At Banstead Community Church we have a trainee pastor programme. Its aim is to train and equip men for pastoral ministry.
Our conviction is that BOTH the local church AND a theological college are needed to give someone the best training they can possibly have to equip them for pastoral ministry.
A theological college is great for providing teaching in Biblical Studies (OT & NT surveys plus biblical languages); Biblical Theology; Doctrine, Church History & Apologetics and so on, but it is the local church that is the best place for them to learn about the church and how to pastor and preach.
So, our programme focuses on teaching the trainee pastor about the church, how to pastor and preach through a mixture of mentoring, reading, writing assignments, discussion, observation, and practical ministry experience.
Year 1
Reading Assignments
Produce an outline of each chapter; noting down any particular highlights, any questions or points of clarification; and personal applications.
Church
The Heart of the Church (Joe Thorn)
The Character of the Church (Joe Thorn)
The Life of the Church (Joe Thorn)
Independent Churches (John Stevens ed.)
Sojourners and Strangers (Greg Allison)
The Church (Ed Clowney)
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church (Mark Dever)
The Deliberate Church (Mark Dever & Paul Alexander)
Center Church (Tim Keller)
Gospel DNA (Richard Coekin)
Church Planting is for Wimps (Mike McKinley)
Pastor
On Pastoring (H.B. Charles Jr)
On being a Pastor (Derek Prime & Alistair Begg)
The Pastor’s Ministry (Brian Croft)
The New Pastor’s Handbook (Jason Helopoulus)
Portraits of a Pastor (Jason Allen ed.)
Shepherd’s after my own heart (Timothy Laniak)
The Reformed Pastor (Richard Baxter)
The Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges)
The Imperfect Pastor (Zack Eskwine)
The Pastor’s Justification (Jared Wilson)
Dangerous Calling (Paul Tripp)
Dear Timothy (Tom Ascol ed.)
Preaching
Word-Centered Church (Jonathan Leeman)
The Priority of Preaching (Christopher Ash)
Preaching and Preachers (Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Supremacy of God in Preaching (John Piper)
Folly, Grace, and Power (John Koessler)
Preaching Pure and Simple (Stuart Olyott)
Christ-Centered Preaching (Bryan Chappell)
Preaching (Tim Keller)
Between Two Worlds (John Stott)
On Preaching (H.B. Charles Jr)
Preach (Mark Dever & Greg Gilbert)
Unashamed Workmen (Rhett Dodson ed.)
Cutting to the Heart (Chris Green)
Godliness
Progress (Adrian Reynolds)
How Sanctification works? (David Powlison)
The Hole in our Holiness (Kevin DeYoung)
Holiness (JC Ryle)
Devoted to God (Sinclair Ferguson)
Cruciform (Jimmy Davis)
The Pastor’s Soul (Brian Croft & Jim Savastio)
Do More Better (Tim Challies)
Reset (David Murray)
The Art of Rest (Adam Mabry)
Zeal without Burnout (Christopher Ash)
Spiritual Depression (Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Pastor’s Family (Brian & Cara Croft)
Spurgeon’s Sorrows (Zack Eskwine)
Lectures
Produce an outline of the talk; noting down any particular highlights, any questions or points of clarification; and personal applications.
Pastoral Ministry
Pastoral Theology Course (taught by Tom Ascol)
Pastors’ Talk (discussions between Mark Dever & Jonathan Leeman)
Dynamics of Pastoral Care (course from Crosslands)
Preaching
Fundamentals of Expository Preaching (taught by John MacArthur & Steve Lawson)
Mechanics of Expository Preaching (taught by Steve Lawson)
The Necessity and Challenge of Expository Preaching (taught by Mike Bullmore)
Discussion
Each week I meet with him to talk about what he’s been doing, give any feedback and any questions raised by the reading assignments or lectures.
