School of the Bible FAQ:
- What topics do we study?
- How does SOTB differ from other YWAM Bible schools?
- Where do we go on outreach?
- What kind of local outreach will I be involved with during the school?
- What is the daily schedule like? How much homework will we have?
- Who are the teachers?
- Where will we live and what is it like?
- What are the prerequisites?
- How do I apply?
- How will this fit in with my U of N degree?
Bible School for the Nations FAQ:
- What topics do we study?
- How does BSN differ from other YWAM Bible schools?
- Where do we go on outreach?
- What kind of local outreach will I be involved with during the school?
- What is the daily schedule like? How much homework will we have?
- Who are the teachers?
- Where will we live and what is it like?
- What are the prerequisites?
- How do I apply?
- How will this fit in with my U of N degree?
What is the Difference between School of the Bible and Bible School for the Nations?:
- Length
- Approach
- Topics
- Reading Materials
- New Testament Greek
- Outreach
- Teaching Technique
- Foundational Values
- Teacher Training
SCHOOL of the BIBLE FAQ
What topics do we study?
The four U of N courses covered in the School of the Bible are Old Testament studies, New Testament studies, an Introduction to Biblical Principles of Discipling Nations, and Foundational New Testament Greek.
The SOTB studies through the Bible chronologically but also covers the following topics:
- Worldviews and Apologetics
- Bible study techniques, tools, and keys to Bible interpretation
- How to prepare and present Bible messages
- Principles learned from church history
- Biblical principles of civil government, economics and education
- Theological studies such as the Nature and Character of God, Nature of Man, Sin, the Atonement and Nature of the Christian Life
Through these studies, you will read through the whole Bible, observing God’s hand in history (both in Biblical and modern times). You’ll gain knowledge of the context, background, and continuity of the Bible’s stories and writings, and gain a deeper insight into the nature and character of the God we serve. You will learn to extract principles from the Bible and discover how to apply them today.
(For more details, read the course description.)
(back to top)How does SOTB differ from other YWAM Bible schools?
School of the Bible uses the inductive study method – also called historical-grammatical approach — and also equips you with a variety of other Bible study tools.
Just a few of the tools for studying the Bible you will learn include:
- Topical studies
- Word studies
- “Key charts”
- Literary analysis
These tools will help you learn how to reason from the Bible and find answers for the hard questions of life.
Other tools you will learn include effectively communicating the Bible, leadership, cross-cultural communicating and teaching skills, understanding worldviews and apologetics for effective evangelism.
Where do we go on outreach?
We often send SOTB outreaches to YWAM Madison’s focus nations. Past outreaches have gone to Japan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, NE India, Namibia, Haiti, North America and other countries in the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. Deciding outreach locations usually happens during the school involving the input of the students.
What kind of local outreach will I be involved with during the school?
Local outreaches involve evangelism, mercy ministry and training.
YWAM Madison has a variety of local ministries you can be involved with or we can help you pioneer something new that you are passionate about. Past outreaches have included Bible studies with university students and internationals, campus evangelism (ex: worldview surveys and poetry in coffee shops), homeless ministry, ministering to and teaching troubled teenagers, teaching children’s Sunday school, tutoring in public schools, soccer evangelism, creative evangelism, planning events for the community, goth/dance club/bar ministry, and youth camps.
What is the daily schedule like? How much homework will we have?
Weekly schedule includes:
- Lectures each weekday morning.
- Local Outreach weekly.
- Small Groups meet once a week for discussion and prayer.
- Intercession Groups meet twice a week to listen to God and pray for the nations.
- Homework for about 4-5 hours each day. Some of the homework consists of reading through the Bible in a small group, completing projects, assigned reading, written assignments and Greek homework.
- New Testament Greek class for 1 hour twice a week.
- Work Duties for 1.5 hrs each day.
- Worship three times a week.
Who are the teachers?
Many topics are taught by staff at YWAM Madison, but we also have international teachers like Dean Sherman, Winkie Pratney, Maureen Menard, David Hamiliton, etc. come to our school.
Where will we live and what is it like?
Our Bible schools are hosted at our Global Missions Center, on the northeast side of Madison near the airport. You can virtually tour this building and dorms here on our website.
What are the prerequisites?
The prerequisite for every second level U of N course is successful completion of a Discipleship Training School or Crossroads Discipleship Training School.
How do I apply?
Email admissions@ywammadison.org for more information and information about how to apply, or simply apply on our website.
How will this fit in with my U of N degree?
SOTB fulfills the Bible course requirement that is necessary for every Bachelor’s and many Associates’ degrees in the U of N (equivalent to CCM 301 or 311). If you have more questions about this, email admissions@ywammadison.org or call our office at 608-255-0500.
The School of the Bible covers four vital courses (44 semester credits) within the College of Christian Ministries: Introduction to Discipling Nations (CCM 317); Old Testament Studies (CCM 318); New Testament Studies (CCM 319); and Field Ministry Assignment (CCM 320). For detailed course descriptions and outlines, click here.
Successful completion of the School of the Bible will bring you 44 credits closer to an Associates or Bachelors degree with the University of the Nations in only one year.
BIBLE SCHOOL for the NATIONS FAQ:
What topics do we study?
