Information

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Advanced Training Institute International • Box One • Oak Brook, IL 60522-3001

Phone: 630-323-2842 • Fax: 630-323-6746 • ati.iblp.org

(See Isaiah 58:12.)

Raising Up the

of Many Godly GenerationsFoundations

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The Advanced Training Institute (ATI) is a part of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). The ministry of IBLP is to provide Bible-based instruction for believers for growth in the Christian life. The instruction is given through annual Family Conferences and a series of seminars available on DVDs or with an online subscription to Embassy. The Basic and Advanced Seminars provide life-changing insights into God’s Word and its application to our lives. Some of the topics include Scriptural guidelines for breaking destructive habits; conquering anger, guilt, and bitter-ness; restoring relationships; experiencing true freedom and happiness; and understanding why things happen. The Anger Resolution Seminar  looks at the Scriptures regarding the root causes, manifestations, and devastation that anger can have in a person’s life and how to deal with the anger by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. The seminars provide a framework for the ATI curriculum.

ATI  is  a Biblically-based home education program  for  families who desire  to raise  up  sons  and  daughters  who  are  “mighty  in  Spirit”  and  able  to  impact the world for Jesus Christ. The ATI curriculum was developed by a group of Christian educators, ministers, scientists, historians, and engineers. In the scope of  the  curriculum,  the Bible  is  the main  textbook and  the Wisdom Booklets comprise the core curriculum. Many families choose to supplement with addi-tional materials and programs as they teach (and learn) in the classroom of life.

ATI training begins with Scripture and combines valuable academic information with character training and Biblical life principles. The basic ATI curriculum contains more than three thousand pages in fifty-four Wisdom Booklets. Each booklet amplifies a section of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount through practical instruction in linguistics, history, science, law, and medicine. In brief, the Wisdom Booklets are a unit study based on Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7.

The primary objective in studying each subject is to discover deeper truths in the Scripture passage. The two secondary objectives are to grow in wisdom—that is, to comprehend the particular academic subject from God’s perspective—and to understand the application of the subject to life. The educational precepts of ATI include seeing the whole family as an educational team, turning life into a classroom, preparing children for adulthood, training older children to work with younger children, explaining principles rather than creating arbitrary rules, and building academics around Scripture.

Advanced Training Institute What is the Advanced Training Institute?

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The Greatest Commandment“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart . . . .”

(Deuteronomy 6:5)

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Advanced Training Institute The Five Goals of LifeThe goal of the ATI program is to provide Scriptural and educational guidelines to achieve success in the five areas of life that God designed mankind to fulfill. This begins with becoming a successful Person through a growing relationship with the Lord. We continue by learning how to be an effective Provider, Proclaimer of God’s truth, loving marriage Partner, and wise Parent. The integrated information in the curriculum and related training programs involves these five areas. God carried out this sequence in the life of Adam. This sequence in the life of Adam is a prototype for each of us and provides clear direction for training every son and daughter.

1. A vibrant walk with God—being a successful PersonA successful person is one who loves God with his whole being (see Deuteronomy 6:5) and whose personal life is surrendered to God  and  centered on Scripture. A  successful  person  embraces memorization of,  and meditation on,  Scripture  and seeks moral purity and freedom from anger. He has a clear conscience with God and man while being under his proper God-given authority. These qualities are set forth in the Wisdom Booklets through the Meditation, Character Quality, and Theme Song Worksheets, along with other projects that are suggested at the end of each Resource and in the Parent Guide Planner. (For a full explanation of the ATI curriculum, see pages 11–13.)

2. Wisdom in financial matters—being a successful ProviderA successful Provider demonstrates the qualities of initiative, diligence, creativity, wisdom, and enthusiasm and applies them by making wise financial decisions. He applies money-saving techniques and purchasing disciplines and avoids debt. He has not only learned to be a good steward, but he also has learned to be a generous sower. The ATI curriculum uses the Authority Through Accuracy and Law Resources to teach these concepts.

3. Having a powerful life message—being a successful ProclaimerA successful Proclaimer communicates God’s truth and love. He effectively shares the Gospel, understands and uses the power of prayer, and lives by the commands of Christ. He not only seeks to make disciples, but more importantly, he seeks to make disciple-makers. Learning how to study God’s Word, which is necessary to effectively communicate His truth, is encouraged in the Insights Through Investigation Resource. The lives of past disciple-makers are explored in the History Resource.

