1709 Arial Street Easley, South Carolina 29640 (864) 469-0196 www.rbseminary.org info@rbseminary.org title: description: instructor: credit: ST 801 Church Syllabus A comprehensive overview of the nature, identity, origin, institution, authority, government, mission, ordinances, and destiny of the Christian church. Greg Nichols was ordained as a pastor in 1978. He is a graduate and former professor of Trinity Ministerial Academy, Montville, NJ. He is the author of What Does the Bible Say about God? The Biblical Doctrine of God (Truth For Eternity). He is a pastor of Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Greg and his wife Ginger have 4 children. 3 credit-hours Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements: requirements: (1) Lectures The student must listen to all 40 lectures by Greg Nichols on the doctrine of the church either live or via audio/video format. COURSE OUTLINE COURSE INTRO: The Concept of the Church COURSE OUTLINE & LECTURE SCHEDULE Unit 1 A Study of the Biblical Theology of the Church Unit 2 A Survey of the Biblical Testimony to the Church Unit 3 A Summary of the Biblical Teaching on the Church PART 1: UNIVERSAL CHURCH PRINCIPLES INTRO: The Essential Features of the Universal Church I. The RB Confession (LCF:26:1-4) of the Universal Church II. The Biblical Presentation of the Universal Church Unit 1 Its Messianic Foundation: Origin, Perpetuity, Destiny Unit 2 Its Evangelical Membership Unit 3 Its Apostolic Government Unit 4 Its Sacramental Consecration: Covenantal Organization Unit 5 Its Spiritual Animation: Indwelling and Endowment Unit 6 Its Prescribed Convocations: Stated, Weekly, Assemblies Unit 7 Its Catholic Commission: Vision and Vocation CONCL: The Impact of the Universal Church in this Present World PART 2: LOCAL CHURCH POLITY Intro: The Essential Features of Biblical Polity for Local Churches I. The RB Confession (LCF:26:5-15) of Local Church Polity II. The Biblical Presentation of Local Church Polity Unit 1 Their Messianic Foundation Unit 2 Their Evangelical Membership Unit 3 Their "Presbepiscopal" Government: I. The Eldership II. The Diaconate Unit 4 Their Sacramental Consecration
Unit 5 Their Spiritual Animation Unit 6 Their Stated Assemblies Unit 7 Their Catholic Commission: Vision and Vocation I. Corporate Worship II. Corporate Rituals: Baptism and the Lord's Supper III. Corporate Prayer IV. Corporate Advocation of the Word of God V. Corporate Nurture VI. Corporate Benevolence VII. Corporate Discipline Concl: The Fraternal Association of Local Churches COURSE CONCL: The Essential Marks and Immense Significance of the Church LECTURE SCHEDULE PART ONE: UNIVERSAL CHURCH PRINCIPLES LECT. TOPIC PLACE IN OUTLINE HRS. DAY 1 A Study of the Biblical Theology of the Church "unto him be the glory in the church"; "the church of the Lord, which he purchased with his own blood" 2 A Survey of the Biblical Testimony to the Church "I will build my church"; "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you those things for the churches" 3 A Summary of the Biblical Teaching on the Church "you are an elect race, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession"; "you are come unto mount Zion"; "and he made us a kingdom, priests unto God"; "I persecuted the church of God...the churches of Judea which were in Christ" 4 The Essential Features of the Universal Church "I will build my church"; "the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that fills all in all"; "the church of the living God" 5 The Messianic Foundation of the Universal Church "upon this rock I will build my church"; "the church...in all generations"; "present the church to himself a glorious church" 6 The Evangelical Membership of the Universal Church "the churches of the saints"; "the church of the firstborn whose names are enrolled in heaven" 7 The Apostolic Government of the Universal Church "Christ also is the head of the church"; "the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders"; "so I ordain in all the churches" 8 The Covenantal Organization of the Universal Church "this cup is the new covenant in my blood"; "we are one body..., for we all partake of the one bread" 9 The Spiritual Endowment of the Universal Church "for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye"; "to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal" 10 The Stated, Weekly Assemblies of the Universal Church "as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do you. Upon the first day of the week" 11 The Catholic Commission of the Universal Church "might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God"; "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" 12 The Impact of Universal Church in this Present World "you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you"; "let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" COURSE INTRODUCTION UNIT 1 COURSE INTRODUCTION UNIT 2 COURSE INTRODUCTION UNIT 3 INTRODUCTION TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH UNIT 1 ITS MESSIANIC FOUNDATION UNIT 2 ITS EVANGELICAL MEMBERSHIP UNIT 3 ITS APOSTOLIC GOVERNMENT UNIT 4 ITS SACRAMENTAL CONSECRATION UNIT 5 ITS SPIRITUAL ANIMATION UNIT 6 ITS PRESCRIBED CONVOCATIONS UNIT 7 ITS CATHOLIC COMMISSION CONCLUSION TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH 1 Mon 5 Mon Tue 1 1/2 Wed 1 1/2 Thu 2 Thu 1 Fri 1 Fri 1 Fri 1/2 Fri 1/2 Sat 1 Sat 2 Sat
