Survey preachers from around the world and you would find that they preach from the New Testament far more often than they do the New. Here are some reasons why preaching from the Old Testament is justified and necessary:
• The Old Testament was the Bible of the early church
• The Old Testament is the God-breathed, inerrant, powerful revelation of God
• The Old Testament represents 77% of the Christian canon
• The Old Testament aids us in understanding the New Testament
• The Old Testament prevents us from misinterpreting the New Testament
• The Old Testament is vital for theological understanding
• The Old Testament proclaims truths not found in the New Testament
• The Old Testament offers practical insights for Christian living
• The Old Testament deals with life's great questions
• The Old Testament traces God's redemptive plan to its culmination
• The Old Testament provides a fuller understanding of Christ
"Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).
30 July 2010
29 July 2010
New TSBC Faculty Member
Today we received word that our newest faculty member, Greg Stephenson, has been granted a visa to come to teach at The Shepherd's Bible College for one year. He will apply for that to be extended in due course.
Greg's primary role is to develop our two new programmes at level 6 and level 7. We believe these together with our existing level 5 programme will provide any even greater depth of training for those entering into bi-vocational and vocational ministry. Greg will also be lecturing in those programmes.
Greg, Traci and Micah come to us from their sending church, Christ Community Church in West Covina, California – a church whose sacrificial support means The Shepherd's Bible College can move to the next stage of ministry training in New Zealand. Greg has served in that church for the past eight years as Associate Pastor. During the six years prior to that he gained much experience in the area of facilitating international missions. Greg earned his Master of Divinity degree in 2001.
We are so thankful to God and to Christ Community Church for providing Greg and his wonderful family to come serve alongside us at The Shepherd's Bible College.
Please pray for Greg, Traci, and Micah as they make this transition into Kiwi life. They expect to arrive here in Hastings within the next 3-4 weeks.
27 July 2010
Leadership Development at Riverbend
This year at Riverbend Bible Church we established a leadership development team comprised of six men who already serve in leadership roles within the church, but in whom we want to invest even more time. So every month we meet with these men as a part of our regular elders' meeting to discuss leadership principles, ministry issues, and church life.
Here is a picture of the men discussing how we can maintain a disciple-making focus in busy ministries that can so easily devolve into simple programme maintenance.
In preparation for the meeting we all read the first two chapters of The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-shift that Changes Everything by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. The book encourages ministry leaders to aim for the right balance of trellis work (i.e., property, programmes, administration, planning etc.) and vine work (i.e., disciple-making, evangelism, leadership training etc.). Both are needed and cannot be disregarded. Both need to kept in the right balance.
I recommend this book to you as a way to discuss ministry essentials with leaders within the church. It can be purchased here at Gracebooks NZ.
Here is a picture of the men discussing how we can maintain a disciple-making focus in busy ministries that can so easily devolve into simple programme maintenance.
In preparation for the meeting we all read the first two chapters of The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-shift that Changes Everything by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. The book encourages ministry leaders to aim for the right balance of trellis work (i.e., property, programmes, administration, planning etc.) and vine work (i.e., disciple-making, evangelism, leadership training etc.). Both are needed and cannot be disregarded. Both need to kept in the right balance.
I recommend this book to you as a way to discuss ministry essentials with leaders within the church. It can be purchased here at Gracebooks NZ.
15 July 2010
Book Review – "He Is Not Silent"
R. Albert Mohler, He Is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World (Chicago: Moody, 2008).
At first glance one might consider the 169 pages of He Is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World by R. Albert Mohler as just another book on preaching, but Mohler does not simply regurgitate familiar principles or praxis from well-proven books on expository preaching. Instead, Mohler calls preachers to preach the Word in postmodern times. There are the expected biblical imperatives, historical arguments, and biblical definitions found in most preaching textbooks, but Mohler goes further – He argues for a countercultural response to the attacks that postmodernism has levelled against expository preaching.
