ccbcu programs

Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions

* Indicates a graduation requirement. 

Biblical Counseling

 BC301 Biblical Counseling (2 credits)

This class will be a biblical study of counselling from God’s perspective. We will study the biblical basis for counseling as well as the principles for effective counselling taught in God’s Word. Students will also learn to discern the difference between secular counselling methods and biblical counselling methods.

 BC311 Advanced Biblical Counseling (2 credits)

In this course, we will build on the biblical foundation of BC301 Biblical Counseling. As an advanced course of study, this course will include the study of medical issues in counselling, marriage and family counselling and more, using biblical truth as our guide.

Church History

CH301 Church History (2 Credits) 

This course is designed as an overview of the major events, movements, doctrines, and people associated with the growth of the Christian church from the apostolic era until the present.

CH305 Women in Church History (2 credits)

In this course, we will look at the lives of various women throughout history—who they were, what they did, and how the Lord used them. We will be looking at different women in five (5) specific eras of Christian history: The Early Church Era (67-410 A.D.), The Middle Ages (410-1517 A.D.), The Reformation/Great Awakenings (1517-1792 A.D.), The Missionary Movement (1793-1900 A.D.), and The Modern Church (1900′s).

CH321 Missionary Biographies (2 credits)

This course will explore the lives of various Christian missionaries, particularly those of the “Great Century of Missions” in the 1800s, drawing out practical life lessons and developing a deeper perspective of ministry on the mission field.

 Christian Living

CL105 Community Worship (0.5 credits)

Each week the student body gathers together for a time of worship, teaching, and communion. During this time students and staff minister to one another as the Holy Spirit leads.

CL112 Women’s Discipleship (1 credit)

Various speakers, teachers, staff, and pastors’ wives share from Scripture and exhort the women on campus, coming alongside them in their Christian walk. Topics pertaining specifically to women and their role as Scripture indicates are often discussed.

 CL115 Men’s Discipleship (1 credit)

Various speakers, teachers, staff, and pastors share from Scripture and exhort the men on campus, coming alongside them in their Christian walk. Topics pertaining specifically to men and their role as Scripture indicates are often discussed.

 CL329 Disciplines of a Godly Woman (2 credits)

This is a scriptural study of the commands and exhortations concerning those who choose to love and follow Jesus Christ with particular attention to disciples who are women.

CL335 Marriage Talks

This class is a time of fellowship for couples and singles where subjects concerning the marriage relationship are discussed. We will let Scripture reveal how a Christ-centered marriage is foremost in a covenantal union between a man and a woman.

 CL345 Proverbs 31 (1 credit)

This class is a study and practical application of the Proverbs 31 model for Christian women. Each class consists of lectures and practicum.

CL355 Prayer (2 credits)

In this class, we will specifically look at the specific prayers of people in the Bible by surveying the subject from Genesis through Revelation. We believe in accordance with Acts 2:42 that prayer is one of the most important activities of a believer. We also believe that Scripture gives ample instruction on the subject of prayer.

Christian Ministry

CM111 Christian Community Service (2 credits)

This course is a “hands-on” servant-hood class in which students serve practically in the community sharing the love of Jesus, not only in word but indeed. Students serve in senior citizen centres, juvenile halls, the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and various other locations and organizations in the local community.

 CM199 Practical Christian Ministry (2 credits) *

Students serve in various tasks on campus alongside fellow students and staff, applying the practical aspects of Christianity and servant-hood as they learn to follow Christ. Four semesters of Practical Christian Ministry are required for graduation.

CM329 Children’s Ministry (2 credits)

This class will consider the biblical basis for having a Children’s Ministry, discipline issues, teaching the Bible to children, community outreach, Jesus’ love for children, games and activities in the classroom, preschool activities, effective storytelling, children’s worship, children’s curriculum, leading a children’s ministry, along with other areas of importance in the children’s ministry classroom.

CM365 Prison Ministry (2 credits)

In this course, we will learn about the way Jesus Christ is building His Church and how the Church functions, both in the local setting and behind bars. We will also learn how to serve and minister to the body of Christ that is behind bars and gain hands-on experience as we visit a state penitentiary.

Language Study

LA329 Simplified Hebrew (2 credits)

Through the use of the 1000 illustrations in the Living Biblical Hebrew course, you will acquire an extensive Hebrew vocabulary and learn to properly identify grammatical points in the biblical text.

 LA353 New Testament Greek I (2 credits)

This course is a general overview of New Testament Greek grammar and syntax. We will begin translating from Greek to English during the second class period, learning grammar, syntax, exegesis, and diagramming. There is little memorization required in this course because we focus on using tools like Greek-English Interlinears and Analytical Lexicons.

