SUMMER 2017
July 17 - 21, 2017
Preaching OT Narrative
Dr. John Currid
03DM852 -
Syllabus - Registration opens April 1
Preaching Old Testament narrative texts is often neglected by the church. The reasons for this neglect are complex and complicated. Part of the problem, of course, is the church’s difficulty in seeing the application of OT narrative texts that appear to be so strange and esoteric. Indeed, how do such passages as the leprosy laws and the food laws apply to the church of Jesus Christ? How do pastors make such teachings meaningful and relevant to their congregations? Another aspect of the problem is that for almost two hundred years OT scholarship has focused on issues of criticism, that is, questions of dating and authorship. Skepticism regarding the reliability and authority of the OT dominate the field of study. As Ralph Davis has pointed out, these scholars have “managed to make Old Testament studies mostly boring, lifeless, and dull.” In addition, many pastors seem to center their preaching ministry in the NT in which they feel they are really getting at the heart of the Christian message. In this way, OT narrative is almost shunned and put to the side as not as relevant as the NT. Finally, one of the greatest parts of the problem is the reality that many pastors simply do not know how to preach the OT. Often there is simply moralizing (e.g., who is the Goliath in your life?) or spring-boarding (using the text to jump into some theological point that can be generally applied). Thus, in the church today there seems to be a general malaise or stupor when it comes to preaching the OT narrative texts. In this course, we will focus on the means and methods of preaching OT narrative texts. OT historical narrative can be most challenging and difficult to interpret and to preach, but it can also provide wonderful, in-depth teaching and theology when appropriately understood.
July 24 - 28, 2017
Apologetics
Dr. James Anderson
03DM851 -
Syllabus - Registration opens April 1
In this DMin course we will explore the principles and practice of Christian apologetics, with special attention to the application of apologetics in pastoral ministry (evangelism, counseling, discipleship, etc.). Specifically, we will: Survey the biblical foundations for apologetics, Survey the major schools of apologetic methodology, explore the Reformed presuppositional (worldview) approach to apologetics, examine some major issues in apologetics and consider how they can be addressed from a Reformed presuppositional perspective, and critically examine the writings of some prominent contemporary skeptics.
WINTER 2018
January 8 - 12, 2018
Puritan Theology and Ministry
Dr. Joel Beeke
03DM867 -
Syllabus - Registration opens November 1
January 18 - 21, 2018 - in Birmingham
Church Revitalization
Dr. Harry Reeder
03DM819 -
Syllabus - Registration opens November 1
RTS Orlando
SUMMER 2017
July 17 - 21, 2017
Theology of Ministry
Dr. Gerrit Dawson
02DM801 -
Syllabus - Registration opens April 1
The goal of the course is to refresh pastors in their personal ministry situations through engaging the ministry of Jesus. This engagement will occur through: The rich reading and focused writing done prior to class; a lively, interactive week of deeply considering a) the person, prayer practice, ministry, and events of the life of Jesus Christ, b) our Reformed theology of ministry and c) how our personal theology of ministry grows faithfully from these roots; student presentations and subsequent discussion which yield practical applications from the Gospel accounts of the prayers, ministry and events of Jesus Christ for specific ministry situations; and, the integrative paper after class that enables students to reflect on how their deepened theological understanding of ministry has resulted in improved practice.
July 24 - 28, 2017
Preaching from the Epistle to the Romans
Dr. Guy Waters
02DM882 -
Syllabus - Registration opens April 1
One Puritan called Romans “the quintessence and perfection of saving doctrine.” Indeed! Romans has loomed large in the Reformed tradition. Perhaps it has loomed so large that many ministers have shied away from venturing an exposition of this epistle in the congregations they serve. In this course we will work to overcome that fear by thinking exegetically, theologically, and practically about preaching this epistle. The course objectives are to understand some of the leading exegetical and theological issues arising from Romans; to evaluate representative Reformed expositions of Romans; and, to become a better expositor and communicator of Romans to the church.
WINTER 2018
January 15 - 19, 2018
Preaching from the Minor Prophets
Dr. Michael McKelvey
02DM885 -
Syllabus - Registration opens November 1
January 22 - 26, 2018
Presbyterian Ministry in American Culture
Dr. S. Donald Fortson III
02DM884 -
Syllabus - Registration opens November 1