3 August 2010

Does the Jerusalem Church Teach Socialism?

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common . . . 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Acts 4:32, 34-35 (ESV) (more…)

continue reading... »

23 August 2009

War in Heaven and on Earth

Pastor John

Scripture Reference: Revelation 12

War in Heaven and on Earth: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

continue reading... »

1 January 2009

Applied Ministry

Syllabus for

APPLIED MINISTRY: THEOLOGY

Course 44910, Spring Semester, 2009

Dr. John Gauger Phone (410) 642-6865 Fax (410) 642-6991 Email: pastor@perryville.org

I. Introduction

In addition to a field supervisor, all Applied Ministry students will have a faculty supervisor. In most cases, the student will receive faculty supervision from a professor in a classroom setting. This syllabus is designed primarily for students receiving their faculty supervision in a classroom setting. However, faculty supervisors in all settings (including faculty supervisors at extensions and faculty who are providing individual supervision of students) will also be using (and in some cases modifying ) this syllabus. In addition to this syllabus, the student must also read and follow the Applied Ministry Handbook at https://ecampus.sbts.edu/ics/clientconfig/htmlcontent/AppliedMinistryHandbook.pdf.

II. Course Description

Through lectures, class discussions, and assignments about practical ministry, this course is designed to facilitate the faculty supervision component of Applied Ministry.

III. Course Objectives

The student will grow in his understanding of particular practical ministry skills.
The student will be better equipped for effectiveness in the exercise of practical ministry skills.
The student will receive counsel from his faculty supervisor and coursemates regarding questions and difficulties in his/her Applied Ministry field project.

IV. Required Texts

The Bible, especially the Proverbs and the Pastoral Epistles.
Biehl, Bobb. Leading with Confidence, Lake Mary, Fla.: Aylen, 2005. [Available only from SBTS bookstore or www.Aylen.com, 800-443-1976.] or Piper, John. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2002. ISBN: 0805426205
Thomas, Curtis. Practical Wisdom for Pastors. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2001. ISBN: 1581342527.

V. Grades

In most cases, the final grade recommended by the field supervisor is the actual grade assigned to the student. However, the official grade is ultimately determined by the student’s faculty supervisor. The faculty supervisor determines the final grade after reviewing the recommendation from the field supervisor, considering any special circumstances which might be relevant, and evaluating the student’s performance in the class. Class performance includes the student’s attendance, attitude, participation, and assignments. Therefore, the work done for the faculty supervisor does impact the student’s overall grade fro Applied Ministry.

Every assignment on this syllabus is pass/fail. A failed assignment will reduce the possible final grade by one half letter. Thus a student who otherwise would have received an A for the course would now receive an A- because of the failed assignment. A student who would have received an A- would now receive a B+, etc.

VI. Assignments

Read the book of Proverbs and the Pastoral Epistles (that is, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus). Upon your completions of this assignment, submit a sheet of paper upon which…

you report that you have read the entirety of each of these books, and…
you list your Personal Development Goals (copied from your “Personal Development Goals Agreements form in the Applied Ministry Handbook), to which you include the text (and not just the references) of three verses from these Bible books which you have prayerfully sought to apply to your Personal Development Goals, and …
you state your Field Ministry Project (copied from your “Field Ministry Project” form), to which you include the text (and not just the references) of three verses from these Bible books which you have prayerfully sought to apply to your Field Ministry. Project.
Ideally, these six verses would be ones you have used as a basis of prayer for your Personal Development Goals and your Field Ministry Project on many occasions throughout the semester.

Read the entirety of Bob Biehl’s Leading with Confidence or John Piper’s Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry. Upon completion of this assignment, write a paper of at least five pages. The paper should include the following:

Your reflections upon/interaction with the two chapters that were the most applicable and helpful to your Applied Ministry experience. Explain why you chose these two chapters. How did these chapters help you to see and/or do things differently?
A list of your Personal Development Goals, with at least three questions underneath each goal. These would be questions taken from Biehl’s book which have helped you in thinking about and pursuing your Personal Development Goals. Or the questions may be formed from your reading of Piper.
A list of at least ten questions, useful in your ongoing evaluation of or in the actual execution of your Field Ministry Project. These questions may be taken or adapted from Biehl’s book, suggested by Piper’s book, and/or developed on your own. These may be questions you would ask yourself and/or questions you would ask others. These should be questions you would find useful throughout the accomplishments of your Field Ministry Project.

Read the entirety of Curtis Thomas’ Practical Wisdom for Pastors or Thomas Ascol’s Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry. Upon completion of this assignment, write a paper of at least five pages. The paper should include the following:

Reflection/interaction with the two of the ten sections (not chapters) in the book that were the most applicable and helpful to your Applied Ministry experience. Explain why you chose these two sections. How did these sections help you to see and/or do things differently?

Write a two-page paper after your experience with one of the following websites:

IX Marks Ministries (www.9marks.org)
Crown Financial Ministries Pastor’s Corner (www.crown.org/pastorsCorner/ArticleListing.asp)
Desiring God Ministries (www.DesiringGod.org)
Kairos Journal (www.kairosjournal.org)
Peacemakers Ministries (www.HisPeace.org)
The Center for Biblical Spirituality (www.BiblicalSpirituality.org)
The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (www.cbmw.org)
The NET Bible (www.Bible.org)

In the paper you should affirm that you spent at least ninety (90) minutes exploring the website.
You should list the names (but not the URLs) of the articles you read.
You should reflect/comment on the usefulness of the website (and these articles in particular) to your Field Ministry Project and/or your Personal Development Goals.

Include on the cover page of every assignment your name, email address, and phone number(s).
These papers will be due on the dates assigned. Late papers are subject to a failing grade on the “pass/fail” scale.
You may wish to submit copies of some of or all the papers to your field supervisor for his or her input, as well as to provide a basis of discussion for your field supervision meetings.

VII. Miscellaneous

In order to ensure full class participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring special accommodations (e.g., tape recorders, special adaptive equipment or special note-taking needs) should contact the faculty supervisor at the beginning of the course.
Before recording, students must complete and submit the following request form to the faculty supervisor:

I, (student’s name)________, will record (class sessions)____

and agree that I will not reproduce, distribute, or sell electronic recordings of class sessions.

Signature of Student, Date

continue reading... »

24 September 2008

Men’s Bible Study Methods

The next Bible study methods class for men will be 7 AM, Saturday, November 15, 2008 at the First Baptist Church of Perryville, MD. Even if you do not come to the study, you can learn and practice this method to grow and stay fresh in your study. Men can come without doing the assignment and still learn. But you will learn more if you take the time to study and practice this method. (more…)