 LA355 New Testament Greek II (2 credits)

This course is a general review of New Testament Greek grammar with an emphasis on syntax. We will translate the book of Colossians from Greek to English, learning more grammar, syntax, exegesis, and diagramming. There is little memorization required in this course because we focus on using tools like Greek-English Interlinear, Analytical Lexicon, Manual Grammar, and Commentaries by A.T. Robertson and Kenneth S. Wuest. You will do research on your own and then come together for a time of discussion and share your findings.

 LA365 Outreach Spanish (2 credits)

This course is designed to enable students to gain a basic ability to communicate and build relationships with Spanish-speaking people. We will focus on developing conversational skills and understanding the fundamentals of the Spanish language that students may be able to reach out and share the love of Christ, serving Spanish-speaking people. Our goal is that students would be able to connect with people of another language and culture, for personal growth and for God’s glory.

 Missions

MI301 Missions (2 credits) *

This class will focus on the theological and practical elements of mission work. We will study the biblical basis of missions, focusing mainly on the life of Paul in the book of Acts and some of his epistles to learn the principles that ought to be applied practically in our own missionary endeavours.

New Testament

NT301 New Testament Survey I: Matthew-Acts (3 credits) *

The C2000 Series MP3s are recordings of Pastor Chuck Smith’s “Through the Bible” messages delivered at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. As you take this course, you will study the Bible verse-by-verse from Matthew through Acts by listening to the expository messages, answering the study questions in the course guide, and writing down personal notes from the teachings. There are 69 messages for this course, at an average length of about an hour per message. This course should give you a broad and deep understanding of God’s Word, which will strengthen your relationship with God and help you understand His will for your life. You should listen to the messages with your Bible open and with a heart that is prepared to hear from God.

NT302 New Testament Survey II: Romans-Revelation (3 credits) *

The C2000 Series MP3s are recordings of Pastor Chuck Smith’s “Through the Bible” messages delivered at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. As you take this course, you will study the Bible verse-by-verse from Romans through Revelation by listening to the expository messages, answering the study questions in the course guide, and writing down personal notes from the teachings. There are 79 messages for this course, at an average length of about an hour per message. This course should give you a broad and deep understanding of God’s Word, which will strengthen your relationship with God and help you understand His will for your life. You should listen to the messages with your Bible open and with a heart that is prepared to hear from God.

 NT351 Matthew (3 credits)

This course is a verse-by-verse study of the Gospel of Matthew with specific emphasis on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His claim to be the Messiah.

 NT352 Mark (3 credits)

Among the various subjects of Mark’s gospel, we will highlight Christ’s baptism and Temptation; His choosing of the twelve; His parables; His love for, dependence upon, and obedience to the Father; His power and His person. Lastly, and most importantly, we will examine His propitiatory death and His glorious resurrection, which procure for the believer eternal salvation. This is the reason for the title ‘Gospel’, the good news found in Jesus Christ. These topics will move us to a greater appreciation for the beauty of His Person and the power of His nature.

 NT354 John (3 credits)

The Gospel of John has long fascinated the cleverest exegetes by its simple grammatical style and deep Christological content. The book is recognized as the unique fourth gospel that offers a portrait of Jesus Christ like no other book of the Bible. This course will be a verse-by-verse study of the entire gospel with emphasis on John’s theology, Christology, and particularly the relationship between His deity and humanity.

 NT355 Acts (3 credits) *

This course is a verse-by-verse study through the Book of Acts. We will look at the growth of the early church and church practice, including the function of spiritual gifts in the Church. We will also study the aspects of early church missions, church planting, and discipleship.

 NT356 Romans (3 credits) *

The course is a verse-by-verse study of the book of Romans, a book long regarded as the most systematic presentation of the doctrine in the Bible. Students will look carefully at how the saving life of Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, can transform lives.

 NT357 I Corinthians (2 credits)

This letter addresses the problems that plagued the Corinthian church and are still of great concern to the Church today: division, marital conflicts, sexual immorality, Christian liberty, spiritual gifts, money, and offended believers.

 NT358 II Corinthians (2 credits)

This class will consist of a verse-by-verse study of Paul’s second epistle to the church in Corinth. As with any study of one of Paul‘s epistles, we will marvel at the depth of his understanding and the humble intimacy of his dependent walk with his Lord. We will be challenged to surrender to God sufficiently that he may “have” us, as fully as he “had” our brother Paul. As the Holy Spirit leads, we will give exposition and make applications.

