Courses for adult education and spiritual formation at your church
Our faculty members offer a wide variety of one- to six-session courses in areas of their special interest. You are also invited to work with a professor to design a course that fits your congregation’s particular needs.
To schedule a course, contact the faculty member directly at 616-392-8555. Please book courses early; schedules fill quickly!
Carol Bechtel – Professor of Old Testament
Above and Beyond the Call of Duty: A Study of the Book of Ruth |
2-4 sessions |
For Such a Time as This: A Study of the Book of Esther |
3-4 sessions |
Hallelujah! The Bible and Handel’s Messiah |
(Advent) 4 sessions (Lent) 6 sessions |
Sowing Tears; Reaping Joy: The Bible and Brahm’s Requiem |
4-7 sessions |
They’re Playing our Psalm: The Psalms as a Soundtrack for Faith and Life |
1-6 sessions |
The Lost Art of Lament |
1-2 sessions |
Job and the Life of Faith |
1-5 sessions |
The Music of Advent |
1-2 sessions |
J. Todd Billings – Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology
Dr. Billings is not available for adult education classes. |
Thomas A. Boogaart – Dennis and Betty Voskuil Professor of Old Testament
Angel Prophets and Other Messengers From God |
Length of Event negotiable |
Fire, Lions and the Fingers of a Hand: The Story of Sovereignty in the Book of Daniel |
Length of Event negotiable |
Does Job Hear God for Nothing? Suffering Before God |
Length of Event negotiable |
Recovering the Bible as a Spiritual Resource |
Length of Event negotiable |
Timothy L. Brown – President and Henry Bast Professor of Preaching
Due to Tim Brown’s preaching schedule, he is not available for adult education classes. |
James Brownson – Professor of New Testament
The Bible, Women, and Leadership |
4-6 sessions |
Exploring Baptism |
2-6 sessions |
Donald J. Bruggink (Emeritus) – James A.H. Cornell Professor of Historical Theology
The Faith of the Early Christians (illustrated) |
1 session |
From Persecution to Privilege (illustrated) |
3-6 sessions |
The Church in Russia (illustrated) |
2-6 sessions |
Architecture and Worship (illustrated) |
2-6 sessions |
The Reformation of Worship (illustrated) |
2-6 sessions |
Chuck DeGroat– Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
The Seven Paths to Transformation |
Length of Event Negotiable |
Wholeheartedness: Experiencing Oneness and Worthiness in Jesus |
Length of Event Negotiable |
Toughest People to Love: Becoming Courageous Lovers of Ourselves and Others |
Length of Event Negotiable |
The Enneagram: Nine Obstacles to Union with Christ, Nine Invitations to Freedom |
Length of Event Negotiable |
Dying to Be Loved: Embracing the Transformational Journey of Marriage |
Length of Event Negotiable |
The Three Movements of Faith: A Retreat Through Luke 15 |
Length of Event Negotiable |
Finding God in the Wilderness |
Length of Event Negotiable |
The Spiritual Life of the Leader |
Length of Event Negotiable |
I. John Hesselink (Emeritus) – Albertus C. Van Raalte Professor of Systematic Theology
(due to poor health, Dr. Hesselink is not available at this time to teach classes)
The Meaning & Relevance of the Reformed Faith |
5-6 sessions |
Introduction to Calvin’s Theology |
5-6 sessions |
Last Things Now: Some Key Eschatological Issues |
4-6 sessions |
Developments & Issues in Modern Theology |
5-6 sessions |
I Peter Bible Study |
5 sessions |
Philippians Bible Study |
4 sessions |
I Corinthians 15 |
2 sessions |
I Corinthians 12 & 14 |
2 sessions |
The RCA and CRC – What Unites & Divides Us |
1 session |
My Dream for the RCA and a Proposed Credo |
1 or 2 sessions |
George R. Hunsberger – (Emeritus) Professor of Missiology
Features of the Missional Church |
1 day seminar |
The Church Between Gospel and Culture |
1 day seminar |
People of the Reign of God |
1 day seminar |
Evangelism in the 21st Century |
1 day seminar |
Christopher B. Kaiser (Emeritus) – Professor of Historical & Systematic Theology
The Biblical Basis for the Doctrine of the Trinity |
Length of event negotiable |
The Ecumenical Creeds of the Church |
Length of event negotiable |
Biblical Images of Creation |
Length of event negotiable |
Creation and the History of Science |
Length of event negotiable |
Three Models of Intelligent Design |
3 sessions |
Living the Christian Faith in a Tech-Wired World |
simple reflective exercises in class and some to be done during the week. |
Creation and Evolution |
3 session minimum recommended |
David Komline – Assistant Professor of Church History
History of the RCA |
2-4 sessions |
Who are the Evangelicals? |
2-4 sessions |
Christianity in China |
2 sessions |
Suzanne McDonald – Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology
Dealing Faithfully With Dementia |
2 sessions |
In the End…What? And Why Does it Matter? The “Last Things” and the Christian Hope” |
negotiable length |
Re-thinking Election |
1-2 sessions |
Exploring the Reformation |
2 sessions |
John Knox: Then and Now |
1 session |
Creation Care – Why Should Christians Care?
