Leadership And Ministry Preparation 2008

For the 21st Century

Locations –     Northern Maine.
                             Dates – Mar. 15, April 5, and April 12, 2008

                            Oxford, Maine Advent Christian Church
                            Dates - Mar. 29, April 12, and April 26, 2008

                            Rochester, NH Emmanuel Advent Christian Church
                            Dates - April 5, April 19 and May 3, 2008

 The Regional LAMP Biblical training ministry for 2008 will focus on the theme, "The Gospel for Modern Man." The Gospel is the foundation of the Christian faith and Jesus is the central figure.  The Gospel is the good news about Jesus: His humble birth, teachings, miracles, and subsequent death, burial and resurrection.

In this series of studies, the student will learn more about who Jesus is, what He said and did, and how we might follow Him and serve Him more effectively in these last days of time.

The training period will be held over three Saturdays with three separate classes being taught each week.  The theme for the first week is, The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The theme for the 2nd week is, The Gospel 's Impact on faith and Life and the third week's theme is, The Gospel of the Kingdom.

 Primary text:  Christ Is All, by David Bryant.  This text will be given to each student at no cost, a $29.95 value.  Additionally, a supplemental text may be recommended by the instructor which would be the student's responsibility.

 Class Descriptions

Week 1.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Lead Faculty, Rev. Sean Donnelly

Class One – The Person of Christ in the Gospels:  This class deals with the question, Who is Jesus?
What do the gospels say about His origin, His being, and His nature?  It is fundamental to the Christian faith
to know who Jesus is.

Class Two – The Words and Works of Jesus: As followers of Jesus, what did He say and teach that we should
never forget? 
What are the fundamental teachings He set forth? What did He do that we should emulate?

Class Three – The Mission of Christ in the Gospels: This class looks in depth at what it means to be saved. 
The focus is on the cross/resurrection event and the mission of redemption that led Christ to the cross.
Students will be introduced to The Way of the Master  witnessing techniques.

 

Week 2 The Gospel of Grace.  Lead Faculty, Rev. Ken Perkins (at Northern Maine)

Class One – The Nature of Grace: The emphasis will be on understanding grace as an aspect of God’s
character expressed in
actions toward us rather than as a commodity.  In the dispute between Augustine and Pelagius grace was
spoken of as a thing. 
This way of speaking and thinking led to the abuses that provoked the Reformation.  While the Reformation
addressed the abuses
it did not fix the language and so left certain misunderstandings in place.

Class Two – Grace and Torah/Law: This class will revisit the law/grace divide, looking at God’s gracious purposing in giving the
Torah and how it was being misused in the time of Jesus.  This will provide a fresh foundation for looking at faith and works, as well
as understanding salvation as an act of God.

Class Three – Grace as Good News: Building on the previous foundation, this class will focus on the good news (gospel) as the
proclamation of God’s accomplishment.  In developing this, an alternative to the bottleneck posed by Calvinism and Arminianism will be offered.

 

Week 2 The Gospel’s Impact on Faith and Life.  Lead Faculty, Rev. Sam Warren (at Oxford and Rochester)

Class One – The Essence of the Gospel. Matt. 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew chapters
5-7 contains what is generally regarded as the essence of the Gospel.  The teachings set forth by Jesus in this
passage are principles to live by.

Class Two – The Gospel of Grace.: One of the points of contention in the church almost from the outset has
been the struggle between law and grace.  What constitutes righteousness for a man?  Ephesians 2:8.9.  This
class examines this age old contention between law and grace.

Class Three – The Gospel of Life.: Jesus stated that He had come into the world that men might have life and have it more abundantly, John 10:10.  This class examines what the scriptures teach about the nature of man and demonstrates that eternal life can be experienced in Christ alone..

Week 3 The Gospel of the Kingdom.  Lead Faculty, Dr. David Alves

This series of classes explores the teaching of Christ concerning the Kingdom of God.  It is ‘good news’ that God has acted in
human history to insure that His goal of a people who would live in fellowship with Him, in His Kingdom paradise, for His glory,
forever, will be completed at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Class One - God’s Kingdom Plan in Creation: This class will look at what God was doing in the creation act to discover His purpose

for man and why that purpose was never realized in human history.

Class Two - Jesus and the Kingdom of God: This class discusses what God has done to recover His people and make it possible for
His original Kingdom plan to become a reality.

Class Three – The Kingdom Realized: This class will speak to God’s ultimate victory over His enemies at the Second Coming of Jesus
Christ and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom on the earth made new.

Who should attend:

The Leadership and Ministry Preparation Training Program of the Eastern Regional Association is designed for laymen who sense a call of God on their lives and who are interested in being better prepared to serve the Lord in a leadership role in the local church.  If you believe God has called you to serve Him in a leadership position in His Church, prayerfully consider how this training can help you become better equipped to fulfill your sense of calling.

 

Registration:

Anyone interested in participating in this program of study will be required to register and pay the $40 registration fee.  The registration fee covers lunch on the three Saturdays the program is offered plus the cost of related materials. Each student will be given a copy of the main text, Christ Is All, by David Bryant (a $29.95 value) as part of the registration fee. Registration forms are available from your pastor, or from the Eastern Regional Association at 603-332-1412 or by following this link. Please click here for registration form for Northern Maine
                                  Please click here for registration form for Oxford or Rochester

 

Recognition:

Anyone completing this series of studies will be awarded a certificate of achievement reflecting the concentration of study.