Module Description

The Equipping Ministry

The ministry of the Word of God lies at the heart of the equipping ministry. Paul tells the Ephesians that God has given the Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers in order that they might equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Eph. 4.11-12). There is no precedent for seeing a church as having a single minister: as believers we hold to the universal priesthood of believers (1 Pet. 2.8-9), in the universal ministry of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12.1-11), and the universal functioning of the members of the body of Christ (Romans 12.3-8). This module focuses on your role through preaching and teaching to equip believers to fulfill their God-given ministries in Christ.

In the first lesson, The Ministry of Proclamation: Kerygma (1), we will define and provide an overview of the concept of preaching. We will look briefly at the distinctiveness of the preaching ministry to teaching, and speak about the development of preaching in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. We will then look at some of the difficulties we will have to overcome if we are to be the kind of messengers of the Lord we need to be in our very needy day and time. In the second segment of this important lesson we will also examine the call to preach, suggesting that God sends men and women to be his messengers to proclaim his Word. We will then look carefully at the kind of character that we need to have for effective preaching, and look at the content of effective biblical preaching–the biblical truth regarding Jesus Christ and his Kingdom.

Next, we will explore in our second lesson, The Ministry of Proclamation: Kerygma (2), how the Holy Spirit affects every dimension of an effective preaching ministry. We will consider the kind of vessel or preacher the Spirit is most likely to use, and then look at some of the key aspects of the Spirit’s work in the proclamation of the Word. We will also examine the three steps of planning out, delivering, and following up on the preached Word. As communicators of the Word of God, we must first establish contact with hearers, communicate the content of the Word clearly and boldly, and make connections with the truth of the message and the lives of the audience, proclaiming all in dependence on the Holy Spirit.

In the third lesson we will turn our attention to the ministry of teaching. In that teaching session, The Ministry of Teaching: Didache (1), we will provide a definition and overview of the biblical concept of teaching. We will canvass the principles in the teaching ministry recorded in the NT, beginning with Jesus and the apostles, and outline the benefits of the teaching ministry in the Church. We will consider both the distinctives and difficulties associated with the ministry of teaching, and make a plea for us to recover the ministry of teaching in our urban churches in order to build the Kingdom in our communities. As with the preaching ministry, we will analyze the call, character, and content of the teaching ministry, highlighting the central virtues needed for a fruitful ministry. As those entrusted with the Word of God, we must recognize our call to teach, be humble enough to be clear in our presentation of Jesus Christ and his Kingdom, and teach for maturity and fruitfulness in the Church. By understanding the call, the character and the content of the teaching ministry, we will be better able to lead others into the truth.

Finally, in lesson four, The Ministry of Teaching: Didache (2), we will carefully examine how the Holy Spirit impacts and leads us in our ministry of teaching in the Church. The Holy Spirit selects particular members in the Church of Jesus Christ and supplies them with his own anointing, gifting, and call to teach. The called teacher is responsible for using his or her gift with all their energy, being faithful and teachable, while the Holy Spirit employs their gift for the sake of building up the body. We will close our module with a focus on the three steps in designing, delivering, and applying a teaching presentation. To teach our students well we must first establish contact with our students, then communicate the content of the Word of God in our lesson with clarity and boldness. Finally, we strive to make connections with the lives of the students and the truth of the Word of God. To teach is to strive to see individuals obey all that Christ has commanded us, through the leading of the Spirit.

A revolution can occur in urban ministry when gifted and available men and women minister the Word of God in such a way as to raise up a new generation of laborers in the city–those who can care for the hurting, share the truth of God, and declare the Kingdom to their neighbors. Your role in this ministry is urgent and needed.

Required Textbooks

The Capstone Curriculum

Reading Assignments

Reading Assignments

Each Capstone module has assigned textbooks which are read and discussed through the course. We encourage students to read, reflect upon, and respond to these with their professors, mentors, and fellow learners. Because of the fluidity of the texts (i.e., books going out of print), the required textbooks list will be different from what is listed in your Capstone Curriculum workbook. The textbooks list with each module is the OFFICIAL Capstone required textbook list.

Students: Part of our coursework requires that you purchase, read, and reflect upon the textbook(s) for the course. The assignment is to read each required textbook and write a precis (concise summary) of its main point, as you see it. Please summarize its major theme and argument, and then give your concise evaluation for each reading. Although the Student Workbook only shows space for two readings, the student must write a summary for each reading by using the back of the form. It is of utmost importance to us for our students to analyze a text, that is, to read it, understand its thesis (main point), articulate its argument in a respectful way (whether you agree with the author or not), and then respond as to why you agree or disagree with the thesis. This practice helps strengthen your ability to engage different opinions in a respectful way, and learn to listen to others and respond with clarity and respect. In this way, you learn to dialogue with and discuss with others whose beliefs are different than your own.

Mentors:  The reading assignments below are keyed specifically to the lesson format of this module.  Please note that, depending on how you are structuring your course sessions, you have complete flexibility to break up the reading assignments to match your actual class sessions.  In other words, if you are running an eight week course, simply break up the reading assignments to match your sessions (see Appendix 8 in For the Next Generation, TUMI Mentor Manual for sample course schedule options).  What is critical is that you focus on the lesson as the basic unit of teaching in your Capstone courses.

Kindle

Capstone is also available on Kindle and is a handy complement to your Capstone Students Softcover Workbook; the accessibility of the digital editions will be a lifetime resource for sermon preparation, Bible Study, and theological research.