In the Starkville Institute, theology is learned from the church and in the church. The vision of our program is theological discipleship. Colossians 1 balances our understanding of theology from learning information to total transformation in Christ. We believe the future for the church is the ancient pathways of discipleship, and so the Institute seeks to teach theology in a practical format that aims at biblical-theological formation.
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- Colossians 1:9-10
Standard Track - Free
The Institute Standard Track consists of three 10-week Core Seminars, offered throughout the year on a rotating basis.
Christian Scripture
Christian Teaching
Christian Community
Every member of First Baptist Starkville may participate in the Institute Standard Track for free.
Seminary Track - $200/Seminar
The Institute Seminary Track includes the Core Seminars from the Standard Track and adds required readings, meetings, book reviews, and writing assignments. Together, the Core Seminars and the Seminary Track give master's level seminary credit through a partnership with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. This program will help individuals discover their calling while working towards a master's level seminary degree. The Seminary Track is $200 per Core Seminar and includes all course-related materials.
Core Seminars
+ Christian Scripture
How does the church exist?
God has revealed himself through Holy Scripture which is the inspired and inerrant testimony of God in Christ by the Spirit. The story of Scripture is the story of what God the Father has done and will do through the Son in the Spirit. Scripture is the true story of the whole world.
Taking a Christo-centric view of Scripture, we will look at the Scripture as a unified revelation of Jesus Christ and understand Christ “according to Scripture.” Scripture is God’s true Word to us that testifies of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Christian Scripture answers the question, “How does the church exist?”
Recommended Reading
The following works are recommended for all students.
- Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Trier
- The Character of Christian Scripture, Seitz
- Theology for the Church, Akin
Required Reading
The following works are required for Seminary Track students only.
- Words of Life, Ward
- Reading Scripture Canonically, Gignilliat
- On the Apostolic Preaching, Irenaeus
- Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, Hall
+ Christian Teaching
What does the church believe?
There is a set of teaching that is Christian teaching. Christian teaching arises from Scripture and focuses on three key areas: The Trinity, Incarnation, and Restoration. With Christ as the key to understanding Scripture, we will sketch the storyline of Scripture through the five-fold work of the Son: Creation, Revelation, Incarnation, Resurrection, and Ascension.
Christian teaching answers the question, "What does the church believe?"
Recommended Reading
The following works are recommended for all students.
- Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Trier
- Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, Packer
- Theology for the Church, Akin
- Learning Theology with the Church Fathers, Hall
Required Reading
The following works are required for Seminary Track students only.
- On the Incarnation, Athanasius
- Delighting in the Trinity, Reeves
- Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out, Hildreth and McKinion
+ Christian Community
What does the church do?
Christian Scripture and Christian Teaching inevitably form a Christian community. The key here is understanding Christians as a community formed by the Word. The community of believers formed in faith is the end-times, Spirit-filled people of God. As the people of God, they are in the world but not of the world.
Christian community answers the question, "What does the church do?"
Recommended Reading
The following works are recommended for all students.
- Life Together, Bonhoeffer
- Worshiping with the Church Fathers, Hall
- Theology for the Church, Akin
- Apostolic Fathers, Holmes
Required Reading
The following works are required for Seminary Track students only.
Residency
Students seriously considering theological education may apply to the Starkville Institute Residency Program. The Institute Residency is a two-year program designed to give students a deeper, more specialized survey into their desired field of ministry. We've designed the first year of residency to explore calling, while the second will offer specific experiences and education related to their calling. The Institute Residency runs in parallel with the Seminary Track.
Students accepted into the Starkville Institute Residency Program will be considered paid staff and must be members of First Baptist Starkville. Completion of the Institute Residency does not guarantee employment at First Baptist Starkville. Applicants must have completed enough college credit hours to be considered a Junior before applying to the Institute Residency Program.
Partnerships
First Baptist Starkville is not a seminary; we hope to be a bridge between seminaries and the local church. We believe that a seminary education is the gold standard for ministers and their theological development. Therefore, we have designed the Starkville Institute to propel students towards completing a seminary degree while offering practical ministry experience and education from the church and in the church.
We have established a partnership with New Orleans Theological Seminary so that students registered in the Institute Seminary Track may advance towards a master's level seminary degree while discovering their calling in a local church. Seminary track students may earn up to 25% of transfer credit toward their desired graduate degree program.
PHOTO FROM BAPTIST PRESS