RTS Fall 2019 Leadership Discipleship (002) Page 1 of 12

Reformed Theological Seminary (Atlanta, GA)

LEADERSHIP & DISCIPLESHIP (04PT5275) Fall 2019

Rev. Mark L. Lowrey, Jr. Course Description: This course is a study of leadership philosophy, principles, and skills through which a pastor can lead a session in cultivating a culture of discipleship in order to fulfill the church’s mission in its life and witness. A variety of leadership, discipleship, Christian education, and philosophy of ministry topics will be discussed. Course Overview: Your Preparation for classes:

Readings of primary book and assigned books/sections of books; Reading Report (see pages 7-8 for Reading Report form)

Brief Reflection Papers on assigned questions from “Questions Affecting Your Philosophy/Theology of Ministry” (pages 9-11)

Responses to short online surveys Class sessions:

Class lecture Participation in class discussions Two group presentations

Final Exam: A final paper prepared from your original Brief Reflection Papers

supplemented with your thoughts, comments, questions, and future work you need to do based on class readings, lectures, and class discussion.

The intent and goal is help you to develop a framework or flexible model for understanding how a local church is to function and work as it carries out “the church’s mission in its life and witness.” Course Instructor: Mark L. Lowrey Jr. was the founder of Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) and served as the coordinator for 20 years. He has a BS in Business and Marketing from University of Southern Mississippi, and an MDiv and Master’s in Christian Education from RTS. In training campus ministers, he developed a transferable, structured model to assist campus ministers and pastors in analyzing and evaluating their ministries, and developing a strategy and plan for the future. As a teaching elder in the PCA, he regularly leads seminars and classes on Christian education and has provided consulting help for various pastors and churches. He has been the Director of Publishing at Great Commission Publications for over 20 years, overseeing the development of all ages of curriculum.

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Heads Up Warning: All class times will be Mondays 6:00-8:10 PM. This class will not meet on the following Mondays:

o September 2 (Labor Day) o October 28 (Instructor has a prior obligation. This is the reason for the

8:10 PM finish time, allowing for the required hours for the class.) o November 25 (Fall Break)

Contact Information: Email: mark.lowrey@gcp.org Phone: 678-642-1994 (cell). Leave message if necessary and I will get back as soon as possible. Course Evaluation: Brief Reflection Papers (20%)

a. Using “Questions Affecting Your Philosophy/Theology of Ministry,” you will submit Brief Reflection Papers for assigned question numbers by noon of the class day.

b. Answer the questions based on your current knowledge and understanding. You should use no resources in writing your responses or discuss with others. Submit your thoughts as of the day you write. Each response should be no more than 4 sentences. A sentence or two will often be sufficient. Note the date of your response.

Final Paper: To be worked on during the course (25%)

a. Make a line under your original reflection answers to the questions in the assigned number.

b. Then as you process through the class, note down additional reflections, insights, and information related to each set of questions.

c. Note the date of each new response. d. These additions will come from assigned readings, class discussion, and/or

discussions with others outside of class time. You should also note areas where you need to do more reflection, reading, or processing of some element of that group of questions.

e. You are “journaling” your thoughts, reflections, new insights, new information, questions, or ideas about which you might want to do additional praying, thinking, and working in the future.

f. The most profitable way to approach your journaling is to take some time every week to skim over the groups of questions and make some notes using “d” and “e” above as your guide.

g. After the final class, prepare a separate one-page paper with a brief statement of five action steps that you will work on to better prepare yourself for ministry in the church. Due December 9.

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h. This is a lifelong process of increasing the depth and breadth of your understanding of these questions. You will grow, your ministry situation will change, and the culture also will be changing. The questions interact and interrelate to each other and make up a whole. The composite answers help you develop an integrated approach to ministry and determine your philosophy/theology of ministry.

Surveys and Short Readings (5%)

1. Short papers to read before certain classes a. PCA Book of Church Order (BCO) or parallel document in your

denomination or church i. Chapter 6: Church Members

ii. Chapter 56: The Administration of Baptism (The Baptism of Infants and Children)

iii. Chapter 57: The Admission of Persons to Sealing Ordinances iv. Chapter 58: The Administration of the Lord’s Supper

b. “Why We Forget Most of the Books We Read” https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-we-forget-most-of-the-books-we-read

c. “Distinguishing Marks of a Quarrelsome Person” by Kevin DeYoung www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/distinguishing-marks-quarrelsome-person

2. Surveys a. Three to five days before certain classes you will be sent a short

survey to be completed online by 9:00 am of the class day. b. The surveys should take less than 5 minutes (most will take 2-3

minutes). Survey results will become part of that class lecture and discussion.

