FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Course Syllabus April 2013-March 2014 Purpose: To provide the men of Fellowship Bible Church with instruction designed to develop their spiritual leadership capabilities. Objectives: After completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Assume a more active leadership role in his home and church; 2. Understand and defend the basic doctrines of the faith; 3. Employ sound principles of Biblical interpretation; 4. Discuss the history and structure of the church and the marks of an effective local congregation; 5. Identify the two formal leadership positions prescribed by scripture for the church and discuss how they relate to other members of the local body of believers; 6. Understand that spiritual leadership is defined by servanthood. Core Resources: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) The Master s Plan for the Church, (TMP) John F. MacArthur, Jr. Bibliography: The Master s Plan for the Church, John F. MacArthur, Jr. Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch The New Testament Deacon, Alexander Strauch How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself, Richard L. Mayhue Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry, John F. MacArthur, Jr. The Sovereignty of God, Arthur W. Pink Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders Concept of Presentation: The program will be open to all men of FBC, age 16 and older, regardless of marital status. In order to ensure the best possible participation, each session will be available on two or more days of every month for twelve consecutive months and will be team-taught by four FBC pastors/elders. Dr. John MacArthur s book, The Master s Plan for the Church, will be used as the core resource. After the first meeting, home assignments in the way of advance reading and/or brief papers may be required in preparation for subsequent sessions. Upon completion of the last class the course will be evaluated, revised as necessary, and a new 12-month cycle will be initiated. Course Outline: Session 1. The Basis for Christian Leadership. April 10, 14, & 20 Al Nettleingham Introduction The Bible as our Primary Textbook The Holy Spirit as our Teacher Being Firmly Anchored (the Three-Stakes Illustration) Rev. 07-13 1
Session 2. Sound Doctrine Makes Strong Leaders. May 5, 8, & 18 Pastor Van Marsceau The Sufficiency of Scripture FBC Doctrinal Distinctives The Importance of Sound Doctrine [Appendix 11 (TMP): Why Doctrine is Practical] [Appendix 7 (TMP): The Danger of False Teaching] Session 3. The Leader Rightly Dividing the Word. June 12, 16, & 22 Dr. Jim Schuppe Principles of Scriptural Interpretation/Hermeneutics Session 4. The Leader and the Body of the Church. July 10, 14, & 20 Bob Iwig The Anatomy of a Church (TMP, Part 1) The Skeletal Structure (Chapter 1) The Internal Systems (Chapter 2) The Muscles (Chapter 3) The Head (Chapter 4) Session 5. Leadership in the Early Church. August 14, 18, & 24 Al Nettleingham The Pattern of the Early Church (TMP Part 2, Chapter 5): Founding and Ministry The Role of Evangelism The Leadership of the Church Session 6. The Leader and Effective Ministry. September 11, 15, & 21 Pastor Van Marsceau A Look at the Thessalonian Model (TMP Part 2, Chapter 7) Marks of an Effective Church (TMP Part 2, Chapter 8) Session 7. The Leader Doing the Lord s Work. October 9, 13, & 19 Bob Iwig The Calling of the Church (TMP Part 2, Chapter 9) The Lord s Work in the Lord s Way (TMP Part 2, Chapter 10) Session 8. Formal Leadership of the Church. November 13, 17, & 23 Dr. Jim Schuppe Elders, Deacons, and Other Members (TMP Part 2, Chapter 6) [Appendix 1 (TMP): Answering the Key Questions About Elders] [Appendix 2 (TMP): Answering the Key Questions About Deacons] Session 9. Leaders Above Reproach. December 11, 15, &21 Al Nettleingham Elders, Deacons, and Other Members (TMP Part 2, Chapter 6) [Appendix 3 (TMP): Qualifications for Spiritual Leadership] [Appendix 9 (TMP): Why Personal Integrity is Crucial for the Church] Session 10. The Leader as a Servant. January 8, 12, & 18 Bob Iwig Qualities of an Excellent Servant (TMP Part 3) Understanding the Seducing Spirit (TMP Part 3, Chapter 11) Understanding the Duties of the Ministry (TMP Part 3, Chapter 12) Shepherding the Flock of God (TMP Part 3, Chapter 13) Rev. 07-13 2
