C103: Pastoral Theology COURSE INSTRUCTOR Dr. Tom Ascol is the Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, Florida and serves as the Executive Director of Founders Ministries COURSE MENTOR Students must have a mentor to successfully complete the course requirements. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will introduce the work of pastoral ministry by looking at its biblical foundations, theological concerns and practical responsibilities. Students will also interact with classic literature in the field of pastoral ministry. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The aim of this course is for students to achieve the following: 1. An understanding of the qualifications for pastoral ministry. 2. An understanding of the scope and nature of pastoral ministry. 3. An understanding of the call and the role of the pastor REQUIREMENTS All assignments for the course are outlined on the session pages and in the study guides READING (20% of course grade) These texts are required reading to be completed by assigned dates during course: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Apostle Paul Lectures to My Students, Charles H. Spurgeon Dear Timothy, Thomas Ascol, ed. Pastor s Handbook Kent Hughes 1
Recommended Reading The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges And Earnest Ministry, John Angell James The Reformed Pastor, Richard Baxter Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry, John Piper The Cross and Christian Ministry, Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians, D. A. Carson Living by Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Tom Nettles A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ, Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker WRITING (40% of course grade): The four writing assignments for this course are listed below and must be double-spaced, 12pt New Times Roman font, with a title page: TWO BOOK REVIEWS (each worth 10% of course grade for a total of 20%): Students are required to write two book reviews. The first is on Tom Ascol s Dear Timothy. The other can be taken from the Recommended Reading list. The reviews should be analytical and not merely descriptive. They should include a summary of at least 3 pages and personal application (how I will put what I learned from this book into practice) of at least 2 pages. TWO REFLECTION PAPERS (each worth 10% of course grade for a total of 20%) Students are required to write two reflection papers, at least 5 pages in length, during the course of the semester on two of the following topics: Qualifications for Pastoral Ministry, The Pastor as a Theologian, The Pastor as a Shepherd, The Pastor as Defender of the Faith, The Pastor and Preaching, The Pastor s Inner Life, The Pastor and Counseling, The Pastor and Discipleship, Baptism and the Lord s Supper, The Pastor s Role in Gathered Worship. COURSE PARTICIPATION (30% of course grade): The study guide for each session will include discussion questions over the reading and lecture(s). Please complete all the readings for the session and print out a hard copy of your answers to the discussion questions so you are prepared for your meetings with your mentor. You will receive credit for doing your weekly assignments once you have met and covered the material with your mentor. SCRIPTURE MEMORY (10% of course grade) It is vital for a pastor to hide God s Word in his heart. Therefore, to help in the process the student will be allowed to earn 10% of the final grade by memorizing four Scripture passages. For this course, select 4 chapters from the books of Titus or 1 and 2 Timothy. EXTRA CREDIT BOOK REVIEW With the prior approval of the professor students may read and review a book (or more than one book with a combined minimum of 200 total pages) from the Recommended Reading list or bibliography. The 1000 word extra credit review must be turned in via email or regular mail by December 1. Up to 10 additional points can be added to the final grade from this review. The student is expected to spend a minimum of 2 hours per week completing work outside of class for every 1 credit hour of this class. The requirements (i.e., reading, writing, evangelism, etc.) of this class are planned according to this expectation. All course work must be completed to the satisfaction of your mentor by the final week of the course. 2
GRADING A = 95-100 B = 87-94 C = 77-86 D = 70-76 F = 0-69 (1) The student is expected to spend no less than 2 hours of out-of-class work per credit hour in this class. (2) This syllabus is meant to accurately reflect all expectations and assignments for this course. However, the professor reserves the right to adjust the syllabus at his discretion. (3) Cheating or plagiarism of any kind will result in an immediate failing grade on the assignment with no chance for resubmission. The professor does have the option either to allow the student to remain in and complete the course or to dismiss the student from the course completely. BIBLIOGRAPHY Armstrong, John H., ed. Reforming Pastoral Ministry: Challenges for Ministry in Postmodern Times. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2001. Ascol, Thomas K., ed. Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry. Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press, 2004. Azurdia, Arturo G. III. Spirit Empowered Preaching: The Vitality of the Holy Spirit in Preaching. Fearn: Christian Focus Publications, 1998. Baxter, Richard. The Reformed Pastor: A Pattern for Personal Growth and Ministry. James M. Houston, ed. Portland: Multnomah, 1982. Bonar, Horatius. Words to Winners of Souls. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1995. Boston, Thomas. The Art of Manfishing: A Puritan s View of Evangelism. Fearn: Christian Focus Publications, 1998. Bridges, Charles. The Christian Ministry: with an Inquiry into the Causes of its Inefficiency. Repr. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1967. Cook, Faith. Samuel Rutherford and His Friends. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1992. Dawn, Marva J. and Eugene H. Peterson. The Unnecessary Pastor: Rediscovering the Call. Peter Santucci, ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. Edwards, Jonathan. The Salvation of Souls: Nine Previously Unpublished Sermons on the Call of Ministry and the Gospel. Richard A. Bailey and Gregory A. Wills, eds. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2002. Gregory the Great, St. Pastoral Care. Henry Davis, S.J., trans. New York: Newman Press, 1978. Griffin, Edward D. A Tearful Farewell from a Faithful Pastor. Amityville, NY: Calvary Press, 1993. Herbert, George. A Priest to the Temple, Or, The Country Parson. London: Canterbury Press, 2003. James, John Angell. Church Member s Guide: Christian Fellowship. Vestavia Hills, AL: Solid Ground Christian Books, 3
2003. (reprint). An Earnest Ministry: The Want of the Times. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993. Kistler, Dr. Don, ed. The Christian Pastor s Manual: A Selection of Tracts on the Duties, Difficulties, and Encouragements of the Christian Ministry. Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2003. Peterson, Eugene H. The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.. Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1980.. Take and Read: Spiritual Reading: An Annotated List. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.. Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.. Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Intergrity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996. Philip, William, ed. The Practical Preacher: Practical Wisdom for the Pastor-Teacher. London: The Proclamation Trust, 2002. Piper, John. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002.. The Supremacy of God in Preaching. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990. Spring, Gardiner. The Power of the Pulpit. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1986. Spencer, Ichabod. A Pastor s Sketches: Conversations With Anxious Souls Concerning the Way of Salvation. 2 vols. Vestavia Hills, AL: Solid Ground Christian Books, 2001. Spurgeon, C. H. An All-Round Ministry. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2000.. Lectures to My Students. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1974. Stewart, James S., D.D. Heralds of God. London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., 1948. Watts, Isaac. An Exhortation to Ministers. Choteau, MT: Old Paths Gospel Press. Witsuis, Herman. On the Character of a True Theologian. Greenville, SC: Reformed Academic Press, 1994. 4
TOPICS AND COURSE SCHEDULE Class Lecture Topic Reading Assignment Due 1 Introduction and Prolegommena Dear Timothy (Preface and Chapter 1) 2 Where Do Pastors Come From? Dear Timothy (Chapter 3) Lectures to My Students (Chapter 2) 3 The Pastor s Life Dear Timothy (Chapter 2) Lectures (Chapter 12) (from reading and lectures 1a and 1b) (from reading and lecture 2) (from reading and lecture 3) 4 Revival of the Pastor-Theologian Dear Timothy (Chapters 11 and 12) 5 The Pastor s Work Defined Theologically Dear Timothy (Chapter 5) (from reading and lecture 4) Begin work on Book Essay 1 (from reading and lecture 5) 6 Shepherding the Flock Dear Timothy (Chapter 4) (from reading and lecture 6) Book Essay 1 due 7 More About Shepherding Dear Timothy (Chapter 10) (from reading and lecture 7) Begin work on Book Essay 2 8 The Pastor as Defender of the Faith Dear Timothy (Chapters 8 and 9) 9 What Is Christianity? Dear Timothy (Chapters 13 and 14) 10 The Pastor s Inner Life (Part 1) Dear Timothy (Chapter 6) Lectures (Chapter 1) 11 The Pastor s Inner Life (Part 2) Dear Timothy (Chapter 7) Lectures (Chapter 3) (from reading and lecture 8) (from reading and lecture 9) Book Essay 2 due (from reading and lecture 10) Begin work on Reflection Paper 1 (from reading and lecture 11) 12 Developing a Reformation Mindset Dear Timothy (Chapter 15) (from reading and lecture 12) Reflection Paper 1 Due 13 Refusing to Compromise Ready to Accommodate Dear Timothy (Chapter 16) 14 The Pastor s Inner Life and Emotions Dear Timothy (Chapter 19) Lectures (Chapter 11) 15 The Pastor s Center Christ Determines Our Message 16 The Pastor s Center Christ Shapes Our Ministry Dear Timothy (Chapter 18) Dear Timothy (Chapters 17 and 20 (from reading and lecture 13) Begin work on Reflection Paper 2 (from reading and lecture 14) (from reading and lecture 15) Reflection Paper 2 Due (from reading and lecture 16) 5