PT 621 Course Syllabus (2015)
Course Syllabus Course Title:
PT 621 Pastoral Theology
Course Description:
A systematic and practical study regarding the nature and methodologies of pastoral ministry in the church. Includes an analysis of the pastor’s role as leader, administrator, shepherd, counselor, and trainer, as well as his relationship to his fellow-elders, deacons, and other church staff.
Course Instructor:
Bob Gonzales has served as a pastor of three Reformed Baptist congregations and has been the Academic Dean and a professor of RBS since 2005. He has a Ph.D. in Old Testament Interpretation and is the author of Where Sin Abounds: the Spread of Sin and the Curse in Genesis with Special Focus on the Patriarchal Narratives, as well as a contributor to Reformed Baptist Theological Review, The Founders Journal, and Westminster Theological Journal. Bob is also a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society for Biblical Literature. He and his wife, Becky, have five children.
Course Lecturers:
Tom Ascol has been in pastoral ministry since 1978, the last 25 years serving as Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, FL. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University (BS) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv, PhD). He is the Executive Director of Founders Ministries and Editor of The Founders Journal. Tom and his wife, Donna, have six children. Gary Hendrix has been an elder at Grace Reformed Baptist Church since 1970, when he was called to serve as the church’s pastor. Gary has a Bachelor of Theology (ThB) from Piedmont Bible College. Gary and his wife, Sherry, have three children. Donny Martin has been in the ministry for more than 25 years. He served as a church planting missionary in Spain. He is currently an elder in Grace Baptist Church in Hartsville, TN. where he has served for the past fifteen years. He and his wife Jane have seven children. Donny is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and the Evangelical Institute of Greenville, South Carolina. He is presently completing a Master’s Degree in Biblical Counseling from the Master’s College in California. Mark L. Ward, Jr. is the Secondary Bible Curriculum Author at BJU Press, where he is also part of the Biblical Worldview Team. Currently, he is writing an eighth grade textbook, which will be a redemptive-historical tour through the Old Testament. In 2011 he completed his dissertation (“Paul’s Positive Religious Affections”) for a degree in New Testament Interpretation at Bob Jones University. He is a long-time member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, and is the leader of its weekly Neighborhood Bible Class outreach ministry. He has a wife and two small children, and he blogs at Βλογάπη. Brian Borgman is founding pastor of Grace Community Church. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), a Master of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, OR) and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Seminary (Escondido, CA). Pastor Brian has authored “Rethinking a Much Abused Text: 1 Cor. 3:1-15” published in Reformation & Revival Journal 11:1 (Winter 2002), My Heart For Thy Cause: Albert N. Martin’s
Theology of Preaching (Christian Focus Publications, 2002), and Feelings & Faith: Cultivating Godly Emotions in the Christian Life (Crossway, 2010). Brian has been married to Ariel, the wife of his youth, since 1987. He also has three wonderful children, Ashley, Zachary and Alex. Course Credit:
2 credits
Course Requirements:
Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:
(1) Lectures
Student must listen to all 20 audio/video lectures by Pastors Selph, Ascol, Hendrix, and Martin, as well as the two Q&A Panel Discussions and the Interview of a Pastor’s Wife. Lectures are available on RBS Virtual Campus.
(2) Reading
The following reading is required: Paul’s Letters to Timothy (1 Timothy; 2 Timothy) and his Letter to Titus. Tom Ascol, editor Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry (Founders Press, 2006). [Available through Founders Press] C. H. Spurgeon, All Round Ministry (Reprint, The Banner of Truth, 1960). Online: http://www.armorofgodbooks.com/armorofgod/?p=208 Robert Gonzales, “Giving Proper Due to the People in the Pew, Part 1: A Biblical Defense of Lay-Ministry,” The Founders Journal 79 (Winter 2010): 6-21. Online PDF: http://www.founders.org/journal/ Robert Gonzales, “Giving Proper Due to the People in the Pew, Part 2: A Biblical Defense of Lay-Evangelism,” The Founders Journal 83 (Winter 2011): 1127. Online PDF: http://www.founders.org/journal/ Horatius Bonar, Words to Winners of Souls (Presbyterian & Reformed, 1995). Online PDF: http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/ Evangelism/Classic-Essays--Articles/ Note: The student may be allowed to substitute other reading for the requirements listed above, but he must obtain approval from the course instructor before doing so. The following reading is recommended: The Westminster Conf. Papers, The Office and Work of the Minister (Tentmaker, 1986). Charles Brown, The Ministry (The Banner of Truth, 2006). Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry (The Banner of Truth, 1976). Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor (The Banner of Truth, 1989). John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals (Broadman, 2002). John Piper and Donald Carson, The Pastor as a Scholar and the Scholar as a Pastor (Crossway, 2011). John MacArthur, Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry (Word, 1995). Ichabod Spencer, A Pastor’s Sketches -Vol. 1 & 2 (Solid Ground, 2002). Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, Total Church (Crossway, 2008). Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, The Trellis and the Vine (Matthias Media, 2009). Gareth Crossley, Growing Leaders in the Church (Evangelical Press, 2008). Ken Sande, The Peacemaker (Baker, 2004). Curtis C. Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors (Crossway, 2001). C. John Miller, Excellence in Leadership (Zondervan, 1986).
