TABLE OF CONTENTS
Goals of the School
Location of the School and facilities
Faculty
School Calender and Course of Training
Summary of Courses
Course Graduation and Requirements
Who May Enrol
Daily Schedule and Student Support
What Do I do Now?
INTRODUCTION: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (II Timothy 4:2-3). These words are as true and as relevant today as they were when they were first written nearly two thousand years ago. In Paul’s time, the church was beset on all sides by error and digression. Today, the church is similarly attacked, and everywhere has a need for trained, qualified, courageous men who will obey this command and fearlessly preach the whole counsel of God to a lost world. However, the supply of such men is limited; there is always a greater need than the number of those to fill it. There is, in Australia as in every place, a pressing need to train men to preach. Paul instructed Timothy to teach men who would be able to preach the truth to others: “All the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (II Timothy 2:2). This Biblical principle shows us that the training of preachers is a vital part of the work of the church. It is with this in mind that the business meeting of the Mersey Bluff church of Christ has decided to maintain a Bible Training School designed to train men to preach the Gospel in Australia and the South Pacific region. Certainly this effort is not intended to discourage like-minded efforts in Australia or its region to train Gospel preachers, but rather to increase the opportunities for men who are interested in preaching the Gospel to train. Accordingly, the Tasmanian Bible School undertook the instruction of its first intake of students in February 1998. The curriculum is aimed at providing a solid base of Biblical instruction to the student as well as hands-on tuition in the practical areas of a preacher’s life and work. It is intended that a student who completes this course of instruction will be able to fulfill the work of an evangelist in the church in Australia or indeed anywhere. It is felt that anyone who is interested in preaching on a full-time basis, or simply desirous of increasing their Bible knowledge and their ability to serve the Lord, will benefit greatly from the instruction available at the school. Until such time as elders are appointed, the Tasmanian Bible School will be under the oversight of the business meeting of the Mersey Bluff church of Christ. For smooth and efficient running, the meeting has appointed suitable, faithful men from its own congregation to coordinate and direct the daily running of the school. Although we will strive to gain the highest academic standards in our instruction, it has been resolved that no attempt will be made to seek accreditation from state education authorities, or indeed to allow any outside organization any control over the content of the course.
GOALS OF THE SCHOOL: The Tasmania Bible School has been set up with several goals in mind. These goals are as follows: 1. To instruct in the entire Bible. 2. To produce students who are willing to stand on the whole counsel of God. 3. To train men in all aspects of the preacher’s work. 4.To promote a genuine love for lost souls and the Lord’s church 5. To encourage a well-rounded Christian character 6. To help promote all aspects of the Lord’s wok in Australia and throughout the world.
LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL: The Tasmania Bible School is located in the city of Devonport. It is housed in the building where the Mersey Bluff Church of Christ meet. Devonport is a city of approximately 30,000 people. It is divided in two by the Mersey River. The school is located on the west side of the river. Devonport is a modern city with all facilities necessary for comfortable living. Shops, postal services and essential services are all to be found in close proximity to the school building. There are a number of housing options available in the community. The purchase prices of houses and the cost of rentals are lower than those found on mainland Australia. This is advantageous to students who are living on a limited income.
FACILITIES The building owned by the Mersey Bluff church of Christ houses the Tasmania Bible School. The structure contains an auditorium that seats up to eighty, full kitchen facilities, fellowship room, men’s and women’s restrooms, handicap toilet, an office, and library. The library consists of a collection of essential texts and reference materials. A computer designated for student use is also housed in the library. Classes are conducted in the fellowship area adjacent from the library. The lecture area is equipped with a television, video recorder for lesson presentations. The students may use this equipment to view lesson tapes in their own time for the purpose of review. Students will be given a key to the building to enable them to use the facilities out of school hours. They will also have access to the library.
SCHOOL FACULTY: Teaching in the Tasmania Bible School is a combination of video and live instruction. The video courses used will be those prepared by the World Video Bible School. These courses are sound and well prepared. When video instruction is used, there will be an instructor present to elaborate on the lesson material and answer questions. All instructors are required to fill in a standard questionnaire to determine their stance on doctrinal issues. They are also required to answer any questions (either verbally or in writing) put to them by the business meeting of the Mersey Bluff church of Christ concerning their beliefs and qualifications to teach. All teachers must be members of the church of Christ, of exemplary character and sound in the faith. Any teacher who is proved to e teaching any doctrine, or promoting standards, that are contrary to the teachings of the Bible will not be permitted to teach in the School.
