November 1: What weapons are available to the believer for spiritual warfare?

Key Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Other resources: A Handbook of Enemy Strategies, by John Piper

October 18: Who is Satan? What do we know about him from Scripture?

Key resources: Grudem, Systematic Theology -- Chapter 20

The Fall of Satan and the Victory of Christ, sermon by John Piper



The sermon may be read, listened to or watched at the above link.

Aug 30: How do you pursue humility?

Also, How do you rebuke of admonish people?



These topics actually intermingle well. On the one hand, we need to be seeking to live lives that are marked by humility and service; yet, as leaders in the church, we have a Biblical mandate to exercise discipline to those who are going astray. How do we find a proper balance?



Resources: Mark Driscoll on Church Discipline -- this is a long message, but very helpful.
Notes on church discipline with scripture references.
True or false on humility?
Humility and Christian Hedonism - Piper

I know it's a lot this week, but get to what you can....

Aug 23: Is it possible for someone who professes faith in Christ to lose his or her salvation? Why or why not?

The key to understanding this question rests largely on understanding what it means to be saved. This "Letter to a Friend Concerning the So-Called 'Lordship Salvation'" by John Piper deals with this very well and also has a long list of Bible passages that are relevant.

Also, Grudem, Systematic Theology, Chpt 40.

Aug 16: How do you resist sexual temptation?

Key passages: Matthew 5:27-32; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; 1 Cor 10:13

Other resources: ANTHEM - a strategy for fighting lust: by John Piper
Missions and Masturbation: by John Piper

These are short and to the point articles that are helpful. Let me know if you need a printed copy.

Aug. 2: What is your plan to maintain physical fitness?

Sorry for not keeping this up the last few weeks. I'll try to get back on top of it for you all.

Key passages: 1 Cor. 6:12-20; 1 Tim. 4:8

Article: "Slimming Down the Body of Christ"

June 21: Describe your own practice of confession.

Also, How do you keep a clear conscience?
Sorry, guys, about the last two weeks. Between VBS and being gone at Bible Camp, I just couldn't keep on it. I hope to see you Thursday morning.

Other resource: Mark Driscoll - Prayer and Repentence (Nehemiah 9:1-37) click on the audio or video version, depending on your preference. Sorry I didn't get this for you sooner. For an audio cd, just ask me.

May 31: How would you describe the human condition?

Also, what happens to those who have not heard the Gospel? Who have heard and rejected the Gospel?

Key verses: Romans 1-3; 2 Cor. 4:1-6; Gen. 18:16-33; Hebrews 10:26-31

Other resources: John Piper, Doing and Endorsing Evil
John Piper, What happens to those who have never heard the gospel?

May 24: What do you do to maintain fellowship?

Also, what is your strategy for maintaining the priority of corporate (public) worship?

Key verses: Hebrews 10:19-25; Eph 4:1-16; 1 Cor. 11:17-34

Other resources: Article on corporate worship here.

May 17: Describe the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Also, How do you perceive the Spirit's ministry has changed since Old Testament times? How would you distinguish between baptism of the Holy Spirit and fullness of the Holy Spirit?

Key Verses: John 14: 15-27; John 16:5-15; Gal 5:16-26; Isaiah 32:14-18

Other Resources: Grudem, Systematic Theology, chpt 30.

May 10: How would you disciple an individual?

Also, How would you help someone discover his or her spiritual gift?

Key Passages: Eph 4:1-16; Matt 10:24-25; 2 Tim 4:1-5; 1 Cor 12; 1 Cor 4:14-17

Other Resources: Mentoring Article

May 3: What do you consider to be the main point of Jesus Second Coming?

Give Biblical support.

Key passages: Matt 24:36-51; Acts 1:6-11; Titus 2:11-14; Phil 3:20-4:1

Other Resources: Grudem, Systematic Theology, Part 7

April 26: What has "taking up your cross" meant to you in practice?

Also, what is your attitude towards authority?

Key verses: Luke 9:23-27; 57-62; Romans 13:1-7

Other resources: How Dead People Do Battle With Sin, by John Piper

April 19: What is included in the present ministry of the ascended Jesus?

