“Love the Lord your God with Love the Lord your God with all your . . . Mind!”all your . . . Mind!”

What is Thoughtworks?What is Thoughtworks?

A vision for theological mentoring in the local church

A way to build a strong theological foundation for kingdom ministry in the local church

A way to perpetuate biblically sound leadership for the next generation

But Why Study Theology?But Why Study Theology?

““Theology is faithTheology is faith

seeking understandingseeking understanding

in an authentic way”in an authentic way”

Everyone thinks theologically, Everyone thinks theologically,

but is it good theology or bad?but is it good theology or bad?

““Guard what has been Guard what has been entrusted to you.” entrusted to you.” 1 Tim 6:201 Tim 6:20

A good pastor is like a chief A good pastor is like a chief navigator, whose job is to navigator, whose job is to dynamically chart a course dynamically chart a course through known reefs and through known reefs and hazards, to bring the ship hazards, to bring the ship safely to a required destination.safely to a required destination.

The BalanceThe Balance 2 Tim. 2:15 “. . . A diligent

workman handling accurately the word of truth.”

Acts 4:13 “Peter & John were uneducated men but were recognizable as having been with Jesus.”

How do we currentlyHow do we currently train Vineyard pastors? train Vineyard pastors?

Apprentice model of preparation– Strong on gifting & character– Strong on practical skills– Weaker on theological training

The apprentice model has great strengths, but we need to address its weaknesses.

Do you need Do you need 4 years in seminary?4 years in seminary?

You need a good foundation for life-long theological study

Bible school or Seminary gives you a good foundation plus several stories on top of that!

No!!

Four Areas of Study:Four Areas of Study:The Foundation Stones The Foundation Stones

of Good Theologyof Good Theology

Defining the Foundation StonesDefining the Foundation Stones

““Biblical Biblical Foundations” Foundations” (Exegetical)(Exegetical)

How to know what the How to know what the Bible saysBible says

Both the big picture, Both the big picture,

the Grand Narrativethe Grand Narrative And the little picture, And the little picture,

the individual storiesthe individual stories

and sayingsand sayings

Defining the Foundation StonesDefining the Foundation Stones

““God Thoughts” God Thoughts” (Systematic / Biblical)(Systematic / Biblical)

What does the biblical What does the biblical message mean for us message mean for us today?today?

How can we organize its How can we organize its content to speak and content to speak and apply it?apply it?

Defining the Foundation StonesDefining the Foundation Stones

““Ancient – Future Ancient – Future Church” Church” (Historical)(Historical)

What has the ancient What has the ancient church said and done church said and done that shapes who we are that shapes who we are today?today?

What can we learn from What can we learn from the ancient church for our the ancient church for our benefit today?benefit today?

Defining the Foundation StonesDefining the Foundation Stones

““Kingdom Kingdom Encounters”Encounters”

(Practical)(Practical)

Skills for:Skills for: Proclaiming the KingdomProclaiming the Kingdom Doing the works of the Doing the works of the

KingdomKingdom Bringing justice to the Bringing justice to the

Poor and OppressedPoor and Oppressed

How Do We Lay How Do We Lay Good Foundations?Good Foundations?

The Settler ApproachThe Settler Approach

Essentials FirstEssentials First

Build on EssentialsBuild on Essentials

Support & MonitoringSupport & Monitoring

Biblical FoundationsBiblical FoundationsYr. 1 – Rick Williams, Yr. 1 – Rick Williams, Biblical Overview Biblical Overview (VBI) & (VBI) &

Derek MorphewDerek Morphew, Intro to Biblical , Intro to Biblical Interpretation Interpretation (VBI)(VBI)

Yr. 2 – Peter Davids, Yr. 2 – Peter Davids, Biblical InterpretationBiblical Interpretation (VBI) (VBI)

Yr. 3 – Bill Jackson, Yr. 3 – Bill Jackson, Nothinsgonnastopit Nothinsgonnastopit (The Bible through a Kingdom lens)(The Bible through a Kingdom lens)

Yr. 4 – Scot McKnight, Yr. 4 – Scot McKnight, The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the BibleHow You Read the Bible

God ThoughtsGod ThoughtsYr. 1 – Gary Best, Naturally SupernaturalNaturally Supernatural

