Remember those days as a child when you stood in-line to get the Kool-Aid and cookies on the first day of Vacation Bible School? Remember the excitement of that first worship service? Oh, and remember that summer when you were called on to hold the Christian flag during the processional of teachers, aids, and students? Well, this is not VBS but rather a graduate course in theology. Our adventure of learning will involve reading, discussing, questioning, researching, and reflecting at the highest levels of theological scholarship. But I have to tell you, there is an excited little boy inside of me just waiting to go into that air-conditioned little sanctuary and begin a thrilling week of discovery with you! So, . . .
Welcome to our students in our new summer intensive online Church Planting and Revitalization course at Erskine Theological Seminary! I pray these seven weeks (plus research week) will be a good and memorable time of growing deeper in the Word of the Lord as the Spirit guides us, forms us, and leads us on to the glorious work of the fulfillment of the Great Commission in our generation.
I have prepared for you a sample of resources that I have produced to support your ministry of discovery. This is in addition to the bibliography that you will find in the back of your textbook, Deep Roots: A Biblical and Theological Framework for Church Planting.
Let us begin with prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, You sent Your only begotten Son into the world, so that You will redeem Your lost people through the life, sacrifice, resurrection, ascension, and present reign of our God and Savior, Lord Jesus Christ. Grant the immeasurable power of Your Holy Spirit to those students here gathered, in humble teaching position around Your Word; and with the might of Your presence, and speak to us, teach us, renew us, and anoint us to go forth and fulfill Your Mission in the world today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Okay everyone. Line up. It’s time to march in!
Some Resources
Advice to a Young Pastor: https://michaelmilton.org/2018/06/09/advise-to-a-young-pastor/
Deep Roots: A Biblical and Theological Framework for Church Planting: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Roots-Biblical-Theological-Framework-ebook/dp/B07DHF33ZK?keywords=church+planting+milton&qid=1529283610&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_1
Is God Calling You to Church Planting? Two Questions: http://servantsofgrace.org/is-god-calling-you-to-church-planting-two-questions-that-can-lead-to-the-voice-of-god/
Online Church Planting Course (Master and Doctoral levels): https://michaelmilton.org/2018/04/21/summer-church-planting/
The Secret Life of the Pastor (and other intimate letters on pastoral ministry): https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Pastor-intimate-ministry/dp/1781915962
The Source of the Call to Church Planting: http://servantsofgrace.org/is-god-calling-you-to-church-planting-two-questions-that-can-lead-to-the-voice-of-god