Special Forces Training Project

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

Isn't it time your Christianity got beyond the Grade School level?

Special Forces Training is an advanced, college level, theology course; designed to strengthen the faith and build the confidence of any Christian.

Are you up for the challenge?

- - - Meets during the school year - pastoral recommendation required - - -

Mission Statement ~ SFT assists in the spiritual development of men and women through a systematic study of theology.

Objective ~ To prepare both men and women for living, teaching and witnessing scripturally. To prepare those who meet the Biblical qualifications for ordination should they so choose.

Completion Levels

Certificate ~ Attend classes and produce doctrinal statements for all ten theologies.

Ordination ~ Attend classes, produce doctrinal statements and defend them in an ordination review.

Prerequisites ~

  • Commitment to Christ as your Lord and Savior

  • Absolute acceptance of Biblical inerrancy.

  • Mature faith

  • Pastoral approval

Suggested Texts:

College level

"The Moody Handbook of Theology"

~ Paul Enns

"Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth"

~ Charles Ryrie

"Practical Christian Theology"

~ Floyd H. Barackman

Graduate level

"Christian Theology"

~ Millard Erickson

(Choose one of these or another approved text)


Requirements ~

  • Each student shall acquire systematic theology works agreeable to the instructor.

  • Each student shall prepare for each session by studying and producing requested written materials (except those auditing), as well as whatever is needed or helpful, before the session occurs.

  • Each student will participate in discussion sufficiently to demonstrate their study and comprehension of the topic.

  • Each student shall prepare a doctrinal statement for each theological topic acceptable to the instructor (except those auditing).

  • Each student must read the entire Bible through, in a translation acceptable to the instructor, during the time of this course.

  • Each student must maintain a lifestyle consistent with the description of 1 Timothy 3:8-13

  • Each student (except those auditing) will receive a Certificate of Completion after demonstrating proficiency in all ten topics to the satisfaction of the instructor.

  • An ordination committee of at least three ministers and/or professors selected by the instructor will be provided for those men who desire ordination. Ordination will be granted only with unanimous approval. The instructor will assist any student in gathering an ordination committee from their own church and denomination should they so choose. (Assuming they have satisfactorily completed the course.)

What can I expect to learn from this course?

For your knowledge of God to keep up with your passion for him. The study of all ten primary theologies will give you a structure with which to understand scripture.

Each session is two hours. It will take about two years to go through all the courses. You may join at any time. You do not have to be a member of Living Hope Church to attend but your pastor's approval is necessary.

Please call (360-268-0481) or email Pastor Rick Henderson for additional information.

So, you're walking down life's path and then you get to heaven and Jesus will say - what? But, hey, what do you mean heaven? Are you sure that's where we're going to live? How does the new earth come into it? What about the new Jerusalem?

A Jehovah's Witness comes to your door. Can you explain the Trinity? How can the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be one God? Wouldn't that make it three Gods?

You try to tell a friend about Christ and she says "Yeah, but if there really was a good God who is all powerful why did he let that happen to me when I was a child?" Do you have an answer?

A Mormon says "God was once a man just like us, I mean, look at Jesus - he was a man and yet you say he is God. What's the difference between him and us?" Can you honestly explain that?

Can you really explain how the Holy Spirit inspired the scriptures? Can you show what each writer meant and what his hearers would have understood? And how will you explain how to apply the scripture? And who is this Holy Spirit?

"Hey, I'm not so bad over all. Why would God punish me forever?" -- Well?

What does the Bible mean when it says the blood of Jesus saves us? Is it the real blood? How could it all go around?

Why did Jesus have to die - couldn't he just forgive us without all that?

How can we have both a spirit and a body? Can we live without a body? What will our new bodies look like?

A friend is worried that he just doesn't do enough for people around the world, but you know he gives a lot of money to relief agencies. Can you show him the Biblical difference between conviction and guilt?

What sacrifice is okay to achieve unity in the church? How much should we put into living like a Christian? How absolute are what truths?

What are angels for? Where did Satan come from? What are they made of?

Do we have to live by the Old Testament rules? If so, which ones? Why are there still Jews?

"All religions really point to the same truth/god. It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere." Can you explain why that is not true?

To what do we have to look forward? Will we really be sitting on clouds playing harps forever?

So, you're going to live your life how?

For nearly 2000 years Christians have discussed scriptural truths.

Do you know what they say?

Shouldn’t you join the conversation?