in the past and to better understand the church’s present challenges and opportunities.
Early Church History (3 Credits)
This course looks at major events, key persons, and important trends in the first four centuries of the Christian church, the period from Jesus’ resurrection through Augustine of Hippo. Such study helps us to see God’s faithfulness in the past and to better understand the church’s present challenges and opportunities.
Pastoral Care and Marriage (3 Credits)
This course discusses caring for others pastorally as well as strengthening your own marriage. Whether you are married or not, this course gets at the spiritual principles of what makes a powerful kingdom partnership as a husband and wife become one spiritually, emotionally and sexually. If you are married, it is recommended that your spouse participates with you in going through this course.
People Smart for Ministry (3 Credits)
This course discusses people intelligence for life and ministry. This class will help you identify common principles for effective communication and how to improve your effectiveness. This course also will help you minister to people better as you learn to hear what they are really saying. This course is designed for you to learn how to express your love in ways that people will understand.
Theology I (4 Credits)
This course considers in-depth doctrines about Scripture, God, creation, humanity, sin, and Christ.
Theology II (4 Credits)
This course considers Christian doctrines about the Holy Spirit, the application of salvation, the church, and the future. (You must take Theology I before you take Theology II.)
Hermeneutics and Exegesis (3 Credits)
This ministry training course deals with key issues in how to interpret the Bible. Students learn basic elements for studying a passage and practice using methods to become more skilled in understanding biblical passages and preparing sermons.
Sermon Construction and Presentation (4 Credits)
This preaching class will strengthen your preaching as you learn basics of communication, study how to prepare and preach sermons, and watch a variety of preachers and teachers in action.
Prayer (3 Credits)
This course explores what the Bible reveals about prayer and answers many questions about prayer. Students will grow in interacting with God, praying rightly, seeking God’s guidance, and training for godliness.
Christian Apologetics (3 Credits)
This ministry training course introduces students to basic issues in apologetics (defending and contending for the faith). Students learn biblical worldview, cultural analysis, and presenting the gospel in a way that shows its plausibility and addresses common objections.
Christian Ethics (3 Credits)
This course focuses on living according to God’s pattern for us. We study biblical commands and their wise application to various life situations. We expose demonic strategies of temptation and learn about spiritual warfare. We seek ways to express the Christ-life within us by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Developing House Churches (3 Credits)
This course teaches you how to plant a house church and house church network. You will also learn the Leadership Operating System that makes house churches strong and thriving.
Youth Ministry (3 Credits)
This Course is presented by One Hope. One Hope is a worldwide ministry that specializes in Bible engagement for Children and Youth. This course reflects the best practices of youth ministry.
Chaplaincy (3 Credits)
You will find some of the material is specifically created for people who provide chaplaincy via the internet. It is by means of the chat function which is increasingly popular for businesses to use as a way to assist their customers that we too can bring our “product” — a new or closer relationship with God to those we encounter on the internet.
This course is meant to be an overview of several different ways of being a chaplain. The various modules will address several of the possibilities of working as a Christ follower in bringing hope and healing to those who are hurting. I wish you God’s blessing as you make your way through the material and ponder what it might mean for you and your ministry before the face of God.
Thriving Marriages (3 Credits)
Ministry leaders have many opportunities to encourage and inspire thriving marriages. Dr. Kristine Koetje-Balder is teaching this ministry class. She is a licensed certified counselor who heads up the Compassionate Christian Counseling practice (www.cccounseling.net). This class is perfect for deacon ministers, small group leaders, pastors, chaplains, women’s ministers, marriage ministers, divorce care ministers and youth ministers, as well as for individuals or couples who wish to strengthen or grow in their own marriage.
Biblical Interpretation 1: OT Themes (4 Credits)
This course explores Scripture in its original historical, cultural, and geographical context, focusing mainly on Old Testament people, places, and events. Professor Ray Vander Laan takes us to locations where biblical history unfolded and shows the relevance for contemporary cultures and people. You must complete Old Testament Survey before taking this course.