4. Enjoying a fulfilling marriage—being a successful PartnerA successful Partner learns contentment before marriage and is committed to a covenant marriage. He is sensitive to the needs of his spouse. He is learning how to die to himself and become sensitive to the needs of others through verbal communication and listening skills to keep his relationship strong and free from bitterness. Vocabulary and communication skills are taught in the Power Through Precision Resource of each Wisdom Booklet.

5. Training mighty sons and daughters—being a successful ParentA successful Parent communicates proper priorities to his family. He strives to be a credible messenger of God to his family, to develop a joyful and safe environment for the growth of his family, and to incrementally release his children into God’s purpose for their lives. He develops a vision for his family and addresses family relationships. The father and mother teach the children to have a ministry mind-set with a focus on furthering God’s kingdom. Each Wisdom Booklet contains both a Medicine and Science Resource that will help prepare the student for having and raising a family in a joyful and safe environment.

Giving All Diligence . . .“ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(II Peter 1:5–8)

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1. Understand and personalize the key elements of ATI.  •  Centering all of life, including education, on Christ and His Word.

  •  Recognizing the presence of Scriptural absolutes  in the search for truth, the establishment of principles, the government of human life, and the design of morality.

  •  Training in character development.

  •  Establishing  the  father  as  the  chief  steward,  entrusted  by God  for  his  children’s  educational  development; emphasis on parental respon sibility and accountability in supervising the educational process.

  •  Tutorial instruction that personalizes the teaching according to each child’s needs.

  •  Increasing learning motivation for children and strengthening the family unit through mutual commitment (as parents) to become learners along with their children.

  •  Developing family relationships in order to learn how to be sensitive and helpful to those outside the family; emphasis on socialization with adults and all age levels of society rather than exclusively with peers.

  •  Integrating all age levels—older students gain experience through teaching the younger ones; younger students benefit from being exposed to training that the older ones receive.

  • Incorporating academic studies with Scrip ture through the Wisdom Booklets.

  •  Motivating achievement through establishing goals for application rather than simply “covering material.”

2. Discuss your goals as parents. As parents, what do we believe . . .

  • About the role of knowledge in the lives of our children?  • About our responsibilities to our children?

  • Is necessary and worthwhile for our children to learn?   • About our children’s individual learning styles?

  • About the function of discipline in the learning environment?  • About our children’s spiritual gifts?

3. Write a concise statement of your beliefs.

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Advanced Training Institute Develop Your Family’s Philosophy of Education

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Turning the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to 

their fathers to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, so that many generations 

can proclaim the kingdom of God 

(See Luke 1:17 and Malachi 4:6.) 

Turning the Hearts . . .

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One of the goals of the ATI program is to turn the father’s heart to his children, which is the beginning of turning the chil-dren’s hearts toward their father. In order for a father to gain and keep his children’s hearts, he should understand how to grow in loving God and in keeping His commands. The following diagram illustrates four different types of fathers and how they lead their families.

Credible MessengersOn the quadrant diagram below, the top right corner represents a man who has learned to lead with humility. His desire to follow the ways of God is evidenced by his servant-leadership within his family. (See Matthew 28:18 and I Corinthians 4:15.) This man is currently discipling others in the faith. (See Acts 18.)

Faithful MenA second type of father is illustrated by the examples given in the lower right corner of the quadrant. Just as Apollos was zealous for the things of God but needed further instruction, a faithful man loves the Lord and seeks to learn more of Him. (See II Timothy 2:2 and Acts 18:24.) He is willing to be discipled.

OverlordsThe  upper  left  quadrant  describes  a  father  who  focuses  on  per-sonal convictions and standards but lacks love for Jesus. This kind of  father  builds  his  life  on  various  truths  but  not  on  the Truth (see John 14:6). Because he does not give directives (convictions and standards)  in  love,  he  alienates  his  children,  which  often  results in  contention  rather  than  a  nurturing  environment  for  growth. (See  I Peter  5:3,  II Timothy 2:24,  and Ephesians 6:4.) Those who  empha-size  truth without  love cannot produce eternal  fruit and need  to become broken before God.