PART TWO: LOCAL CHURCH POLITY LECT TOPIC 13 The Essential Features of Biblical Polity for Local Churches "how to behave in the house of God, which is the church" 14 The Messianic Foundation of Local Churches "I will build my church"; "they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples...they appointed for them elders in every church"; "or else I come to you, and will remove your candlestick out of its place, except you repent" 15 The Evangelical Membership of Local Churches "all the churches of the saints"; "no man durst join himself to them: howbeit...believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women"; "he assayed to join himself to the disciples" 16 The "Presb-episcopal" Government of Local Churches "called to him the elders of the church...in which the Holy Spirit made you bishops"; "the saints...that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" 17 The Eldership "appointed for them elders in every church"; "appoint elders in every city" 18 The Diaconate "Deacons in like manner must be grave" 19 The Covenantal Organization of Local Churches "this cup is the new covenant...as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup" 20 The Spiritual Endowment of Local Churches "you are a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you"; "to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal" 21 The Stated Assemblies of Local Churches "as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week"; "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together" 22 The Catholic Commission of Local Churches "they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers" 23 Corporate Worship "When you come together, each one has a psalm"; "who worship by the Spirit of God"; "a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices" 24 Corporate Rituals: Baptism and the Lord's Supper "they that received his word were baptized: and there were added to them in that day about three thousand souls"; "we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread" 25 Corporate Prayer "I exhort first of all, that prayers...be made for all men...i desire therefore that the men pray" 26 Corporate Advocation of God's Word "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" 27 Corporate Nurture and Benevolence "unto the building up of the body of Christ"; "let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed" PLACE IN OUTLINE INTRODUCTION TO LOCAL CHURCH POLITY UNIT 1 THEIR MESSIANIC FOUNDATION UNIT 2 THEIR EVANGELICAL MEMBERSHIP UNIT 3 THEIR "PRESB- EPISCOPAL" GOVERNMENT UNIT 4 THEIR SACRAMENTAL CONSECRATION UNIT 5 THEIR SPIRITUAL ANIMATION UNIT 6 THEIR PRESCRIBED CONVOCATIONS UNIT 7 THEIR CATHOLIC COMMISSON HRS DAY 2 1 2 1 3 2 1 2 3 3 1 3 1 3 1 4 1 4 1 4 3 4 2 5 1 5 3 5 1 6
28 Corporate Discipline "tell it to the church"; "put away the wicked man from among yourselves"; "note that man, that you have no company with him" 29 The Fraternal Association of Local Churches "it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to choose men...and send them to Antioch"; "who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us...the messengers of the churches" 30 The Essential Marks and Immense Significance of the Church "Show...in the face of the churches the proof of your love"; "unto him be the glory in the church...unto all generations" CONCLUSION TO LOCAL CHURCH POLITY COURSE CONCLUSION 2 6 2 6 1 6 (2) Reading The student must read completely the assigned reading in the following textbook. Primary Textbooks: Supplementary Textbooks: James Bannerman, The Church of Christ, Vols.1, 2 Thomas Goodwin, Works, Vol. 11 Douglas Bannerman, The Scripture Doct. of the Church John Thornbury, The Doctrine of the Church John Murray, C.W., Vol.1, 2 Edmund Clowney, The Doctrine of the Church John Owen, Works: Clarence Bass, Backgrounds to Dispensationalism Vol. 15, The Original Nature of Evangelical Chs.; Errol Hulse, Ed., Local Church Practice Vol.16, The True Nature of a Gospel Church Lawerence Eyres, The Elders of the Church J.L. Dagg, Manual of Theology, Treatise on Ch. Order Donald Macleod, The Place of Women in the Ch. Charles Hodge, Discussions in Church Polity H.M. Carson, Farewell to Anglicanism R.B. Kuiper, The Glorious Body of Christ David Kingdon, Children of Abraham John Calvin, Institutes, Book 4, Ch.1-19 P.K. Jewett, Infant Baptism and the Cov. of Grace Required Reading Total Required Rdg: 1208 pages pgs Jas. Ban., Vol. 1, p.5-80 76 Murray, C.W., Vol. 1, p.231-236, Vol.2, p.321-335 21 Thornbury, p.1-33, 43-55, 72-105, 175-188 104 Calvin, p.1011-1031 20 COURSE INTRODUCTION THE CONCEPT OF THE CHURCH C (221 pgs) Doug. Ban., p.1-24, 122-162, 270-327 115 Murray, C.W. 1, 237-259; C.W. 2, 336-344 32 Jas. Ban., Vol. 1, p.81-93, 94-118, p.187-210; Vol. 2, p.201-244 106 Kuiper, p.26-72, 252-280 76 Owen, Vol.15, p.261-302, 313-319 49 PART 1 UNIVERSAL CHURCH PRINCIPLES (378 pgs.)
