ORDINATION READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS

MONTH 1

  • Read Chapter 1 of Gospel Eldership, and complete the Exercise at the end of it.

  • Read “The Scripture” from the Editor’s Edition of the Statement of Faith, along with Scriptural references contained in it.

  • Read/review Grudem’s chapters 2-8 from his Systematic Theology.

  • Listen to “The Functional Centrality of the Gospel” by Mike Bullmore. (NOTE: The audio improves after the first several minutes)

  • Read the chapter entitled “The Cross and Christian Leadership” from D.A. Carson’s book The Cross and Christian Ministry.

  • TASK: Complete the Self-Evaluation form for the Regional Ordination Committee. It can be found on Page 7 of SGC’s Comprehensive Ordination Guide.

MONTH 2

  • Read Chapter 2 of Gospel Eldership, and complete the Exercise at the end of it.

  • Read “The Triune God” and “God’s Sovereign Purposes” from the Editor’s Edition of the Statement of Faith, along with Scriptural references contained in them.

  • Read/review Grudem’s chapters 9-14, 16, and 32 from his Systematic Theology.

  • Read “The Minister’s Self Watch” from Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students

  • Read “The Cross and Criticism” by Alfred Poirier.

  • TASK: Write Paper #1: Sexual Ethics

MONTH 3

  • Read Chapter 3 of Gospel Eldership, and complete the Exercise at the end of it.

  • Read “Creation, Providence, and Man” and “Man’s Sin and its Effects” from the Editor’s Edition of the Statement of Faith, along with Scriptural references contained in them.

  • Read/review Grudem’s chapters 15 and 21-25 from his Systematic Theology.

  • Read The Danvers Statement.

  • Read “What it Theological Triage?” by Gavin Ortlund.

  • TASK: Write Paper #2: Complementarianism

MONTH 4

  • Read Chapter 4 of Gospel Eldership, and complete the Exercise at the end of it.

  • Read “The Person of Jesus Christ” and “The Saving Work of Jesus Christ” from the Editor’s Edition of the Statement of Faith, along with Scriptural references contained in them.

  • Read/review Grudem’s chapters 26-29 from his Systematic Theology.

  • Read “Simplicity in Preaching” by J.C. Ryle.

  • Read “Attention!” by Spurgeon.

  • TASK: Write Paper #3: Mission of the Church

MONTH 5

MONTH 6

MONTH 7

  • Read Chapter 7 of Gospel Eldership, and complete the Exercise at the end of it.

  • Read “The Gospel and Application of the Salvation by the Holy Spirit” from the Editor’s Edition of the Statement of Faith, along with Scriptural references contained in it.

  • Read/review Grudem’s chapters 33-38 and 40-42 from his Systematic Theology.

  • Review and prepare for the Bible Knowledge Exam, by consulting the resources listed in Sovereign Grace’s Ordination Guide (Pages 17-18). You can work on this in Month 8 as well.

  • TASK: Write Paper #5: Ordo Salutis

MONTH 8

  • Read Chapter 8 of Gospel Eldership, and complete the Exercise at the end of it.

  • Read “The Empowering Ministry of the Spirit” and “Life in Christ” from the Editor’s Edition of the Statement of Faith, along with Scriptural references contained in them.

  • Read/review Grudem’s chapters 39, 43, and 52-53 from his Systematic Theology.

  • Read “Gospel Driven Sanctification” by Jerry Bridges.

  • Continue to review and prepare for the Bible Knowledge Exam, by consulting the resources listed in Sovereign Grace’s Ordination Guide.

  • TASK: Write Paper #6: Continuationism

MONTH 9

  • Read Chapter 9 of Gospel Eldership, and complete the Exercise at the end of it.

  • Read “The Church of Christ” and “The Last Things” from the Editor’s Edition of the Statement of Faith, along with Scriptural references contained in them.

  • Read/review Grudem’s chapters 44-51 and 54-57 from his Systematic Theology.

  • Review and Prepare for the Theology Exam Part One. It covers the first half of the Statement of Faith, from “The Scripture” to “The Person of Christ.” (See pages 19 and following in the Sovereign Grace Ordination Guide.)

  • TASK: Take the Bible Knowledge Exam.

MONTH 10

  • Read Chapter 10 of Gospel Eldership, and complete the Exercise at the end of it.

  • Review and Prepare for the Theology Exam Part Two. It covers the second half of the Statement of Faith, from “The Saving Work of Christ” through “Last Things.”

  • TASK: Take the Theology Exam - Part One.

MONTH 11

  • Review and Prepare for the Oral Exam.

  • TASK: Take the Theology Exam - Part Two.

MONTH 12

  • TASK: Take the Oral Exam.