Teaching the Doctrine of Perseverance to the Great Lakes Bible Church of Holly, Michigan

Abstract

TEACHING THE DOCTRINE OF PERSEVERANCE

TO THE GREAT LAKES BIBLE CHURCH

OF HOLLY, MICHIGAN

Paul Nathaniel Vanaman, D.Ed.Min.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, December, 2017

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Oren R. Martin

This project sought to equip the members of Great Lakes Bible Church of Holly, Michigan, with a knowledge and discipline of the Doctrine of Perseverance. Chapter 1 gave the context of ministry, demonstrating strengths and weaknesses, and why this project was necessary. Chapter 2 provided a theological basis for perseverance. This was a biblical theology of Revelation 5:5 and demonstrated how God’s plan has prevailed throughout redemptive history in spite of Satan’s efforts to destroy it. Chapter 3 discussed how God’s plan perseveres through his people. This chapter dealt with the perseverance of the saints, and provided examples of individuals throughout church history and in our modern day who have prevailed in the faith through difficulty and death. The objective of this project was to increase our people’s understanding of the magnitude of God’s plan, how that plan has unfolded within redemptive history, that they are included in God’s prevailing plan, and that they too can, will, and must prevail in God’s eternal plan. Chapter 4 described the project itself, detailing the sermon preparation, teaching methodology, and curriculum development. Chapter 5 evaluated the effectiveness of the project based on a completion of specified goals. Ultimately, this project pursued the equipping of Christians with the knowledge of perseverance and a mind set to endure in their own faith.