We are about to begin another semester of CORE Classes at Calvary West. I am very excited about the vision of CORE and its potential to train our people in theology and mission. Here is what we are doing.
Vision
The Apostle Paul charged the leaders in the Ephesian church to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood.” The church is to be a learning-and-teaching fellowship in which the passing on of the faith is central. These COREclasses are designed to ground and grow you in the gospel and its implications for doctrine, devotion, duty, and delight. Each course will give you a comprehensive exposition of the gospel of Jesus Christ, will explain it in the context of the whole counsel of God, and apply it to the life of the people of God.
We believe that the call to teach what is CORE to the faith in the church is a biblical imperative.Beyond that, throughout the two millennia of Christian history, the health of Christian communities has often been linked to the presence of theological training ministries.
The Five Courses
To continue in this rich history the five core classes listed below follow the catechetical structure designed by the church fathers and the reformers.These five classes will be offered continually in rotation.
- Gospel: The gospel in its simplicity and depth.
- Story: The story of redemption of which the gospel is the climax.
- Doctrine: The doctrines of the faith that conform to the gospel.
- Community: The power in the gospel that flows from our relationship with God.
- Mission: The manner of living that conforms to the truth of the gospel.
Note: We will also offer occasional CORE ELECTIVES that supplement these ongoing core classes such as Church History, Apologetics and Evangelism, Marriage and the Family, Book Studies, and other courses that focus on specific theological issues or trace major themes throughout the bible.
Gospel Centrality
We hold that the gospel of Jesus Christ is central not only for conversion but also for sanctification. We believe that one never moves away from the gospel, but moves forward in the gospel. Therefore, in CORE we proclaim Christ by teaching the glorious gospeland seek to show how He is not only the center of redemptive history but is also the way, the truth, and the life for you and I now. Jesus is the great prophet who proclaims truth and gives us faith. Jesus is the perfect priest who mediates eternal life and brings us hope. Jesus is the true king who declares the way and empowers us to love God and our neighbors.
Our prayer is that as you move through CORE, you would be shaped by the truth, liberated by the life, and will find joy in walking in the way. Once you have completed these CORE courses we will come alongside of you to develop a vision for your own ministry. Again, the purpose of these courses is to equip the saints for the work of ministry.
Class Environment
Each class will last for 10 weeks and will be 1 hour and 30 minutes, from 6:30-8:00pm. The chairs will be set up like 3 sides of a square. This allows the participants to see each other and interact directly much easier. Each class will begin with fellowship, prayer requests, and guided prayer. The teacher will seek to maintain balance between clear information communication and discussion facilitator (group interaction/problem-solving).
End Goal
Each course will involve elements that contribute to the development of the participants head, hearts, and hands.
- Head: Clear teaching that aims at forming a clear theological understanding and framework in the participants.
- Heart: Active group discussion that will aim at the participants to applying the truths to their own lives and each other.
- Hands: Accountability within the group to see that each participant is either actively involved or is developing personal ministry .
We take Paul’s charge to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” very seriously. Our goal is just that. In America we have too many people who come to ongoing classes at the church house as perpetual consumers. After one is finished with these five classes we feel that they have a solid foundation for personal ministry – and that is what we are going to encourage. When you have completed the five courses you have graduated from CORE. Along with Worship and Bible Fellowship Groups, we feel that CORE is essential to the spiritual development of our people.
Visit our website – http://www.calvarynow.com/corewest
Matt Capps 