FGBI is for the believer who desires:

• Personal growth and transformation in an intense and challenging biblical learning situation (Rom. 12:2; 1 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 3:18)

• To serve those for whom Christ died in specific ministerial roles

• To willingly and seriously serve the Lord and His church with the right attitude by being faithful, teachable, and submissive servants of the Lord.

• To demonstrate the above by submission to the Scriptures and the pastoral leadership of West Side Baptist Church (Heb. 13:17). The student must also be willing to serve in the local church.

• To be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:9-10) by fulfilling the primary mandate of the believer “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph 4:1).

Costs and expenses

Matthew 10:8 (NASB) Freely you received, freely give.

There is no charge of any kind for attending the Free Grace Bible Institute. We are a grace ministry operating entirely on the voluntary grace-giving of those who desire to give. When gratitude for the Word of God motivates a believer to give for the support of the materials disseminated by the school, or for other expenses, they can contribute directly through West Side Baptist Church to the Bible Institute ministry. FGBI is a financially self-supporting ministry.

The student will be expected to acquire certain textbooks and/or reading materials for classes and thus are responsible for any cost. We make every attempt to keep these costs at a minimum. Some books can be acquired for a donation to the ministry that provides them. In addition the student needs to acquire three-ring notebooks for the provided study notes.

If students or others wish to provide financial support to assist students in the purchase of textbooks, they are free to do so. A separate fund will be maintained for this purpose by West Side Baptist Church.

Unless they receive a waver from the Pastor-teacher, all students must attend West Side Baptist Church. It is expected of them – as all believers – to be motivated by gratitude to the Lord to financially support the on-going ministry of the church as well as the Bible Institute. However, this is a private matter strictly between them and the Lord and no accounting of any kind will ever be required.

All full time students are also expected to subscribe to and read the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society. Their website is www.faithalone.org. Current cost is $18.50 per year.

Accreditation

 The Free Grace Bible Institute is a non-accredited Bible teaching ministry. The Institute will issue Bible Certificates upon completion of the required courses. If any other school or ministry accepts these credits it is strictly up to them.

The learning environment is very personal and designed to aid in the person understanding and applying Bible Doctrine to their daily life as well as preparing for ministry in and through the local church.

Why the term

“Free Grace”?

 Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB) ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 In the modern church world few things have become more confused and unclear than the answer to the question, “How can I know I go to heaven when I die?” This is the message of life also referred to as the gospel. Most so-called gospel presentations include some form of works-salvation – that is, there is something a person must do, something or someone they must commit to, some action they have to take or, maybe, some prayer they have to pray.

 Free Grace understands that the offer of eternal life, given by God, is a totally free gift – no strings attached – just as Ephesians 2:8-9 states. Grace that gives eternal life is free! The requirement for being given this gift of eternal life is simply to believe, as Jesus clearly stated:

 John 6:47 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

To believe is to be convinced or persuaded, to know, to have an internal conviction, that something is true. Faith is not some “decision to follow Christ,” it is to believe in (or to have faith in) Jesus Himself; He alone is the object of our faith. Again, to believe or to have faith is to simply be convinced that what Jesus Christ says is true. It is to know that He is the only one qualified to give you eternal life because He is the only one who has fully paid the sin debt at the cross and rose again. It is to know that when Jesus says He will give eternal life to all who believe Him for that life they immediately receive the gift of eternal life that cannot and will be removed for any reason. It is as simple as that!

John 11:25-26 (NKJV) ²⁵ Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

Jesus gives a guarantee that anyone who by simply believing in Him will be resurrected and experience eternal life. We place our eternal destiny in His hands and cease from all efforts to participate in or contribute to our own salvation whether it be through self-effort, commitment, prayer, perseverance, or some church ritual. This and this alone is saving faith: faith alone in Christ alone. Once it is received the gift of eternal life cannot never be lost or taken away.

Zane Hodges writes in Absolutely Free!: “The truth that Jesus is the Christ – the truth that He is the Giver of eternal life to every believer – is saving truth. Belief in this truth produces immediate – and permanent – new birth” (p.42).

1 John 5:1 (NKJV) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God

John 20:31 (NKJV) but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that bel

This is why we are named the Free Grace Bible Institute.