Required Readings & Reports (25%)

1. Required Readings (5%) a. Teaching the Faith, Forming the Faithful by Gary A. Parrett and S. Steve

Kang: This is the primary text. Assignments will be provided later as they relate to particular classes.

b. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

c. How to Think by Alan Jacobs d. Last Names A-M: The Juvenilization of American Christianity by

Thomas E. Bergler e. Last Names N-Z: Guaranteed Pure: The Moody Bible Institute, Business,

and the Making of Modern Evangelicalism by Timothy Gloege 2. Reading Reports (20%)

a. Level of Reading (10%) Required readings are to be completed on time with a satisfactory level of reading.

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b. Content (10%) Use format as provided on pages 6-7. Do not exceed 2 pages. Due by noon of class due date.

Curriculum Assignments (15%) Will be provided later as part of class. Class Participation (10%) Students are expected to participate in class discussion and in group preparation and presentation. A failure to do so will be reflected in the final grade.

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Class Schedule and Assignment Due Dates Class Date

& Assignment Due Date

Class Topic Brief Reflection Papers on Questions Affecting Your Philosophy/Theology of Ministry

Reading & Reports

Surveys & Short Readings

1 August 26 Syllabus/Intro to Church Model

Questions 1-2 Survey: Who’s Who

2 Sept 9 Church Model Brief Reflection Paper Addition: Check 5 church websites to determine how each states its purpose/mission.

a. Three churches should be from your denomination/association. One of the churches should have a different “posture” than the other two (different philosophy of ministry, worship style, ministry emphases, “niche,” etc.).

b. Two churches should be different from your denomination/association but would still consider themselves evangelical.

c. Submit a Reflection Paper before class noting up to 5 similarities and up to 5 differences by noon September 9. Each should be 2 sentences or less. You can use bullet points.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

Survey: Your True-False score on “Introvert-Extrovert Spectrum,” pages 13-14 of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking

3 Sept 16 Church Model Questions 3, 4, 5, 6 4 Sept 23 Church Model Questions 12, 14, 15 5 Sept 30 Discipleship Brief Reflection Paper

Addition: What are the sacraments? How are the two sacraments a means of grace? How would you explain to someone how they are to appropriate these as a means of grace? (No more than 4 sentences.)

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6 Oct 7 Discipleship Questions 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 Group Presentations: Juvenilization of American Christianity and Guaranteed Pure

7 Oct 14 Discipleship Questions 7, 19 8 Oct 21 Leadership Questions 16, 17, 18 9 Nov 4 Curriculum How To Think 10 Nov 11 Curriculum Group

Presentation: Curriculum

11 Nov 18 Leadership Questions 20, 21, 22, 23 12 Dec 2 Big Picture

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Reading Report for Leadership & Discipleship Fall 2019, RTS-ATL Instructor Mark L. Lowrey, Jr. Your Name: Date: Title of Book: Level of Reading: a. Read Thoroughly b. Skimmed c. Some of both (If so, assign percentage to each of the above.) d. Number of pages in “a” ______; in “b”______ out of _______ pages in book. It is assumed that you will read or thoroughly read each book.

1. Brief overview of the book including its theme, perspective, and approach. Why did the author write this book?

2. Brief critique: Strengths and Weaknesses

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3. Implications for your ministry. Application: What was of value and relevance to you in the book for your ministry in the future?

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QUESTIONS AFFECTING YOUR PHILOSOPHY/THEOLOGY OF MINISTRY Your composite answers to these questions will determine your philosophy/theology of ministry. The better you understand your answers to these questions, the more confident you will be in ministry. Whether the questions have been consciously considered or not, you have assumed a philosophy of ministry based on answers to these questions or you have a de facto philosophy of ministry.

1. What is the church? Give definitions of the visible and invisible church. What is the structure of the church?

2. What is the mission and purpose of the church? What are things that it should do, and what should it not do?

3. What is a Christian? What is a disciple? How do you determine if someone is a Christian? How do you measure spiritual well-being? What, if anything, does a person need to be able to articulate? What is meant by a credible profession? What different ways do people/groups answer these questions?

4. What is the gospel? Give a brief definition. How much is to be said? When?

5. How do you define evangelism and discipleship? What is witnessing? How do you seek and recognize opportunities to share the gospel? What part do different gifts play in (personal) evangelism?

6. What is cross-cultural and world evangelism/missions and how does it fit in?

7. What is your definition of a parachurch organization? What is its relationship to the local church? to the visible church at large?

8. What is your understanding of what Scripture is? What is your hermeneutical procedure? What are some ways other evangelical hermeneutical principles differ from yours? How is Scripture to be used and what is its purpose?

9. What is the learning process and the role of the teacher/pastor/staff in the learning process? How does a person’s experience (with others, in life, etc.) fit affect one’s learning?

10. What is the covenant? What is the covenant’s relationship to the church or what is the church’s relationship to the covenant?

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11. What are the implications of the covenant for spiritual development, education, and discipleship? for evangelism? for the local church? for the visible church as a whole?

12. What is the purpose of large groups, small groups, and one-to-one ministry in a church? What is the relationship of each to the other two?