He Is Not Silent calls today’s preachers to keep on preaching no matter what postmodern trends surface. If you’re looking for a textbook on expository preaching there are more comprehensive books available, but Mohler is an accurate commentator of the times. His comprehension of postmodernism is what makes this book on preaching helpful at this particular juncture of church history. I enjoyed his cultural insights and am thankful for an evangelical leader who will not vacillate on the biblical mandate to ‘preach the Word’ especially in times such as these.
Purchase this book at Gracebooks NZ.
At first glance one might consider the 169 pages of He Is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World by R. Albert Mohler as just another book on preaching, but Mohler does not simply regurgitate familiar principles or praxis from well-proven books on expository preaching. Instead, Mohler calls preachers to preach the Word in postmodern times. There are the expected biblical imperatives, historical arguments, and biblical definitions found in most preaching textbooks, but Mohler goes further – He argues for a countercultural response to the attacks that postmodernism has levelled against expository preaching.
He Is Not Silent calls today’s preachers to keep on preaching no matter what postmodern trends surface. If you’re looking for a textbook on expository preaching there are more comprehensive books available, but Mohler is an accurate commentator of the times. His comprehension of postmodernism is what makes this book on preaching helpful at this particular juncture of church history. I enjoyed his cultural insights and am thankful for an evangelical leader who will not vacillate on the biblical mandate to ‘preach the Word’ especially in times such as these.
Purchase this book at Gracebooks NZ.
New TSBC Programmes Update
The Shepherd's Bible College programme development meeting went very well this week. Everything is 'big picture' at this stage, so please don't hold us to everything you read here. Here is what we are thinking at the moment. . .
Currently, TSBC offers a one-year Diploma of Biblical Studies programme which looks like this:
YEAR 1 - Level 5
The next two years of training are proposed to look something like this:
YEAR 2 - Level 6
YEAR 3 - Level 7
Would you please pray with us as these ideas continue to develop?
Currently, TSBC offers a one-year Diploma of Biblical Studies programme which looks like this:
YEAR 1 - Level 5
- For those who want to be involved in lay ministry
- Graduates are prepared for local church service
- Overview courses
- Personal growth focus
- Help to discern gifts and abilities
The next two years of training are proposed to look something like this:
YEAR 2 - Level 6
- For those who want to be involved in bi-vocational ministry
- Graduates are prepared for local church leadership
- Equipping courses
- Ministry ability focus
- Help to grow as a servant-leader
YEAR 3 - Level 7
- For those who want to be involved in vocational ministry
- Graduates are prepared for full-time ministry & service
- Leadership courses
- Trainer/equipper focus
- Help to become effective minister & worker
Would you please pray with us as these ideas continue to develop?
14 July 2010
TSBC E-Quipper - July 2010 Issue
What Happens When the Bible Comes under Attack?
by Nigel Shailer, Vice Principal
If God's Word is not God-breathed, it is regarded only as the product of flawed men who worked independently of any divine initiation and supervision. But the Bible says, "All Scripture is God-breathed," and, "No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
If God's Word is not inerrant, it is questioned by moderns who do not trust it as a reliable source of truth. But the Bible says, "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17).
If God's Word is not complete, it is considered 'old hat' by moderns who are looking for something more from God – a new revelation or a new prophecy. But the Bible says, "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18).
If God's Word is not sufficient, it is sidelined as a ministry resource and replaced by secular pragmatism, business philosophy, and humanistic psychology. But the Bible says, "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3).
If God's Word is not authoritative, it is thought to contain nothing more than helpful hints for better living – moderns can decide for themselves how they live their life. But the Bible says, "Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and observe it" (Luke 11:28).
If God's Word is not perspicuous (i.e., understandable), a final interpretation is not achievable – endless dialogue is entertained without any commitment to discover the intent of the original author. But the Bible says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Will you join us at The Shepherd's Bible College as we affirm the inspiration, inerrancy, completeness, sufficiency, authority, and perspicuity of all sixty six books of the Bible?
11 July 2010
Planning New TSBC Programmes
At The Shepherd's Bible College we currently offer a level 5 Diploma of Biblical Studies programme which can be completed in one year by fulltime students. We'd like to add level 6 and level 7 programmes for continuing students.
