School of Theology
Theme: Personal Ministry & Church Leadership
Tuesday 5th - Thursday 7th July 2011
This year brings the 36th annual School of Theology at the Tabernacle, the largest reformed conference in the UK, with very many pastors, Christian workers and church officers attending, and with many younger people seeking a more biblical and committed style of Christian life and service.
The sessions are designed to bring together inspirational and practical themes for churches ministering in an age of unprecedented moral and cultural change.
In recent years this conference has strongly challenged the psychological therapeutic style of counselling that has swept into the evangelical world. This year half the sessions will be devoted to the positive features of ‘traditional’, biblical counselling better described as
personal ministry.
These sessions will inspire all who help others, both men and women, to re-engage with the biblical remedies for life’s problems.
Also, eight addresses at this year’s School are allocated to the leadership of the church – themes concerning office bearers and their role.
These studies will stir all who hold office, their wives, and also a younger generation of committed believers being prepared by the Lord to lead in His work.
PERSONAL MINISTRY
Dr Peter Masters
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The Causes and Cures of 'Melancholy' in Puritan classics – coupled with the means of maintaining assuranceHere are rich pastoral resources for spiritual shepherds from the most pastoral and practical resources of a profoundly biblical era. In two addresses the biblical explanation, exhortations, reproofs and comforts primarily given by Richard Baxter, and also of other notables, will be set out.
Through sadness to assurance - in the teaching of C H Spurgeon
The 'prince of preachers' – himself a frequent sufferer – provides powerful biblical arguments for the help of those seeking to manage their sadness, know greater assurance, and be a blessing to others through their Christian lives and service. In two addresses on Wednesday evening, Spurgeon’s most sparkling messages will be ‘trawled’, for the equipping of personal workers today.
Pastor Christopher Buss
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Personal Ministry - in Marriage Advice
The counselling
movement has encouraged an overbearing and intrusive 'problem focused' approach to marital advice. Pastor Buss will outline the contrasting traditional approach, which magnifies the distinctive positive goals and duties provided by the marriage texts of the Bible. In two addresses these priceless passages will be explored and recommended as the basis for marital encouragement.
Pastor Roland Burrows
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Personal Ministry – the Spiritual Model
The spiritual model for personal sanctification and wellbeing is the only model found in the Bible. It is entirely different from the psychological model which has supplanted it in the teaching of many evangelicals today. In two addresses its distinctives will be described, along with its superior power to bring about sanctification and assurance.
Rev Vernon Higham
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Personal Ministry - The Foundational, Exclusive
Sufficiency of Scripture
The inspired word is not merely useful guidance to leaders engaged in personal ministry, it is all-sufficient, meaning that it is God’s complete and authoritative equipment for this ministry. The sufficiency of Scripture – acknowledged by all evangelicals but in practice ignored by so many – will be presented in a single address.
LEADING THE CHURCHES
Rev John Thackway
The Call and Aspirations of Office Bearers
Two Tuesday evening addresses will cover these themes:- The qualifications and distinctive calls of pastors and other officers. The dangers to be avoided in their appointing. The importance of ‘grace’ in relation to ‘giftedness’. How a pastor’s leadership is balanced with his accountability to other officers. The officer’s goals. The motivation of the church through times of spiritual prosperity and adversity.
Pastor Chris Hand
The Disciplines of Office
What should be the lifestyle and bearing of pastors, elders and deacons, and in what respects are they particularly vulnerable to Satanic opposition? Historic faults and failings of church officers will be surveyed and also their special role in the fostering and training of a 'working' church fellowship, crucial to the growth of churches.
Pastor Jack Seaton
The Chief Obligations of Elders
The ideal mindset of church officers for the advancement of God’s people is described in Acts 20.28-35, the basis of two addresses:(1) The biblical charge to officers both for the spiritual care of individuals, and also for the church, including the defence of the faith. Here the officer’s obligations to the Divine Owner of the church will be reviewed.
(2) Being commended to the Word of God’s grace – showing how knowledge of Scripture is the instrument of the officer’s effectiveness both in personal ministry and leadership.
Pastor Jonathan Northern
The Office Bearer’s Forwardness However wise he may be, an elder or deacon is unlikely to be really useful if he is unduly passive and retiring. This address will highlight the need for initiative and action in the organisation and labour of the church, in officers’ court participation, and in supportiveness of the ministry.
Pastor Mark Stocker
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Office Bearers and the Great CommissionRepentance toward God and faith toward Christ were the keynotes of apostolic ministry
(Acts 20.21). This address will stress the vital evangelistic role of all office bearers, in their personal work, through a ministry of hospitality, and in the oversight of church evangelistic endeavours.
CONTEMPORARY CONCERNS
Dr Ted Williams
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Beware the Orality MovementStorytelling the Gospel – or 'communicating to oral learners' – is the latest ministry technique to dispense with the Word of God and substitute a flawed, doctrine-free message. Yet it is spreading rapidly through evangelical missionary societies, having the backing of the Lausanne Congress and many great names of the evangelical world. Two addresses will show the destructive influence (and the Catholic promotion) that is taking over missions working in developing countries.
OUTREACH SUNDAY SCHOOLS FOR CHURCH GROWTH
Afternoon Interval Sessions
Tuesday 5.30-6.20 pm: Many sound churches languish, longing for growth, while their Sunday Schools remain small, serving only the children of members. But churches that have set up an evangelistic Sunday School are experiencing great blessing, including adult growth.
Chris Cooper, an Elder on the pastoral staff of the Tabernacle, will present the special features and the benefits of such Sunday School work.
Wednesday 5.30-6.20 pm: First session: Lesson materials are all-important for a successful outreach Sunday School.
Oliver Wyncoll, Leader of the Surrey Gardens Branch Sunday School of the Tabernacle, will review the Lessons for Life schemes for three distinctive departments – (1) main Sunday School; (2) ‘Junior Church’ for children whose parents are in the morning sermon; (3) weeknight children’s meetings.
Second session: Children’s worship – the importance of worthy and memorable hymns and choruses for the young.
Michael Hunt, a Deacon at the Tabernacle, will present the immeasurable value of the worship materials newly available in Our Own Hymn Book for young people.