Our path to learning and transformation

Bible Institute classes will be offered as follows:

•  The normal Bible teaching of the church given at the three Sunday and one Wednesday Bible classes will be credited for course completion provided the student is faithful in attendance and maintains the teaching notes which are provided. Some follow-up action may be required from time to time at the discretion of the Pastor-teacher.

•  Face-to-face classes will be scheduled in addition to the normal routine of teaching in the church. These classes will usually use a variety of textbooks and other study materials which the student must acquire. Many of these classes will be taught through the use of various media such as CD, MP3, or DVD / video teaching.

•  Independent studies are those which utilize book, printed material, taped, CD, DVD, or on-line teaching which the student can complete independent of the classroom.  Some of these may be from previous classes taught by our Pastor-teacher; some may come from other Bible teachers.

•  Additional reading or viewing material will be given depending upon the course. The student’s grasp of the material will be evaluated in a variety of ways.

•  One-on-one counseling and personal instruction will be given to each student to help them apply what they are learning to the details of their life.

Many exams given will be open book; some have regular exams; some have no “official” exams at all but only attendance in the face-to-face Bible classes. We believe it is important to not only learn the material but also to be able to discover how to find answers in the study materials. This trains the student in the use of biblical study resources.

THE FGBI STUDENT MUST BE STRONGLY SELF-MOTIVATED TO LEARN AND NOT JUST TO ACHIEVE A CERTIFICATE. THE STUDENT MUST DESIRE TO LEARN AND ADVANCE IN THE FAITH  FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD WITH THE GOAL OF RECEIVING HIS APPROVAL AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

BIBLE STUDY CERTIFICATION

CERTIFICATE IN BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALS

Issued upon completion of 32 credit hours

Upon receiving the above certificate one can advance to the next level:

ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALS

Issued upon completion of an additional 64 credit hours

Upon receiving the first two certificates one can advance to the next level:

TEACHING CERTIFICATE IN BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALS

Issued upon completion of an additional 32 credit hours plus teaching one supervised Bible study course either in the local Churchor in the Free Grace Bible Institute

PASTOR-TEACHER CERTIFICATE IN BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALS

Issued upon completion of an additional 32 credit hours plus teaching two supervised Bible study courses in either the Bible Institute or the local church and pulpit preaching as assigned by the Pastor-teacher.

Classes offered

The Free Grace Bible Institute uses a variety of teachers through the face-to-face and audio / video/ on-line formats. This means that students receive instruction - as they would at a traditional college campus - from more than one instructor and viewpoint. We are striving to make this as balanced an educational experience as is possible

 We now offer Distance AEducation Courses and Certifications.Click here for information

The class room course schedule will be announced. Self-paced, audio, or video courses may be taken by simply requesting them from Pastor and the purchasing of any necessary materials. Some course materials (such as DVD’s, MP3, etc.) must be used only within the confines of the Bible Institute or church to avoid loss. Some materials may be duplicated by the media ministry for a small charge which can be used at your home.

The first course required is the self-paced study 20 Basic Doctrines of the Bible. See the link below under "Doctrine." You can print out the course and, after completion, send it in for evaluation. It will be returned. If you prefer you can answer the questions in an email and send it to doctrinepastor@zoominternet.net. The second required course is The Basics   The book can be ordered or it can be studied on-line at www.basictraining.org (see the link under the section "Doctrine"). Email the Free Grace Bible Institute for further information as to how to complete this course on line.

List of Educational Courses

 Credit Hours listed in parenthesis followed by teacher & type of class

 Apologetics

Foundations of Apologetics (3) – (Ravi Zacharias)

Jesus Among the Other Gods (2) – (Ravi Zacharias)

Disaster, Evil, and the God of the Scriptures (2) – (David Pearson

Many Infallible Truths (3) – (Henry Morris)

The Case for Christ (2) – (Lee Strobel)

True for You but Not True for Me (3) - (Paul Copan)

Understanding the Times (3): (David Noebel – Summit Ministries)

Bible Book Studies

Genesis (4) – (A. Fructenbaum)

Exodus (3) – (A. Frctenbaum)

Leviticus (3) – (Steven Charles Ger)

Numbers (3) – (A. Fructenbaum)

Deuteronomy (3) – (Jaques Isaac Gabizon)

Joshua (3) – (A. Fructenbaum)

Judges (3) – (Robert Dean)

Ruth (2) – (Robert Dean)

1 Samuel (3) – (Tom Constable)

2 Samuel (3) – (Tom Constable)

Highlights of the Book of Psalms (3) – (Barry Leventhal)

