CLD Courses


Diploma in Christian Ministry (DCM-CLD)

Sources and Origins

CLS1114 Old Testament Survey
3 hours
This course is a foundational introduction to the content, background, interpretations, and critical studies of the Old Testament, with a survey and study of each of the books of the Old Testament.

CLS1314 New Testament Survey
3 hours
An introduction to the background, content, careful examination and interpretation of the New Testament.

Life and Thought

CLL1113 Baptist Heritage and Practice
3 hours
This course is a study of Baptist origins, development, doctrines, confessions, polity, leaders, and current trends. This course emphasizes the history and state of Southern Baptist (SBC) life relative to the cultural context of the CLD center which is offering the course.

CLL1212 Christian Theology Introduction: Christology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology and Eschatology
3 hours
An introduction to Christian theology, surveying the doctrines of Christ, Salvation, the Spirit, the Church, and Eschatology including an additional focus on the ethical implications of Christian thought and practice.

Leadership Skills Formation

CLP1111 Ministry Foundations
3 hours
An entry course designed to assist students developing the necessary personal, spiritual, and ministerial foundations for life-long ministry. Students will engage in assessment of their gifts and passions in ministry and will encounter some basic approaches to effective ministry such as strategic, financial, and physical planning for ministry; communication and relational skills; and team and staff building.

CLP1411 Communicating the Gospel: Preaching and Teaching that Transforms
3 hours
This course covers planning, preparation, and presentation skills in preaching and teaching with an emphasis on learning by doing. It also covers learning styles, how to preach and teach for transformation, and how to communicate to different age groups and cultures.

CLI1351 Missions, Evangelism and Church Planting
3 hours
This course covers an understanding of the church as sent by Christ into a lost world and as the church sending itself and its members out into the world locally and globally. It entails a brief history of missions, NAMB (North American Mission Board) and IMB (International Mission Board), and current missiology. Central to the course is how to lead others to Christ and to teach others to do likewise. Various types of evangelism and their effectiveness in different contexts will be discussed and personal and group plans for evangelism will be developed. It covers the basics and various methods of when and how to start new churches.

Diploma in Theology (DTH-CLD)

Sources and Origins

CLS2100 Intermediate Old Testament
3 hours (CLS1114 prerequisite)
An intermediate level course, which builds upon CLS 1114, designed to further the student's competency in exegesis and understanding the content, background, and message of the Old Testament.  This will be done through the select examination of one representative book from each of the three divisions of the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament: Torah, Prophets, and Writings.

CLS2300 Intermediate New Testament
3 hours (CLS1314 prerequisite)
An intensive study of the background and content of the Book of Acts and a gospel or a Major Epistle.  Special emphasis on the history and development of the early church along with the resulting problems.  Attention will paid to finding valid applications to modern ministry.

Life and Thought

CLL1111 Survey of Christian History
3 hours
This course presents an overview of the history of Christianity from the Patristic period to the current age of Global Christianity with the purpose of providing insights into the past that will enhance the student's growth in ministry leadership in the present and future.

CLL1211 Intermediate Christian Theology
3 hours
This course covers the nature, tasks, and methods of doing theology; the major doctrinal areas: revelation, triune God, creation and providence, humanity and sin, Christ and salvation, the church and its mission, and end times.

Leadership Skills Formation

CLP1115 Spiritual and Leadership Formation
3 hours
An introduction to basic leadership principles and methods. Unique aspects of spiritual and leadership formation related to the church (including multi-cultural settings and global perspectives) and denomination will be explored. Current resources and techniques will be examined.

CLP1121-22 Leadership in Ministry Practicum
4 hours
The Leadership in Ministry Practicum course offers two consecutive semesters of experiential learning in leadership, ministry skills, and personal growth through field education and classroom reflection.  Students design their own learning goals for the course through negotiating a covenant of learning with their field mentor and professor.  The student serves a minimum of 8 hours per week for 30 consecutive weeks in an approved ministry setting (church, ministry, or agency), with an approved field mentor, spiritual formation mentor, and ministry reflection group.  The class meets weekly as a peer reflection group.