Carnal ChristiansFinally,  a  fourth  type of  father  is one who  is distracted by posi-tions, possessions, or pleasures. (See I John 2:15–16.) He is unwilling to become conformed to the image of Christ and to let the Holy Spirit produce fruit in him. This double-minded, carnal Christian is unstable in all his ways. (See James 1:8 and I Corinthians 5:1–9.)

The left side of the diagram represents Carnal and Overlord parenting, which often results in bitter, sensual children who take energy rather than give it. The right side of the diagram represents parenting styles that usually produce the fruit of loving, obedient children who are ready to be released into the fulfillment of God’s purpose for their lives. 

Fathers often move back and forth from one quadrant to another. The diagram is presented simply to help a man discern which quadrant best characterizes his pattern of fathering. 

ATI’s priorities are to attract and retain disciple-making families such as those described on the right side of this quadrant diagram,  allocate  our  organizational  resources  to  support  family  success,  and  foster  opportunities  to  incrementally  release students and families into their life purposes.

Advanced Training Institute Building the Foundations of Godly Generations

Com

man

ds

Low

Low

Overlords(Judaizers)

Credible Messengers(Aquila and Priscilla)

Carnal Christians

(Corinthians)

Faithful Men(Apollos and

Timothy)

LoveHigh

God Wrote a Curriculum . . . . . . And condensed it into one Book. God promises good success to those who apply His curriculum, 

the Scriptures, to their lives. (See Psalm 1.) God’s curriculum encompasses more than academic subjects.

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Learning to See Life from God’s PerspectiveIn most educational systems today, the curriculum divides learn-ing into academic subjects that are studied independently of one another.  In  some  schools,  the Bible  is  added  as  a  subject  to  be studied, or the Bible is integrated in some other way.

ATI  training  begins  with  Scripture  and  combines  valuable academic  information  with  character  training  and  Biblical  life principles.  The  ATI  curriculum  consists  of  more  than  three thousand pages  published  in  fifty-four  Wisdom  Booklets.  Each booklet  amplifies  a  section  of  Christ’s  Sermon  on  the  Mount through practical  instruction  in  linguistics, history,  science,  law, and medicine.  In  brief,  the Wisdom Booklets  are  a  unit  study based on Matthew 5, 6, and 7.

Studies in linguistics include the original meanings of Hebrew and Greek words, as well as vocabulary, etymologies, and applications of  English  words.  Students  learn  about  history,  archaeology, geography,  and  fine  arts  through  life  stories  of  historical  figures. Concepts in astronomy, geology, chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics are expounded in Science Resources. Law Resources emphasize  Biblical  foundations  of  government,  economics, and  logic.  Medicine  Resources  include  training  in  nutrition, physiology, behavior, and counseling. 

As academics are introduced according to the way God presents them in His Word, family members gain an understanding of the relationship between knowledge and Godly wisdom. Information becomes valuable as it is applied to life.

Advanced Training Institute The Wisdom Booklets

Scripture is the main textbook for building all of life, including educa-tion, on Christ.

Wisdom Quizzes reveal natural incli-nations and sharpen thinking about the foundational truths of the Scripture passages.

Resources go beyond the “facts and figures” teach-ing method by relating facts to principles. This trains families to think logically and to apply God’s principles to other areas of life. 

Wisdom Worksheets introduce the academic information found in each of the Wisdom Booklet Resources.

Parent Guide Planners give ideas and projects that can expand learn-ing based on individual needs. A resource library to equip the family with supplementary study material is recommended in the ATI Handbook.

Wisdom Quiz (Wisdom Booklet page 3)Purpose: To help you meditate on the passage of Scripture

  •  This page includes the Wisdom Booklet’s theme verse and the major concept.

  • Answers are listed in the Parent Guide Planner on the bottom of page 3.

  •  The Wisdom Quiz teaches how natural inclinations are decep tive. It also can be used during a Wisdom Search time. Consider asking the following questions to promote discussion:

     What other verses relate to this concept?     What testimonies in Scripture illustrate this point?     Is the statement fully true or partially true? Is it true in every case? 