Session 11. The Leader and the Hard Stuff. February 12, 16, & 22 Pastor Van Marsceau Dealing with Unpleasant Issues Within the Church [Appendix 4 (TMP): Elements of Church Discipline] [Appendix 5 (TMP): Restoring a Sinning Brother or Sister] [Appendix 6 (TMP): Should Fallen Leaders be Restored?] Session 12. Review/Summary. March 12, 16, & 22 Pastor Van Marsceau, Dr. Jim Schuppe, Bob Iwig, Al Nettleingham Q s & A s Student evaluations Rev. 07-13 3
RECOMMENDED BOOKS Bibliology (Study of Scripture) A General Introduction to the Bible, Norman Geisler The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture, Rene Pache The King James Version Debate, D. A. Carson Hermeneutics (How to Study the Bible) How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself, Richard L. Mayhue Grasping God s Word, J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart Dispensationalism, Charles Ryrie There Really is a Difference, Renald Showers General Theology The Moody Handbook of Theology, Paul Enns Christian Theology, Millard J. Erickson Major Bible Themes, Lewis Sperry Chafer A Survey of Bible Doctrine, Charles Ryrie Basic Theology, Charles Ryrie The Doctrines that Divide, Erwin Lutzer Simply Christianity, John Dickson Theology Proper (Doctrine of God) Knowing God, J. I. Packer The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer Trusting God, Jerry Bridges Holiness of God, R. C. Sproul The Sovereignty of God, Arthur W. Pink The God Who is There, Francis A. Schaeffer Worthy of Worship, Sammy Tippit Soteriology (Doctrine of Salvation) Things Which Become Sound Doctrine, J. Dwight Pentecost The Gospel According to Jesus, John F. MacArthur, Jr. Faith Works; The Gospel According to the Apostles, John F. MacArthur, Jr. Atonement, Edited by Gabriel N. E. Fluhrer The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, and Documented, David N. Steele, Curtis C. Thomas, S. Lance Quinn Eschatology (Doctrine of End Times) Christ s Prophetic Plans, General Editors, John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue Things to Come, J. Dwight Pentecost Maranatha: Our Lord Comes, Renald Showers The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook, John F. Walvoord Ecclesiology (Doctrine of the Church) Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever 1
RECOMMENDED BOOKS The Truth War, John MacArthur What is a Healthy Church Member, Thabiti Anyabwile The Nature of the Church, Earl Radmacher What Would Jesus Say About Your Church, Richard Mayhue Apologetics (Defending the Faith) The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel The Answers Book 1,2, & 3, Ken Ham The Ultimate Proof of Creation, Jason Lisle Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell Many Infallible Proofs, Henry M. Morris The Bible Has the Answer, Henry M. Morris, Martin E. Clark Biblical Leadership Leading with Love, Alexander Strauch Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be, LeRoy Eims Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch The New Testament Deacon, Alexander Strauch Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry, John F. MacArthur, Jr. Sanctification (Growing in your relationship with Christ) Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges Pursuit of Godliness, Jerry Bridges Seeking God, Richard Mayhue The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer Holiness, J.C. Ryle The Disciplines of Grace, Jerry Bridges A Christian s Survival Guide, Richard Mayhue Preaching Rediscovering Expository Preaching, John MacArthur Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Teaching Today, John Stott Preaching and Preachers, D. Martin Lloyd Jones The Supremacy of God in Preaching, John Piper General Reference Works The MacArthur Bible Commentary, John MacArthur Wilmington s Guide to the Bible, H. L. Wilmington Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Walter A. Elwell, Editor A Bible dictionary A Bible atlas An exhaustive concordance of the Bible 2