CLP2421 Planned Pulpit Leadership
3 hours
This course offers instruction in planning an annual preaching menu. Sermonic elements such as variety, continuity, and balance will be discussed. Advantages of series preaching, seasonal messages, and conservation of material (filing) will be considered. Special occasion messages for funerals, weddings, ordinances, and dedications will be prepared and presented. Exposure to experienced and effective pastors will be sought.

CLE1113 Principles and Approaches to Bible Teaching
3 hours
This course includes a study of the principles and methods of preparation, delivery, and evaluation for effective Bible teaching in diverse cultural settings.  The course content includes a discussion of appropriate handling of the text and effective application of biblical principles.  Attention will be given to learning styles and appropriate teaching methodology.

CLE1412 The Educational Ministry of the Church
3 hours
An examination of the rationale for the ministry of Christian Education.  The study focuses on what is happening to people through the principles and methods of organizing, administering, promoting, and improving the education strategy of the local church.

Diploma in Church Planting (DCP-CLD)

The DCP consists of all the courses in the Diploma in Theology, plus the following course:

CLP1313 Introduction to Church Planting
3 hours
An intensive study of the essential aspects of church planting. Major attention will be given to theology, methodologies, and models of new church starts, with emphasis on continuing growth.

Course Descriptions for Electives

Any GGBTS course may be taught in CLD. Below are some recommended courses:

CLP1916 Worship and Music in the Faith Community
3 hours
This course covers personal and corporate worship elements (prayer, scripture, drama, music, giving, and testimony). Worship of the living God as the engine for evangelism and missions, personally and corporately, locally and globally, will be emphasized. It covers how to design and lead worship experiences that are inspiring, participatory, calling to confessions and commission, and creative within a specific church or context.

CLS2521 How to Understand the Bible/Biblical Hermeneutics
3 hours
A laboratory course designed to help the student learn to apply the recognized principles of biblical interpretation to the study and use of biblical literature.

CLE2317 Maturing & Multiplying God's People/Principles of Discipleship
3 hours
A study of discipleship with a view to establishing believers in the Christian faith and enabling them to multiply.  Special emphasis is given to the discovery and development of gifts, methods of Bible study, and the establishment of spiritual disciplines that foster continuous growth and maturity as followers of Christ.

CLL1411 Christian Ethics: Personal and Corporate
3 hours
This course examines classic views of biblical-based decision-making, the role of the church covenant and mutual admonition for church discipline and mission, and will use specific case studies in class discussion.

CLP1512 Introduction to Christian Counseling
3 hours
This course helps the student to understand the nature of Christian counseling while learning the practice of counseling at a beginning level. Students are introduced to Christian counseling values, goals, and processes while engaged in the classroom practice of counseling. Cognitive and behavioral approaches in agreement with Scriptural principles are applied in the multicultural learning process.

CLP 1511 Pastoral Ministry
3 hours
Pastoral Ministry is a study of pastoral ministry with an emphasis on the understanding and nature of pastoral work and pastoral care within the local church setting.  Topics include: the basis of pastoral ministry, the tasks of pastoral ministry, and the concerns of pastoral ministry.

CLI 1113 Intercultural Communication
3 hours
This course is an introduction to intercultural communication with an emphasis on basic concepts of a variety of culturally specific perspectives and the practical aspects of intercultural relations.  The course heightens intercultural sensitivity and intercultural mindfulness in order to develop conceptual roots and good intercultural theory in preparation for practicing Christ's mandate.

CLI 2242 Principles of Urban Church Planting
3 hours
A course dealing with the historical and current growth of the urban church.  It focuses on how urban churches were planted in the New Testament period and in the major eras of church history.  It emphasizes principles for urban church planting today.

CLI 2324 Working with Small Groups
3 hours
A course dealing with the biblical background of small groups and their role in Christian history.  It examines the dynamics of small groups and evaluates contemporary models of Christian house groups such as the House Church.  The focus is upon how small groups have been used effectively in reaching people and beginning new work.