Biola Partnership
Providing Professional and Robust Biblical Education
Forest Home has partnered with Biola University to provide a best-in-class foundation of Biblical Education during the GO Year of Discipleship.
Who and What is Biola?
Biola University is a nationally ranked Christian university in the heart of Southern California. Founded in 1908, Biola offers biblically centered education, intentional spirtual development and vocational preperation within a unique learning community where all faculty, staff and students are professing Christians.
For more information about Biola, visit www.biola.edu.
The Biola 4
During the GO Year, participants will primarily experience two main tracks of academic learning. One of these tracks centers around our guest speakers, each class will move through 12 two-week modules designed to touch on a wide variety of life and ministry topics as it relates to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The other track is provided by our Biola Partnership, consisting of the 4 main academic classes that each participant will walk through during the first 9 months of the program.
During a traditional Biola undergrad experience, each student is required to complete a 30-credit hour Bible minor. Each freshman student receives 12 of these credit hours with 4 core Bible classes. These are the same 4 classes that make up the core of the college-level biblical education that will provide the backdrop of the entire GO Year of discipleship. These classes are:
- Foundations of Christian Thought
Foundations of Christian Thought is an introduction to theology with an emphasis on learning to do tehology. We'll covewr the doctrine of Scripture, the integration of various fields of knowledge with the Bible, and the importance of developing a Christian Worldview
- Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation
This course addresses how to read the Bible, applying the skill of reading and interpreting Scripture, and applying to to our growth in Godliness. Students will be learning more about Christian spiritual transformation, the life-long process of becoming more like Christ for the glory of God.
- Old Testament History and Literature
Welcome to the Old Testament! The Old Testament elicits a variety of reactions in people. For those who have read little of it, it remains a mysterious and strange world. Some have tried to read through the Old Testament in a "Read the Bible in a year", but the journey floundered once they reached Leviticus and Numbers. Others have read portions of the Old Testament and been horrified by what they find there. Some love portions of the Old Testament, like the Psalms.
Regardless of each person's knowledge of the Old Testament, this class will be an enlightening journey. Students will read together most of the narrative texts in the Old Testament to help understand its overall structure and how it fits with the New Testament. Old Testament Survey is spiritually encouraging and challenging as students discover the ways God has revealed Himself in dramatic ways, and interacting with Him through the Old Testament texts will not leave an open and honest individual the same.
- New Testament History and Literature
This course is designed to help you gain a better understanding of the Bible and the sacred traditions associated with the Bible. In addition, this course will help you know the God who has been working in and through our ancestors in the faith and who continues to work in our generation.
Can GO Year Participants Recieve College Credit?
In a word, YES! Upon completion of the GO Year, participants that choose to "opt in" to college credit will be given the option to apply for prior learning credit and will receive 12 credit hours if they enroll as a student at Biola.
Are GO Year Participants Required to Opt In?
Nope! While each of the GO Year participants will be taking each of the Biola 4 (and gaining the incredible benefit of the heart and head knowledge delivered from these world-class courses), receiving college credit is not a requirement.