Reviews

This class brought my heart to worship God in sweet ways.

I learned that doctrine is a form of worship.

The inerrancy section really encouraged me to approach the Bible with confidence.

I really learned a lot and this class has helped me to know what I believe at a conviction level. I feel more able to explain my faith.

How could I capture how much this class has caused me to treasure Christ? I see myself more accurately and can accept it in light of how much more clearly I see Christ. This has been the best class I've ever taken.

I loved Bible Study Methods!  It has revolutionized my walk.

I have always felt insecure leading bible studies and I've dreaded them. Now I can’t wait to do one and apply what I've learned!

This class radically changed my walk in Christ and how I approach His Word. It relieved frustrations and boredom I felt and revived my quiet times! Thank you!!!

I feel like I can get so much more out of Scripture than before.

This is a lifetime take-away course; I am already applying the gospel in a new way to my life. Thank you!

I know God better and can communicate who He is more clearly.  I know better where to look (and how to go about looking) for answers or treatments of tough questions.

God has increased my head and heart knowledge for Him and I’m better prepared to do good theology for the rest of my life.

I have much more confidence in the reliability of Scripture. I have fallen more in love with Jesus because of this class.

The whole class refreshed my soul and caused me to be more excited about the Word and the study of doctrine.

I feel like I have more concrete answers for why I believe what I do.

This class has already enriched my reading of the OT. For the first time in my life, I read stuff and say to myself, ‘this fits!’ It’s so great to have an understanding of how it all fits together.

For the first time in a real sense, I truly see the great value and necessity of the OT. I am thrilled to begin studying it with a fresh perspective and heart.

I absolutely loved this course. Favorite course ever.

It changed everything about how I understand the OT and the NT.  It has come to life for me . . . and I can’t wait to keep learning about it.

I felt like I was taking a guided tour through familiar places I didn't realize had so more to offer!

It has given me a greater appreciation of God's Word, especially how He reveals himself through the Old Testament. I will never read the Old Testament the same way again and I'm so thankful for the insight that was given through this course.

I had always heard that the OT pointed to Christ and from my own reading saw how, but after the class I have a much greater understanding of how the OT does really point to Christ. I have a much better grasp of the culture of the Ancient Near East, thereby, understanding the OT even better.

This class made me love Jesus more. I left the class humbled, I realized how much I don't know about the OT but I left the class more excited and equipped to study the Scripture. Dr. Futato is an incredible teacher and can clearly communicate the material. Not only is Dr. Futato a great instructor, but he is a pastor, I felt so edified and encouraged by his heart for God and by his ability to point my heart to Jesus. Dr. Futato is wise, Spirit-filled, and an amazing teacher and pastor.

This class gave me greater understanding and insight on the Old Testament. I was challenged in my reading of the Old Testament and am excited to engage in and meditate on the Old Testament with the new tools and knowledge that I gained from this course.

It has given me new perspective, appreciation and insight of the Old Testament Scripture. I have grown in my biblical knowledge. It has helped me greatly in comprehending God's program of revelation and redemptive plan. I have come to appreciate His character and my relationship to Him.

The vast majority of staff I know would do anything to have this class. It is hard but it is so rewarding and refreshing to your soul! The confidence and competence you gain is invaluable.

This class will completely change the way you view Scripture. Your study of the Bible will never be the same.

I felt like I understand the whole picture of the Bible more than I ever have. I feel more like I can interpret Scripture more accurately than ever before. I am seeing Christ in all Scripture, which is exciting!

I’ve gained more confidence in my ability to correctly handle the Scriptures, but I’ve also seen how challenging it is.

Communicating up front scares me to death. This class equipped me well, enabled me to practice even took me from a point of dread to the thought of talking to enjoying it.

This was the most helpful ‘development’ I’ve ever had in eight years of being on staff. I feel like I have finally found out how to lead the way I really want to . . . from the Word. I’m so thankful I took this class and feel empowered!

All staff should take this class! This is one of the first classes I’ve taken that has moved beyond head knowledge and into practical application. We NEED THIS every day on campus. I feel the concepts taught here will help keep me from floundering for “what will I teach next week?” It truly helps me rightly divide the word of truth and makes inductive study not so daunting or boring.