C. John Miller, Outgrowing the Ingrown Church (Zondervan, 1986). Mark Dever, The Deliberate Church (Crossway, 2005) Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker, A Portrait of Paul (Reformation Heritage, 2010) (3) Book Reviews
The student should write book reviews of 2 books from the recommended reading list. The reviews should be 5 to 6 pages single-spaced using 12-point font. The book reviews should be submitted together with the final exam and the interviews. If the student has any questions, he should contact the instructor at [email protected]
(4) Pastor Interviews
A student should conduct interviews with 3 different pastors who are currently serving in the pastoral ministry. The interview is to consist of 7 questions the student would like to ask regarding the pastoral ministry as well as 3 additional questions the 3 pastors would say the student should ask about pastoral ministry. The pastors should then answer the student’s 7 questions as well as the 3 questions he gives for the student’s benefit. To be sensitive to the pastors’ time, the student may want to interview the pastors in person or over the phone. In that case, the student should type a summary of the pastors’ answers and questions. The answers do not need to be exhaustive. A paragraph or two for each answer is fine. All the questions and answers should be submitted with the reviews and the exam.
(4) Term Paper
The student shall prepare one paper on one of the topics suggested below or an approved topic on a subject related to the course. The paper should be 12 to 15 pages in length (double-spaced) or 4,000 to 6,000 words (including footnotes). The paper should conform to the RBS writing guidelines that are outlined in “Guidelines & Expectations for Students” and are more fully explained by Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th edition. (Note: the student may use the Turabian template available on RBS Virtual Campus for writing the paper.) Suggested Topics: 1) The Pastor and Preaching 2) The Pastor and Evangelism 3) The Pastor and Discipleship 4) The Pastor and Prayer 5) The Pastor and His Devotional Life 6) The Pastor and the Study 7) The Pastor and Afflictions 8) The Pastor and Counseling The student does not have to parrot the titles above, but he is free to adjust the title and focus of the paper. He may also suggest a topic related to Pastoral Theology note listed above. If he has any questions about the paper or if he would like to propose a topic not listed above, he should contact the course instructor.
Course Grading:
Lectures - 20% Reviews - 30% Interviews – 20% Term Paper - 30%
Questions:
General questions about the seminary or course may be directed to the seminary dean, Bob Gonzales ([email protected]).
PT 621 Pastoral Theology
Course Description:
A systematic and practical study regarding the nature and methodologies of pastoral ministry in the church. Includes an analysis of the pastor’s role as leader, administrator, shepherd, counselor, and trainer, as well as his relationship to his fellow-elders, deacons, and other church staff.
Course Instructor:
Bob Gonzales has served as a pastor of three Reformed Baptist congregations and has been the Academic Dean and a professor of RBS since 2005. He has a Ph.D. in Old Testament Interpretation and is the author of Where Sin Abounds: the Spread of Sin and the Curse in Genesis with Special Focus on the Patriarchal Narratives, as well as a contributor to Reformed Baptist Theological Review, The Founders Journal, and Westminster Theological Journal. Bob is also a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society for Biblical Literature. He and his wife, Becky, have five children.
Course Lecturers:
Tom Ascol has been in pastoral ministry since 1978, the last 25 years serving as Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, FL. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University (BS) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv, PhD). He is the Executive Director of Founders Ministries and Editor of The Founders Journal. Tom and his wife, Donna, have six children. Gary Hendrix has been an elder at Grace Reformed Baptist Church since 1970, when he was called to serve as the church’s pastor. Gary has a Bachelor of Theology (ThB) from Piedmont Bible College. Gary and his wife, Sherry, have three children. Donny Martin has been in the ministry for more than 25 years. He served as a church planting missionary in Spain. He is currently an elder in Grace Baptist Church in Hartsville, TN. where he has served for the past fifteen years. He and his wife Jane have seven children. Donny is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and the Evangelical Institute of Greenville, South Carolina. He is presently completing a Master’s Degree in Biblical Counseling from the Master’s College in California. Mark L. Ward, Jr. is the Secondary Bible Curriculum Author at BJU Press, where he is also part of the Biblical Worldview Team. Currently, he is writing an eighth grade textbook, which will be a redemptive-historical tour through the Old Testament. In 2011 he completed his dissertation (“Paul’s Positive Religious Affections”) for a degree in New Testament Interpretation at Bob Jones University. He is a long-time member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, and is the leader of its weekly Neighborhood Bible Class outreach ministry. He has a wife and two small children, and he blogs at Βλογάπη. Brian Borgman is founding pastor of Grace Community Church. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), a Master of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, OR) and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Seminary (Escondido, CA). Pastor Brian has authored “Rethinking a Much Abused Text: 1 Cor. 3:1-15” published in Reformation & Revival Journal 11:1 (Winter 2002), My Heart For Thy Cause: Albert N. Martin’s
Theology of Preaching (Christian Focus Publications, 2002), and Feelings & Faith: Cultivating Godly Emotions in the Christian Life (Crossway, 2010). Brian has been married to Ariel, the wife of his youth, since 1987. He also has three wonderful children, Ashley, Zachary and Alex. Course Credit:
2 credits
Course Requirements:
Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:
(1) Lectures
Student must listen to all 20 audio/video lectures by Pastors Selph, Ascol, Hendrix, and Martin, as well as the two Q&A Panel Discussions and the Interview of a Pastor’s Wife. Lectures are available on RBS Virtual Campus.