Tomorrow afternoon (13 July 2010), The Shepherd's Bible College board and faculty are meeting to discuss development options. Head of Programme Development, Greg Stephenson, has been working hard to design a level 6 diploma and a level 7 diploma and this will be an opportunity to get input from everyone involved.
At the meeting, Greg Stephenson will appear via Skype. That is because he is still based in California where he and his family are still waiting for visas to be issued so that they can move to New Zealand and he can take up his full time position at The Shepherd's Bible College.
Would you please pray for both Greg's visas to be approved in a timely fashion and for the future plans of TSBC?
Tomorrow afternoon (13 July 2010), The Shepherd's Bible College board and faculty are meeting to discuss development options. Head of Programme Development, Greg Stephenson, has been working hard to design a level 6 diploma and a level 7 diploma and this will be an opportunity to get input from everyone involved.
At the meeting, Greg Stephenson will appear via Skype. That is because he is still based in California where he and his family are still waiting for visas to be issued so that they can move to New Zealand and he can take up his full time position at The Shepherd's Bible College.
Would you please pray for both Greg's visas to be approved in a timely fashion and for the future plans of TSBC?
08 July 2010
Generation of “itching ears”
This article was recently published in the New Zealand Challenge Weekly Newspaper and can also be found online at the Challenge Weekly website. The article is a follow up to our Impact Bible Conference where Dr Ken Ramey was a keynote speaker.
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In part one of an interview with reporter Michael Hamilton, American pastor and teacher Ken Ramey discusses the Bible, his concerns about the Church in the Western World, and evangelism.
Mr Ramey is a pastor and teacher at Lakeside Bible Church, in Montgomery, Texas. Following study at The Master’s College for theological training and obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry, he got his Master of Divinity from The Master’s Seminary.
He served for many years as a high school chaplain, and then as a professor of youth ministry at The Master’s College. He completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in Expository Preaching, and is author of the book Expository Listening: A Practical Handbook for Hearing and Doing God’s Word.
A major concern Mr Ramey has is with issues concerning the Church in the western world today, matters he says it is important to deal with.
“If I look out on the landscape of the western church, I would say we live in that generation that Paul talked about, the generation of the itching ears.
“What we have is this consumerism in the Church where people are coming to Church, not to hear what God has to say to them from his Word, but wanting to hear what they want to hear that makes them feel good, and strokes them and encourages them and basically even justifies their life of sin.
“So what you have is almost this supply and demand going on in the church today where you have all this demand for ear-tickling sermons which creates this supply of preachers who are willing to cater to people’s desire and whims.
“You’ve got many pastors who have really, I think, forsaken their God-given duty which is to faithfully, clearly, accurately explain and apply the Bible; to be God’s mouth-piece; to be a hero for God.”
Mr Ramey said true biblical preaching is not being done in many churches these days. “Biblical preaching has become almost extinct in the Church today and it’s very hard for you to go anywhere and find good, strong biblical preaching; and if I hear any concern or frustration in committed Christians today, it is we can’t find a good church to go to that is faithful to teach the Scriptures.”
He said in too many churches, the pastor just “wants to give a kind of feel-good sermon and a bunch of stories and jokes. But they aren’t feeding people’s souls. There is, as Isaiah talks about, a famine for the Word of God.”
This was partly, he felt, due to too many people being lovers of themselves, and so happily attending such churches.
The duty of churches and Christians to spread the Good News does not fare well either. “I think that generally speaking, the Church has failed in its responsibility and I think many believers are not being good faithful witnesses; it’s because the Church doesn’t train people and equip them, and basically the common method in churches today is that evangelism is done by holding events: event evangelism where you must do an event, or a crusade, or concert. Let’s try to draw people in and give a Gospel presentation,” said Mr Ramey.
“What we need to understand is Acts 1:8; Jesus said ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the outermost part of the earth’. What that meant was if you’re a Christian you’re a witness. The question is — are you a good one or a bad one?”
