The wait is over, and Renew University’s Certificate in Theology program is now enrolling!
The program is designed with you in mind, featuring great courses taught with excellence by teachers who both have advanced degrees and ministry experience. If you are a Bible teacher, ministry leader, elder, minister or pastor, or simply a believer who wants to go deep, Renew University is for you! The program covers many of the topics you’re interested in and lasts just over twenty months, and best of all, it is very affordable. Welcome to RenewU!
What is a certificate program?
Why Renew University?
How long does it take to get the CIT?
Twenty months from the time you start the first course to when you finish the program.
When does the program begin?
January 5, is when the next course, Acts and the Apostle Paul, begins. Typically a week before the course begins, registration will open on the RenewU website.
What are the courses?
Jesus and the Gospels
Studies the story, meaning, and significance of Jesus as presented in the Gospels and beyond. The courses present details of the world into which Jesus came, the nature of each Gospel and their relationship to each other, the early church’s efforts to define Jesus’ relationship to the Father and his humanity, and the impact of Jesus upon the world. Students gain a love for Jesus and the Gospel stories.
Textbook: Mark L. Strauss, Introducing Jesus: A Short Guide to the Gospel’s History and Messages
Christian Evidences
Overview of classic Christian Evidences. Courses present classic versions of the cosmological and teleological arguments, discusses the relationship between faith and science, presents evidence of God in Near Death Experiences and of the resurrection of Jesus. Students’ faith is strengthened by showing them that there is solid evidence for what they believe.
Textbook: William Lane Craig, On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision
Bible: Canon, Inspiration, Interpretation
Introduction to the Bible. Courses provide an overview of the books of the Bible, a defense of the inspiration of the Bible, how the Testaments relate to each other, and healthy tools for interpreting the Bible. Students gain insight into and a love for the Bible, as well as tools for how to use it.
Textbook: Orpheus J. Heyward, God’s Word: The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture (Real Life Theology Series)
Overview of the Old Testament
Gives an overview to the content of the Old Testament and helps with its interpretation. Courses deal with the story of Israel, the promises of God, the nature of sin, and special concerns that arise from the Old Testament, such as the killing of the Canaanites. Students will appreciate the Old Testament and develop skills in reading it.
Textbook: Excerpts from the Old Testament in the Bible
Acts and the Apostle Paul
Surveys the content of the books of Acts and the life and letters of Paul. Courses look at the story of Acts, the nature of the early church, introduces the Apostle Paul, surveys his letters, provides an overview of his contribution to the Christian movement, and offers a defense of his work. Students learn to love the church of Acts and the works of the Apostle Paul.
Textbook: Everett Ferguson, The New Testament Church (4th edition) and Bobby Harrington, Baptism According to Scripture
The Book of Romans
Examines the book of Romans in some detail, unpacking its grand theology. The courses explore central themes of the Christian faith, especially salvation by faith in Christ. Offers a critique of Calvinism and a defense of Armenism, discussions on salvation and atonement, eschatology, and the place of Israel in God’s plan of salvation. Students learn to value the salvation offered us in Christ.
Biblical Theology
Provides an overview of the main doctrines of the Bible. The courses cover material such as the nature of God and Christ, the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of sin and salvation, the kingdom of God and Christian ethics, holiness and moral theology, eschatology. The courses offer critiques of unorthodox positions as well as of progressive Christianity. Students will learn the outlines of solid theology and will love the doctrines of the Bible.
Church History and the Search for Biblical Faith
Examines church history from the viewpoint of historical efforts to restore the faith of the early church. Courses include studies of how the historical church thickened with traditions and politics, and how various movements sought to undo this, including the Reformation, that Anabaptists, the American Restoration Movement, the rise of Evangelicalism, the charismatic movement, and disciple-making movements in the Global South. Students will understand why the church of the Bible is so important and how others have sought to be that church.
Ministry and Christian Leadership
Provides training in how to lead and minister in a church context. Courses include biblical teachings about ministry ethics and practices as well as training in ministry areas: how to speak publicly, how to recruit people, how to work with various teams, handling problems, and the like. Students will grow in their ability to lead the people of God.