(2) Reading
The following reading is required: Paul’s Letters to Timothy (1 Timothy; 2 Timothy) and his Letter to Titus. Tom Ascol, editor Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry (Founders Press, 2006). [Available through Founders Press] C. H. Spurgeon, All Round Ministry (Reprint, The Banner of Truth, 1960). Online: http://www.armorofgodbooks.com/armorofgod/?p=208 Robert Gonzales, “Giving Proper Due to the People in the Pew, Part 1: A Biblical Defense of Lay-Ministry,” The Founders Journal 79 (Winter 2010): 6-21. Online PDF: http://www.founders.org/journal/ Robert Gonzales, “Giving Proper Due to the People in the Pew, Part 2: A Biblical Defense of Lay-Evangelism,” The Founders Journal 83 (Winter 2011): 1127. Online PDF: http://www.founders.org/journal/ Horatius Bonar, Words to Winners of Souls (Presbyterian & Reformed, 1995). Online PDF: http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/ Evangelism/Classic-Essays--Articles/ Note: The student may be allowed to substitute other reading for the requirements listed above, but he must obtain approval from the course instructor before doing so. The following reading is recommended: The Westminster Conf. Papers, The Office and Work of the Minister (Tentmaker, 1986). Charles Brown, The Ministry (The Banner of Truth, 2006). Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry (The Banner of Truth, 1976). Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor (The Banner of Truth, 1989). John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals (Broadman, 2002). John Piper and Donald Carson, The Pastor as a Scholar and the Scholar as a Pastor (Crossway, 2011). John MacArthur, Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry (Word, 1995). Ichabod Spencer, A Pastor’s Sketches -Vol. 1 & 2 (Solid Ground, 2002). Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, Total Church (Crossway, 2008). Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, The Trellis and the Vine (Matthias Media, 2009). Gareth Crossley, Growing Leaders in the Church (Evangelical Press, 2008). Ken Sande, The Peacemaker (Baker, 2004). Curtis C. Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors (Crossway, 2001). C. John Miller, Excellence in Leadership (Zondervan, 1986).
C. John Miller, Outgrowing the Ingrown Church (Zondervan, 1986). Mark Dever, The Deliberate Church (Crossway, 2005) Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker, A Portrait of Paul (Reformation Heritage, 2010) (3) Book Reviews
The student should write book reviews of 2 books from the recommended reading list. The reviews should be 5 to 6 pages single-spaced using 12-point font. The book reviews should be submitted together with the final exam and the interviews. If the student has any questions, he should contact the instructor at [email protected]
(4) Pastor Interviews
A student should conduct interviews with 3 different pastors who are currently serving in the pastoral ministry. The interview is to consist of 7 questions the student would like to ask regarding the pastoral ministry as well as 3 additional questions the 3 pastors would say the student should ask about pastoral ministry. The pastors should then answer the student’s 7 questions as well as the 3 questions he gives for the student’s benefit. To be sensitive to the pastors’ time, the student may want to interview the pastors in person or over the phone. In that case, the student should type a summary of the pastors’ answers and questions. The answers do not need to be exhaustive. A paragraph or two for each answer is fine. All the questions and answers should be submitted with the reviews and the exam.
(4) Term Paper
The student shall prepare one paper on one of the topics suggested below or an approved topic on a subject related to the course. The paper should be 12 to 15 pages in length (double-spaced) or 4,000 to 6,000 words (including footnotes). The paper should conform to the RBS writing guidelines that are outlined in “Guidelines & Expectations for Students” and are more fully explained by Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th edition. (Note: the student may use the Turabian template available on RBS Virtual Campus for writing the paper.) Suggested Topics: 1) The Pastor and Preaching 2) The Pastor and Evangelism 3) The Pastor and Discipleship 4) The Pastor and Prayer 5) The Pastor and His Devotional Life 6) The Pastor and the Study 7) The Pastor and Afflictions 8) The Pastor and Counseling The student does not have to parrot the titles above, but he is free to adjust the title and focus of the paper. He may also suggest a topic related to Pastoral Theology note listed above. If he has any questions about the paper or if he would like to propose a topic not listed above, he should contact the course instructor.
Course Grading:
Lectures - 20% Reviews - 30% Interviews – 20% Term Paper - 30%
Questions:
General questions about the seminary or course may be directed to the seminary dean, Bob Gonzales ([email protected]).