Mr Ramey said the Church existed to equip the believers in Christ to do the work of Christian ministry or service, so the people came together to be equipped, and then left to scatter to evangelise like the early church at the time of Acts.
The people then went out and did evangelism in homes, in workplaces, in the neighbourhood, on the sports field, where the church members were interacting with non-believers every week. “I think the greatest impact we can make in our culture is to be different from our culture. Unfortunately, that’s the way the church thinks today as the exact opposite — that is, we need to become like the world and if we become like the world we’ll reach the world, because if we become like them, then they’ll like us. And if they like us, they’ll like Jesus. This doesn’t make any sense.
“What needs to be attractive to non-believers is the fact that we’re totally different. That’s what it says in 1 Corinthians 14, when a non-believer comes into the fellowship of the Church and they’re just blown away because they’ve never seen anything like this before, so they go, they think ‘this is kind of like a coffee shop. I feel comfortable here and it’s casual’. Well, that’s not going to make an impact on that person’s life. They need to come in and say, ‘Wow, I’ve never experienced anything like this before”.
“I don’t think the way Christians influence the culture is by getting elected to high positions of authority, or by passing laws in Government.
The way that a culture or society or country is changed, is not by changing leadership, or changing laws — but by changing lives.”
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In part one of an interview with reporter Michael Hamilton, American pastor and teacher Ken Ramey discusses the Bible, his concerns about the Church in the Western World, and evangelism.
Mr Ramey is a pastor and teacher at Lakeside Bible Church, in Montgomery, Texas. Following study at The Master’s College for theological training and obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry, he got his Master of Divinity from The Master’s Seminary.
He served for many years as a high school chaplain, and then as a professor of youth ministry at The Master’s College. He completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in Expository Preaching, and is author of the book Expository Listening: A Practical Handbook for Hearing and Doing God’s Word.
A major concern Mr Ramey has is with issues concerning the Church in the western world today, matters he says it is important to deal with.
“If I look out on the landscape of the western church, I would say we live in that generation that Paul talked about, the generation of the itching ears.
“What we have is this consumerism in the Church where people are coming to Church, not to hear what God has to say to them from his Word, but wanting to hear what they want to hear that makes them feel good, and strokes them and encourages them and basically even justifies their life of sin.
“So what you have is almost this supply and demand going on in the church today where you have all this demand for ear-tickling sermons which creates this supply of preachers who are willing to cater to people’s desire and whims.
“You’ve got many pastors who have really, I think, forsaken their God-given duty which is to faithfully, clearly, accurately explain and apply the Bible; to be God’s mouth-piece; to be a hero for God.”
Mr Ramey said true biblical preaching is not being done in many churches these days. “Biblical preaching has become almost extinct in the Church today and it’s very hard for you to go anywhere and find good, strong biblical preaching; and if I hear any concern or frustration in committed Christians today, it is we can’t find a good church to go to that is faithful to teach the Scriptures.”
He said in too many churches, the pastor just “wants to give a kind of feel-good sermon and a bunch of stories and jokes. But they aren’t feeding people’s souls. There is, as Isaiah talks about, a famine for the Word of God.”
This was partly, he felt, due to too many people being lovers of themselves, and so happily attending such churches.
The duty of churches and Christians to spread the Good News does not fare well either. “I think that generally speaking, the Church has failed in its responsibility and I think many believers are not being good faithful witnesses; it’s because the Church doesn’t train people and equip them, and basically the common method in churches today is that evangelism is done by holding events: event evangelism where you must do an event, or a crusade, or concert. Let’s try to draw people in and give a Gospel presentation,” said Mr Ramey.
“What we need to understand is Acts 1:8; Jesus said ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the outermost part of the earth’. What that meant was if you’re a Christian you’re a witness. The question is — are you a good one or a bad one?”
Mr Ramey said the Church existed to equip the believers in Christ to do the work of Christian ministry or service, so the people came together to be equipped, and then left to scatter to evangelise like the early church at the time of Acts.
