WORSHIP. A MINISTRY TRAINING COURSE Open to anyone who desires to grow in the Word. Class Time: 7:00 9:00 PM

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1 WORSHIP A MINISTRY TRAINING COURSE Open to anyone who desires to grow in the Word Class Dates: Friday, March 10, 2017 Tuesday, April 18, 2017 Friday, May 12, 2017 Friday, June 23, 2017 Class Time: 7:00 9:00 PM Location: Pleasant Hill Church of the Brethren 9002 Orchard Road Spring Grove, PA Phone: (717) Instructor: Kenneth Nell 200 Jacobs Mill Road kenenell@gmail.com Abbottstown, PA Phone: (717) Registration: Please contact Joel Sollenberger at joroso@centurylink.net or (717) by March 1, There is no registration fee, but a freewill donation box will be available. Please indicate if you are a distance student and a call-in phone number will be provided. COURSE DESCRIPTION: SYLLABUS Various foundational principles and expressions of worship as found in both the Old and New Testaments will be presented. God s purpose and plan for our worship of Him is interwoven throughout the pages of His Word. From the wonder of our supreme Creator as presented in Genesis on through to the majestic adoration of the Lamb of God in Revelation, the elements of worship are revealed. Biblical characters, tabernacle types, significant events, the Psalms, the teachings of Christ, the epistles, and early church worship will be considered for building lessons that provide a biblical view of a true worshiper. COURSE PURPOSE: The course is designed to encourage evaluation (based upon God s Word) of what is essential in our worship of God today and to cultivate a desire to worship God both on an individual basis and with the gathered assembly. As vibrant worship is practiced daily it promotes a spirit of worship that is alive and spontaneous in our church services. COURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. Articulate a definition of worship. 2. Understand the principles of worship from both the Old and New Testaments. 3. Summarize the biblical elements of worship that apply to all Christians today. 4. Describe the type of worshipers that God seeks. 5. Learn how to evaluate current trends in worship. 6. Strive to develop personal worship on a daily basis that is pleasing to God. Page 1

2 SYLLABUS CONTINUED REQUIRED RESOURCES: 1. Boa, Kenneth. Face to Face: Praying the Scriptures for Spiritual Growth. Zondervan, Grand Rapids. (Please note: You do not need to read this book in its entirety for the course, but it may be a valuable resource for some of the assignments.) 2. Wiersbe, Warren W. Real Worship. Baker Books, Grand Rapids. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 1. MacArthur, John, Jr. The Ultimate Priority. Moody Press, Chicago. 2. Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. London. Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. 3. Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Navpress. EXPECTATIONS: 1. Attend all the class sessions or listen to the call-in line if you are a distance student. If there is a conflict in your schedule, request a recording of that class. 2. Read the book Real Worship by Warren Wiersbe. In the choice of this book, consideration was given to ease of reading and the author s view of worship based upon scripture. It will be to your advantage to do as much reading as possible prior to the first class so that you have more time available to work on the other assignments between classes. 3. Meet with your mentor four times (once after each session) in person, or on the phone if it is not convenient to meet in person. Design a few questions related to class content and if possible provide a copy of the questions for the mentor to review prior to meeting together. Notes of mentor responses are encouraged for your own benefit but do not need to be submitted to the instructor. Indicate on the affirmations form that you met with your mentor. 4. Choose someone who has had experience in moderating or leading in times of worship and schedule an interview. Design questions that will enable you to gain practical advice about leading worship. Again, notes are encouraged for your own benefit but do not need to be submitted to the instructor. Indicate on the affirmations form that you met or talked with this resource person. 5. Submit the written assignments listed on page three to Kenneth Nell in person, by mail, or by with an attached document. The written assignments should be double spaced. The assignments for course credit have been designed primarily for ministers who are in plural ministry congregations and are busy with family, occupational, and church responsibilities. The written assignments are intended to provide learning experiences that are practical in nature and can be used in a worship setting during the time frame of the classes or saved for future use. Effort has been made to provide academic equivalency in contact learning time by including mentor interaction and assigned dialogue with other resource persons. Since the New Testament places the greater emphasis upon the spiritual character of those called to the ministry, our goal is to cultivate those spiritual qualifications, which are the ultimate credentials required by God for His servants. Page 2

3 SYLLABUS CONTINUED ASSIGNMENTS: 1. Devotional Essays: Choose one scriptural concept presented in each session that resonated with you. Expand or reiterate the concept as you understand it using scriptural references to support your thoughts. These essays can be kept for those times when you may be asked to give a devotional during a meeting or worship service. (Length at least one hundred words). The previous session s essay is due by the next class session. You may also send the essay by on or before the date of the next class. The fourth essay is due four weeks after the last class. There will be a total of four essays. FYI The Devotional Essays paragraph immediately above contains 106 words. This is pointed out to illustrate that the essays are not large assignments which require a lot of time. 2. Keep a daily devotions journal for a total of fourteen days (the days do not need to be consecutive). Write down one thought or insight which relates in some way to the worship of God. Each entry needs to be a few sentences in length. The journal entries can be saved for future times when you open or close in a service and feel led to share an insight. Turn the completed assignment into the instructor at the second class or him a copy. 3. Prepare introductory remarks for the beginning of a worship service as would be presented by a moderator or presiding elder. Thought and prayer should be given to your comments so that you encourage an atmosphere of worship and adoration of God. Incorporate at least one scripture verse or short passage. Turn this assignment into the instructor at the third class or him a copy. The book Face to Face: Praying the Scriptures for Spiritual Growth may be a helpful resource for this assignment. 4. Prepare a sermon on a theme related to worship. Should be approximately seven or eight typed pages (double spaced) in length or with enough content for a thirty-minute message. Submit the transcript to the instructor sometime during the time frame of the classes. ASSIGNMENTS SUMMARY WITH DUE DATES: By March 10, 2017 (first class) Read as much as possible of the book Real Worship. Interview a worship leader during the time frame of the classes. Meet with your mentor between the first and second class. By April 18, 2017 (second class) Turn two assignments into the instructor First Devotional Essay & Daily Devotions Journal. Meet with your mentor between the second and third class. By May 12, 2017 (third class) Turn two assignments into the instructor Second Devotional Essay & Introductory Remarks for a Worship Service. Meet with your mentor between the third and fourth class. By June 23, 2017 (forth class) Turn two assignments into the instructor Third Devotional Essay & Sermon. Meet with your mentor between the forth class and July 23. By July 23, 2017 Submit two items to the instructor Forth Devotional Essay & Affirmations Form Page 3

