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--color-end: var(--bgcolor-content-end);" ><div class="content"> <div class="label gradient-to-tr" style="--color-start: #96445a; --color-end: #6f637e;">Question</div> <div class="sponsor-sidebar"><div class="desktop-show" align="center"><div class="adManager-placeholder"></div></div></div> <h1><span itemprop="name headline" property="og:title">Why should I consider going to a Bible college?</span></h1> <div class="actions-wrap"><div class="actions"> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="INTL/Bible-college.html" onClick="gtag('event', 'click', {'event_category':'engagement', 'event_label':'intl'});"><img src="img/translate-icon.svg" alt="translate"></a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://printer.gotquestions.net/GeneratePF?articleId=2107" onClick="gtag('event', 'click', {'event_category':'engagement', 'event_label':'print'});"><img src="img/print.svg" class="questionInteract" alt="Bible college"></a> <span class="audio-icon"><img src="img/volume.svg" alt="audio" class="questionInteract"><audio controls preload="none" style="width:300px;height:25px"><source src="audio/Bible-college.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></audio></span> </div></div> <div itemprop="articleBody"> <div class="label gradient-to-tr" style="--color-start: #29a699; --color-end: #749c5a;">Answer</div><br><br> Having a higher education is a valuable asset in many fields, including vocational, or full-time, ministry. A Bible college education is designed to equip believers who are pursuing God’s call to vocational ministry, but it can be beneficial for any believer. Here are a few reasons why one should at least consider going to a Bible college:<br><br> One should consider going to Bible college because of the <i>training in the Word</i> he or she will receive. Studying the Bible is, of course, the main emphasis in a Bible college, and the Bible college student will learn <a href="Bible-study-methods.html">various study methods</a>, how to properly interpret a given passage, and how to arrive at practical applications of God’s truth. The study of God’s Word is every believer’s business. A good Bible college provides tools for the correct handling of “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).<br><br> A Bible college is a good source for any training in the Bible, even for those who do not wish to pursue a four-year degree. Most Bible colleges offer one-year certificate programs in biblical studies and two-year associate programs in a variety of subjects. Also, most Bible colleges allow classes to be audited at low cost. For those who don’t need college credit, auditing a class can be a great way for Sunday school teachers, pastors, or anyone interested in the Bible to increase their knowledge with some formal training without a long-term commitment.<br><br> One should consider going to Bible college because of the <i>ministry experience</i> a Bible college provides. As part of their mission to equip students for service, most Bible colleges recommend or even require involvement in church-related Christian ministries. In their service, students exercise their <a href="spiritual-gifts-survey.html">spiritual gifts</a> and lend vital support to local churches, gaining valuable experience in the process. In some cases, a student may even discover that vocational ministry is <i>not</i> for him or her—an important discovery to make before graduation.<br><br> One should consider going to Bible college because such an institution fosters <a href="spiritual-growth.html"><i>spiritual growth</i></a>. Of course, spiritual growth is possible anywhere, but a Bible college is in many ways a spiritual greenhouse. The faculty, staff, students, and curriculum of a Bible college all share the same goal of glorifying Christ, and the resulting milieu provides ample opportunity to flourish in one’s spiritual walk.<br><br> One should consider going to Bible college because of the training it provides in developing a <a href="Christian-worldview.html"><i>biblical worldview</i></a>. The education one receives at a Bible college will come from a point of view that upholds moral absolutes and human dignity, accepts the reality of the spiritual realm, and points to Christ as the Redeemer.<br><br> One should consider going to Bible college because it is a place to readily find <i>Christian role models</i>. The faculty and staff of a Bible college typically represent decades of learning and spiritual maturity. Finding a mentor who understands Christian discipleship and is willing to share his or her insights is easy to do on a Bible college campus.<br><br> One should consider going to Bible college because graduates have a network of <i>lifelong Christian friends and ministry contacts</i>. A Bible college graduate need never feel alone in the ministry. Dozens of old friends, most of whom are also in ministry, are just a phone call or email away. They supply a constant resource for advice, guidance, and encouragement in serving the Lord.<br><br> Attending a Bible college is not God’s will for everyone, and a formal degree is not a prerequisite for serving the Lord. But the training a Bible college affords can be invaluable to serious students of God’s Word and especially to those who are called to vocational ministry roles.<br><br> </div> <section class="homepage-sponsor desktop-hide"> <div class="desktop-hide" align="center"><div class="adManager-placeholder-mobile"></div></div> </section> <div class="related resources"><h4>For Further Study</h4> <a target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener" onClick="gtag('event', 'click', {'event_category':'engagement', 'event_label':'chrbook'});" href="https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1011693&item_no=159167">Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically by John MacArthur</a><br><br> <a target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener" onClick="gtag('event', 'click', {'event_category':'engagement', 'event_label':'logos'});" href="https://www.logos.com/?utm_campaign=logossubxlaunch-phase1&utm_source=gotquestions&utm_medium=advertising_display&utm_content=logossubxlaunch-phase1-gtlink">More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!</a> </div> <div class="related topics"><h4>Related Articles</h4> <a href="pastor-education.html">Should it be required that a man have formal Bible education before he can serve as a pastor?</a><br><br> <a href="called-to-preach.html">How can I know if I am being called to preach?</a><br><br> <a href="Bible-good-student.html">What does the Bible say about being a good student?</a><br><br> <a href="Christian-university.html">What is the value of attending a Christian university?</a><br><br> <a href="Bible-education.html">What does the Bible say about education?</a> </div> <center><strong class="return">Return to:<br><br> <a class="button-link box-shadow" href="questions_life-decisions.html">Questions about Life Decisions</a><br><br> Why should I consider going to a Bible college?</strong></center> </div> </section> <section class="subscribe gradient-to-br" style="--color-start: #153c59; --color-end: #1b537c"> <div class="grid"> <div class="gradient-to-br box-shadow" style="--color-start: #2c6482; --color-end: #64547b"> <h5>Subscribe to the</h5> <h3>Question of the Week</h3> <p>Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox!</p> <iframe src="scommon/qotw.htm" title="question of the week" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%"></iframe> </div></div> </section> </main> <footer-element></footer-element> <center> <div itemprop="dateModified" content="2022-01-04">This page last updated: January 4, 2022</div></center> <script src="scripts-2025.js"></script> <div style="display: none;" itemprop="publisher" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Organization"><meta itemprop="name" content="GotQuestions.org"><div itemprop="logo" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"> <img src="https://www.gotquestions.org/img/GQlogo.png"><meta itemprop="url" content="https://www.gotquestions.org/img/GQlogo.png"><meta itemprop="width" content="400"><meta itemprop="height" content="79"> </div></div> </body> </html>