At Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Communication prepares students to preach from, through, and like the Bible. You'll be taught by outstanding communicators like Damien Spikereit, Beth DeFazio, Matt Proctor, and Jason Poznich. You'll also receive preaching ministry mentoring from nationally known preachers in seminar settings and be part of OCC preachers' club, Kerusso.
An introductory study of the preaching task. Students learn the theology and history of preaching as well as skills needed for sermon study, construction, delivery, and evaluation.
Practical Issues in Leadership Ministry
This course is a study of the theoretical and practical dynamics relating to the development of functional maturity and pastoral/administrative behaviors both in the leader (personal) and the organization (corporate). Through lectures, classroom discussion/activities, observations, and projects, the student will gain an understanding of the roles and behaviors of leaders and an assessment of their own leadership.
Advanced Biblical Communication
An advanced preaching course that gives guidance and experience in preaching from the varied genre of the Old and New Testaments. In addition to crafting sermons from various biblical genres, students learn how current thought impacts homiletic patterns. The class follows a lecture and student-preaching format.
Foundations for Student Ministry
The course covers the development of a personal philosophy of youth ministry, the personal life of the youth minister, intergenerational student ministry, evangelism, and discipleship of students, camps, retreats, missions, events, building a volunteer team, inter-staff relationships, and other duties required in a balanced student ministry.
Strategies for Teaching
This course is designed to explore the strategies governing the teaching/learning process and the methods used to convey biblical truth in the lesson plan, the classroom setting, and the teacher/student relationship.
Preaching and Humor
This course examines the biblical roots and principles of humor as they relate to pulpit work. Students will learn through lecture, class examples, and church experiences how to use humor effectively in preaching.
Looking for a full list of courses?
View the complete course information in our catalog.
Biblical Communication Program Description and Outcomes
Program Description
This program is designed to prepare students to communicate biblical truth accurately and persuasively to a variety of audiences. Students enrolled in this major take all core biblical communication classes, appropriate ministry electives, preaching seminars, and an internship or field experience in the biblical communication area. Students experience the opportunity to preach in class several times as well as in a variety of ministry contexts.
Program Outcomes
Students completing the BA in Biblical Communication will be able to:
1. Define preaching in its theological, ecclesiastical, and cultural contexts.
2. Preach from, through, and like the Bible in written work.
3. Preach from, through, and like the Bible in class and ministry contexts.
4. Produce a preaching portfolio containing sermons from classes and ministry contexts, doctrine of preaching philosophy, and growth plan for preaching into the future.
5. Lead the church from the pulpit and from other ministry contexts available.
Meet Your Faculty Contact
“In our biblical communication courses, we continue a long legacy of training students to preach from, through, and like the Bible with clarity, creativity, and connectivity to real-life.”
Jason PoznichProfessor of Biblical Communication and New Testament