4 EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY One of the fundamental positions held by the CBE is a high view of Scripture. 1 While spiritual gifts and natural abilities contribute to the success of the ministry, we recognize that the Church functions as God intended only as it submits to the authority of God and acts under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We believe that God has given us direction in His Word concerning the proper functioning of the Church. We also believe that it is unwise to deviate from God's Word in any area, regardless of cultural norms, political pressures, or convenience. It has greatly concerned us in recent years to see our denomination drifting away from its historic understanding of the authority of Scripture. 2 We believe that we can only have life and bear fruit as we abide in the True Vine, Jesus Christ, the Word of God. The standards that CBE has established come from what was once a nearly universal understanding of Scripture. The CBE believes that education is valuable in the development of ministers, but that its value can be truly appreciated only as we build on the solid foundation of the Word. The primary purpose of this educational opportunity is the ordination of elders and secondarily continuing education. We also welcome anyone who has a sincere interest in deeper spiritual growth to attend these classes. GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPANTS For our purposes here, a student is anyone who seeks credit for completion of the course, either toward ordination or for CEUs. To encourage a class environment where all those present are supportive of the training goals, we may ask for an interview at the time of registration. The interview process is detailed in a later section. All those who desire to be a part of these classes will need to be approved by the CBE Preparation Committee. Following are some general guidelines: 1. While any person is welcome to attend, only men can receive credit as students. (II Timothy 2:2; I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6) 2. Anyone who wishes to receive credit cannot be divorced and remarried. o Jesus said that divorce was not part of God's original plan. (Matthew 19:8) o Paul said that the marriage bond is dissolved only when one partner dies. (Romans 7:2-3) o Jesus said that anyone marrying one who is divorced commits adultery. (Luke 16:18) o Jesus said that in order to gain eternal life, one cannot commit adultery. (Matthew 19:17-18) 3. We ask that attendees dress in good taste. Clothing should be modest and non-offensive. We request that no jewelry be worn. Women should wear a dress or skirt of sufficient length to cover the knees. Let us seek to glorify God by our appearance, rather than ourselves. (I Timothy 2:9-10; I Peter 3:3-4) 4. Since the course material has been developed primarily for ministry candidates, and secondarily for ministers seeking CEU's, we want to caution any female attendees to conduct themselves in a reserved manner, not dominating discussion, and limiting input in class unless it is solicited by the instructor. This policy is not meant to discourage women from attending, but to uphold the principle of male leadership. (I Corinthians 14:34-35; I Timothy 2:11) 1 See Council of Brethren Elders Charter Documents, pg. 2, item 1.a. 2 Annual Conference statements, 1979 Biblical Inspiration and Authority Page 4

5 GUIDELINES FOR COURSE MATERIAL 1. Fifteen hours of interactive learning time which includes the class sessions (lecture, discussion, homework review, devotional time, etc.) and dialogue with a mentor and/or resource person to discuss assignments or projects related to course content. (I Timothy 2:2) 2. Two hundred fifty to five hundred pages of reading may be assigned. We want the instructors to have freedom to adjust reading requirements based on content and value. Reading can include entire books as well as specific articles and sections. 3. One or more major assignments should be required along with several smaller ones. These may include book reports, research papers, interviews, sermon manuscripts, etc. Assignments integrating work with ministry are especially desirable. 4. A Course Affirmations form will be provided by the instructor to students seeking credit. The form should be returned to the instructor upon completion of the course. The instructor will then provide any comments of evaluation and return the form to the student. A copy of the form will also be sent to the student s ordaining body as a conformation of his work completed. TRAINING CREDIT The Course Affirmations form will fulfill the purpose of a credit certificate. Although the CBE courses are not recognized by SVMC or the Church of the Brethren Districts as credit, the courses are designed to encourage high academic standards while upholding the truth of God s Word. Ordained ministers may audit the course for personal growth and continuing education. Upon request CBE will issue CEU certificates, but the District has chosen not to approve these CEUs because of CBE s position, which includes not issuing credit to women. INTERVIEW Our interview process is intended to approve candidates for class participation and not to evaluate a candidate's ministry capabilities. The interview will begin with a request for some general information from the candidate so that we can become better acquainted. The questions may include: o Overview of call/ personal call o Family situation/ occupation o Spiritual life including devotional life Next, we will shift to a more personal or individual approach. o Look at education already received o Past and current ministry and church responsibilities o View of Jesus Christ, the Church, and Scripture o Determine reason for interest in class We may also ask more specific questions based on answers to general inquires. We will also be attentive for special situations that may exist in order to accommodate students who may have difficulty working within our class structure. Page 5