Bible Teachers and Preachers: Foundational

2012 European Bible Teachers and Preachers Network: Foundational Track

All over the world there is a growing movement of pastors and lay preachers who are committed to faithful biblical teaching and preaching. It is a grass-roots movement with networks of support and new training initiatives emerging in many countries. And it is happening in Europe, too. Langham Preaching (a branch of Langham Partnership International) and Proclamation Trust are committed to doing all they can to play a part in supporting local and national works – hence our commitment to coordinating the Bible Teachers and Preachers Network at the European Leadership Forum

John Stott, formerly Rector of All Souls Langham Place and the founder of Langham Partnership, outlined this vision in what he called the Langham Logic:

• God wants the church to grow up to maturity and committed discipleship
• God’s church grows through God’s Word
• God’s Word impacts our congregations and communities through preaching and teaching

In fulfilling this vision, this year’s Network will again be split into two levels. At the heart of both levels will be a commitment to understanding the dynamics of biblical teaching and preaching, deliberately focussing on practical tools to help in the task of understanding Bible passages and expounding them relevantly in our European context.

We hope that we can then play our part in developing momentum for the support and encouragement for biblical teaching in Europe – not just a Network track, but a growing network of preachers and teachers across the continent and around the world. To this end, we are also encouraging participants on the various Langham Preaching conferences in Europe to join us each year at the Forum.

ALL those who teach the Bible, (whether in a local church setting, university campuses or elsewhere, whether from the pulpit or not), are welcome to join us (although a primary applicatory focus will be on pulpit preaching). Prior preparation will be set for all applicants.

Mark Meynell is Senior Associate Minister at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London in England. He also works part-time as Chaplain to HM Treasury and Revenue and Customs in London’s Whitehall, as well as the European Coordinator for Langham Preaching (an arm of Langham Partnership International), which seeks to develop biblical preaching programmes across several countries.  He was previously on the faculty and Acting Principal of the Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (in Kampala, Uganda), where he also led the Uganda Langham Preaching seminar, ministering to pastors and lay preachers throughout Uganda.  He is the author of Cross-examined (IVP), The New Testament & Slavery (Latimer Trust), and The Good Book Guide to Colossians (Good Book Co). He lives in central London with his wife Rachel and two children, Joshua and Zanna.

Gavin McGrath is pastor of Dundonald Church, London.  After serving churches in Durham and Sheffield, England, he worked with English L’Abri and was a frequent speaker at student gatherings in the UK and Europe. From 1999-2005 he was vice-principal and lecturer in theology at an Anglican theological college in the USA before returning to the UK.  Gavin has published a number of works and most recently co-edited The New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics (IVP 2006).  He and his wife, Janet, have three daughters. His interests include jazz, cooking and, especially, triathlon.

NETWORK SPEAKER

Peter Mead is the Director of Cor Deo, based in Chippenham, England.  Cor Deo is a mentored ministry training programme that is seeking to multiply ministry that shares God’s heart. He also serves on the leadership of Pillars Training, a part-time training programme serving some churches in the UK. Peter is involved in the ministry team of his local church, as well as being a Bible Teacher for Operation Mobilisation, a trainer with Langham Preaching, and supervising research in homiletics for London School of Theology.  Peter studied at Multnomah Biblical Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he completed his Doctor of Ministry degree in preaching under Dr Haddon Robinson. Peter is married to Melanie and they have five children.

Day 1

From Text to Sermon, Part 1
Gavin McGrath

Too often, people lift what they read in the Bible and apply it straight to the modern day, without actually taking seriously the details of the text in question, its historical context or its place within the overarching sweep of God’s purposes and revelation. In the first session of a two-part series, the speaker will equip participants with some simple but helpful tools for handling and teaching the Bible well, working through the process required to bring about faithful, clear and relevant Bible studies and sermons.

From Text to Sermon, Part 2
Gavin McGrath

Too often, people lift what they read in the Bible and apply it straight to the modern day, without actually taking seriously the details of the text in question, its historical context or its place within the overarching sweep of God’s purposes and revelation. In the second session of a two-part series, the speakr will equip participants with some simple but helpful tools for handling and teaching the Bible well, working through the process required to bring about faithful, clear and relevant Bible studies and sermons.

Day 2

Applying Texts
Gavin McGrath

When teaching the Bible, the goal is not simply to fill people’s minds with information, but to fill people’s hearts with God and see people’s lives change for God. This session will establish some helpful guidelines on how to go about applying God’s word methodically, consistently, and realistically.

Handling Texts, Part 1
Gavin McGrath

Working in groups, participants will work on a particular biblical text, applying the processes outlined in the earlier sessions. The aim will be to come up with a sermon outline to present to the wider group on Day 3.

Day 3

A Holy Union: Biblical Preaching and Biblical Counselling (Combined with Advanced Level)
Gavin McGrath

It was once said of Jonathan Edwards, "His theology was all application, and his application was all theology." How does today's pastor achieve this In two inseparable ways: teach the Bible accurately in order to apply the Bible suitably. Too often preaching is reduced to just teaching. Too often application is reduced to just advice. But when the riches of biblical preaching are combined with the fruit of biblical counselling then our counselling is accurate teaching and our teaching is suitable counselling. This session will draw upon the works of Vanhoozer, Ward, Powlison, Tripp, and Keller.

Handling Texts, Part 2
Gavin McGrath

Working in groups, participants will continue to work on a particular biblical text, applying the processes outlined in the earlier sessions. The aim will be to come up with a sermon outline to present to the wider group at the end of this session.

Day 4

The Life of the Preacher
Peter Mead

Being a preacher is about so much more than getting up in public to speak once a week. What gets said on Sunday, or at any other time, needs to be fully integrated with the life and lifestyle of the preacher – so that there is a consistency and integrity about what comes across. This will be a practical session from someone with a wealth of experience in preaching and training preachers.

Developing a European Preaching Movement  (Combined with Advanced Level)
Mark Meynell

Christian ministry should never be a solitary business and even if participants are working in isolated and scattered situations, it is vital to work together in partnership with others. This session will begin the process for enabling European Bible teachers to encourage one another around the continent, to ensure that there is a growing commitment to biblical exposition in our churches. Prepare to brainstorm and dream dreams!