 NT359 Galatians (2 credits)

This will be a chapter-by-chapter, verse by verse study of Paul’s epistle to the churches in the region of Galatia. We will establish an understanding of the main theme of the epistle, develop a working knowledge of each chapter of the book of Galatians, and memorize key verses.

 NT360 Ephesians (2 credits)

The objective of this class is to give the student a thorough working knowledge of Ephesians, studying verse-by-verse and including the major doctrines presented in the epistle. We will see a glorious picture of Christ and His Church and the plan of God for His children. We will appreciate even more of what Christ has done for us and what He desires of us.

 NT361 Philippians (2 credits)

This will be an in-depth, verse-by-verse study of Paul’s epistle to the Philippian church. In this letter, Paul focuses on the example of Christ and how we can follow Him.

 NT362 Colossians (2 credits)

This class will be an expositional study of the book of Colossians. We will give primary attention to the Lord Jesus Christ, the central theme of the book. We will consider His majesty, pre-eminence, authority, sufficiency, and fullness that we might grow in faith concerning how to walk in His provisions for the abundance of life! Along with our verse-by-verse study, we will have the opportunity to extensively correlate enlightening and strengthening passages from other portions of Scripture.

 NT369 Hebrews (2 credits)

The Book of Hebrews is divided into two sections: first, the superiority of the Son in His person and work (1:1-10:18); and second, the practical application of the superiority of the Son in the lives of believers (10:19-13:25). This course will be divided into these sections as well by the activities we will experience during this course as we study verse-by-verse through Hebrews. We will encounter our holy calling, our priesthood, by drawing near continually “with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” (Heb 10:22)

 NT370 James (2 credits)

We will simply study of the book of James verse-by-verse that through the revelation of the Spirit we will have a better understanding of the truths in this book.

 NT377 Revelation (3 credits) *

In this course, we will seek a biblical understanding in our minds and hearts of the events that God has foretold through His prophets concerning the Last Days. We will seek to understand where we are in the history of prophecy and what lies ahead for the Church.

 NT391 I, II, III John (2 credits)

The Epistles of John are intensely practical letters addressed to Christian readers. They warn against the dangers of false teaching and exhort believers to live a life of obedience to God and love for their brothers and sisters. Its controlling theme is fellowship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ in love and truth.

 NT397 I & II Thessalonians (2 credits)

This will be a chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of Paul’s epistle to the church in the region of Thessalonica.

 NT399 I & II Peter (2 credits)

This course will be a verse-by-verse study and exposition of the contents of I and II Peter. The main topics that will be covered in this book, as pertaining to the natural flow of the text are: (1) learning and experiencing the grace of God which enables us to not only live for God but also to be submissive and suffer for His glory, (2) gaining knowledge of God, through the Living Word of God which has been made available to us, (3) growing in Christian character by which we are able to be steadfast in our Christian walk, in order that we may not stumble, (4) discerning true doctrine as opposed to the “destructive heresies” that some seek to spread, speaking with deceptive words; and (5) knowing that God is not slack concerning His promises and that His return for His Church is imminent.

NT409 Pastoral Epistles (2 credits)

As we study verse-by-verse, we will learn about the most important and practical issues in the Church. In his letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul gives these young pastors encouragement and instruction about combating false doctrine, dealing with worship in the church, choosing leaders in Church, treating people in the Church properly, and dealing with material goods in the Church.

 NT412 The Life of Christ (3 credits)

This course looks into the four gospels, following the earthly life of Jesus Christ.  A chronological sketch of the gospels helps give clarity and insight into the life and ministry of our Lord.

Old Testament

OT301 Old Testament Survey I: Genesis-Job (3 credits) *

The C2000 Series MP3s are recordings of Pastor Chuck Smith’s “Through the Bible” messages delivered at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. As you take this course, you will study the Bible verse-by-verse from Genesis through Job by listening to the expository messages, answering the study questions in the course guide, and writing down personal notes from the teachings. There are 88 messages for this course, at an average length of about an hour per message. This course should give you a broad and deep understanding of God’s Word, which will strengthen your relationship with God and help you understand His will for your life. You should listen to the messages with your Bible open and with a heart that is prepared to hear from God.

OT302 Old Testament Survey II: Psalms-Malachi (3 credits) *

The C2000 Series MP3s are recordings of Pastor Chuck Smith’s “Through the Bible” messages delivered at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. As you take this course, you will study the Bible verse-by-verse from Psalms through Malachi by listening to the expository messages, answering the study questions in the course guide, and writing down personal notes from the teachings. There are 87 messages for this course, at an average length of about an hour per message. This course should give you a broad and deep understanding of God’s Word, which will strengthen your relationship with God and help you understand His will for your life. You should listen to the messages with your Bible open and with a heart that is prepared to hear from God.

