YFC/USA World Outreach participates in the evangelism of youth by sending Christian U. S. Citizens to serve the ministries of YFC International via more than 100 full-time and short-term missionaries serving in approximately 40 different countries around the world.
NOTE: This program is designed for those already involved with YFC. If you wish to join YFC, please contact them at www.yfc.org prior to enrolling into the CUGN program.
World Outreach missionaries who have not taken at least one semester of bible/theology courses from an accredited college/university have continuing education requirements. In order to meet YFC’s credentialing standards you need to fulfill the following:
You must complete two of the following three online academic tracks within the first two years of ministry:
Old Testament Survey
New Testament Survey
Intro to Christian Apologetics
Next Steps:
You will need to apply at CUGN in order to take these courses for credit.
- Open the application form
- Under “Select Program”, select “Youth For Christ World Outreach”
- Submit the form with a $15 application fee.
- Submit a valid, legal Photo I.D.
Core 1: Self-Study
Course Description
People have many reasons for rejecting the Christian faith. Some may admire Christ but dislike His followers. Others find it difficult to accept any faith that claims to be the only way to God. Why would anyone limit themselves to only one of the world’s great religions? If the Christian faith is the true path to God, what is the evidence for this? This course will examine the credibility of its founder, the reliability of its book, its explanations for life, its impact on society, its offer of salvation, and other topics to discover “Ten Reasons to Believe in the Christian Faith.”
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
View course syllabusCourse Description
Jesus Christ continues to be one of the most controversial people in history. Few people have much of a problem as long as he is portrayed as a kindly moral teacher. But his biblical claim to be God is often met with strong opposition and disbelief. “Ten Reasons to Believe God Became a Man” will examine the evidence, including Jesus’ claims, eyewitness accounts, fulfilled prophecy, miraculous signs and other sources.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
For centuries, thoughtful people have questioned the existence of God. They have proposed that the belief in a higher power was invented by people who needed a sense of protection and spiritual meaning. Yet despite this and other challenges, there are convincing evidences that support a credible belief in the God of the Bible. This course will examine the limits of science, the argument for intelligent design in nature, the claims of Christ, and much more in an investigation of “Ten Reasons to Believe in the Existence of God.”
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
What happens after we die? Is it the end of our existence or the beginning of another journey? In this course you’ll examine what the Bible says about life after death, and gain a deeper understanding of how our view of death should radically affect how we live.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
Hypocrites. The word carries with it a sneer and a skeptical view of a person’s religious claims. In fact, religious people are still only people; people who are flawed, weak, and sometimes failing. The question is, can someone experience times of spiritual failure and still truly be a person of faith? In this course, we will examine ten converging lines of evidence that can give clarity to a confusing issue, “Ten Reasons to Believe Real Christians Can Look Like They're Not.”
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
A case could be made that the central premise of the Christian faith is that Jesus rose from the grave. To many, it is a claim that hovers somewhere between wishful thinking and foolish faith. It seems naive at best and preposterous at worst. But, is there good reason to believe in the resurrection? And, if so, what difference would it make? In this series of studies, we will consider the evidence of history that constitute “Ten Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection.” It is a study that could challenge conventional thinking, and offer you new reason for hope.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
We live in an extremely religious world—a world that can be very confusing, even bewildering. Is it enough to say that all beliefs are of equal value as long as you are sincere? Is there spiritual security in being a “religious” person? Or, is there a better way . . . a way that offers certainty and hope? In this study, you will have the opportunity to consider “Ten Reasons to Believe in Christ Rather than Religion” and see the evidence for Jesus as Savior. Decide for yourself if you will choose to trust in Christ or in religion.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
In a world full of religious books, all claiming authority over the lives of the followers, is there good reason to believe the Bible is any different? Any better? Any more reliable? The source of spiritual authority we choose to commit our lives to will impact how we live and who we become. Learn in this series of studies why you can have confidence in the teachings and wisdom of the Bible and why you can trust this Book with your life as you consider the evidence behind “Ten Reasons to Believe in the Bible.”