The people then went out and did evangelism in homes, in workplaces, in the neighbourhood, on the sports field, where the church members were interacting with non-believers every week. “I think the greatest impact we can make in our culture is to be different from our culture. Unfortunately, that’s the way the church thinks today as the exact opposite — that is, we need to become like the world and if we become like the world we’ll reach the world, because if we become like them, then they’ll like us. And if they like us, they’ll like Jesus. This doesn’t make any sense.
“What needs to be attractive to non-believers is the fact that we’re totally different. That’s what it says in 1 Corinthians 14, when a non-believer comes into the fellowship of the Church and they’re just blown away because they’ve never seen anything like this before, so they go, they think ‘this is kind of like a coffee shop. I feel comfortable here and it’s casual’. Well, that’s not going to make an impact on that person’s life. They need to come in and say, ‘Wow, I’ve never experienced anything like this before”.
“I don’t think the way Christians influence the culture is by getting elected to high positions of authority, or by passing laws in Government.
The way that a culture or society or country is changed, is not by changing leadership, or changing laws — but by changing lives.”
07 July 2010
Doctor of Ministry Programme
We'll today, I should have been starting the next phase of my Doctor of Ministry degree in Los Angeles. The third semester of seminars kicks off today at The Master's Seminary and I am not there. On the one hand, I am really disappointed to miss out on the interaction with my cohort and professors. On the other hand, the reason why I'm not there has been fully planned by our sovereign God who only makes good choices. My pancreas surgery meant that I was not able to complete all the preparatory work for this semester.
Rick Holland, Director of D.Min Studies, has graciously agreed to let me reschedule this semester's seminars to July 2011. Meantime, I have plenty to catch up on as I have not yet finished the previous semester's requirements.
Thanks to everyone who has been praying for Sereena and me through these doctoral studies. The workload is intense but the learning has been very beneficial. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to work on my expository preaching through this programme and I am hopeful that I will be able to take this learning and help students at The Shepherd's Bible College to better preach God's Word also.
I still need to raise another NZ$18,000 to complete the programme. If you're interested in supporting, please contact me by e-mail.
Rick Holland, Director of D.Min Studies, has graciously agreed to let me reschedule this semester's seminars to July 2011. Meantime, I have plenty to catch up on as I have not yet finished the previous semester's requirements.
Thanks to everyone who has been praying for Sereena and me through these doctoral studies. The workload is intense but the learning has been very beneficial. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to work on my expository preaching through this programme and I am hopeful that I will be able to take this learning and help students at The Shepherd's Bible College to better preach God's Word also.
I still need to raise another NZ$18,000 to complete the programme. If you're interested in supporting, please contact me by e-mail.
05 July 2010
TSBC E-Quipper - Inaugural Issue
This week saw the first edition of TSBC's new monthly e-mail newsletter, entitled "E-Quipper". Please let me know if you'd like to go on our mailing list.
| Welcome to TSBC E-Quipper |
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| If you have received this e-mail newsletter, it is because we'd like to consider you a ministry partner, prayer supporter, and friend of The Shepherd's Bible College. The TSBC E-Quipper will be sent out each month to both update you with TSBC news and encourage you with articles related to Christian life and ministry.
To view a video summary of Impact 2010, please click here.
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04 July 2010
How to Fail as a Christian Teacher: Top 20
I really like this blog entry from Jonathan Moorhead. I am personally challenged by it.
How to Fail as a Christian Teacher: Top 20
1. Approach teaching as a job, and not a ministry.
2. Consider each student as a number, and not as a ministry opportunity.
3. Try to manipulate the students so that they will give you a good mark on your "course evaluation."
4. Don't spend any personal discipleship time with the students - you only need to teach them in class.
5. Try to confuse the students with difficult material so they will think you are really smart.
6. Have no compassion for less gifted students.
7. Do not show how your lectures glorify God or are applicable to ministry. You only need to disseminate information.
8. Don't work toward replacing yourself.
9. Try to get students out of your office as soon as possible.
10. Do not pray for your students.
11. Don't teach students the strongest arguments of their theological counterparts.
12. Teach them that your theological critics are naive and have devious motives.
13. Don't ever admit that you are wrong, and if you are asked a question that you do not know the answer to, then answer that question by responding to a question for which you do know the answer.
