School of Biblical Studies (SBS)

The School of Biblical Studies is an exciting journey through all the 66 books of the Bible. In nine months you gain an overview of the content of the whole Bible. You get a deeper insight into who God is and what his plan for mankind entails. You learn to study the Bible inductively and to take out of it, what is in it. This forms a solid foundation for a life of service in church, missions and society.

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Bible school program

The School of Biblical Studies is full-time; meaning that the students live, work and study at our base in Wiler., Switzerland. There are lectures approximately three mornings per week (at the beginning of the school and during seminars there will be more). Much of the school consists of independent studies. We value a “balanced” Christian lifestyle and so alongside the studies, each student will be part of base life including times of intercession, worship, meals, outings, celebrations, two hours of practical work daily, etc. You will find two examples of a weekly schedule here.

The SBS consists of three quarters of twelve weeks each. In between quarters, there is one- to two-week break. It is possible to do only the first or the first two quarters, but only in consecutive order. The content of the chapters is as follows:

• The first quarter of the SBS begins with an introduction to the method of inductive Bible study in the form of an intensive three-week seminar. In the remainder of the first quarter, we study most of the books in the New Testament.
• In the second quarter, we study the rest of the New Testament, and then start the Old Testament with Genesis through Kings.
• The third quarter includes the remaining books of the Old Testament.

The set-up of the school is not according to themes or topics, but is based on a book-by-book study of the entire Bible.

The approach of the SBS is different to other Bible schools

• Study the Bible for yourself. The content of the course is not lectures about the Bible, but the Bible itself. The student is not only learning what others are saying about the Bible, but mainly what the Bible itself is saying.
• Study the Bible for yourself. The emphasis is on self-study. The student will not hear from others but discover for oneself what the Bible is saying.
• Study the whole Bible for yourself. Maybe the most unusual aspect of the SBS is that the whole nine month program consists “only” of studying the whole Bible book by book for oneself.

The Inductive Study Method

The SBS is built on the inductive study method. This means we try to be listeners of Scripture; the inductive method seeks to let the Bible speak for itself, based on thorough observation of the text. For that we do not start by studying verses or paragraphs, but try to grasp the context of the whole book first. The three steps we will constantly apply are:

• Observation: What does the text say?
• Interpretation: What did the text mean to the original readers?
• Application: What does the text mean for me/us today?

We start by searching the text carefully in order to see what is there and what it actually says. In the next step, we try to find out why the author made these statements and what they originally meant to the first reader; thus we try to understand the text in its original context. Only then are we able to also apply the text to our present (and also personal) time and situation.

During the nine month process of study you will read the books of the Bible at least five times. For every book you produce written reports in which you analyze the text paragraph by paragraph. Your work will be checked by SBS staff in order to help you to interpret as well as possible and to help you improve your study skills.

The emphasis of the school is on self-study of the word of God. In the lectures you will also receive teaching and additional information on books to help you with your studies. Mainly we will focus on background information and on difficult passages.

Free Charting Program for SBS Students you find here.

Outreach

Following to our schools we provide opportunities for a two months outreach, so students will be able to pass on things they have learnt. The last outreaches we did were in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi and the Himalaya Region.

Application and further information

University of the Nations

The SBS (CHR 213 / CHR 315 / CHR 316) and the SBS field assignment (CHR 214) are accredited with the University of the Nations. A completed and accredited Discipleship Training School (DTS) is required to earn 12 credits per SBS quarter.

At YWAM Wiler you can pursue an Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies.

Costs

CHF 11`550 incl. food and housing (CHF 10`800 for long-term missionaries).
Possible additional costs for food & housing during the quarter breaks.

Scholarships may be granted for students who come from developing nations and can`t afford their tuition. The quarterly reduction can be up to CHF 1`280. However, we can`t guarantee any scholarship during the application process.

Our refund policy can be found here.

Language

The school is bilingual: English/German.

Insurance

The government requires that each of our students have medical health insurance as well as accident and liability insurance which are valid in Switzerland for the duration of their stay. Further information about those mandatory insurances you find here.

Visa and residence permit regulations for Switzerland

Further information about visa and residence permit you find here. 

Application / Contact

Would you like to register for the SBS or do you have any questions? We look forward hearing from you!