13. What is meant by CURRICULUM, MATERIALS, METHODS? What is the role of each, and relationship to each other?

14. What are the roles of laity and staff? Who are they? What are the characteristics of each? How do unpaid volunteers fit into the discussion? What is the laity-staff relationship? What is the purpose of staff (full- and part-time)?

15. What is leadership? List some different types/roles of leadership you have in a church. How do you develop leaders for these roles?

16. What are the spiritual gifts? What are your gifts, abilities, style, and personality? How do these affect you, your ministry, and your ministry/work with others (staff, leadership of group, those you minister to and have contact with, those who observe you and your ministry)? How do the spiritual gifts of others come together as part of the whole body? How do these factors affect location (see question 17)?

17. What is the significance of location on your ministry? How does location affect the other questions? How does location affect your overall approach to ministry? (Location factors: socio-economic, ethnic makeup, cultural distinctives, geographic distinctives, professional/job market, educational factors.)

18. How do you start and build a church? What are the basic elements/building blocks? What receives priority at various stages and when? What are basic infrastructure elements of any church (infrastructure = the underlying foundation or basic framework [as a system or organization])?

19. How do the church and staff relate to parachurch organizations, other groups, and other churches both in your denomination/association and others in your community?

20. What is Word/Deed ministry? How is it related to mercy and deaconal ministries? How is it to be carried out internally? externally? What is its relationship to evangelism and the purpose and mission of the church?

21. What is the church’s responsibility and role in addressing social issues?

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22. Define preaching. Is there a difference between preaching and teaching? Explain your answer. What is the place/role of each in the church?

23. Define worship. What is the regulative principle of worship? How will it affect you in Sunday worship? What will you do? What will you not do? In what other contexts will people be worshiping?

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CourseObjectivesRelatedtoMDiv*StudentLearningOutcomes

Course:Leadership&Discipleship Professor:MarkL.LowreyJr. Campus:Atlanta Date:Fall2019

MDiv*StudentLearningOutcomesInordertomeasurethesuccessoftheMDivcurriculum,RTShasdefined

thefollowingastheintendedoutcomesofthestudentlearningprocess.Eachcoursecontributestotheseoveralloutcomes.Thisrubricshowsthe

contributionofthiscoursetotheMDivoutcomes.*AstheMDivisthecoredegreeatRTS,theMDivrubricwillbeusedinthissyllabus.

RubricØ Strong

Ø ModerateØ MinimalØ None

Mini-Justification

Articulation(oral&

written)

Broadlyunderstandsandarticulatesknowledge,both

oralandwritten,ofessentialbiblical,theological,

historical,andcultural/globalinformation,including

details,concepts,andframeworks.Alsoincludes

abilitytopreachandteachthemeaningofScripture

tobothheartandmindwithclarityandenthusiasm.

Strong Theclasscentersaroundthe

studentsworkingthroughmultiple

questionsaroundrecurringthemes,

requiringthemtothinkthrough

andprocesstheirabilityto

communicatetheiranswersina

clearandconcisemanner.

Scripture

Significantknowledgeoftheoriginalmeaningof

Scripture.Also,theconceptsforandskilltoresearchfurtherintotheoriginalmeaningofScriptureandtoapplyScripturetoavarietyofmoderncircumstances.(Includesappropriateuseoforiginallanguagesandhermeneutics;andintegratestheological,historical,andcultural/globalperspectives.)

Moderate TextbookforcesstudentstounderstandScriptureandhowitappliestotoday’schurchand

society.

ReformedTheology

SignificantknowledgeofReformedtheologyandpractice,withemphasisontheWestminsterStandards.

Moderate TakesReformedtheologyandthe

WestminsterStandardsandapplies

themtotoday’schurchandculture.

Sanctification

DemonstratesalovefortheTriuneGodthataidsthestudent’ssanctification.

Strong Discipleshipatitscoreissanctification.StudentsshouldgrowinloveofGodandhischurch.

DesireforWorldview

BurningdesiretoconformalloflifetotheWordofGod.

Moderate Studentswilldealwithhowthe

cultureanditsworldviewhas

affectedandinfluencedchurchand

ministry.

WinsomelyReformed

EmbracesawinsomelyReformedethos.(Includesan

appropriateecumenicalspiritwithotherChristians,especiallyEvangelicals;aconcerntopresenttheGospelinaGod-honoringmannertonon-Christians;andatruth-in-loveattitudeindisagreements.)

Strong Thereadings,assignments,and

discussionsarefocusedon

developingandembracinga

winsomelyReformedethos.

Pastoral

Ministry

AbilitytoministertheWordofGodtoheartsandlivesofbothchurchedandunchurched,toincludepreaching,teaching,leadinginworship,leading,andshepherdingthelocalcongregation,aidinginspiritualmaturity,concernfornon-Xns.

Strong Providesmultipleprinciplesand

toolsrelatedtothechurchasa

wholeinitsministry.