Key passages: Hebrews 7:23-8:2; 1 Tim 2:5; Eph 1:20-22; Rev 19:11-16; John 14:1-3

Other resources:
Grudem, Systematic Theology, Chapter 29
Mark Driscoll: Vintage Jesus: Where is Jesus today?

April 12: What sort of counsel do you feel able to offer?

How does one comfort the bereaved?

Key passages: 2 Cor. 1:3-11; Romans 8; Galations 6:1-10

I apologize for not having other resources available on this topic. Hopefully, after Easter I will have time to get ahead of you guys again....

Apr 5: Explain why you believe the Jesus was raised from the dead...

...and describe what may be known of his resurrection body.

Just in time for Easter!

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

Key passages: 1 Cor 15; John 20

Other resources: Grudem, Systematic Theology, Chpt 28
Vintage Jesus: Did Jesus rise from death? Mark Driscol -- Click on sermons, then the Vintage Jesus link and then on the sermon title. Ask me if you want an audio CD copy.

What is your life purpose?

You get a break from the rigors of studying this week, in order to spend some time WRITING DOWN your life purpose. You may want to think about more than one purpose statement. For example, you may have one for your family life, another for your career, or ministry. Try to find at least an hour or two to get away by yourself to think about this topic this week.

Mar 22: Why did Jesus die?

State your understanding of the atonement.

Memory verse: 1 Peter 3:18

Key passages: Romans 5; Hebrews 9:11 - 10:18

Resources: Grudem, Systematic Theology, Chpt. 27.
"What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?" by Mark Driscoll - Go to the Vintage Jesus Series and you should find this title. Ask me if you want an audio cd copy of this sermon and I'll burn one for you.

Mar 15: How do you explain the Gospel to unbelievers?

Also, Write out your testimony and be prepared to share it in three minutes. How do you maintain a good reputation with outsiders?

Key verses: 1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Cor. 4:1-6; Acts 1:6-8

Sorry, guys, that I did not get this up before I left for Honduras. Hopefully you were able to spend some time on getting your testimony written out and we will also review the last two weeks when I was gone. Hopefully by the end of the week I will be a couple weeks ahead of you again!

Mar. 8: What passages from the New Testament would you cite to make a case for the Deity of Christ?

Explain to the best of your ability how Jesus can be both fully human and fully divine.

Memory Verse: Col. 2:9

Key passages: John 1:1-18; 8:57-59; Col. 1:15-20; 2:8-15

Other resources: Grudem's Systematic Theology, Chpt. 26

I will be in Honduras this week, so you will have to discuss it without me. We will probably take time to review this together next week when I am back.

March 1: Study servanthood in the Bible and record your profit from this study.

Also, what is your practice with regard to giving?

Memory verse: Mark 10:43b-44.

Key passages:
Joseph's story: Gen. 39:1-6; 39:20-23; 41: 37-46; 47:20-26
David and Saul: 1 Samuel 16
Motivation: Romans 7:4-6
Also: 1 Tim 6:1-2; Gal. 5:13-15; 1 Peter 4:7-11
Giving: 2 Cor. 8:1-12

It is enough to look to scriptures on this week's topic. However, if anyone is interested, Dave Ramsey's FPU lesson 13 is an outstanding presentation on giving. If you would like to borrow the DVD to watch, please ask me for it.

Feb 22: List ten attributes of God.

What attributes comfort and encourage you the most? Which do you find most difficult to understand?

Memory verse: Psalm 73:25-26

Resources: Grudem, Systematic Theology, chapters 11-13.
http://www.preceptaustin.org/attributes_of_god.htm - a list of attributes and verses

Feb. 15: Study the Lord's Prayer and record what you learn.

Also, be prepared to discuss how you keep track of prayer requests. Review the Biblical doctrine of fasting and describe your own practice of it.

