Certified Lay Ministry Trainining Course | Basic Bible
Grow in your confidence, clarity, and skill as a student and teacher of Scripture through this two-part GMC Certified Lay Ministry training course.
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Part 1: Introduction to Scripture
Friday, October 2 | 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Matt Ayars
Explore how the Bible came into being, how the canon was recognized, and how Scripture has been transmitted and translated throughout history. This session will also introduce essential Christian beliefs about the Bible, including its inspiration, authority, inerrancy, sufficiency, clarity, and unity.
Dr. Matt Ayars holds a PhD in Old Testament from the University of Chester/St John’s College in England, an MA in Biblical Literature from Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a BA in Bible and Theology from Asbury University. An experienced Old Testament scholar, educator, and ministry leader, he has taught biblical studies at Emmaus University of Haiti, served as adjunct faculty in Old Testament at Asbury University, and served as president and assistant professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Seminary. He currently serves as lead pastor of Wellspring Church in Madison, Mississippi, and as an elder in the Global Methodist Church.
Part 2: Introduction to Inductive Bible Study
Saturday, October 3 | 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Rick Boyd
Learn a practical, inductive approach to studying Scripture carefully, contextually, and faithfully. Participants will explore the importance of literary genre, structure, historical context, and canonical themes while learning to avoid common interpretive errors such as proof-texting and reading passages apart from their context.
Dr. Rick Boyd holds a PhD in New Testament from the London School of Theology, where his doctoral work was completed under the supervision of Dr. David Bauer at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies since 2019 and has participated in the Evangelical Theological Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the Society of Biblical Literature.
By the end of the course, participants will be better equipped to read, interpret, teach, and apply the Bible in preaching, discipleship, personal study, and the life of the church.
