Evangelical Presbyterian Church Officer Training adapted from material by Rev. Dr. Bob Hopper 01 Course Purpose To equip and empower current elders and those who may be elected to the office of elder. The goal isfor all elders to be or become biblically-based, effective servantleaders in the local church family to the end that God is glorified, the local church is blessed, and the EPC is strengthened. 02 Course Resources 1. The Bible 2. The EPC Officer'S Training Guide 3. The EPC Book of Order 4. The Westminster Confession of Faith 03
Course Format 1. Eight weeks/lessons 2. Teaching time (45 minutes) 3. The eight lesson are organized around the eleven officer ordination vows of the EPC 4. Personal preparation time (see chart) Vow #1: Lesson One: Personal Faith "Do you reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?" 05 Lesson One Objectives A. Who is Jesus Christ? B.What is Ufaith?" C.Four views of salvation D. What does "personal Lord and Savior" mean? E.Why is "faith-based character" the primary requirement of a church officer?
A. Who Is Jesus Christ? "In his eternal purpose it pleased God to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and man. Jesus is the prophet. priest. and king, the head and savior of his church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world... (WCF, Chapter 8.1) 07 The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, is truly the eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father. In the fullness of time he took on himself the nature of man, with all the essential qualities and ordinary frailties of manexcept that he was sinless.jesuswas conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary out of her substance... The person Jesusis truly God and truly man, yet one Christ. the only mediator between God and man. (WCF, chapter 8.3 ) By his perfect obedience and sacrifice, offered up to God once and for all... The Lord Jesus has completely satisfied the justice of his Father and purchased not only reconciliation but also an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for everyone who the Father has given to him." WCF Chapter 8.5
1. "Religious" faith B. What is "faith?" Matthew 7:2/-23 2. Intellectual faith James 2:/9 3. Emotional faith Matthew /3:20-2/ 4. Saving faith John 3:/6 010 B. What is "faith?" Three Components of Saving Faith l.knowledge (/ Cor. /5:3-5) believe that Jesus died for my sins; God raised Him from the dead 2.Agreement - this is true for me 3.Profess with mouth and believe in heart (Romans 10:9-/ /) Note: Saving faith is God-given (Eph. 2:8-9) and Spirit-birthed (John 3:/-/6). B. What is "faith?" "The gift of faith makes is possible for the souls of the elect to be saved by believing in Jesus Christ. This gift is the work of the Spirit of Christ in the hearts of the elect... But the chief actions of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting on Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life... " (WCF, 14.2) John 1:12 "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children ot God." 012
B. What is "faith?" Evangelism Explosion Question 1: "Have you come to a place in your spiritual life where you know for certain that if you were die tonight you would spend eternity with God?" Does God want us to have such certainty? [1 John 5:11-13) OJ;} B. What is "faith?" Evangelism Explosion Question 2: "If you were to die tonight and appear before God and He were to ask you, 'Why should Ilet you into My heaven?' - what would you say?" C. Four views of salvation View #1: Secular/Religious View WORKS c=:> SALVATION Ephesians 2:1-10, y15
C. Four views of salvation View #2: Legalism FAITH + WORKS q SALVATION 0\6 View #3: C. Four views of salvation Anlinominism FAITH - WORKS c=::> SALVATION Read: James 2: 14-26 and 1John 017 View #4: C. Four views of salvation Biblical View FAITH c=::> SALVATION + WORKS Saved by faith alone alone. but not by faith that is Read: James 2: 14-26, Romans 2-5, Galatians 1-3, Ephesians 1-2, 1 Timothy 1
D. "Personal Lord and Savior"? Note: EPC Church Membership Vows #1 and #2. (BOG, p. 19) Vow #1: Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinnersin the sight of God and without hope for your salvation except in Hissovereign mercy? Vow #2: Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of sinners, and do you receive and depend upon Him alone for your salvation as He isoffered in the Gospel? E. Faith-Based Character Why is "faith-based character" the basic requirement of an EPC church officer? 1. Acts 6:3-5 2. 1 Timothy 3:1-13 3. Titus 1:5-9 E. "Faith-based character" "... It is the first duty of the Ruling Elder to represent the mind of Christ, as that person understands it, in the various courts of Hie church." "The life of the Ruling Elder: According to Scripture, those who bear this office should exhibit... Being blameless in life, sound in the faith, wise in the things of God, and discreet in all things." (BOG, 10-4,5) 021
E. "Faith-based character" "The life of the Deacon: According to Scripture, those who bear this office should exhibit especially those spiritual qualities of the Christian, and should be devout and wholehearted followers of Christ. They should be persons who are steady and reliable, well thought of by all. They should not be new in the faith and should be tested for faithfulness before election." (BOG,10-8) (see 1Timothy 3:8-13) E. Faith-based character Common unbiblical officer selection practices: they have served before they are successful business leaders so they would be good leaders in church we have a slot to fill and someone has to fill it they are well-liked in our congregation they seem to get along well with others "they chose... [those] full of faith and the Holy Spirit... " (Acts 6:5) 023 Lesson ONE Review A. Who is Jesus Christ? B. What is "faith?" C. Four views of salvation D. What does "personal Lord and Savior" mean? E. Why is "faith-based character" the primary requirement of a church officer? 024
Assignments Leadership Training Guide pp. 65-70 and 77-85 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 1 Leadership Training Guide pp. 17-18 and 37-44
4/~O ----------------------- EPC OFFICER TRAINING SCHEDULE Date Time Lesson # Reading Preparation Westminster Confession chapters 8 and 14; 6:30-7:45pm One, Vow 1 Acts 6:3-5; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-9; 2/20 Leadership Training Guide pp.65-70, PP. 77-85 Leadership Training Guide pp. 17-18, 37-44; 6:30-7:45pm Two, Vow 2 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2/27 Westminster Confession chapter 1 Leadership Training Guide pp. 17-32 and pp. 91-100 Three, Vows 3 6:30-7:45pm Westminster Confession chapters 3, 5, 9, 10, 14, 3/6 &4 17, 35 "The Essentials" Westminster Confession chapters 6:30-7:45pm Four, Vow 5 4 & 5; 3/13 Leadership Training Guide p. 28 Leadership Training Guide pp. 153-158; 6:30-7:45pm Five, Vows 6 & Book Of Government chapters 10 & 16; 3/20 7 Book Of Discipline chapter 1 Book Of Government chapter 11; 6:30-7:45pm Six, Vows 8 & 9 1 Timothy 3:1; Acts 20:28; 3/27 Leadership Training Guide pp. 139-152 Seven, Vows Leadership Training Guide pp. 169-179; 6:30-7:45pm 4/3 10 & 11 2 Corinthians 2: 19-3:6, 12:9 6:30-7:45pm Eight I I Resources needed for reading: Bible; Book of Order (where you find sections of Book of Government, Book of Discipline, and Book of Worship); Westminster Confession of Faith; and Leadership Training Guide