Biblical Interpretation 2: NT Themes (4 Credits)
This course looks at some major Biblical events, key persons, important Biblical archeological sites, and themes in the history of the Biblical revelation. This class tends to highlight the New Testament, but also will jump back to Old Testament characters and themes. The articles will mainly feature New Testament topics. Our noted professor Rev. Ray Vander Laan takes us to onsite locations where Biblical history unfolded. Such study helps us to see God’s faithfulness in the past and better to understand the church’s present challenges and opportunities. You must complete New Testament Survey before taking this course.
Biblical Wisdom (4 Credits)
This ministry training course examines the wisdom writings of Old Testament sages and poets: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations. The class shows the relevance of Old Testament wisdom for knowing God’s wisdom in Christ and following Jesus today.
Church Planting (4 Credits)
Church planting begins with the church planted in your own life, marriage, and family. This course looks at the intentional efforts necessary to plant reproducible and sustainable churches. This course will also help you come up with a “Bible culture,” home discipleship style church planting plan.
Peace Smart Relationships (3 credits)
PeaceSmart Relationships teaches students how to bring Biblical peace culture to every relationship in their lives. This course is increasingly important for those in ministry or those who are pursuing enterprise related activities. Professor Brian De Cook practiced law for over 25 years. In this practice, he saw how many families, churches and businesses suffered greatly because of conflict. This in-depth course will help you thrive in your bi-vocational or vocational calling!
Early Church History (3 Credits)
Using written materials with our accrediting partner Christian History Institute and a textbook written by Dr. James Orr, Early Church History surveys the history of the early church from the Resurrection of Jesus Christ until St. Augustine.
Evangelism: Presenting Grace (3 Credits)
This class looks at mighty things the Holy Spirit does in the thought, work, and practice of presenting God’s grace to others through evangelism.
Women’s Ministry (3 Credits)
This course considers all general aspects of Women’s Ministry: Is there a need? Is it biblical? How to start and maintain a ministry?
Missions and Revivals (4 Credits)
This class looks at mighty things the Holy Spirit has done at various times and places, causing the church to grow in holiness, power, and numbers. By examining major mission advances and revivals, we gain insights for mission and revival in our own time and place.
Ministry Care Conversations (3 Credits)
This course looks at many of the human relational dynamics that occur in most families. These insights are very helpful for Christian Leaders to lead people into God-glorifying wholeness. (Warning: This course is not for everyone. It equips leaders to help people with sex-related problems and includes material with blunt sex-related discussion.)
Worship Ministry (3 Credits)
Worship ministry looks at the culture and practice of worship ministry. This Worship ministry course explores the dynamics of connecting in worship. This course also helps you learn how to lead others to be effective worship leaders. Attention is paid to some practical ways to help you learn how to learn and lead with instruments.
Old Testament History, Literature, and Theology (3 Credits)
Old Testament History, Literature, and Theology examines Old Testament history and teaching within the cultural, geographical and literary backgrounds of the ancient Near East. Archaeology, comparative history, and literature, as well as key theological themes underlying the New Testament and Western culture, are explored. The Old Testament is one of the greatest pieces of literature of all time. Its text will be explored to answer some of the great questions that have faced humankind for millennia.
The History of Redemption (3 Credits)
This course reveals the continuity of Scripture, focusing on the stories of the Old Testament and how they anticipate the life and work of Christ. Part 1 summarizes the redemptive-historical story that Jesus would have learned in his youth. Part 2 develops some Old Testament themes that continue to be very important for Christian faith and life today. Both the reflections in the book and the accompanying lectures will prove useful to those preparing to lead Bible Studies or write sermons based on the Scriptures of the Old Testament.
Biblical Greek I (Elective | 4 Credits)
This is the first in a sequence of three courses on the basics of New Testament Greek. (Note: Greek is very hard for most people. Usually, it is best to take Greek only after you have already successfully completed some other CLI classes.)
Biblical Greek II (Elective | 4 Credits)
This is the second in a sequence of three courses on the basics of New Testament Greek. You must complete Greek I before taking this course.
Biblical Greek III (Elective | 4 Credits)
This is the third in a sequence of three courses on the basics of New Testament Greek. You must complete Greek II before taking this course.
Enterprise Courses
Enterprise 101 (3 Credits)
Christian Leaders Enterprise 101 deals with your own personal habits for creating enterprise for your own personal, marriage, and family life. The principles and practices in this class will go a long way to lay of foundation your entire life and ministry.
