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