|
1-2 sessions |
Ron Rienstra – Professor of Preaching and Worship Arts
Meaning What We Pray: A Workshop on Intercessory Prayer |
2 Sessions |
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue: Principles for Renewing Language in Worship |
1 Session |
Singing with Advent Anticipation |
1 Session |
Views of Worship: Theological, Historical, and Biblical |
3 Sessions |
Let the River flow: A Sampling from Five Streams of Prayer and Praise |
1 Session |
Kyle J.A. Small – Dean of Formation for Ministry and Professor of Christian Leadership
Reading the Bible as the Priesthood of Believers |
1-2 session |
Missional Spirituality |
1-3 sessions |
Missional Church: The People, Pastor, and the World God Deeply Loves |
1-3 sessions |
Principalities, Powers, and Polity: Creating Governing Structures for God’s People |
1-3 sessions |
Congregational Discovery: Facilitating Process for a Preferred Future |
5-7 sessions |
David Stubbs – Professor of Ethics and Theology
War, Peace, and Peacemaking: Christian Perspectives |
3 Sessions |
Temple and Table: The Jewish Roots of the Eucharist |
2-3 Sessions |
Walking in the Way: Christian Ethics for Everyday Christians |
3 Sessions |
The Book of Numbers: The People of God, their Calling, and their Temptations |
3 Sessions |
Who is Jesus? The Vision of Karl Barth |
3 Sessions |
Robert E. Van Voorst – (Emeritus) Professor of New Testament
All times are adjustable. Most topics can be done in 1 or 2 days on retreats or in conferences.
The Sermon on the Mount |
4-6 sessions |
The Acts of the Apostles |
4-8 sessions |
The Book of Revelation |
4-6 sessions |
Christianity and other Religions |
2-4 sessions |
Difficult Issues Facing the Church: Homosexuality, Religious Pluralism, and Ecumenical Relations |
3 sessions |
The Gospel of Luke |
4-8 sessions |
Humor in the Christian Life |
1-2 sessions |
Understanding Islam |
3-4 sessions |
Dennis N. Voskuil (Emeritus) – Marvin and Jerene DeWitt Professor of Church History
During school years 2017-19, Dr. Voskuil is the interim president of Hope College and is not available to teach classes.
The Church Faces the 21st Century |
2-4 sessions |
History of the RCA |
2-4 sessions |
The Reformation |
2-4 sessions |
Latter Day Saints |
1-2 sessions |
Pentecostal Church |
2-4 sessions |
Who are the Evangelicals? |
2-4 sessions |
American Pentecostalism |
2-4 sessions |
Strangers in the Land |
2-4 sessions |
Calvinism in an Arminian Culture |
2-4 sessions |
Robert Schuller Revisited |
1-2 sessions |
Positive Thinking in American Popular Religion |
2-4 sessions |