THE MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY:
IAN MCPHERSON: A graduate of the Macquarie School of Preaching in Sydney. For many years Ian has taught and preached for congregations in Victoria and Tasmania. He has also taught in a number of neighboring countries. He has participated in a number of debates in defense of a variety of essential doctrinal issues. He is currently preaching for the Mersey Bluff church of Christ in Devonport.
GLEN TATTERSALL: A Christian for over twenty years, he has served as a teacher at the Eastern Shore church of Christ, and the Highcroft congregation. He was awarded a certificate from the Tasmania Bible School in recognition of his many years of service and study for the Lord. Glen is currently preaching for the Balfour Street church in Launceston.
BRETT RUTHERFORD: A graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching and the University of Memphis with a B.A. and M.A. Brett also is the author of the book “Facts and Fallacies of the Fossil Record”. He is currently a preacher with the Mersey Bluff Church of Christ in Devonport, Tasmania. In addition to these men, it is anticipated that other teachers will be invited to teach short courses. In each case, these teachers will be required to fulfill all the requirements for teachers as outlined above.
SCHOOL CALENDER: The school year consists of four quarters per year, each of eight weeks of instruction followed by one week of study and examinations. Students will also be required to attend any extra-curricular activities. These activities may include campaigns and lectureships.
THE COURSE OF TRAINING THE CURRICULUM
FIRST YEAR SUBJECT HOURS/WEEK
First Quarter
1. Pentateuch 6 hours
2. Synoptic Gospels 6 hours
3. Christian Evidences 6 hours
4. Church History 6 hours
5. English 1 hour
Second Quarter
1. Old Testament History 6 hours
2. Acts 6 hours
3. Hermeneutics 6 hours
4. The Preacher and His Work 6 hours
5. English 1 hour
Third Quarter
1. Wisdom Literature 6 hours
2. John 6 hours
3. Homiletics 6 hours
4. Restoration History 6 hours
5. English 1 hour
Fourth Quarter
1. General Epistles 6 hours
2. New Testament Church 6 hours
3. The Church in Australia 6 hours
4. Personal Evangelism 6 hours
5. English 1 hour
SECOND YEAR SUBJECT HOURS/WEEK
First Quarter
1. Major Prophets 6 hours
2. First Corinthians 6 hours
3. General Biblical Introduction 6 hours
4. Greek Language 6 hours
5. Lesson Presentation 1 hour
Second Quarter
1. Minor Prophets 6 hours
2. Second Corinthians 6 hours
3. Letters to Evangelists 6 hours
4. World Religions 6 hours
5. Lesson Presentation 1 hour
Third Quarter
1. Romans 6 hours
2. 1&2 Thess, Philippians, Philemon 6 hours
3. Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians 6 hours
4. Denominational Doctrines 6 hours
5. Lesson Presentation 1 hour
Fourth Quarter
1. Hebrews 6 hours
2. Revelation 6 hours
3. The Bible and Archaeology 6 hours
4. Problems Facing the Church 6 hours
5. Lesson Presentation 1 hour
COURSE SUMMARIES
Pentateuch. An in-depth treatment giving a survey of these important books, with extra emphasis given to the books of Genesis and Exodus. Close attention will be paid to the truth of the Genesis account and the relationship of the Mosaic Law to the New Testament Covenant.
Synoptic Gospels. A study of Matthew, Mark and Luke, giving attention to the life, miracles and teachings of Christ. Attention will also be given to the textual origins of the synoptic accounts.
Christian Evidences. A survey of the logical reasons for believing in God’s existence and the Bible’s inspiration. Philosophical questions regarding the existence of God, the scientific accuracy of the Creation account, false theories of Creation, the historicity of miracles and the Bible account will all be studied.
Church History. An in-depth study of events leading up to the establishment of the New Testament church, the early history of the church as recorded by secular and religious writers, the apostasy and the Reformation.
Old Testament History. A study into the books of History of the Old Testament, from Joshua to Esther, concentrating upon God’s providential protection of his people, and the consequences of apostasy.
Acts. A detailed study of this most important book of the New Testament, especially highlighting the establishment of the Lord’s church and its spread, as well as the accounts of conversion.
Hermeneutics. A study of proper Bible interpretation. Ten principles essential for rightly interpreting Scripture are detailed, as well as an exegetical study of Matthew 24 & 25 to show how to apply these principles.