OT310 Genesis (3 credits) *

This is a verse-by-verse study of the book of Genesis. The intention of this course is to study the magnificent account of the creation of mankind and the unfolding plan of redemption of mankind, leading each of us into a deeper faith in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

OT311 Exodus (2 credits)

There are two key theological themes of Exodus, based on the two main parts of the book. The first is “God is the Deliverer”; the second is “God the Covenant-Maker”. We will study these themes as we look at Exodus verse-by-verse.

 OT312 Leviticus (2 credits)

This course is a verse-by-verse study through Leviticus, focusing on God’s principles for worship, service, obedience and holiness: the believer’s priestly calling. This focus is the reason for the Hebrew title for Leviticus: “And He called”.

OT316 Judges (2 credits)

This class will focus on the period in Israelite history between the death of Joshua and Saul’s accession to the throne. We will compare present-day circumstances with the time period of Judges. Old Testament Israel demonstrates common pitfalls and offers solutions to our modern problems. This is an excellent class for those who grieve over the spiritual state of our world today.

 OT327 Job (2 credits)

This is a verse-by-verse study of the book of Job and its message about God’s majesty and His trustworthiness in spite of suffering. The book of Job answers questions that all people ask at some point in life regarding evil and God’s relationship to the world, so the class will focus on applying the principles God gives to answer these questions in the book of Job.

 OT328 Psalms (2 credits)

We will discover the beauty of praise and poetry in the book of Psalms. Each verse in every Psalm will be looked at and evaluated in-depth as we learn how to communicate with our Creator and the comfort and healing this communication brings.

 OT329 Proverbs (2 credits)

We will study verse-by-verse to apply the wisdom of Proverbs in our everyday life in Christ. We will attempt to adhere to Jesus’ admonition: “Take my yoke and learn of Me.”

 OT330 Ecclesiastes (2 credits)

The course is a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Ecclesiastes. Attention will be placed on helping the student understand the book’s place in the canon of Scripture, authorship, ethical issues revolving around the meaning and actions of life, solutions to problem passages, and discovering and applying God’s greatest good to our lives.

 OT331 Song of Solomon (2 credits)

For women only— Since the Song of Solomon is poetic in nature and not taught frequently in the Church, it is hard for most Christians to grasp its meaning and value. In this course, we will study verse-by-verse and glean what the book teaches about godliness within the courting and marriage relationship. In addition, we will see clear teaching about the relationship between the believer and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 OT 332 Isaiah (2 credits)

The goal of this class is to deepen our relationship with Christ while gaining an academic and devotional understanding of the book of Isaiah. We will familiarize ourselves with the form and structure of the book, as well as its basic theology, purpose, authorship, and various historical accounts related to Isaiah.

 OT333 Jeremiah (2 credits)

We will use our Bibles to fully understand the times in Israel when the LORD chose Jeremiah to be His prophet to God’s chosen people. We will have the opportunity to compare national values from ancient biblical times with our present-day moral values in this verse-by-verse study through Jeremiah.

 OT336 Daniel (2 credits)

This class will be a verse-by-verse exegetical study through the book of Daniel. This book is one of two of the most profound books of Bible prophecy; the other is the book of Revelation. These two books complement each other. The book of Revelation explains the book of Daniel, while the book of Daniel lays the foundation for the book of Revelation. We will be studying the main theme of Daniel, which is, “The Times of the Gentiles”. We will be looking at when the “Times of the Gentiles” began when it will end, and what this means for us today. We will also be studying the lives and characters of Daniel and his three friends.

 OT359 Minor Prophets (2 credits)

This class will consist of an overview and study of the messages of the pre-exilic and post-exilic Minor Prophets of the Old Testament.

 OT361 Ruth & Esther —Women only (2 credits)

This course is designed to be an in-depth study of the Old Testament books of Ruth and Esther. Both books present the stories of women who faced great challenges in their lives and met these times of trial with courage and commitment to God. They serve as excellent examples, even to women of the 21 st century, of living lives surrendered to God. As we come to understand the events of these Scriptures, we will gain insight into the sovereignty of God and the nature of a life guided by His hand.

 OT362 I & II Kings (2 credits)

This is a chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of the books of I and II Kings. We will establish an understanding of the main theme of the books and develop a working knowledge and application of the main character studies of some of the kings and prophets of Israel.

