Servants of the Lord should always be “teachable and taught”. No one this side of heaven can rightfully claim to have finished the course or reached the goal of knowing all that God wants them to learn. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches each servant and He uses the Word of God to implant God’s truth into the mind and heart of the believer. The role of a teacher is a supportive role to the Holy Spirit and it is a Biblical role as evidenced by Paul’s instruction to Timothy: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:1-1 ESV

The local church can be a wonderful facilitator of teaching the Lord’s servants in all aspects of the Christian life and the resources given below are recommended to complement this teaching ministry. They are presented in three categories:
1) general courses for home study; 2) distance education courses leading to a diploma or degree from a Bible Institute or Seminary and 3) recommended Bible Institutions, Colleges or Seminaries requiring on campus attendance in a classroom setting. Resources for teaching in a local church are provided on the Serving Ministries page of this Web Site.

1. General Courses for Home Study

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary   http://www.gordonconwell.edu/ockenga/dimensions/
Dimensions of Faith Program: From their website: “Dimensions of the Faith at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is a free online theological education program. The Ockenga Institute of Gordon-Conwell has taken seminary level courses and adapted them to a 'go at your own pace' distance learning program.” Those who complete this program including a final exam will be granted a certificate from the Seminary.

Christian Courses   http://cc.christiancourses.com/
This is perhaps the best or one of the best selection of free courses available for those desiring to learn at home and want a comprehensive selection of courses from which to choose. These courses are presented by Radio Bible Class:                  http://www.rbc.org

Biblical Training    http://www.biblicaltraining.org
The courses offered are free and are presented by some of the most respected Biblical scholars of our day. The courses are usually audio lessons recorded during a live class room or seminar session. Suggested books and publications are recommended to complement the audio sessions.

Independent Studies from Moody Bible Institute   http://mmm.moody.edu/genmoody/default.asp
Click on distance learning and then on Independent Studies The independent studies program offered by Moody Bible Institute are excellent home study courses that will enrich the lives of all who take the time to complete them. These courses can lead to a diploma and there is a fee requirement for each course or “tuition hour”.

The Theology Program from the Bible.Org Site   http://www.bible.org
Click on the “theology” button near the top of the page which will take you to the Theology Program Page. The Theology Program is a comprehensive resource provided by graduates of Dallas Theological Seminary and the teaching generally represents the theological viewpoint of that Institution. A fee is required for this program but video samples can be viewed on line at no charge. A diploma is granted for those who complete the program.

Institute of Theological Studies   http://www.itscourses.org/
These courses are for those who desire to study at home but want to have courses that are accepted for credit at a seminary. The Institute of Theological Studies is not a school or seminary but offers courses at a college or seminary level. The courses are more in depth than the others listed on this page and require an enrollment and the payment of fees prior to the start of these courses. The Web Site also lists the seminaries and schools that accept these courses as a credit towards a degree. Students can take several courses on-line but cannot complete a degree program on-line from this Institute.

Other Selected Courses
Free courses on selected books of the Bible by Spirit and Truth.Org
This is the main website for these courses:  http://spiritandtruth.org
Courses are taught from the dispensational, pre-millennial and pre-tribulation viewpoint by instructors connected with Tyndale Theological Seminary.

Courses from Mount Zion Bible Institute   http://www.mountzion.org
Click on the Bible Institute Button near the top of the page. The courses offered at this Institute are non-credit and are available on-line. These courses use materials from past reformed authors such as Charles Spurgeon, J.C. Ryle, John Bunyan and A.W. Pink.

Selected Audio Courses from Mongerism.com   http://www.monergism.com
This is a mega site offering many audio and printed resources. Scroll down the main page and click on Mongerism’s Audio and Multimedia Archive for a choice of selected audio courses in mp3 format from professors at Covenant Seminary. Click on Covenant Seminary Courses. These courses were recorded during actual classroom sessions. They are presented at no charge for instruction but do not lead to a diploma or degree. Theses courses reflect the covenant theological viewpoint of Covenant Seminary.

2. Distance Education Programs leading to a degree or diploma

Christian Educational Institutions are offering a host of on-line courses which will lead to a degree involving a combination of on-line and attendance requirements. Some offer a complete degree program which is available on-line. The following are but a few of those available but ones that are highly recommended by The Servant’s Place as offering courses faithful to true Biblical Christianity.

2.1 Bachelor Level Programs
Liberty University   http://www.liberty.edu/distancelearning/
Liberty University offers many online liberal arts vocational online degrees as well as associate and bachelor degrees in religion. A wider variety of theological and Biblical degree choices are available at the masters and doctoral level. Some of the courses require an on campus commitment in Lynchburg Virginia, of one or two weeks duration. Some courses are a blend of on campus and online requirements. Liberty University has long been associated with its founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell and the Biblical training is closer to a conservative fundamental Baptistic theological viewpoint. Tuition costs for the Associate of Arts in Religion degree is $250.00 per credit hour and the course requires 60 total credit hours. The tuition costs for the Bachelor of Science in Religion degree is $250.00 per credit hour and the course requires 120 total credit hours. The tuition costs for the Master of Arts in Religion degree is $225.00 per credit hour and the course requires 45 total credit hours. Administration and other fees also apply.