Key passages:
Lord's Prayer -- Matt 6:5-15
Fasting -- Matt 6:16-18; Mark 2:18-22; Acts 13:1-3; 14:21-23

Resource link: http://www.billbright.com/howtofast/index.html

In addition to your study this week, your assignment includes setting aside a time to fast. I don't want anyone to lose their reward, but I do want us to discuss our experience of fasting.

Feb. 8: State the doctrine of the Trinity and support it from scripture.

Key verses: Gen. 1:26; John 1:1-14; 8:58-59; Col. 2:9; and many others!

Resources: Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem -- Chpt. 14

Please try to read the chapter from Grudem this week. This topic is one of the foundational doctrines of our faith that is most frequestly challenged by false teachers. Therefore, it is vital that we underrstand its Biblical foundation and that we are able to explain and defend it.

Feb. 1: What does the Bible say about telling the truth?

Also: How does one lead a small group Bible study? Prepare to lead a study on Psalm 100.

Key Passages: Jeremiah 5:1-3; Jeremiah 9: 1-9; Ephesians 4:25; II Tim 3:16

Resources:
Leadeing Effective Small Groups -- Officer's Christian Fellowship
How NOT to Lead a Bible Study -- Ann Boyd, Intervarsity leader

This is the first week where the questions are not necessarily directly related. I have provided a start to the resources. If anyone stumbles onto anything really good, be sure to email me or post it here, so that I can get it the other guys.

Jan. 25: List and explain guidleines for faithful interpretation of the Bible.

Theological terms --
Hermeneutics -- definition from Merrium-Webster dictionary:
her·me·neu·tic: Function: noun
1 : the study of the methodological principles of interpretation (as of the Bible)
2 : a method or principle of interpretation
Etymology: Greek hermEneutikos, from hermEneuein to interpret, from hermEneus interpreter
Exegesis -- Grudem's Systematic Theology
"The process of interpreting a text of scripture."

Memory verse: 2 Timothy 2:15

Key Passage: 2 Peter 3:14-18

Article:
Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics

This is an "academic" paper and may push you some to read and comprehend, but it is a worthwhile challenge. We will try to create a list of principles for Bible interpretation in class that is in our own language. Feel free to start submitting ideas for the list here on the blog.

January 18: What plan do you follow for personal Bible study?

Also, explain the benefits of memorizing scripture.

Memory verse: Psalm 119: 11 -- I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Key Passages: Deut. 6:6-7; Matthew 4:1-11; Psalm 1:1-2

Articles: Dr. Waylon Moore -- How to Memorize Scripture
Dr. John Piper -- Why Memorize Scripture?
Back to the Bible - Bible reading plans
NavPress Bible reading plans
Zondevan Bible reading plans - includes several short topical plans.

Also make your case for whether a reading plan is necessary or not.

January 11: What does the Bible claim about itself?

Also, what should be the believer's posture in relation to the Bible?

Memory verse: 2 Timothy 3:16

Key passages: II Peter 1:19-21; Psalm 119

Articles: Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy
10 Reasons Why I Am Thankful for the God-Breathed Bible

Four characteristics of Scripture:
1. Authority and inerrancy
2. Clarity
3. Necessity
4. Sufficiency

We will look at what the Bible says about itself. We also need to think about our personal application of this lesson. Based on what the Bible says about itself, how do we respond? How do we relate to this book? What are our options for response?

January 4: Introduction

Our first session is meant to let you know the purpose of this study and to answer your questions about what this committment involves. Feel free to post any thoughts or questions that arise after our session.

Welcome to the Blog

Welcome, men, to our prospective elder training blog. I hope that this will be an additional tool for us to be able to use for developing our thoughts on the various topics we will wrestle with this year. This will give you a forum to begin thinking about hte topic with others before we meet, but also a place to continue the discussion as you think of things after we meet as well. Please post as often as you like. Your participation is what will make this worthwhile.

The name for this blog is taken from Ephesians 4:11-16. God gives gifted people to His church to build up the body, equip the saints for ministry, and that we may all arrive at mature manhood. The result of this is a body that, when each member is working properly, builds itself up in love. That is our goal -- to attain the measure of the fullness of Christ.