Spiritual Formation
Provides training in how to have a deep relationship with God and his Spirit. Courses give an introduction to the history of spiritual formation, training in the classic spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditation and others, and insight into spiritual warfare. Students deepen in their relationship with God and learn habits that help them grow in their faith.
Introduction to Crisis Counseling
Provides training for how to help people going through crises. Courses include training for helping people with problems in marriages and families, mental health issues, addictions, and other dysfunctions in life. The program delineates where pastoral help stops and professional help is required. Students become better at helping others and knowing when and where to refer them for more support.
Disciplemaking: The Core Mission of the Church
Who is teaching the courses?
RenewU has a number of qualified individuals teaching in the program, and not all courses have been assigned to our teachers. But the faculty of designated courses include such individuals as Dr. Zach Breitenbach of Worldview Center of Connection Pointe, Dr. Orpheus Heyward of Renaissance Church in Atlanta, Dr. Jeff Duerler of Lifespring Church in Harrison, Ohio, Jason Ishmael of Antioch Christian Church, Dr. David Young of RenewU, Dr. Bobby Harrington of Discipleship.org, Renew.org Network and Harpeth Christian Church, and others. One of the unique features of the RenewU CIT is that our teachers not only have advanced degrees, they have real life ministry experience.
What is RenewU’s theological perspective?
RenewU is a ministry of Renew.org Network. Renew.org Network was founded in 2018 to advocate for solid biblical theology for the purpose of making disciples. Renew.org is serious about the Scriptures, which we accept as the final authority for the church and the believer. We are also serious about disciplemaking, which we believe is the mission of the church. At RenewU you will be taught by people who love the Scriptures and believe in disciplemaking. You can read Renew.org’s faith statement on our website at www.renew.org.
How difficult are the courses?
We want you to graduate from the program, and we are going to help you do that. For this reason, there is only a moderate amount of work per course. There are twelve courses each lasting seven weeks. Each course requires about 3-4 hours of participation per week, which includes watching/listening to the class each week. Over the length of each course, you can expect the following:
- 6 one-and-a-half hour long videos you watch or listen to over 6 weeks
- Participation in 2 cohort discussions per course
- A reading of approximately 200 to 300 pages per course
- Memorizing 10 Scriptures per course
- A basic pass/fail final exam for each course.
Does it matter when I enroll?
No. When you enroll you will begin your coursework at whatever course is streaming at the time. For example, if you apply when course number 4 is streaming, you’ll start at course four, then take 5, 6, 7 and so forth, picking up numbers 1 through 3 after you finish number 12. The sequence of courses doesn’t change, but students may join at any point during the sequence and go 20 months from there.
How do I watch/listen to the courses
From the website you’ll be able to watch or listen to your courses. After a course goes live on the website, we’ll post it so you can watch and rewatch the lessons as many times as you want. You’ll also be able to stream them in audio form if you want that option.
What is a cohort?
A cohort is a group of approximately five to ten students who journey together through the program, supporting one another. When you enroll in the CIT, you will be assigned to a cohort, and you will stay with the same cohort throughout the program. Your cohort will meet online twice for each course to discuss what you’re learning. You are also welcome to communicate with other cohort members at other times throughout the program. Being in a cohort allows you to internalize what you’re learning, build ministry friends, and put into practice some of the material. The cohort leader will attempt to schedule cohort meetings around the students’ schedules so that everyone can participate. Cohorts make the RenewU CIT relational, which is one of the things that makes the program successful.
How does tuition work?
You pay by the course, $59 per course, at the beginning of each course. That’s it. There are no fees or other charges, except that you must purchase your own text books. For merely $708, plus textbooks you can earn the certificate, learning much of the same material you’d get in a residential Bible school program.
Is RenewU’s certificate program accredited?
No, but we are currently developing partnerships with several Bible colleges and at least one university so that you can receive college credit for the program. Stay tuned for more information about this as it becomes available.
OK, I’m in!
What do I do next?
To enroll, go to the QR code here and sign up! When the next course launches in a few weeks, we will let you know and you will begin your journey into a rich biblical, theological, and ministry training!
RenewU offers a theological education for everyone!