Moody Bible Institute  http://www.moody.edu/
A Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies degree is offered online through the Moody Distance Learning Center. Moody is a very respected Bible Institute located in Chicago Illinois, offering certificate programs and associate, bachelor and graduate level degree. Costs for the online BS degree in Biblical Studies is $199.00 per semester hour and the course requires a total of 120 semester hours. There are also administration and other fees.

Trinity College and Theological Seminary  http://www.trinitysem.edu/
Trinity has been offering theological distance learning courses since 1969 and is perhaps the world leader in accredited online distance learning Christian degree programs. Programs include diploma, associate, bachelor, masters and doctoral level disciplines. An accelerated British model program is available with degrees being endorsed by Canterbury Christ Church University in England. Tuition costs for Bachelor level degrees are $160.00 per credit hour with a total course requirement of 126 credit hours. Masters level degrees cost $187.00 per credit hour with a total course requirement of 33 credit hours and doctoral level degrees cost $220.00 per credit hour with a total course requirement of 36 credit hours. Administration and other fees also apply. The main offices of Trinity College and Theological Seminary are located in Newburg, Indiana.

2.2 Graduate Level Programs
Reformed Theological Seminary  http://www.rtsvirtual.org/
This Seminary offers a Master of Arts in Religion through distance learning with two on campus seminar requirements (St. Louis, Missouri); an orientation seminar, prior to beginning the program and an integration seminar at the end of the program. Reformed Theological Seminary is known for its reformed theological heritage and has many campuses in the United States including locations in Atlanta, Georgia; Boca Raton, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina;; Jackson, Mississippi; Orlando, Florida and Washington D.C.

Covenant Seminary   http://www.covenantseminary.edu/attending/distance.asp
A Master of Arts in Theological Studies is available through distance education. These distance education courses can be applied towards the Master of Arts in Educational Ministries and Master of Divinity on campus programs. However theses distance education courses cannot be applied towards the Master of Arts (Exegetical Theology), Master of Theology or Doctor of Ministries degrees. Covenant Seminary is located in St. Louis, Missouri and its programs reflect the reformed theological viewpoint.

Trinity College and Theological Seminary  http://www.trinitysem.edu/
For description and tuition costs see description above under bachelor level degrees.

3. Recommended Bible Institutes, Colleges and Seminaries

One starting place for seeking a Christ-centered college, university or seminary is the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities:  http://www.cccu.org/
This organization states that its mission is: “To advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to Biblical truth.”

Although this is a worthy starting place this organization does not list some of the Christ-centered institutions that appear on the “short list” below. Even this short list will not adequately satisfy all who may want to have their “favorite” school listed. But it is a starting place and the institutions listed below are recommended by the Servant’s Place as those faithfully teaching and proclaiming the Word of God and to the fulfillment of the great commission of Jesus Christ.

Some of the colleges and universities listed below offer more than just theological courses but the main intent of this list is to recommend schools where a student can receive theological training from professors who are conservative and evangelical in their stand on the Word of God.

Alphabetical Listing....not a listing by preference:
Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Indiana   http://www.bethanyseminary.edu/
Bethel University, (Bethel Seminary) Saint Paul, Minnesota   http://www.bethel.edu/
Briercrest College & Seminary, Caronport, Saskatchewan, Canada   http://www.briercrest.ca/
Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary, Cochrane, Alberta Canada   http://www.csbs.ca/
Columbia International University, Columbia South Carolina   http://www.ciu.edu/
Covenant Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri   http://www.covenantseminary.edu/
Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas   http://www.dts.edu/
Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, Allen Park, Michigan  http://www.dbts.edu/
George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Waco, Texas   http://www.baylor.edu/truett/splash.php
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston and South Hampton, Massachusetts   http://www.gcts.edu/
Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Illinois   http://gts.grace.edu/
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan   http://grts.cornerstone.edu/
Heritage College and Seminary, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada   http://www.heritage-theo.edu/
Liberty University (Seminary), Lynchburg, Virginia  http://www.liberty.edu/academics/religion/seminary/
The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, California   http://www.tms.edu/
Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois   http://www.moody.edu/
Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix, Arizona   http://www.phoenixseminary.edu
Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills, Alberta, Canada   http://www.prairie.edu/biblecollege.htm
Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta Georgia and other campuses   http://www.rts.edu/
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky   http://www.sbts.edu/Home.aspx
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina   http://www.sebts.edu/
Trinity International University (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), Deerfield, Illinois   http://www.tiu.edu/divinity/
Tyndale University, College and Seminary, Toronto, Ontario, Canada   http://www.tyndale.ca/
Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan   http://www.westernsem.edu/
Westminister Theological Seminary, Glenside, Pennsylvania   http://www.wts.edu/
Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois http://www.wheaton.edu/