Jas. Ban., Vol.2, p.186-200 15 Murray, C.W. 1, p.260-287, C.W. 2, p.345-384 68 Goodwin, p.285-308 24 Owen, Vol.15, p.319-327, Vol.16, p.11-30, 143-151 38 Dagg, p.74-99, 214-254 67 Kuiper, p.208-222, 339-360 37 Hulse, p.11-32, 179-190 34 Hodge, p. 118-133, 262-271 26 Calvin, p. 1053-1072 20 Eyres, p.1-41 41 Macleod, p.1-10 10 Carson, p.60-77, 78-89 30 Kingdon, p.50-67 18 Jewett, p.13-45, 233-243 44 PART 2 LOCAL CHURCH POLITY (472 pgs.) Note: The substitution of another work for those listed above in each category may be considered, but it must be approved by the course instructor in advance of its being read. RECOMMENDED READING (NOT REQUIRED): Completion of Textbooks: Pages Jas. Bannerman, The Church of Christ, Vol.1, p.1-480; Vol. 2, p.1-331 614 Douglas Bannerman, The Scripture Doctrine of the Church, p.1-569 454 John Owen,Works: Vol.15, The Original Nature, Institution, Power, Order, and Communion of Evangelical Churches, p.188-373 128 Vol.16, The True Nature of a Gospel Church, p.2-208 178 J.L. Dagg, Manual of Theology, Treatise on Church Order, p.1-312 229 R.B. Kuiper, The Glorious Body of Christ, p.1-367 254 Charles Hodge, Discussions in Church Polity, esp. p.1-461 388 John Calvin, Institutes, Book 4, Ch.1-19, p.1011-1484 454 Thomas Goodwin, Works, Vol. 11, esp. p.1-358 314 John Thornbury, The Doctrine of the Church, p.1-208 104 Edmund Clowney, The Doctrine of the Church, p.1-60 50 Clarence Bass, Backgrounds to Dispensationalism, p.7-155 105 Errol Hulse, Ed., Local Church Practice, p.7-190 150 Lawerence Eyres, The Elders of the Church, p.1-69 28 H.M. Carson, Farewell to Anglicanism, p.1-144 114 David Kingdon, Children of Abraham, p.2-100 81 P.K. Jewett, Infant Baptism and the Covenant of Grace, p.1-243 199 3832 Additional Books: L. Berkhof, S.T., Part 5, p.555-658 104 John Gill, Body of Divinity, Vol.2, Books 4, 5, p.558-728 171 A. Strong, S.T., p.887-980 94 Morton Smith, S.T. Syllabus, Vol.3, p.575-615 41 Geerhardus Vos, The Kingdom of God and the Church 103 J.H. Thornwell, C.W. Vol.4, p.15-295 281 Wm. Cunningham, Discussions on Church Principles, esp.p.1-289 289 Samuel Miller, The Ruling Elder, esp. p.1-72, 172-322 223 Donald Gillies, Unity in the Dark 118 Leonard Verduin, The Anatomy of a Hybrid 256 Francis Schaeffer, The Church at the End of the 20th Century, p.57-67, 132-153 32 Wayne Mack, The Role of Women in the Church 81 1720 Total Recommended Rdg: 5625
(3) Final Exam grading: After completing the lectures through part 1 Universal Church Principles, the student should take the midterm exam which is worth 100 points and accounts for 45% of the student s final grade. Then after completing the lectures through part 2 Local Church Polity, the student should take the final exam which is also worth 100 points and accounts for 45% of the student s grade. The instructor will give the student directions on preparing for the exams in the lectures. The student should direct any questions about the exam to Greg Nichols ([616] 249-7336; office@girbc.org) or the seminary dean. Lectures and reading = 10% / Midterm exam = 45% / Final exam = 45%