Training Congregants at First Baptist Church of Matawan, New Jersey, to Study the Bible in a Christocentric Manner

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to train congregants at First Baptist Church of Matawan, New Jersey, to study the Bible in a Christocentric manner. Chapter 1 introduces the project by presenting its purpose, goals, context, rationale, definitions, limitations, delimitations, and research methodology. Chapter 2 presents a biblical and theological justification for studying the Bible in a Christocentric manner by examining four key biblical texts. Chapter 3 considers theoretical and practical issues of studying the Bible in a Christocentric manner by examining the Christocentric interpretive methods of Edmund P. Clowney, Bryan Chappell, Sidney Greidanus, and Graeme Goldsworthy. Chapter 4 describes the implementation of the project, in which a six-week discipleship course on Christocentric Bible study was developed and taught at First Baptist Church of Matawan, New Jersey. Chapter 5 provides an evaluation of the project, including strengths, weaknesses, theological reflections, and personal reflections.