In contrast to the School of the Bible, the structure of the Bible School for the Nations is chronological. However as we go through the Bible chronologically we do cover different topics. We look at a few topics throughout the whole of the Bible. This is in contrast to a DTS where you cover different topics every week.
Throughout the course you look at what the biblical principles are about God, man, sin, government as you study chronologically through the bible. Some topical weeks are biblical worldview, a week on hermeneutics (how to study the bible) in addition to hermeneutics class throughout the course, cross-cultural communications and two weeks on biblical principles of government, education and economics (called liberating the nations).
Every week is also an English grammar class, which helps us to understand the bible and what the author is saying. There are also two assignments during the class which hone the homiletic skills (how to teach) – a prophet presentation and an epistle presentation.
What is unique about the Bible School for the Nations especially from other YWAM Bible schools?
BSN is very outreach driven. The outreach is an integral part of the learning/training process, as important as any other learning week.
BSN’s chronology approach is unique among YWAM Bible schools as well – while other schools may employ chronology it is not a focus.
BSN makes a very intentional effort to understand and draw out the Biblical basis for our foundational values as a nation. This will strengthen our foundation as a mission.
We are attempting to equip our students with the tools of study but also with an understanding of the applicable principles for transforming nations.
Where do we go on outreach?
Our outreaches emphasize YWAM Madison’s focus nations, the Caribbean, and Africa.
What kind of local outreach will I be involved with during the school?
Past outreaches have been campus and evangelism focused. The intention for local outreach is to invest in the city of Madison and specifically in campus ministry.
What is the daily schedule like? How much homework will I have?
Homework is designed to be approximately 2-3 hours/day
BSN’s weekly schedule includes:
- Class time daily 8am – 1 pm
- Worship and Intercession alternate mornings
- Student led devotionals once a week
- Hermeneutics class once a week
- Grammar class once a week
- Local outreach once a week
- Student life activities on weekends – outings, movies, picnics
- Work duties daily for 1.5 – 2 hrs
- Small group/processing group meets once every 2-3 weeks to process the material from class
Who are the teachers?
Much of the teaching in the school is done by our own BSN staff, both local and staff from other BSN locations worldwide.
Additionally we receive teaching from qualified pastors and university professors throughout the course as well as field missionaries.
Where will we live and what is it like?
Our Bible schools are hosted at our Global Missions Center, on the northeast side of Madison near the airport. You can virtually tour this building on our website.
What are the prerequisites?
The prerequisite for every second level U of N course is successful completion of a Discipleship Training School or Crossroads Discipleship Training School.
How do I apply?
Email admissions@ywammadison.org for more information and information about how to apply, or simply apply on our website. You can pay your registration fee right here.
How will this school fit in with my U of N degree?
Bible School for the Nations covers two courses within the U of N: CCM 368, which provides 12 credits, and CCM 368, which provides 4-8 credits.
(Bible School for the Nations fulfills the Bible course requirement that is necessary for every Bachelor’s and many Associate’s degrees in the U of N (equivalent to CCM 301 or 311).)
If you have more questions about this, email admissions@ywammadison.org or call our office, 608-255-0500.
What is the difference between Bible School for the Nations and School of the Bible?
Length
School of the Bible is 11 months long whereas Bible School for the Nations is 6 months long.
Approach
BSN approaches the Bible chronologically with the exception of a few topical weeks. BSN follows certain topics throughout the whole of the Bible, studying them each time the Bible brings them up.
SOTB takes a more topical approach to some of the same subjects BSN studies such as nature of man, sin, God and government but also studies them when they come up in the Bible as well.
Topics
SOTB spends about two months of the school examining principles for discipling nations including, economics, government and church history.
BSN spends one week each on economics and government.
Reading Materials
BSN uses fewer extra-Biblical reading material than the SOTB. While BSN reads a few other books, they are not essential to the course as BSN’s primary text is the Bible. This makes BSN somewhat easier for people from other nations/with less English language skills as they can read the Bible in their own language. This is especially significant for the multiplication of the school into other languages
New Testament Greek
SOTB has a dedicated weekly New Testament Greek class including translating 1 John.
Outreach
Both schools focus on communicating the gospel during outreach including traditional teaching and one-on-one evangelism/discipleship. The outreach duration of both schools is the same. Both schools aim to partner with BELT (Bible Education and Leadership Training) in the outreach phase.
BELT conducts courses for community and church leaders with limited access to biblical training, frequently partnering with Wycliffe Bible Translators to train indigenous leaders after the translation of New Testaments.
Both schools intend to empower and equip teachers to meet the ever increasing need of providing Biblical training to those who need it the most.
Teaching Techniques
BSN makes use of creative teaching techniques that appeal to different learning styles because we want the students, as they go out to teach, to be able to do the same thing. SOTB is also moving more in this direction as well.
The SOTB has been specifically designed so that the students learn specific Bible study tools and get to practice using and applying them throughout the year of studying scripture. Our goal is to prepare students for a lifetime of Bible study and teaching.
Foundational Values
Both BSN and SOTB make an intentional effort to understand and draw out the Biblical basis for our foundational values as a mission.
Training Teachers
Both BSN and SOTB emphasize training people to be teachers–not just in the sense of a traditional classroom, but as communicators of truth.
Both schools include teaching projects but the SOTB also has a topical week on homiletics – “how to teach.”