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
The Da Vinci Code has been on the New York Times Bestseller List since its release and is one of the most widely read books of our time. This novel, however, is more than a page-turning murder mystery. The Da Vinci Code is a conspiracy theory that leaves many readers wondering whether everything they have believed about Christ and the Bible is wrong. This study will strengthen your confidence in God’s Word as you find biblical answers to questions raised by The Da Vinci Code.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
In the history of the world, many religious leaders making stupendous claims have come and gone. Why then has the life and message of Jesus endured as it has? The biblical answer to this is that his claims were shown to be true by supernatural acts. This verification, the words he taught and the life he lived place him a category distinct from all other religious leaders. This course considers the reasons for Jesus’ miraculous life.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
This study is intended to challenge us to wrestle with difficult issues of faith. The Bible calls us to “test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and we can do that because our faith is grounded in fact and well-reasoned thought. Difficult questions, such as, “Why God Allows Suffering,” can find deep, soul-satisfying answers in the pages of Scripture, resulting in confidence born out of eternal truth.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Syllabus
Course Description
New Testament Basics: Things We Thought We Knew provides an introduction to the New Testament as it surveys vital information that guides the student’s thinking in the study of the New Testament books. This information is both basic and essential to an accurate understanding of New Testament Scriptures.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Matthew - Mark: Two Presentations of Jesus introduces students to the Gospels as literature and then focuses in on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Students will study the specific purposes of each book and how the writers told the account of Jesus’ life to accomplish their unique goals.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Luke - John: Two Interpretations of Jesus provides two different renditions of Jesus’ life and ministry. Adding the perspectives of Luke and John to those given by Matthew and Mark will provide additional detail and explanation to the incredible life of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
During Jesus’ time in Galilee, He introduced the basic rules of life for the Kingdom He was offering to His people. This course, Jesus in Galilee: Popularity and Misunderstanding, studies the great Galilean phase of Jesus’ ministry, which is the setting for the Sermon on the Mount, and then actually studies the Sermon itself.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
As amazing as it seems, the people Jesus came to save actually rejected Him. In Luke – John: Jesus in Judea—Opposition and Rejection students will survey the Judean phase of Jesus’ ministry and gain insight into His teachings and actions that increased the Jewish opposition to the point where they would turn one of their own countrymen over to the Romans for crucifixion.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Most people recognize the fact that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the turning point of world history. After His resurrection and ascension, His disciples spread His Church across the Roman Empire and changed the world. Acts: Crucifixion, Resurrection & Proclamation will add depth to the student’s understanding and appreciation of these world-changing and individual life-changing events.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
The New Testament epistles to the Galatians and Thessalonians are Paul’s earliest preserved letters. In them he began to lay a theological and behavioral foundation for Christian belief and conduct. This course, Galatians - 1 Corinthians: Paul’s Earliest Letters, surveys these early writings.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Rome was the capital of the world. Although Paul hadn’t yet visited there when he wrote his epistle to the Christians at Rome, he wanted to make certain they were clear on what the Gospel really was. In the Roman epistle, we have Paul’s great theological statement on God’s salvation. Later, Paul was imprisoned in Rome while waiting for his trial before Caesar. While there, he wrote four letters. In this course, Romans - Ephesians: The Letter to the Roman Church & Letters from a Roman Prison, we study the letters Paul wrote both to and from Rome.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
This course, 1 Timothy - Hebrews: Letters to Pastors & a Church Struggling to Believe, combines three letters of instruction to young pastors and a letter to a church struggling with its foundational beliefs. The Pastoral Epistles provide doctrinal and tactical help to those who lead God’s people; and Hebrews presents Jesus Christ as the sovereign Savior and Lord of His church and encourages its readers to pursue unreservedly their relationship with Him.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Unlike Paul’s epistles, the general epistles were not addressed to a particular city or person. These letters deal more with the broader topics of suffering and the dangers of false teachings and unbelief among Christians. This course, James - Jude: Letters to Everyone – General & Johannine Epistles, covers these epistles.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
