Programme of Topics for 2011/12
Saturday 8th October, 2011
Dr Peter Masters
Preaching – distinctive modes of sermon construction; good and bad described; do’s and don’ts; the essence of preaching Christ; the thinking process required; the evangelistic sermon defined; doing justice to the fullness and happiness of the Christian life.
Pastor Christopher Buss
A Survey of Zechariah – with special identification of the principal themes and applications for preaching.
Dr Ted Williams
Review of the Lausanne Movement, its origins, doctrinally-mixed ethos, and its liberal and political ideals.
Saturday 12th November, 2011
Dr Masters
Church Policy and Practice – the elements of NT church life; the evangelistic strategy; the crucial place of child evangelism; the scope of pastoral initiative.
Pastor Buss
The ‘Higher Christian Life’ and its Effects. Reviewing the leading Higher-Life authors, its manifestations today, and the helping of people affected by its ideas.
Pastor Michael Coles
A Survey of 1 Kings – a suggestive survey with special attention to the principal themes and applications for preaching.
Saturday 10th December, 2011
Dr Masters
The Holy Spirit – His divine being in both Testaments; His abstention from direct manifestation; mistakes concerning Him; His vital power and roles; His particular work of holiness and order.
Pastor Buss
The Teaching of Progressive Sanctification – the biblical doctrine set out with helps and hindrances.
Pastor Jack Seaton
A Survey of Deuteronomy – a suggestive survey with special attention to the principal themes and applications for preaching.
Saturday 14th January, 2012
Dr Masters
(i) Modern Study Bibles – their technical virtues weighed against their hermeneutical disasters.
(ii) Hymnody – A brief history; legitimate biblical praise defined; hymn categories; a hymn defined; correct deployment of hymns in worship; the place of psalms; the necessity of hymns for Trinitarian worship.
Pastor Buss
The Doctrine of Assurance and the Teaching of Assurance to Believers – to encourage a strong living hope; counsel to the unassured.
Rev John Thackway
A Survey of Leviticus – a suggestive survey with special attention to the principal themes and applications for preaching.
Saturday 11th February, 2012
Dr Masters
(i) The Church Constitution – for both pioneers and revivers of churches: factors which should be considered in the formulation of articles, and expressed in a biblical, understandable manner.
(ii) The Wider Evangelical Scene – things we need to know about developments in ‘new’ evangelicalism, the promoters, the rapidly appearing consequences, and the right precautions.
Pastor Buss
Implications of Millennialism – the profound influence of different views on the interpretation of selected books of the Bible.
Rev Malcolm Watts
A Survey of 1 Timothy – a suggestive survey with special attention to the principal themes and applications for preaching.
Saturday 10th March, 2012
Dr Masters
The Unique Revelatory Material of the Book of Job – including the causes of self-induced affliction in believers, and its avoidance, and the age-old battle between faith and works, or evangelicals and their opponents. (The pastoral ‘potential’ of Job cannot be exaggerated.)
Pastor Buss
Hyper-Calvinism v Persuasive Preaching of the Gospel – identifying the development and features of the former, and the virtues of the latter.
Pastor Chris Hand
A Survey of 1 Corinthians – a suggestive survey with special attention to the principal themes and applications for preaching.
Saturday 12th May, 2012
Dr Masters
(i) Troubles in Churches – ‘visible’ and ‘invisible’ problems in lives; the corporate grieving of the Spirit; patient shepherding by pastors and office-bearers to effect healing.
(ii) Church Discipline – from the practice of brotherly correction to the procedures for serious matters.
Pastor Buss
Teaching believers about personal prayer – the importance of direction, and the necessary themes to visit.
Pastor Roger Brazier
Exegetical topic, details to follow
Saturday 2nd June, 2012
Dr Masters
The Pastoral Manual of Proverbs – not being merely ‘sundry moral maxims’, but deep, rich, miniature parables arranged in the book’s stated categories: (i) reasoning with lost souls, (ii) exhortation of young believers; (iii) training the mature.
Pastor Buss
The Doctrinal Approach to Comfort in Trials – the most important aspect of personal pastoral ministry.
Pastor Roland Burrows
A Survey of 2 Corinthians – a suggestive survey with special attention to the principal themes and applications for preaching.