"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 2 Peter 1:5-8
Classes
Grace Institute provides a structured and communal class environment for the GBC family to grow in their knowledge of God, his Word, and discipleship to Jesus (Romans 8:30, Colossians 2:8-9, 2 Peter 1:5). Every follower of Jesus is called to a life-long journey of discipleship or "learning", and we want to help you do that. For those exploring faith in Jesus, we believe learning plays a key role, and we hope one of these classes can help you on your journey (John 20:31).
We offer classes in four categories:
- Foundational Theology - What should we believe and why?
- Spiritual Formation - How can my heart be formed into the person of Jesus?
- Mission - How can I engage in God's mission in my community and the world?
- Practical Theology - How do I live out the gospel in a particular area of my life?
Most of our classes are short-term (3-10 weeks), though Foundational Theology typically meets regularly throughout the year with topics rotating. For new believers or skeptics exploring Christianity, we particularly recommend the Foundations of Life class, which meets on Sunday nights during our youth programs.
We hope that you consider participating in a class. We know that God is at work among his people, growing us by his Spirit into the image of Jesus. We are praying for the Lord to use these efforts to grow us in him, for our joy and his glory.
For any questions please email .
CURRENT CLASS OFFERINGS - FALL 2025
#1 Christian Theology 1 | Divine Revelation
Category: Foundational Theology
In this class, we will take a deep dive into the study of divine revelation. We will explore the various ways in which God reveals himself to us and the nature of that revelation. We will explore questions like: How was the Bible put together? Who decided which books were in and which were out? What are the key attributes of the Bible? Can we really trust the Bible makes no mistakes? Or other difficult questions like: In terms of salvation, can people who have never heard of Christ really be accountable to God? The class will include ample time for discussion and questions will be welcomed.
This 10-week class will be taught by GBC member Steve Creutz, professional accountant and theology student at Talbot School of Theology (Biola), and will meet on Sunday mornings during the 10:00 AM service in Classroom 2 of Fellowship Hall starting on 9/7.
#2 Conversational Apologetics | Discussing Your Christian Convictions with Confidence
Category: Mission
Sharing your faith and talking about your beliefs doesn’t have to be scary or difficult. In fact, with just a handful of biblical techniques, anyone can learn to navigate such conversations—even with limited or no knowledge. In addition to equipping you with important information, this course introduces fundamental tools for conversational apologetics and will help train you to maneuver and respond to questions and objections in a relaxed and confident manner in your conversations with others, even when they may disagree.
This 8-week class will be taught by GBC member Randy Pistor, professional attorney with an MA in Christian Apologetics from Talbot School of Theology (Biola), and will meet on Sunday mornings during the 10:00 AM service in Classroom 1 of Fellowship Hall starting on 9/7.
#3 Foundations for Life | Making Sense of Life and Faith
Category: Foundational Theology
This class is designed to provide you with answers for some of life’s most significant questions. The class will explore the basics of Christianity. We all need a solid foundation to build on and this class is the place to start your journey. If you're beginning your search, feel like the Bible is foreign to you, overwhelming, or trying to understand what following Jesus means, come join us.
This 8-week class will be taught by Jack Glupker, long-time GBC member who has regularly taught this class for many years. This class will meet on Sunday nights from 5:00-6:30 in Fellowship Hall starting on 9/7.
#4 Intro to Spiritual Disciplines
Category: Spiritual Formation
Dive into a life of spiritual growth through a transformative class on Christian spiritual disciplines. Explore practices including prayer, meditation, and scriptural study, inspired by the life of Christ. This course offers practical insights into both personal introspection and external actions, aimed at cultivating a life shaped by faith and dedicated to spiritual growth.
This 6-week class will be taught by Ryan McDonald, Director of Music and Spiritual Formation at Grace, and will meet on Monday evenings from 6:00pm-7:30pm in Fellowship Hall starting on 9/8.
#5 Supernatural | The Worldview of Scripture
Category: Foundational Theology
Why was Eve unsurprised when the serpent spoke with her in Eden? Who were the Nephilim? Who are the divine beings that Yahweh presides over? Who were the "sons of God"? How do angels factor into the supernatural hierarchy? How does Jesus relate to the rest of the supernatural world? In this eye-opening course, we will explore how to approach Scripture from the viewpoint of the ancient Jewish reader and writer. Understanding the ancient context of Scripture and its supernatural worldview will help us grow in our knowledge and understanding of God.
This class will be taught by Dave Brzezinski, elder at GBC and professor in the sciences at the University of Michigan, and will meet on Sunday mornings during the 10:00 AM service in the main area of Fellowship Hall starting on 9/7.