Bibelschule: eine Zeit für dich und Gott!
Maybe you have already thought about Bible school or even theological training.
A Bible school helps you deepen your identity as a Christian—or one could also say as a disciple of Jesus. This includes studying the Bible and other Christian literature. A particularly important part of Bible school, however, is the fellowship with other students. Many find it valuable to support one another in their studies or in practical ways. It is not without reason that Jesus himself traveled with twelve disciples. We learn how God’s kingdom works not only in class, but also in our daily interactions. The focus of a Bible school is, above all, personal development. If you want to go even further and can imagine working full-time in a Christian congregation or ministry, Bible school can be a good start. At some schools, like the tsc, the subsequent transition to theology studies is extremely easy. For example, courses in dogmatic theology, pastoral care, and biblical studies that you completed during Bible school are already credited towards theTheology studiesThis means you can start your studies with a head start after Bible school.
Bible schools are usually offered by churches or Christian organizations and can last from a few days to several years.
2. Theologie studieren: ein Studium mit Zukunft!
A Bible school is a wonderful place to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and find new friends in the faith. It’s no coincidence that Bible study is at the heart of this process, because today, as it was for the first Christians, «faith comes from hearing, and the message is from Christ» (Romans 10:17). The Bible will help you learn about God’s will for your life and align yourself with what He has planned for you. It also offers practical guidance for daily Christian living. If you’re looking for a place where you can connect with other disciples of Jesus and learn together, Bible school is the right place for you!
Last but not least, for many of us, Bible school is a year of orientation. If you’re not quite sure what to do after school or training, Bible school can help you find your direction in life.
3. How can a Bible school help me understand the Bible better?
When studying theology, you will study the various subfields of theology. In biblical studies, you will study the Old and New Testaments and exegesis—the methodology for explaining and interpreting a biblical text. Ethics and dogmatics are subjects of systematic theology, church history is part of historical theology, and leadership skills and preaching are part of practical theology. Because the St. Chrischona Theological Seminary specifically trains students for service in congregations, the focus of the theology program is on preaching and leadership. The special emphasis on communicative theology is another unique feature. Students learn to meet the challenges of our time through communication with one another, with lecturers, and with God himself—in prayer.
Let’s be honest – the Bible is a fascinating book, but it’s not exactly easy to understand.
If we want to discover God’s will for our lives in the many stories from a completely different time, it helps, on the one hand, to have the time to do so. On the other hand, we learn much faster if we have someone at our side who can explain the cultural context and who speaks the languages in which the Bible was originally written.
In this way, we learn the ABCs of the Bible in a Bible school—just as we learned the basics of our own culture and language in school long ago. Christians of all ages have had their own formats for this. For many years, generations of Christians have benefited from this kind of basic biblical and theological education.
Once we grasp these basics, it will be easier for us to better understand the Bible itself and Christian books of all kinds. So, at Bible school, you can gain a foundation that will benefit you throughout your life as a Christian.
4. Welche Stärken sind gefragt?
Nicht ohne Grund sind Theologinnen und Theologen häufig als Allrounder bekannt. Sie sollten ein Faible für die Arbeit mit Texten und Sprachen haben.
Mindestens so wichtig wie der theoretische Erkenntnisprozess ist jedoch auch die Vermittlung des Erkannten. Theologinnen und Theologen sollten also auch Stärken im Kommunizieren und Führen haben. Daran anknüpfend sind Sozialkompetenz und Empathie zu nennen, die nicht zuletzt eine wichtige Voraussetzung für die Seelsorge sind.
Diese Bandbreite kann überfordern und Studierende davon abhalten, eine theologische Ausbildung zu machen. Wenn man jedoch bedenkt, wie wertvoll es ist, in all diesen Bereichen gefördert zu werden, dann kann diese Bandbreite das Theologiestudium sogar noch interessanter machen. Weil nicht jeder überall gleich begabt ist, gibt es Studiengänge mit unterschiedlichen Schwerpunkten. Das entbindet nicht vom Umfang und dem akademischen Anspruch der Theologie, hilft aber dabei, die eigenen Stärken noch besser zu entfalten.
4. What types of Bible schools are there?
The range of Bible schools is wide: it ranges from one- to three-month short Bible schools to three-year courses.