In Revelation: The Book of Revelation – The End and the Beginning, the New Testament and the Bible culminate with this glorious description of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. All of history’s events are culminated in this fantastic story of Christ’s ultimate triumph over evil and the restoration of all things to their created design.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Craig L. Blomberg, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Genesis - Leviticus: God Builds a People for Himself tells the story of Israel’s roots. From the creation of all things to the creation of Israel as a nation at Sinai, this course studies God’s process of building a nation to represent Him on earth. It is the foundation for understanding the struggles and triumphs of the relationship between God and Israel that is recorded in the rest of the Old Testament books.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Numbers-Joshua: The Tragedy of Fear and the Glory of Faith is a study of contrasts. Israel’s fear prevented them from entering the land God promised to give them, resulting in the story of wandering and death recorded in Numbers. In contrast, the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua record the preparation and triumph of faith as the people allowed God to win the Promised Land for them.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
This course, Judges-1 Samuel: Israel’s Choice From God-Rule to Human-Rule, covers the books of Judges, Ruth and the book of 1 Samuel. These books contrast Israel as they rebelled against God’s rule in the period of Judges, but Ruth gives a snapshot of obedience during that same period. 1 Samuel examines Israel’s amazing transition from having God-as-their-King to having men-as-their kings.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
2 Samuel-2 Kings: The Difference Leaders Make will guide students through a study of Israel’s kingdom era—as a united nation and as a nation divided into Israel and Judah. It not only covers this critical time in Israel’s history, but also provides an essential foundation for studying Israel’s prophets.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
1 Chronicles - Nehemiah describes the fact that while Israel and Judah flaunted their disobedience in God’s face and persecuted His prophets, He kept His commitment to His covenant promises. Chronicles traces the Davidic kings through whom God would bring His Messiah. Although God exiled His people, Ezra and Nehemiah tell how He restored them to their land and life.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Pressure and pain are realities of life. One of the verifying realities of the Old Testament record is its openness about the difficulties God’s people often suffered—and were often confused by. This course, Job-Lamentations: God’s Path Through Pain, studies three books that deal head-on with the pain and pressure often associated with being God’s people.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
Times change and life’s issues take new forms. Solomon never sat in a traffic jam on the freeway and we never fret over an attack by the Philistines, but human emotions remain the same. In this course, Proverbs-Psalms: Singing the Sounds of Real Life, students will study the distilled language of Israel’s poets as they sang the songs of their lives. They are, amazingly, like the songs of people’s lives today.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
God’s prophets stood up and spoke out when it was very unpopular to do so. As men with a message from God, they were preachers with a message that God-rejecting Israel and Judah wanted no part of. This course, Daniel-Micah: Studies of Integrity—Good Men in Bad Times, presents the men, their messages and their times.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
This course, Ecclesiastes-Isaiah: God Guides His People Through Poets and Prophets, takes students through two of the Old Testament books of poetry and then introduces them to the writing prophets—who also used a great deal of poetry in their writings. Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs present the importance of living life under God’s direction. Isaiah introduces the prophetic literature, which is a series of calls to abandon the pursuit of alternative lifestyles and live life God’s way.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
In this course you will study two prophets whose ministry related to Jerusalem’s fall to the Babylonians. This unthinkable event – that the city where God lived in His temple could be destroyed – is studied as a threat in Jeremiah and as a historical reality in Ezekiel. The miserable failure of God’s people, and God’s success in judging and yet preserving His people, are surveyed in this course that studies these two prophets.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
This course demonstrates the fact that while God had chosen Israel as His covenant people, His compassion extended beyond Israel to all people. We study prophets whom God sent to Israel’s great oppressor and prophets God sent to Judah.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Course Description
The prophets studied in this course ministered after Jerusalem’s destruction and, in Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, during the return and reconstruction of Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon. They demonstrate God’s concern for all His people, Jew and Gentile and emphasize the essential place of obedience to His moral will.
Credits
0.5 Credit
Course Duration
90 Days
Professor
Douglas K. Stuart, Ph.D.
Syllabus
Our Daily Bread Christian University
Course developed by Our Daily Bread Christian University
Douglas K. Stuart, PhD
Dr. Douglas K. Stuart is Professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, where he specializes in Assyrian and Babylonian languages and literature. He received a B.A. from Harvard University, did graduate studies at Yale Divinity School, and earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Since 1971, Dr. Douglas Stuart has been a bedrock in the Old Testament department at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. As Professor of Old Testament, he has introduced thousands…
Craig L. Blomberg, PhD
Dr. Craig Blomberg is the Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary, in Littleton, CO, where he specializes in New Testament Studies. He received his B.A. from Augustana College, Illinois (with a triple major in mathematics, Spanish, and religion), a M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. At Denver Seminary, Dr. Blomberg is a Distinguished Professor of the New Testament where he has served on the faculty…
