Equipping the Bible Teachers of Concord Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Interpret the Old Testament Christocentrically

Abstract

ABSTRACT

EQUIPPING THE BIBLE TEACHERS OF CONCORD BAPTIST

CHURCH, CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE,

TO INTERPRET THE OLD TESTAMENT

CHRISTOCENTRICALLY

John Aaron Martin, D.Min.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2015

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. T. J. Betts

The ministry research project explores what current and identified prospective lay Bible teachers at Concord Baptist Church understand about how to teach the Old Testament from a Christocentric perspective. The project seeks to equip lay Bible teachers with helpful exegetical tools to discover and apply Jesus Christ from the Old Testament; to provide practical categories for Christ-centered biblical interpretation; and to bolster confidence in lay Bible teachers so they can confidently teach the Old Testament with the gospel in view. Chapter 1 presents the purpose, goals, context, rationale, definitions, and limitations of the project.

Chapter 2 discusses biblical and theological justification for developing a Christocentric perspective of the Old Testament. Specifically, this chapter will explore various New Testament texts that defend and demonstrate a Christ-centered hermeneutical approach to the Old Testament.

Chapter 3 explores theological and practical support for equipping lay Bible teachers with a Christocentric perspective of the Old Testament. This chapter demonstrates sound exegetical tools for biblical interpretation that maintain the integrity of canonical unity that results in life-transforming biblical application.

Chapter 4 details the creation and implementation of the training seminar designed to equip lay Bible teachers with the interpretive skills necessary for Christocentric interpretation of the Old Testament.

Chapter 5 provides an evaluation of the project goals, strengths and weaknesses of the project, what changes need to be made to increase the benefit of the project to the local church, as well as personal and theological reflections on the success or failure of the project. This project claims that a Christocentric perspective of the Old Testament is necessary to preach and teach a Christian message from the Old Testament Scriptures.