The Short Bible School
Short-term Bible schools are primarily designed to offer working professionals an inspiring time without having to interrupt their careers with a sabbatical or even quit. They offer a variety of orientations – from pastoral care to music to evangelism.
Bible school as an annual course
TheAnnual course of the tscoffers people who want to take a longer break, or are already in a professional transition phase, a good place for reorientation, spiritual strengthening and/or qualification for voluntary church service. In their normal everyday lives, many Christians have little time to study the Bible intensively. Perhaps you have already been in retreat where you were able to take a few days for Bible study. That was a whole different level of intensity and learning experience, wasn’t it? Now imagine what is possible if you take the time to experience this day after day for 10 months. Many use thetsc annual course as Bible schoolalso to clarify whether aseveral years of theological trainingcould be the case.
So whether you want to take your faith and Bible knowledge to a new level, or whether you want to test your studies and take a small step towards full-time ministry, the one-year course is an investment in yourself that can change your life for the better.
"The one-year course is like a break from everyday life to better understand the Bible and align myself with God. And all of this without the pressure to perform." Nicola – former participant of the Tsc one-year course
Bible school with international experience
Those who can afford it and are sufficiently adventurous can take the opportunity to attend a Bible school in the USA, Australia, or an African country. In addition to the biblical foundation, the focus here is often on broadening cultural horizons.
If you don’t want to go straight into the jungle, you can already gain intercultural experience in the coexistence between Germans and Swiss through the tsc annual course on the Chrischona mountain.
During the annual course days or weekends in the Swiss Alps, some students have had special experiences with their Creator.
Content focus of Bible schools
In addition to length, schools also differ in their focus. Traditionally, they often speak of a focus on the Word or the Holy Spirit. In reality, however, most Bible schools aim to equip their students to better understand God’s Word and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. As with churches, the difference here is largely cultural rather than theological.
If you don’t want to go straight into the jungle, you can already gain intercultural experience in the coexistence between Germans and Swiss through the tsc annual course on the Chrischona mountain.
During the annual course days or weekends in the Swiss Alps, some students have had special experiences with their Creator.
5. Which offerings at TSC are equivalent to a Bible school?
St. Chrischona Theological Seminary is, above all, a place where gifted and called people study who want to follow Jesus and serve him in a wide variety of roles, such as pastoring, worship leadership, or teaching. This provides a wealth of expertise on-site, from which Bible students can benefit during the TSC annual course.
The annual course students at the tsc have their own program in the annual course class. However, there are also joint courses, and over time, you get to know the theology students.
From theTheology & Music branch of studyis also aAnnual Worship CourseBible students with this focus receive musical instruction one day a week, ranging from music theory and band practice to individual instruction in singing or playing their instrument.
Since you’ve read this far, you’re probably ready to learn more about how the annual course at tsc can change your life and deepen your faith. You’re welcome to take the opportunity to participate in aIntroductory webinaror to theTrial dayson site, to discover your options and ask your questions.
TSC study programs & continuing education
- BATheology & Education(3 years, Bachelor’s degree) – the versatile theological and pedagogical basic trainin
- BATheology & Music(3 years, Bachelor's degree) – the combination of theological and musical studies that is
- BATheology & Education(3 years, Bachelor’s degree) – the versatile theological and pedagogical basic training.
- BATheology & Music(3 years, Bachelor's degree) – the combination of theological and musical studies that is unique in the German-speaking world.
- TSC annual course(1 year, certificate of participation) – popular as an orientation or preparatory year. Worship focus optional.
- CAS programs(1 year, Certificate of Advanced Studies) from the Institute for Leadership and Community Development.
- GenerationPLUS Academy(2- or 3-day courses, CAS possible) – Further training opportunities for the second half of life
- Online courses(1 or 2 semesters, proof of achievement) – can be individually taken for personal further education.
Interested?
- What's it like to study at TSC? And would it be something for you? You can find out during free trial days . The next dates are: Tue./Wed. 21/22.10.25 | Fri./Sat. 06/07.03.26 | Tue./Wed. 05/06.05.26
- You can get concise information about the study program via online video conference during the trial sessions . The next dates are: Tue. 23.09.2025 | Thu. 20.11.2025 | Tue. 17.02.26 | Wed. 22.04.26 | Tue. 19.05.26, 6 – 7 p.m.
- Inconvenient dates? No problem! Simply contact study advisor René Wälty and schedule an appointment for your personalized trial day or consultation.