Management by the Book (3 Credits)
This class integrates biblical insights on leadership with contemporary principles of management, applying best practices for ministry contexts. It includes an in-depth study of leadership insights found in the book of Philemon.
Economics for Entrepreneurship (3 Credits)
This class teaches principles based on the Austrian school of economics and applies these economic principles to practical entrepreneurship. This helps ministry-minded leaders to develop valuable skills for reaching more people for Christ and providing for their families.
Online Enterprise Marketing (3 Credits)
This basic course introduces you to the principles of online marketing. You will learn the basic essentials practices that will lay a foundation for marketing your ministry or business.
Marketing (4 Credits)
This course represents a critical pivot point in your education here at Christian Leaders Institute. For perhaps the first time, you are going to learn the techniques, skills, tools needed to take your faith-based education and begin articulating it in ways that will make people respond.
People often confuse marketing with advertising and sales. In this course, you will learn about the “real” nature and scope of marketing management of which advertising and sales are simply two facets
Finance Part 1 (3 Credits)
deals with the study of investments. It includes the dynamics of assets and liabilities over time under conditions of different degrees of uncertainty and risk. Finance can also be defined as the science of money management. Wikipedia This Finance Class uses carefully selected Wikipedia resources as well Links to Khan Academy
Business Management for All Enterprises (3 Credits)
A comprehensive survey of the principles of management as they are currently being applied in the United States and abroad. The two continuing themes throughout the course: (1) the never-ending effort by managers and organizations to meet or exceed the consumers needs (2) the need for effective leadership in organizations. Emphasis is placed on determining the role of a manager through the leadership process.
Business Finance for Every Enterprise (3 Credits)
This course provides a brief introduction to the fundamentals of finance, emphasizing their application to a wide variety of real-world situations spanning personal finance, corporate decision-making, and financial intermediation. Key concepts and applications include: time value of money, risk-return trade-off, cost of capital, interest rates, retirement savings, capital budgeting, asset valuation, discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, net present value, internal rate of return, payback period, etc.
Core Degree Courses
Astronomy (3 Credits)
In this course, you will learn the science of astronomy – exploring all aspects of the universe ranging from the motion we observe in the night sky to the properties of the planets that make up our solar system to the surprising conclusions we can draw from the study of distant galaxies. At every turn, you will learn how the heavens are declaring the glory of God for us all to marvel at and enjoy.
College Algebra (3 Credits)
Many people say that “mathematics is the language of God” because the natural world is so beautifully described by mathematical relationships. In this course, we will explore the mathematics of algebra – a fundamental building block of all advanced mathematics. Our course will begin with a review of the fundamentals and continue into the study of expressions, equations, inequalities, graphing, and applications to geometry.
Ministry Mathematics (3 Credits)
In this course, you will learn the basics of mathematics as it applies to ministry settings in a ministry, church or non-profit. This class will also help you in your personal finances. This is very important for effective ministry.
Church Planting – Applied Marketing (4 Credits)
The essence of marketing is “getting the word out”. This Church planting class takes many of the timeless principles 
of marketing and brings them into a Biblical context for the theory of Church Planting. This class can be used as a marketing core requirement for the Degree program or can be used as an elective in all programs. You can only use this course once in your program. This course looks at the intentional efforts necessary to plant reproducible and sustainable churches.
Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
The aim of this course is to present students with an overview of the understanding, prediction, and control of human behavior. This course provides students with a basic understanding of how psychologists interpret and research human behavior. Psychology influences the way we understand ourselves and the interactions with people connected to us. This class seeks to analyze and evaluate these psychological perspectives through a Christian worldview
Introduction to Sociology (3 Credits)
This general education core class explores the academic discipline of sociology, evaluates claims of sociology from a biblical perspective, and shows how understanding of social structures and relationships can make ministry more effective.
Economics 101 (3 credits)
The Christian Leaders Institute Economics 101 includes content from a course designed by the Foundation of Economic Freedom. This course goes over the vital principles of economics applied to entrepreneurship. This course also draws from resources from the Acton Institute as well as others sources.
