Training the Staff of Vineyard Life Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, in Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods

Abstract

Charles Duayne Fox, DEdMin The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2024 Faculty Supervisor: Dr. T. J. Betts This project was undertaken to equip the staff of Vineyard Life Church by increasing their ability to capably handle Scripture. The impetus for offering this class was that leaders need to be capable students of Scripture so they can help the people who follow them grow spiritually. The first chapter describes the context at VLC in which the class was offered and explains why it was necessary. Chapter 2 examines selected texts from the Old and New Testaments that illustrate why church leaders are tasked with becoming good students of Scripture. The reason proposed was so they can live exemplary Christian lives and be able teach and lead others to achieve spiritual maturity. Chapter 3 details the lessons to be learned from history and today’s culture. Particular attention was paid both to how periodically failing to adequately equip and educate leaders has resulted in churches that do a poor job leading people to spiritual maturity and how churches that have paid attention to equipping leaders realize the result of Christian maturity. Chapter 4 describes how the course was taught. Chapter 5 evaluates the effectiveness of the class in meetings its goals.