Yr. 2 – Derek Morphew, Breakthrough, VBI Course

Yr. 3 – Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God:

Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative

Yr. 4 – H. Stone & J. Duke, How to Think Theologically [and] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart

Ancient – Future ChurchAncient – Future Church

Yr. 1 – Bill Jackson, Yr. 1 – Bill Jackson, The Quest for the Radical The Quest for the Radical MiddleMiddle

Yr. 2 – George G. Hunter III, Yr. 2 – George G. Hunter III, The Celtic Way of The Celtic Way of EvangelismEvangelism

Yr. 3 – John Wimber, Yr. 3 – John Wimber, Power Evangelism Power Evangelism [and] [and] Power HealingPower Healing

Yr. 4 – Justo Gonzalez, Yr. 4 – Justo Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity: The Story of Christianity: The Early Church to the Present DayThe Early Church to the Present Day

Kingdom EncountersKingdom Encounters

Yr. 1 – Don Rousu, Yr. 1 – Don Rousu, Preparing a MessagePreparing a Message

[Homiletics][Homiletics]

Yr. 2 – H. Cloud & J. Townsend, Yr. 2 – H. Cloud & J. Townsend, How People GrowHow People Grow, ,

[Sanctification/Discipleship][Sanctification/Discipleship]

Yr. 3 – Alexander Venter, Yr. 3 – Alexander Venter, Doing HealingDoing Healing

Yr. 4 – Don & Ruth Rousu, Yr. 4 – Don & Ruth Rousu, Healing and Mentoring Healing and Mentoring the Inner Man the Inner Man

So….How Does This Work?So….How Does This Work?

For interns & developing pastoral leadersFor interns & developing pastoral leaders– Already in relationship with existing pastorAlready in relationship with existing pastor– Pace of completion is flexible, but the Pace of completion is flexible, but the

standard should be upheldstandard should be upheld– Church plants would best begin after the Church plants would best begin after the

individual is through most of the theological individual is through most of the theological training.training.

So….How Does This Work?So….How Does This Work?

Seminary or Bible School students or Seminary or Bible School students or graduatesgraduates– Need to add the following items to their Need to add the following items to their

studies some Vineyard distinctives:studies some Vineyard distinctives: The Quest for the Radical MiddleThe Quest for the Radical Middle Power Evangelism & Power HealingPower Evangelism & Power Healing Kingdom of God I, II and IIIKingdom of God I, II and III Preparing a MessagePreparing a Message

So….How Does This Work?So….How Does This Work?

For Current Vineyard PastorsFor Current Vineyard Pastors Work through the TESA to see where the Work through the TESA to see where the

gaps may be in your backgroundgaps may be in your background Review Thoughtworks curriculum and see Review Thoughtworks curriculum and see

where you have had equivalent trainingwhere you have had equivalent training Develop a Thoughtworks plan to fill any gapsDevelop a Thoughtworks plan to fill any gaps Join with 1 or 2 other pastors near you and Join with 1 or 2 other pastors near you and

meet meet regularlyregularly (once a month?) to share with (once a month?) to share with your learning communityyour learning community

Theological Education and Theological Education and Skills Assessment (TESA)Skills Assessment (TESA)

TESA is a tool to assess the theological skills required by a lead overseer of a local church– Accurate exegesis– Respond biblically to doctrinal

issues – Distinguish orthodoxy from heresy– Handle pastoral issues with

theological insight & accuracy

So….How Will This Work?So….How Will This Work?

Each region has a Thoughtworks Each region has a Thoughtworks contact person to:contact person to:– Answer questions, provide input on Answer questions, provide input on

planning a course of study, facilitate planning a course of study, facilitate Intensive weekends, etc.Intensive weekends, etc.

So….How Will This Work?So….How Will This Work?

The Theological Mentoring The Theological Mentoring Development Group’s role:Development Group’s role:-- To plan, write, and promote the curriculum-- To plan, write, and promote the curriculum– To monitor the program (not to mentor)To monitor the program (not to mentor)– To assess & revise ThoughtworksTo assess & revise Thoughtworks– To assist in delivering resourcesTo assist in delivering resources

Identifying and ProvidingIdentifying and Providing

The Essential Building BlocksThe Essential Building Blocks

For Your MinistryFor Your Ministry