Ecclesiastes (2) – (Gene Cunningham)

Ezekiel (3) – (A. Fructenbaum)

Daniel (3) – (David Pearson)

The Major Prophets (3) - (Ed DeZago)

Highlights of the Minor Prophets (3) – (A. Fructenbaum)

John (4) – (David Pearson)

Acts (3) – (New Tribes Mission)

Romans (3) – (Zane Hodges)

Corinthian Epistles (3) - (C. Norman Sellers)

Messianic Studies in Galatians (3) – (Mottel Baleston)

Colossians (2) – (Gene Cunningham)

The Prison Epistles (3) – (C. Norman Sellers)

1 and 2 Thessalonians (3) – (David Pearson)

1 and 2 Timothy (3) – (Tom Constable)

Titus (2) – (Tom Constable)

Hebrews (8) – (Robert Dean)

James (3) – (David Pearson - Entitled "Growing Up is Hard to Do"

Messianic Jewish Epistles (3): (A. Fructenbaum)

Epistles of John – (3): (Zane Hodges)

Jude – (2): (David Pearson)

Revelation (4): (David Pearson)  (part of Bible Prophecy series)

Bible General Studies

A General Introduction to the Bible (3) – (David Pearson)

How We Know the Bible is True – Bibliology or the Doctrine of the Scriptures: (4) – (Arnold Fructenbaum) Classroom/workbook/book/audio/includes DVDs from  Randall Price and Robert Dean

Through the Bible in a Year (Survey of all 66 Books) (3) – (Alan Stringfellow)

Understanding the Old Testament (2): (Robert Dean)

Old Testament Survey (3) – (Drue Freeman Foundations)

New Testament Survey (3) – (Drue Freeman Foundations)

An Introduction to Biblical Framework (.5): (Charlie Clough)

Biblical Framework one (8) – (Charlie Clough)

Framework Approach to Teaching in the Word of God (.5) – (Charlie Clough):

Bible Interpretation

Methodological Bible Study (2) – (A. Fructenbaum)

Basic Hermeneutics – (in Drue Freeman Foundations)

Categorical Doctrinal Studies

The Angelic Conflict (4) – (David Pearson)

Bible Prophecy (4) – (David Pearson)

Prayer (2) – (Robert Dean)

The Eight Covenants of the Bible (2) – (Mottel Baleston)

The Plan of the Ages – Dispensationalism (2): (Mottel Baleston)

Dispensationalism (3) – (Robert Dean)

Doctrines of the Spiritual Life (3): (David Pearson)

Spiritual Gifts (3) – (David Pearson)

Forty Things: A Study of Positional Truth (3): (Dennis Wise)

Regeneration Precedes Faith and the Perseverance of the Saints (1) – (Wilkin/White Debate):

The Ministries of the Holy Spirit (2): (David Pearson)

Eternal Rewards (3) - (David Pearson)

Salvation (2) – (Robert Dean)

Worship and Music (1) – (Robert Dean

Assurance in Eternal Life (3) – (various and David Pearson)

Christian issues

The Battle for the Gospel-Understanding Free Grace (3) - (David Pearson): Classroom/audio/books/notes

Calvinism, Arminianism, and the Scriptures (3) – (David Pearson) Classroom/audio/books/notes

World Religions and the Cults (3) – (David Pearson and others): Classroom/DVD/book

Psychology and the Church (2) – (David Pearson): Classroom/audio/DVD/notes

The Christian Family (2) – (David Pearson): Classroom/audio/book/notes

Spiritual Gifts the False and the True – Pentecostal and Charismatic Issues (3) – (David Pearson):     Classroom/notes

The Dangers in the Modern Church – Liberalism, Mysticism, Purpose-driven, Seeker-sensitive, and Emergent Church – includes DVD lessons from Norman Geisler, John Ankerberg, Joseph Holden, Ron Rhodes, and others (3) – (David Pearson): Classroom/DVD/notes

Worldviews in Conflict (2) - (David Noebel/David Pearson): Classroom/DVD/book

Teaching Doctrine in the Local Church (3) – (David Pearson): Classroom/books/notes

The Sabbath (.5) – (A. Fructenbaum): Classroom/independent/audio/notes

Engaging Popular Culture: Worldviews in Movies and Music (.5) – (Chuck Edwards): Classroom/DVD