This course was life-changing for us! It equipped us to communicate God’s word clearly and accurately both in large and small group settings. Our marriage has been enriched because we have been given a framework in which to study the Bible together, and we both personally have been refreshed because this class has enabled us to see how truly beautiful our Savior is through His word.

This class rocked my world. At first it is really uncomfortable to practice writing and preaching like this but I’m getting more confident and comfortable with it and its great to understand that your talk is really pointing people to Jesus and not to some lists of should and dos.

I am telling everyone to take IBS classes!

This is one of the best things Cru does. It forced me to see studying scripture and giving a talk in a whole new light. Thanks so much.

I know this isn't the real focus of the class, but what I most benefited from was just spending so much time in one passage and seeing the Lord move my heart to trust hi goodness even more through really digging into it. You gave us some great tools to do that and I look forward to using them back on campus. I loved this class and am so thankful to have taken it, so thank you for all of your work! This has been my favorite summer assignment ever and it has been so refreshing to my soul, so thank you again for all that you've done to make it possible!

My affections for Christ have definitely been stirred.

Very rich spiritually, personally loved the repeated emphasis on the heart, on the music and beauty of Christ.

I am much more confident to read and interpret the Scripture-especially the OT. I am excited to teach my students and my staff-team the concepts and lessons I have learned. I felt privileged to learn from such great professors and teachers.

I have learned a different approach to developing Bible studies for groups as well as my own personal Bible study - one that is always Christ-centered. I also was reminded about good communication skills. The speaking drills were helpful.

I continued to learn how to read God's word in a redemptive way. Isolating from the text where I too am fallen and how the gospel speaks to that point by giving me something to trust and believe or something to motivate me to change.

[It is] great to have an overview to see who we are and where we came from to safeguard us from mistakes of the past.

This class deepened my own heart for Christ and strengthened my faith as I learned of the richness of the story of church

I have much more confidence and tools to engage our campus and culture.

This is a great class to help understand the worldviews around us so we can become more effective in sharing the gospel.  I also gained a deeper love for the Lord and his wonder and grace.

I’m inspired and motivated to engage cross-culturally.

Our class [Christian World-View] has helped me think differently about my ministry in Central Asia.

Loved the class – it deepened my understanding of the world-view of the students I’m ministering to [in East Asia], and helped me in terms of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development.

I had a significant spiritual conversation with a Muslim for the first time ever, because of the [class] interview assignment.

I feel better equipped to understand and engage in the multicultural reality of Toronto [Canada].

Great reading, great information. In terms of practical application to my ministry, I wish I had taken this class twenty years ago.

Meditating on the cross/Christ helped me evaluate how I share the gospel, how I live out the gospel in my family, staff team, church, etc.

This class challenged how I view ‘sin’ and how that affects how I communicate and defend the gospel. The course has also given me a greater depth of worshipfulness of who God, His choosing me. It has also affirmed to me the importance of knowing God’s word and understanding correct doctrines.

I realized now that there are certain areas of theology that I believed without really knowing why—this class really challenged me to resolve that.

I often left class in awe of God and contemplating who he is.

Systematic Theology exciting? Actually, yes! The classes definitely exceeded my expectations. Intellectually challenging, yet relevant to ministry back on campus.

I've been able to internalize the Gospel and experience God's love and freedom in fresh ways.

I am in awe of the Father's love for me! I know the Word better and am refreshed and ready to share the gospel.

I enjoyed gaining a deeper and more accurate understanding of what Jesus accomplished for me and who he is.

It really helped me understand the marvelous gospel even more.

My mind was both challenged and refreshed and my love for Christ was strengthened.

I feel better equipped to discuss objections people have of Christ’s claims in the context of our postmodern culture.

This was such a great class—full of ideas for talking with people who have questions about Christianity.  It was very applicable to ministry

[I learned] how to critically and intelligently respond to where people are at.  Learning to understand, ask questions and listen to where they are coming from.

I feel better equipped to share and defend my faith.