The Preacher and His Work. A study of the preacher’s preaching, life and work. Practical experience will be assigned so the students may gain hands-on experience in all aspects of the preacher’s work.
Wisdom Literature. A textual study of the Hebrew books of poetry and wisdom in the Old Testament. Attention will be given to the relevance of these books to the life of the Christian today.
John. A comprehensive study into this book, concentrating on the teachings on the divinity of Christ and the importance of the miraculous elements of this Gospel account.
Homiletics. A study of the preparation and delivery of sermons. This course is designed to be of help to Bible teachers as well as preachers. Students will be given the opportunity to put their knowledge to practical use.
Restoration History. A study of the men and message of the American Restoration movement, including an overview of the lives of Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone and Raccoon John Smith. General Epistles. A textual study of the general epistles of the New Testament, bring out the important messages of these very practical books.
New Testament Church. This is a detailed study of the New Testament church, as described in the Bible, and of the necessity that we follow the pattern for the church given by God. Covered are the church’s work, worship, names, discipline, organization and future.
The Church in Australia. A detailed study of the church in Australia, including the history of the church’s development in Australia and a study of some of the issues facing the church which are peculiar to the Australian scene.
Personal Evangelism. A study of various techniques of teaching the Gospel to alien sinners. A variety of teaching tools will be studied.
English. Throughout First Year, one hour per week will be devoted to a study of principles of English grammar and usage, with the intention of improving the student’s written and spoken expression.
Major Prophets. A study of the Major prophets, featuring a close study of the Kingdom of God and the Messianic prophecies as revealed in these books.
Corinthian Letters. A close textual study of these two important works, concentrating on the practical advice for the church detailed in the first letter and the defense of Paul’s apostleship in the second.
General Biblical Introduction. A study of the inspiration, canonicity, transmission and translation of the Bible. Emphasis will be given to the doctrine of inspiration, a refutation of modern destructive criticism of the Bible, and the translation question.
Greek Language. An extensive treatment of New Testament Greek, beginning with fundamentals for those who have never studied the language and progressing to more advanced subjects as the groundwork is systematically laid.
Minor Prophets. A study of these neglected but important books, concentrating on the important Messianic and Kingdom prophecies contained therein.
Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians. A close textual study of these important letters, which are of special interest to preacher students. Much of the content of these books is specifically aimed at the instruction of preachers and church leaders.
World Religions. A survey of the living religions of the world: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Animism, Taoism, Zoroastriansim, Jainism, Sikhism and the New Age Movement. A contrast is drawn between these religions and Christianity. This study will allow the student to effectively present the gospel to those entangled in doctrines of false religions.
Romans. A close study of the text of this important letter. The place of grace, faith and New Testament law are considered in this Pauline epistle. Many false teachings have arisen on the subjects of grace, faith and law. In light of these false teachings a study of this book is essential.
First and Second Thessalonians, Philippians and Philemon. These letters provide a great deal of information on Christian living. They also give the student necessary information for the refutation of false teaching concerning the nature of the church. These letters will be studied in close detail.
The Bible and Archaeology. A survey of archaeological discoveries that support the historical integrity of the Biblical record.
Denomination Doctrines. The Gospel preacher must have a solid knowledge of the false teachings promulgated in the denominations. This course is designed to survey many of these denominational teachings and to demonstrate the Bible answer to them.
Hebrews. This course is a textual study of this book. The book’s content includes material on the nature of Christ and His priesthood and kingship.
Revelation. Given the prevalence of such doctrines as premillennialism it is important that any student of the Bible have a clear understanding of the immediate purpose and eternal significance of this book. Hebrew Language. This course is an introduction to the language. The student will be taught the basic elements required for reading and translating
Hebrew. Pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar rules, and helpful hints are presented to help the student gain a basic grasp of the language.
Lesson Presentation. During the second year, one hour per week will be set aside for the students to take turns in bringing lessons of various types. This will help the student gain practical public speaking experience.
Letters to Evangelists. A verse by verse study of the books of First and Second Timothy and Titus.
TEXTBOOKS: The students will be notified of the various textbooks needed before the commencement of each class. As far as possible, the needed books will be provided in the School library. This will minimize the personal expense of each student. When it is necessary for students to purchase their own texts an attempt will be made to reduce the cost as much as possible.
