He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, an in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Rev. 2:17

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Acts 28: 31

The Institute for Christian Living at Morning Star (ICL) seeks earnestly, intelligently and prophetically to under gird the walk of faith with the quest for understanding through the best current biblical and theological scholarship. To that end, the Institute for Christian Living aims to create and mature discerning disciples in every aspect of life.

Click here to register for classes

Course Title: Fundamentals I: Observation
Course Description: In this course, students will exercise their power of observation. Readers will learn to look for specific markers in the diverse texts of the Bible. Students will be trained to discern the voice of  God in lieu of their own interpretation while reading. As a result, participants will walk away from this class with a greater awareness of the divine signifiers in scripture and a better preparedness for in-depth life changing biblical exploration.

Required text: "Joy of Discovery" by Oletta Wald "How to Study Your Bible: The Lasting Rewards of the Inductive Method" by Kay Arthur
Recommended: "Methodical Bible Study" by Robert A. Traina "How to the Read the Bible for All Its Worth" by Douglas Stuart and Gordon Fee
Facilitator(s): Staff

Course Title: Intro to Biblical Hebrew-Registration for this Class is Closed as of 5/7
Course Description: This course is an Introduction tobiblical Hebrew with a view to develop skills in the study of the old testament texts. Emphasis will be placed on learning grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Students will walk away with a solid foundation of the principles and usages of Classical Hebrew.

Required text: "A Basic Introduction to Biblical Hebrew" by Jo Ann Hackett; Biblia Stuttgatensia (Hebrew Bible)
Prequisites: None
Facilitator(s): Rev. Mark Arnold

Course Title: God, Money, and You
Course Description: The aim of this course is to help participants develop proper skills related to learning, spending, saving, giving and getting out of debt. Each week we will cover topics that are relevant to financial health and responsibility to God.  Applied knowledge is POWER! We will encourage participants to apply and implement knowledge acquired in the course to aid them in their financial goals.

Required text: TBA
Facilitator(s): Gabrielle Rene

Course Title: Spiritual Leadership
Course Description: Have you every asked the question are leaders born or made? This interactive course will guide students interested in discovering and developing their spiritual gifts for leadership in the church.  This course will teach about the basics of spiritual disciplines and gift assessments to help students maximize their walk with and service to the Lord and discover the leadership roles that lie within.

Required text: TBA
Facilitator(s): Rev. Craig McMullen

Course Title: Transformations
Course Description: Transformations is an week course of practical teaching and instruction for members newly joined to the fellowship on select topics including methods of bible study, stewarship, and the history of the Baptist Church. The sessions are structured to encourage, edify, enlighten and equip for discipleship.

Required text: TBA
Facilitator(s): Minster Daron Banks, Minister Egobudike Ezedi, and Minister Delores Thomas

Click here to register for Classes

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is ICL?
The Institute for Christian Living (ICL) at Morning Star seeks earnestly, intelligently and prophetically to under gird the walk of faith with the quest for understanding through the best current biblical and theological scholarship. To that end, the ultimate aim of ICL is creating and maturing discerning disciples in every aspect of life.

What are the dates and times of ICL?
Every Wednesday evening at our 1257 Blue Hill Avenue location, we hold classes from 6-7pm in our ground level classrooms. Immediately following classes, bible study is held in the main sanctuary from 7-8p and concludes with corporate prayer.

Is this an accredited institution?
Becoming an accredited institution is one of many aspirations we are setting for ICL in the near future; however at the moment we are not accredited. 

Can these courses/credits be used toward a degree?
Since we are not currently an accredited institution credits can not be received for classes taught at ICL. Our courses cannot be used toward a certification/degree program.

How much do the ICL courses cost?
ICL is currently a free resource offered to members of Morning Star who desire to grow in their practical application of biblical teachings.

Who staffs the ICL course offerings/classes?
Morning Star's ministerial staff members facilitate the classes. Occasionally, we will have outside vendors come and speak on specific subjects. During one of our initial cycles, we had financial advisors from Tremont Credit Union come and speak to members in our Stewardship class on an array of financial topics such as; budgeting, saving/investing, homeownership, retirement plans, etc.

How often are the courses changed?
We have cycles for our courses. Each cycle will host different classes. Below are some of the classes we are offering during our current Spring 09 Cycle (Jan 14th- April 1st)
- Fundamentals I: Observations
- Fundamentals III: From Correlation to Application (prerequisites: I & II)
- God, Money and You (Stewardship)
- U.R.S. (Unmarried Real Spiritual)
- Intro to Biblical Hebrew Reading Group

What are the benefits of attending ICL?
The benefits of attending ICL are endless. You will acquire knowledge and understanding for everyday life in biblical and practical ways. People often struggle to pair the teachings of the bible with their daily living. Seeing the two as separate and unequal life components has been detrimental to the power and body of Christ. ICL aims to reestablish this union through its courses, thus allowing the Word to penetrate each facet of our lives.

How can I take part in ICL?
Any member of Morning Star can sign-up for a class in one of three ways:

1) Via the internet at www.msbc-bos.org

2) By registering on-site, Wednesday evenings at 6p

3) Calling 617-298-0278

Helpful Links

ICL Blog:
http://lotusebhat01.wordpress.com/

Study and Book Purchase Sites:
www.studylight.org
www.biblegateway.com
www.biblos.com
www.christianbook.com