Our history

The Core Idea For The Institute Of Biblical Studies Came From Campus Crusade For Christ Who Provided Focused & Systematic Biblical Training In Their Discipleship Process.  With This Influence In My Background I Wrestled With How To Disciple Leaders In The Local Church Who Were Leading Small Group Ministries & Other Important Ministries In The Church.  

This Led To Making Some Alterations In The Adult Sunday School Through Assignment Of Lessons With The Option Of Achievement Levels.  The Education Process Was Also Redesigned So That It Reflected A Sequential Series Of Classes That Promoted Christian Growth From The Point Of Spiritual Birth Through The Foundational Issues Required To Grow In The Christian Faith.  Believers In The Church Who Manifested The Spiritual Gift Of Teaching Were Assigned To Teach Subjects That Expressed Their Particular Area Of Interest.  

The Result Was The Institute Of Biblical Studies Within The Walls Of The Church That Provided An Adult Continuing Education Option.  Any Believer With An Appetite To Be Challenged In Their Growth Had The Opportunity To Do So By Picking A Level Of Achievement In A Class & Completing The Assignments.  

This Accountable Discipleship Process Was Extended To All Those Who Served In Leadership & Lay Pastor Roles. Leaders Were Required To Take Classes For Credit While In Positions Of Service.  The Spiritual Lives Of  Many Were Forever Changed By This Strategically Focused Discipleship Effort.

Within The Church Community At Large There Are Statistically Few Churches That Have Systems In Place To Challenge Christians To Become Accountable & Growing Disciples.  The Impact On Our Call To Change The World Is Diluted Because Believers Lack The Training To Fight On The Spiritual Battlefield.

After Stepping Out Of My Role As A Senior Pastor & Church Planter For A Season The Passion For Discipleship Ministry Never Ceased. My Heart Began To Focus On The Question Of How I Could Encourage Believers To Use The Technology We Have Today To Study The Depths Of The Living Word Of God For Themselves. "To Learn To Fish Rather Than Just Eating Fish Provided By The Fishing Efforts Of Others."

The Focus Now Turned To The Logos Bible Program Which Most Would Consider The Top Bible Software Program In The World.  I Have Owned Logos For Over 20+ Years, But It Is A Full Featured Program Which I Failed To Use To Any Significant Extent Due A To Lack Of Training.  Once I Took The Time To Go Through The Training My Eyes Were Opened To The Possibilities For The Spiritual Growth Of Any Believer With A Appetite To Grow In Their Faith Through Deeper Inductive Study Of The Word Of God.

Classroom Training Is Important But For This Training To Become Part Of Our Daily Life An On-The-Job Experience Is Critical To Move What We Learn Into Practical Reality.  The Logos Mastery/1 Peter Class Was Designed To Take The Classroom Knowledge & Apply It To An Inductive Study Experience.  A New Vision Was Now Born, To Disciple Believers In "How To Fish In The Word For Themselves." 

It Took Approximately Two Years To Write & Field Test The Sessions For The Mastery/1 Peter Class & Each Year The Class Has Received New Updates & Revisions. The Reward Has Been In Watching Those Who Never Attended A Bible College Or Seminary Use The Logos Tools To Study The Bible At Depths That Previously Required Training At A Higher Institution.

The Effectiveness & Flexibility Provided By Current Online Options Like Zoom Have In Essence Removed The Physical Barriers For Discipleship. This Led To The Next Step Of Development Which Is The Ability To Support Believers & Local Churches With The IBS Discipleship System Of Classes That Were Effective In Our Early History.

Over The Last Several Years The IBS Classes Have Been Developed, Revised & Formatted To Be Used In These Online Sessions.  This Is A Process That Continues To This Day. The Result Is Manifested Throughout This Website As A Strategic & Focused Discipleship Support System For The Individual Believer & For Local Churches Without The Financial Burden Of Paying A Fee For The Instruction.  For Local Church Leadership Who Are Too Overwhelmed To Develop & Initiate A Discipleship System A "Turn Key" System Is Now Available With No Financial Obligation & Limited Staff Time & Effort.