Wisdom Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet pages 4–5)Purpose: To introduce the Resources

Meditation Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet pages 6–7)Purpose:  To assist you in gleaning insights from the Scrip ture passage 

as you begin the Wisdom Booklet

  •  The  Meditation  Worksheet  is  located  in  each  Wisdom Booklet and Parent Guide Planner. It is also located in the back of the Weekly Planner. You may photocopy this page for your family’s use.

  •  Insights from your meditation will become a foundation for learning from the Wisdom Booklet.

Character Quality Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet page 8)Purpose:  To relate Scripture to a character quality and make personal application

  •  The Character Quality Worksheet is located in each Wisdom Booklet and Parent Guide Planner and at the back of the Weekly Planner; the Character Focus is located on page two of each Parent Guide Planner.

  •  Character quality definitions (listed according to spiritual motivation) are provided in the back of the Weekly Planner.

  •  Examples from Scripture and nature may be found in Character Sketches (Volumes 1–3) and the 6 character booklets published by IBLP. Additional information may be found in Achieving True Success and The Power for True Success, which also are published by IBLP.

12

Advanced Training Institute Wisdom Booklets Explained

13

Theme Song Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet page 9)

Purpose:  To “anchor” the concepts from the booklet in students’ minds as they learn to speak to themselves in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19).

  •  The Theme Song Worksheet is located in each Wisdom Booklet and Parent Guide Planner and at the back of the Weekly Planner.

Resources (Wisdom Booklet pages 10–end)Purpose: To study subjects as they relate to Scripture and to apply this knowledge to life

  •  Insights Through Investigation  explores  a  booklet’s  theme  verse  as  it  was  originally  writ-ten—in the Greek language. While gaining rich insights, students learn to do authoritative research by using source documents.

    •  Power Through Precision  analyzes  definitions,  etymologies,  and  applications  of  words. Students develop a powerful command of the English language.

  • History presents the life stories of historical figures.

   •  Science relates topics within the broader subject areas of chemistry, biology, astronomy, geol-ogy, physics, and mathematics to important Biblical concepts.

  •  Authority Through Accuracy teaches basic and advanced mathematical operations and explains how they illustrate basic concepts of everyday life.

   •  Law  explains  the  Biblical  principles  on  which  the  U.S.  Constitution  and  law  system  were founded.

   •  Medicine gives information and explains terms to enable students to interact knowledgeably with healthcare professionals.

Life Classroom Worksheet (Wisdom Booklet, last page)Purpose:  To relate life situations to knowledge and wisdom gained during the study of the Wisdom 

Booklet and gain insight and application from them

  • This is located at the end of the Wisdom Booklet and Parent Guide Planner. 

Theme Song (Wisdom Booklet back cover) Purpose: To reinforce Scriptural insights gained during study of the Wisdom Booklet

Mastery Quiz Purpose:  To provide a simple, optional tool for evaluation of a student’s understanding of content 

presented in the Wisdom Booklet 

  •  A set of Mastery Quizzes comes with each set of Wisdom Booklets.

  • Answers are provided in the Parent Guide Planner.

  •  Parents are not required to administer the Mastery Quiz. Feel free to write your own quiz based upon what you taught or choose questions  from both sides of  the Quiz. (One side is designed for older students; the other is for younger students.)

  •  Concentrate on the educational needs of your family rather than on “teaching the quiz.”

Instead of scheduling six or seven separate subjects plus some Bible study, academic learning should 

be filtered through the principles of Scripture, related to character, and made usable through practical 

application. Our goal is changed lives, not just filled minds! It takes time to adjust to this design, but 

the adjustment is well worth the effort.

14

The Goal of ATI?Changed Lives.

15

1. Apply to ATI Preliminary.The first year of ATI—ATI Preliminary—is designed to help your family learn how to successfully use the ATI curriculum. An application for the ATI program can be obtained by visiting our website (ati.iblp.org/ati/admissions) or by calling the ATI office at 630-323-9800. (See below for mailing instructions.)

2. Pay Tuition.Once you are accepted  into  the ATI Preliminary program,  the first-year tuition of $675 will be requested. This payment covers the cost of the core curriculum, key resources, access to seminars, support for all members of the family, and provides worldwide ministry opportunities for students and families.