14. Always seek to have preference as a professor. If challenged, always be sure to say, "Do you know who I am?"
15. Make your students memorize irrelevant material. It doesn't matter if they will never use the material in ministry, or that they will easily forget it, but what matters is that you can say you tested them on that material.
16. Never make comments on your students' papers to help them become better writers, just put a grade.
17. Write for the academy, never for the Church.
18. Don't waste your time making your lectures interesting by using PowerPoint, because your students aren't worthy to be your students if they can't simply listen to you reading your lecture.
19. Don't let your students think that their families are more important than school.
20. Don't care enough about minorities or women to correct them. Political correctness and the appearance of tolerance/openness is more important than love.
How to Fail as a Christian Teacher: Top 20
1. Approach teaching as a job, and not a ministry.
2. Consider each student as a number, and not as a ministry opportunity.
3. Try to manipulate the students so that they will give you a good mark on your "course evaluation."
4. Don't spend any personal discipleship time with the students - you only need to teach them in class.
5. Try to confuse the students with difficult material so they will think you are really smart.
6. Have no compassion for less gifted students.
7. Do not show how your lectures glorify God or are applicable to ministry. You only need to disseminate information.
8. Don't work toward replacing yourself.
9. Try to get students out of your office as soon as possible.
10. Do not pray for your students.
11. Don't teach students the strongest arguments of their theological counterparts.
12. Teach them that your theological critics are naive and have devious motives.
13. Don't ever admit that you are wrong, and if you are asked a question that you do not know the answer to, then answer that question by responding to a question for which you do know the answer.
14. Always seek to have preference as a professor. If challenged, always be sure to say, "Do you know who I am?"
15. Make your students memorize irrelevant material. It doesn't matter if they will never use the material in ministry, or that they will easily forget it, but what matters is that you can say you tested them on that material.
16. Never make comments on your students' papers to help them become better writers, just put a grade.
17. Write for the academy, never for the Church.
18. Don't waste your time making your lectures interesting by using PowerPoint, because your students aren't worthy to be your students if they can't simply listen to you reading your lecture.
19. Don't let your students think that their families are more important than school.
20. Don't care enough about minorities or women to correct them. Political correctness and the appearance of tolerance/openness is more important than love.
Surgery Update
It has now been twelve weeks since my surgery and things seem to be progressing well.
I saw a local surgeon last week for a check up. He poked around for 20 seconds and pronounced me "good to go." I must admit I was looking for a little more feedback than that, but I guess in this case no news is good news. I asked him about a feeling of tightness I experience around my midsection. He told me to expect that for quite a while longer, explaining that it can take six months or more to completely recover from such a major procedure. For now I need to remember that healing can take time and lower my expectations.
Other than that, everything else is feeling really good. I am now over the morphine addiction and I have not yet felt any tinge of pancreatitis, which of course was the whole point of going through this ordeal.
Sereena tells me I cried twice in hospital. I can remember neither time. God has been so good to me throughout the entire process – even removing certain bad memories. Sorry if you visited me in hospital and I can't remember it. You weren't necessarily a bad memory :) Sereena remembers you and really appreciated your encouragement.
Thanks for your prayers.
02 July 2010
Learning Practical Ministry Skills
This week I read and graded the final assignments for my Philosophy of Ministry course. I was really pleased with the work the students produced – it exceeded my expectations.
Their assignment was to write a personal philosophy of ministry which would identify their biblical presuppositions and ministry essentials as defined by Scripture. Next they evaluated their own giftedness, strengths and weaknesses, and then they identified specific tasks and goals for the future. All this was done with a view to serving in the church and developing their ministry roles even further.
I am so thankful for the students at The Shepherd's Bible College who are devoting themselves not only to theological training, but also to the practice of their God-given gifts. They are not satisfied with just gaining head knowledge, but are very focused on practical life-on-life ministry.
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