Management by the Book (3 Credits)
Management by the Book is a core management class that covers both traditional management topics and also core leadership topics. This class will contextualize the best practices of management theory including an in-depth survey of leadership principles taught in the book of Philemon.
Science: Introduction to Biology (3 Credits)
In this course, instructor Heidi Vonderheide takes students through an introductory level course in the biological sciences. Topics range from an introduction to the scientific method to the cell and its functions in all living things to ecology. There are twelve blocks of material which will each be the basis for a 20 question quiz. The total number of points for the course is 240. Instructor Vonderheide includes one block of material on the topic of evolution because everyone who is a Christian leader needs to understand the principles of evolutionary theory in order to engage in meaningful dialogue with the proponents of that theory of origins.
English, Writing, and Comprehension (4 Credits)
This class will give you a complete simple review of your English from the ground floor. For those who can speak English but have not mastered the basic rules, this will really help you. This class will focus on English grammar, Writing for the Web, and Comprehension Skills. In this class, Dr. Chris Engelsma will expand your English knowledge so that you will do well in studying more difficult concepts. The goal is to have you be able to read for clear comprehension. We also desire for you to be able to write English clearly understanding the rules that guide your grammar.
Advanced English Comprehension (4 Credits)
Many people need to learn or teach English comprehension. This class brings some of the best practices in English comprehension from noted International English comprehension teacher Denise Eide in her YouTube Videos.
Basic Writing (2 Credits)
Writers are needed for bringing more revival! We need better writers. Never before in history have so many people had access to publishing platforms. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of poor writing: poor in technical aspects, but also inhospitable, thoughtless, and even violent. This course will help you become a better writer. It is not a course about understanding the building blocks of writing (words, sentences, and grammar) but about understanding the architecture and process required to turn those materials into a solid structure. Each lesson builds on the previous one, walking you through a specific writing process that will yield a publishable work, but which is repeatable for future projects. One goal of the course is to leave you feeling eager to participate in the wider public conversations through writing. A second is to help you feel that writing is not as scary, challenging, or difficult as you might believe.
Introduction to Philosophy (3 Credits)
In this course, we will be introduced to the field of philosophy. While it sounds intimidating, it really is all about the One who made this world and ourselves as a part of this world. This is a survey course which gives an overview of the thinking of several of those who are acknowledged as great thinkers in history, as well as the thoughts of contemporary philosophers.
Old Testament Literature (3 Credits)
Old Testament Literature examines Old Testament history and teaching within the cultural, geographical and literary backgrounds of the ancient Near East. Archaeology, comparative history, and literature, as well as key theological themes underlying the New Testament and Western culture, are explored. The Old Testament is one of the greatest pieces of literature of all time. Its text will be explored to answer some of the great questions that have faced humankind for millennia.
World History 1 (3 Credits)
Christian Leaders Institute educates students with a western education in over 100 countries. This World History class surveys most parts of the world. Dr. Sally Vaughn has made her lectures available on YouTube and we appreciate that we can use this resource to teach you college grade World History. Be clear to understand that Dr. Vaughn teaches at a secular institution and that her perspectives may not reflect the Belief Statements of Christian Leaders Institute at various junctures.
United States History 2 (3 Credits)
This class starts with readings chronicling the United States after the Civil war era. The readings bring you the continuous story. You will be tested with a 10 question quiz on the readings. There is an old Sunday School song that goes like this. “Deep and wide, deep and wide, there’s a fountain flowing deep and wide.” This class has that characteristic. The readings will take you “wide” and cover the whole era. The video lectures featuring Dr. Tyrone Tillery will take you deeper into a period of time within this era. Dr. Tillery will take you deep into the history from the 1890s to the 1950s. These lectures were completed in 2008 at the University of Houston. Dr. Tillery is presenting this history from the accepted perspective of the general teaching university. Christian Leaders Institute is very appreciative of the availability of YouTube videos covering this subject matter. Our goal is to give you high-quality classes for free. This class can be used as a history elective for the Associate or Bachelor degree.
Restorative Justice Track
Restorative Justice 101 – Restoring Relationships – Transforming Justice: This is the first course in the Restorative Justice track. When someone is convicted of breaking the law, they have actually offended the public. This public offense is a broken relationship. This course teaches how to restore not only the “public offended relationship,” but many other relationships as well.