COURSE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: Instructors will set tests and assignments. Generally speaking, this will consist of two major assignments and two examinations per course. Students will be required to complete all assignments and examinations. If courses are incomplete, they must be made up before students will be allowed to graduate. In addition to the academic courses, students will be required to fully participate in extracurricular activities such as lectureships and campaigns. It is felt that full participation in these activities will provide the student with valuable experience which is just as important as academic pursuits. Accordingly, participation will be compulsory for graduation. Wives of married students will be required to undergo and pass a “Preacher’s Wife” course. This course will focus on the life and duties of the preacher’s wife. It is felt that a married preacher must have the full support of his wife in the conduct of his duties. This course will encourage wives to fulfill this objective. Finally, a student wishing to graduate must be the type of example to the believers as is befitting all preachers of he Gospel (I Timothy 4:12). He must pass all subjects, and be able and willing to preach the whole counsel of God. Since it is the job of the School to train faithful men to teach others, the School may, at its own discretion, refuse to allow a student to graduate who does not meet any of the above requirements. The same stipulation applies to any student who is considered to be unsuitable to be a preacher of the Gospel. WHO MAY ENROL? All of those who enroll with the intention of graduating must be Christians. A Christian is one who has been baptized for the remission of sins and has been added to the body of Christ by the Lord (Acts 2:38, 41, 47). They must also be faithfully serving the local congregation of which they are members (II Timothy 2:2). In the case of those students who are married, their wives must also be faithful Christians. Preference will be given to applicants who are well-grounded in the faith and who have gained experience in secular work. It is felt that men who have spent several years in the workforce prior to their application will be more capable of handling the workload demanded of them by the School. However, each application will be considered on its own merits, so others should not be discouraged from applying. With the approval of the faculty others may be permitted to study various courses in the curriculum for credit or audit. However, preference in the use of all materials and staff time will be given to those who are studying the course full-time with the intention of graduating. The preacher training course will be two years of full-time study. Although full-time study is encouraged, in certain circumstances students will be allowed to undertake their studies part time. In such cases, students will only be permitted to graduate when they have completed all the coursework and practical experience which are required of a full-time student.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT Each student is to be on time to all class sessions. He must be willing to abide by all the rules of the School. He is required to be respectful to all his teachers. He is also required to complete all his assignments on time. He must be regular in attendance at the meetings of the Mersey Bluff church of Christ, unless he has a preaching assignment elsewhere. Each student must fully participate in the extracurricular activities which are scheduled by the School to the satisfaction of the faculty. Participation in these activities is to be engaged in with a positive attitude and without complaint. Students are to be neatly dressed and groomed at all times. They must wear long trousers (shorts are unacceptable). Shirts with collars must be worn, and students must wear ties when asked to do so. Generally speaking, the deportment and behavior of students should be of the highest Christian standards, both in and out of school. The School and the Business Meeting of the Mersey Bluff church of Christ retains the right to dismiss any student who is not abiding by the rules of the ethos of the School. Any student who is considered to be unsatisfactory for any reason is subject to dismissal. Such decisions are not subject to appeal from any quarter.
STUDENT SUPPORT The cost of living in Tasmania is very moderate compared to that found in many other Australian cities. This enables the student of limited means to live in reasonable comfort. The Tasmania Bible School does not charge a tuition fee. However, full-time students will need to obtain their own support. This will remain the responsibility of the individual. Nevertheless, the school will be glad to assist students in raising support in any way possible. Students are permitted to supplement their income with part-time work of up to six hours per week. Secular work must not interfere with the class schedule . However, every effort will be made to accommodate the students needs in this regard. A scholarship is available to those who qualify.
WHAT DO I DO NOW? The Tasmania Bible School provides the man who wishes to preach with a perfect opportunity to study intensively and strengthen his ability to greater service for the Lord. Whether it is your intention to preach full-time, part-time or simply to broaden your Bible knowledge, the Tasmania Bible School can help you. IF you would like to enroll in the School, please call, write or send an email request for an application. The details are as follows: Brett Rutherford, Tasmania Bible School 232 William Street, Devonport, TAS 7310. Phone: (03) 6424 7573 Email: merseyforth@yahoo.com When you have completed the application send the form with the letters of two referees. Your referees should be two faithful Christian men, preferably one of whom is a preacher. The referees must be able to vouch for the ability and Christian conduct of the applicant. Send the required forms and letters to: Brett Rutherford C/O Tasmania Bible School 232 William Street Devonport, TAS 7310 We will advise you as soon as possible regarding your application, so that you may commence your preparation to attend. We look forward to hearing from you.