3. View Seminars.During the first year of ATI, families will receive access to each  of  the  life-changing  Basic,  Advanced,  and  Anger  Resolution Seminars.  We  feel  that  what  seminar  attendees  learn  about resolving  conflicts,  training  their  children,  and nurturing  their home  is  foundational  for  participation  in  the  ATI  program, which  began  because  seminar  alumni  requested  a  tool  with which  to  train  their  children  in  Biblical  principles.  As  you view these  seminars  that have  impacted more  than 2.5 million alumni, you’ll gain an understanding of the foundation for the ATI curriculum.

4. Receive Training.We  ask  new  ATI  families  to  view  a  series  of  training  videos. These messages provide an explanation of ATI’s goals and foun-dation  and  give  examples  of  how  to  use  the Wisdom Booklet curriculum with your family.

You also will have the opportunity to attend powerful Family Conferences that provide challenging sessions for parents, prac-tical training for older students, and special programs for children. Many families attend each year to receive encouragement and learn what is new within the ATI program and IBLP ministry.

5. Begin ATI!Upon  acceptance  into  ATI  Preliminary, you will receive your first-year curriculum, which  includes  the  first  four  Wisdom Booklets  for  each  member  of  your  family.  Additional  resources  are  includ-ed  to  provide  practical  instruction  about using the ATI materials, as well as to assist you in the discipleship of your family!

Advanced Training Institute How to Join ATI

Training— Vital for Parents

Parents  have  the  opportunity  to  receive  specific training on how to implement the ATI curriculum, with the goal of replacing the traditional paradigm of education with a new way of instruction.

ATI Training Series

Parents may either rent or purchase copies of train-ing  videos  that  will  provide  practical  instruction about  how  to  use  the  ATI materials  and  how  to plan a  schedule. You may contact  the ATI office to obtain these videos.

Family Conferences

These  training  conferences  offer  something  for every member of  the  family! They  include  inspi-rational  sessions,  special  events,  and  enriching fellowship with like-minded families.

Mail to ATI Admissions:

3 Your completed application form with attachments Please include only the processing fee. Make checks payable  to the Advanced Training Institute.

3 Your family photograph

3 Individual pictures of all children aged fourteen and older

ATI Admissions Box One • Oak Brook, IL 60522-3001

ATI Information Booklet—3rd edition

*P05928*P 0 5 9 2 8

Pictures of man praying on pg. 8 and Wisdom Booklets on pg. 10 courtesy of Jennifer Meyer.  Image of Bible on pg. 11 courtesy of Katie Pleckham. 

Copyright ©2012 Advanced Training Institute International. All rights reserved. Fifth Printing: 140071 All Scripture verses are quoted from the King James Version of the Bible, unless noted otherwise.

• We believe  in the one true God, existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal from all eternity, each with distinct personalities but of one essence.

•  We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God, and is the sole, infallible rule of faith and practice.

•  We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, Who entered into the world through the virgin birth and lived among us without sin as perfect Man and perfect God.

•  We believe Adam was directly created in innocence and in the image of God and did not evolve from preexisting forms of life. By volun-tary transgression, he fell, and thus the whole human race is now sinful by nature and practice and, therefore, under just condemnation to eternal separation from God.

•  We believe Jesus Christ shed His blood on Calvary as a vicarious substitute for all sinners, was buried and rose again bodily, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, from whence He will personally return.

•  We believe people are justified by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ without any mixture of works.

•  We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner; regener ates, sanctifies, and indwells the believer; and fills the believer for effective service.

•  We believe in the priesthood of the believer and that God has made provision for each believer to be victorious by being led of the Spirit and not walking after the flesh.

•  We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost—the just unto the resurrection of life eternal and the lost unto the resurrec-tion of eternal damnation.

•  We believe Satan is a living being and that hell is a place of eternal, conscious punishment for him, his hosts, and all unbelievers.

•  We believe Scripture commands Christians to abstain from all forms of compromise with unbelief.

•  We believe that the Bible sets forth principles for Godly living and that if one learns and follows these principles, one will be able to avoid and refute false teachings and false concepts.

Statement of Faith