The Church

Ecclesiology (3) – (David Pearson): Classroom/book/notes

Church History, an introduction (1) - (Robert Dean): Independent/audio

Baptist History (3) – (David Pearson): Classroom/book/workbook/notes

Reformation Overview (2) – (Ken Curtis): Classroom/DVD/workbook

Creation and Science Issues

Creation Conference at Chafer Theological Seminary (2) – (Robert Dean and others):  Classroom/independent/DVD

Truth in the Balance (3) – (David Pearson from notes by David Prentice):  Classroom/independent/audio/notes

Does It Matter What You Believe? (.5) – (Mike Riddle): Classroom/DVD/notes

Origins (3) – (Answers in Genesis): Classroom/DVD/books/notes

Astronomy (3) - (Answers in Genesis): Classroom/DVD/books/notes

Geology (3) - (Answers in Genesis): Classroom/DVD/books/notes

Thousands…not Billions (2) - (Don DeYoung): Classroom/DVD/book/workbook

The Long War Against God (3) – (Henry Morris): Classroom/independent/book/workbook

Biblical Archeology (2) – (Randal Price, Joe Holden, and others): Classroom/DVD/book

Cloning, Stem Cells, and the Value of Life (.5) – (Mike Riddle): Classroom/DVD

Doctrine (Theology)

Introduction to Doctrine – 20 Basic Doctrines (1) – (David Pearson): independent/notes

The Basics (3) – (Gene Cunningham): Independent/book. This study can be accessed on line at

www.basictraining.org

Orientation to Basic Theology – (3) – (Drue Freeman Foundations): Classroom/book

Theology One (3) – (David Robbins): Classroom/audio/workbook

Theology Two (3) – (C. Norman Sellers): Classroom/audio/workbook

Theology three (3) – (C. Norman Sellers): Classroom/audio/workbook

Theology Four (3) – (C. Norman Sellers): Classroom/audio/workbook

Firm Foundations: From Creation to Christ – (New Tribes Missions): Classroom/workbook

The Names of God Seminar (1) – (David Pearson): Classroom/notes

Foundations for Life (2) – (Robert Dean): Classroom/independent/DVD

"Come and See" 50 studies in Bible Doctrine (6) by Arnold Fruchtenbaum. This course is studied from the Ariel Ministries website located at www.ariel.org. Email FGBI for further details on earning the credits for this study.

Evangelism

The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus (3) – (Goodseed International): Classroom/DVD/workbook

You Can Tell It! Academic (3) – (Larry Moyer): Classroom/DVD/workbook

Roman Catholic Evangelism (3) – (David Pearson): Classroom/independent/audio/notes

Jewish Evangelism (2) – (Sam Nadler): Classroom/DVD

History

The Christian Heritage of America (2) – (David Barton): Classroom/DVD

Messianic Jewish History (2) – (Mottell Baleston): Classroom/DVD

The Holocaust: History and Theology (2) – (Mottell Baleston): Classroom/DVD

Against All Odds Israel Survives (2) – (various): Classroom/DVD

Ancient Civilizations from Creation to Christ (3) – (Notes by Diana Waring): Classroom/notes

Romans, Reformers, and Revolutionaries (3) – (Notes by Diana Waring): Classroom/notes

World Empires, World Missions, World Wars (3) (Notes by Diana Waring): Classroom/notes

Civilizations: Genesis 9-10 (2) – (R.B. Theime): Classroom/independent/audio

Historical Trends – Unrest, Revolution (1) – (R.B. Theime): Classroom/independent/audio

How Then Should We Live? (3) – (Francis Schaffer): Classroom/DVD/workbook

Historical Revisionism (.5) – (Gary DeMar): Classroom/DVD

Bible History Visualized: C-ing Bible History (3) – (David Pearson) classroom/notes

Israel Studies

(See also under History)              

Israelology (3) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): Classroom/DVD/book/notes

The Remnant of Israel (2) – (Arnold Fructenabum): Classroom/audio/notes

Exploring the Heart of the Feasts of Israel (2) – (Steven Ger): Classroom/DVD/notes

Anti-Semitism (1) – (R.B. Theime): Classroom/independent/DVD

The Good News of the Passover & Making Sense of the Jews (1) - (Jaques Isaac Gabizon): Classroom/independent/DVD/notes

The Church and the Jews (.5) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): classroom/independent/audio

