Zondervan Lay Elder Certificate
This mini-certificate program provides foundational biblical training to equip lay elders to better know and teach the Scriptures in the context of a local church.
The core competencies for this certificate include:
- General comprehension of both Old and New Testaments
- Essential Bible interpretation skills
- Fundamental knowledge of biblical theology
- Key principles for sound biblical counseling and practical wisdom
Which certificate track is right for you?
Institute Certificate Track
This Lay Elder Certificate is one of four in the Zondervan Lay-Leader Certificate Series. These mini-certificates are designed with lay-leaders in mind to equip better Deacons, Lay Elders, Sunday School teachers and Small Group Leaders.
This credit-bearing track is administered through the BibleMesh Institute. Students must apply to the Institute and be accepted before starting the program.
$280 per month (the average completion timeframe is 2-3 months per course)
- 4 courses
- 1-on-1 Academic Tutor support
- Official course syllabus
- Certified grade transcript
- BibleMesh Institute Certificate
- Undergraduate or Graduate option
Self-Study Certificate Track
Designed with lay leaders, deacons and elders in mind, Self-Study certificate tracks offer the same high-quality courses but without the 1-on-1 academic tutor guidance or ability to transfer credit to an academic institution. You can enroll anytime.
$671.97 one-time payment
(24-month access)
- 4 courses
- Certificate of completion
Courses in this Track
1
Old Testament Survey
Part indispensable overview and part careful examination, Old Testament Survey introduces students to the culture, context, and content of each book in the Old Testament.
- 3 credits
- 2-3 months
2
New Testament Survey
Including both background information and careful attention to the biblical books themselves, New Testament Survey offers a full introduction to the 27 books of the New Testament.
- 3 credits
- 2-3 months
3
What Christians Ought to Believe
Bringing together theological commentary, tips for application, and memorable illustrations, this course provides the basic tenets of the Christian faith using the Apostle’s Creed as the entryway
- 3 credits
- 2-3 months
4
A Theology of Biblical Counseling
This course covers the history of the biblical counseling movement, the core convictions that underlie sound counseling, and practical wisdom for counseling today.
- 3 credits
- 2-3months
Frequently Asked Questions
First, you need to apply to the BibleMesh Institute by going here. Be sure to select a “Zondervan Certificate” as the program you are interested in. Upon your enrollment in the Institute, we will assign you a qualified academic tutor who will guide you through each course of study.
Yes! Please contact us here.
Students enroll in the BibleMesh Institute on a subscription basis. The monthly cost for each BibleMesh Institute course is $280 per month. The length of time to complete a course varies depending on each student’s situation, but averages 3 months for dedicated students.
To provide the highest quality online learning experience and to meet academic standards, the BibleMesh Institute assigns each student an academic tutor for each course. All of our proctors (academic tutors) are highly qualified in their subject field.
Yes. Each course is provided with month-to-month access to better fit your situation. You may work through and complete a course as your schedule allows, while your academic tutor guides you to ensure competency and mastery of the content. You may take as much time as you wish to complete an individual course or a certificate program.
In order to complete a certificate program, students must complete every course within that program. Some certificates, like the Biblical Languages certificate, do require courses to be completed in a specific sequence. If you need to pause your studies, you can; your progress and grades will not be lost. You can simply renew your monthly course subscription and resume from where you left off.
Yes. Anyone who enrolls as a BibleMesh Institute student and successfully completes required, proctored coursework can earn a certificate.
Upon finishing all the courses in a certificate program, you may apply for and receive a certificate.
When scholarships are available they are initially available to students already studying in the BibleMesh Institute.
Yes. Several partnering colleges and seminaries provide academic pathways using courses and programs offered through the Institute. To see a list of these schools go here.
Credit-bearing courses provided through the BibleMesh Institute are built to accreditation standards. If you would like us to talk with your school about the possibility of accepting transfer credits for BibleMesh Institute courses or programs, please contact us.
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