 OT372 I & II Samuel (2 credits)

This class is a survey of David’s life from the books of Samuel and the Psalms. Much of this class will be a verse-by-verse study through the books of I and II Samuel. There will be a devotional focus with opportunities for classroom discussion.

Preaching & Teaching

PT305 Teaching Methods of Jesus (2 credits)

This is an overview course of the basic teaching methods employed by Jesus. We will also look at a variety of contemporary teaching strategies used in educational circles.

Theology

 TH305 Bibliology (2 credits)

This course will explore the special nature and unique character of the Bible. Emphasis will be placed on enabling the student to understand the process God used to reveal the Scriptures and pass down the 66 books of the Bible to us in their present form. Topics such as Bible and culture, inspiration, canonization, transmission, translation, palaeography, perspectives, archaeology, and the historical reliability of the Bible will be addressed.

TH310 Theology (2 credits)

Required for all on-campus graduates— This course is an introduction to Christian theology that will address the essentials of traditional Christianity such as the supremacy of love in both vertical and horizontal relationships, the theology of the Apostle’s Creed, the nature and character of the Bible (bibliology), the doctrine of God (theology proper), the person and work of Christ including His death, burial, and resurrection (Christology), the person and work of the Holy Spirit (pneumatology), the doctrine of man, sin and salvation (angelology, anthropology, hamartiology, and soteriology), the nature, mission and role of the Church (ecclesiology), and a description of end-times scenarios (eschatology).

TH311 History of Redemption (2 credits)

In this course, we will see the unity of the Bible as it presents God’s plan of salvation for mankind from Genesis to Revelation and review the general content of the books of the Bible for the purpose of integration and seeing thematic relationships. We will approach this survey of the Bible from two points of view: what God has done and is accomplishing in history and what God has spoken or revealed in terms of Scripture.

TH363 Apologetics * (2 credits)

The course will consist of an examination and evaluation of the argument for the truthfulness of Christianity. Emphasis will be given to the nature of truth, the existence of God, evil, hell, the reliability of the Bible, the deity of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and other elements that comprise the core doctrines of Christianity. In addition, attention will be directed to understanding the formation of the Christian canon of Scripture. Subjects will include a study of biblical inspiration, canonization, transmission, translation and the role of archaeology as it supports the reliability of the Scriptures.

TH387 Cults & World Religions (2 credits)

The course will consist of an introduction to the origin, history, philosophy, theology, and practices of the major non-Christian religions such as Vedic religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Secular Humanism, Islam, New Age Movement, and pseudo-Christian cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormonism. Each belief system will be described and evaluated with a view to equip the student for effective evangelism.

TH401 Hermeneutics  (2 credits)

This course is designed to introduce the student to basic principles for Bible study and Bible interpretation, focusing on a literal, historical-cultural, grammatical approach to the Scriptures. The student will be exposed to the various genres of the Bible while practising principles for the proper exegesis of the Scriptures. Note—Inductive Bible Study and Hermeneutics are not generally taught in the same semester but either class will fulfil the Hermeneutics/Inductive Bible Study requirement.

TH417 Inductive Bible Study  (2 credits)

The purpose for this class is to teach and encourage students to study the Word of God by carefully observing, carefully interpreting, accurately cross-referencing, and relevantly applying the text to their lives. Note—Inductive Bible Study and Hermeneutics are not generally taught in the same semester but either class will fulfil the Hermeneutics/Inductive Bible Study requirement.

Worship

WO313 Sound & Recording (2 credits)

This class is designed to instruct and equip servants in numerous aspects of sound reinforcement, studio recording, and multimedia presentation. There will be Bible study, lectures, labs, interviews, and ample amounts of hands-on training. We will learn about servanthood, signal path, mixing boards, equalization, microphones, effects, the recording studio, video, presentation software and many other aspects of media ministry. The goal of this course is to train up competent and humble servants who seek to use their talents and gifts to glorify God alone.

WO331 Worship Band (2 credits)

The purpose of this class is to give the student spiritual insight on worship, and practical instruction regarding worship-leading. The student will also have the opportunity for the hands-on experience of leading worship in a band setting and will participate in leading worship in Morning Chapel.

WO335 Worship Ministry (2 credits)

The purpose of this class is to provide the student with practical teaching regarding the ministry of worship in a church setting. The student will learn about the various aspects of the ministry, i.e. church leadership, spiritual warfare, home groups, co-labouring with the pastor, etc.

Note—Many of our instructors are pastors at local churches. Due to their schedules and other factors, some electives may not be offered each semester. Please call or refer to the “Schedule” section of our website for a list of classes currently being offered.