Israel: Past, Present, and Future (2) – (Robert Dean) – includes “After the Kingdom” and “The Eternal Order (Arnold Fructenbaum) Classroom/independent/ DVD/audio

Jesus Christ

Messianic Life of Christ (3) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): Classroom/DVD/book/notes

The Person of Christ Seminar (2) – (C. Norman Sellers): Classroom/DVD/workbook

Who is Jesus (2) – (Robert Dean): Classroom/independent/DVD

The Ascension and Session of Christ (2) – (Robert Dean) includes “The Transfiguration of Jesus” (Arnold Fructenbaum): Classroom/independent/DVD

The Resurrection and the Gospel (2) – (Robert Dean): Classroom/independent/DVD

Messianic Christology (2) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): Independent/book/workbook

Pleased as Man with Men to Dwell (.5) – (David Pearson): Independent/audio/notes

Language Studies

New Testament Greek (5) – (C. Norman Sellers): Classroom/DVD/books/workbook

Invitation to Biblical Hebrew (5) – (Russell Fuller): Classroom/DVD/book/workbook

Using Language Resources for the English Only Student (2) – (David Pearson): Classroom/notes

English 101 (3) – (Kimberly Ryhal) – Classroom/book

English 102 (3) – (Kimberly Ryhal)– Classroom/book

Missions

The Framework in Missions (.5) – (John Cross): Classroom/independent/DVD

Building on Firm Foundations Seminar (.5) – (Trevor McIlwian): Classroom/independent/DVD

Missions in the 21^st Century (2) – (Woodrow Kroll): Classroom//independent/DVD

The Bible and World Missions (2) – (G. Christian Weiss): Independent/workbook

Missionary Motives and Methods of Paul (2) – (Gene Cunningham): Independent/audio

A History of Missions Through 1983 (3) – (J. Herbert Kane): Classroom/independent/audio/book

Various Studies and Seminars

The Eight Mysteries of the New Testament (1) – (Arnold Fructenbaum):  Classroom/independent/audio/notes

The Warning Passages of Hebrews Seminar (2) – (C. Norman Sellers): Classroom/DVD/workbook/booklet

They Call Him John (John the Baptist) (2) – (Woodrow Kroll): Classroom/DVD/notes

The Olivet Discourse (1) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): DVD/notes

Great Characters of the Bible (3) – (Alan Stringfellow): Independent/workbook

Psalm 90 (1) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): Independent/audio/notes

Introduction to the Free Grace Bible Institute (1) – (David Pearson): Classroom

Living in the Family of Grace (2) – (Charlie Bing): Classroom/independent/workbook

The Names of God (.5) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): Independent/audio

The Biblical View of Death (.5) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): Independent/audio

Living Life in the Light of Eternity (1) – (Robert Dean): Independent/DVD

The Dead Sea Scrolls (.5) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): Independent/audio/notes

What God Wants You to know About Money (1) (Woodrow Kroll) DVD/notes

The Law of Moses/ The Law of Messiah (.5) – (Arnold Fructenbaum): Independent/audio/notes

Discussions on Tough Texts (2) – (Hodges/Wilkin): Independent/audio

Foundations for Living Series (2) – (Robert Dean): Classroom/independent/DVD

Running to Win (1) – (David Pearson): Independent/audio/notes

Tabernacle Study (2) – (Robert Dean) [part of the Hebrews study]: Independent/DVD

Are You Afraid of Grace? (.5) – (David Pearson): Independent/audio/notes

Leading in Congregational Worship (2) – (David Pearson): Classroom

Credit hours for each course are listed in brackets (-) after each course. Other courses may be added in the future. Credit hour listing is subject to modifications. Please note some are .5 – that is, a ½ credit hour.

 NOTE: not all courses are available at all times. Please contact Pastor-teacher David Pearson for more specific information.<!--[endif]-->                                               

The challenge is before you! Will you take on a serious course of study for the glory of the Lord and work through to graduation?

 Ordination to preach and teach the Word will be considered only for men approved by Pastor-teacher David Pearson and the saints at West Side Baptist Church. All such men should achieve the PASTOR-TEACHER CERTIFICATE IN BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALS

 A specific list of course requirements for the Pastor-teacher certificate will be made available upon request after a person has completed the first certificate.

The challenge is before you! Will you take on a serious course of study for the glory of the Lord and work through to graduation?