Observation
Attendance/Involvement at Sunday Services at Banstead Community Church; Church Prayer Meeting; Church Bible Study; Church Meeting; Elder’s Meeting; Men’s Pub Theology Group; Men’s Prayer Breakfast; Parents and toddler group; After-school kids club; Lunchtime Bible Club at Junior School; Youth Bible Study; Seniors’ ministry; Evangelistic Meals; Holiday Bible Club; Week of Prayer meetings.
Practical Ministry Experience
Preaching (18x); Leading Morning and Evening Services; Leading Prayer Meetings; Taking services in local care home; Speaking at weekly ministries.
Conferences
They will have the opportunity to attend a couple of conferences each year such as The Hub Conference; IPC Cataylst Conference; or Evangelical Ministry Assembly; as well as local minister fraternal’s.
Year 2
Reading Assignments
Produce an outline of each chapter; noting down any particular highlights, any questions or points of clarification; and personal applications.
Church Polity & Corporate Worship
Christ-Centered Worship (Bryan Chapell)
Rhythms of Grace (Mike Cosper)
Sing (Keith & Kristen Getty)
Unleashing the Word (Max McLean)
Going Public (Bobby Jamieson)
The Lord’s Supper as a Means of Grace (Richard Barcellos)
40 Questions about Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (John S. Hammett)
How Jesus Runs the Church (Guy Prentiss Waters)
Baptist Foundations (ed. Dever & Leeman)
Don’t Fire Your Church Members (Jonathan Leeman)
The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love (Jonathan Leeman)
Those who must give account (ed. Hammett & Merkle)
Leadership
Ready, Steady, Grow (Ray Evans)
The Conviction to Lead (Al Mohler)
The Shepherd Leader (Timothy Witmer)
H3 Leadership (Brad Lomenick)
Wisdom in Leadership (Craig Hamilton)
The Heart of a Servant Leader (C. John Miller)
Leaders who Last (Dave Kraft)
Church Elders (Jeramie Rinne)
Biblical Eldership
Elders in the Life of the Church (Phil Newton)
The New Elder’s Handbook (Greg Scharf)
The God who goes before you (Wilder & Jones)
Making Disciples
What is the Mission of the Church? (Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert)
The Vine Project (Colin Marshall & Tony Payne)
Discipling (Mark Dever)
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (J. I. Packer)
Evangelism (J. Mack Stiles)
The Gospel and Personal Evangelism (Mark Dever)
The Pastor and Counseling (Jeremy Pierre & Deepak Reju)
Caring for People (Ed Welch)
Instruments in a Redeemer’s Hand (Paul Tripp)
The Grid (Adrian Reynolds)
The Mentoring Church (Phil Newton)
Bonhoeffer’s Seminary Vision (Paul R. House)
Prayer & Biography
Prayer (Tim Keller)
A Praying Life (Paul Millar)
A Call to Spiritual Reformation (Don Carson)
Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor (Don Carson)
George Whitefield (Arnold Dallimore)
21 Servants of Sovereign Joy (John Piper)
Lectures
Produce an outline of the talk; noting down any particular highlights, any questions or points of clarification; and personal applications.
Worship
Ligon Duncan – Theology of Worship
Leadership
David Murray – Christian Leadership
Dick Lucas – The Christian Leader (EMA 1993)
Andrew Heard – Gospel Leadership, Gospel Growth (FIEC)
Andrew Heard – Leadership Masterclass (FIEC)
Pastoral Ministry
David Murray – Pastoral Ministry
Jeremy Walker – Church Office and Officers
Pastoral Epistles
Reformed Baptist Seminary – Pastoral Epistles
Dick Lucas – 2 Timothy (EMA 1986)
Prayer
Institute for Church Leadership – The Practice of Prayer
Discussion
Each week I meet with him to talk about what he’s been doing, give any feedback and discuss questions raised by the reading assignments or lectures.
Observation
Attendance/Involvement at Sunday Services at Banstead Community Church; Church Prayer Meeting; Church Bible Study; Church Meeting; Elder’s Meeting; Men’s Pub Theology Group; Men’s Prayer Breakfast; Jelly Tots [parents and toddler group]; Kids Zone [after-school club]; Lunchtime Bible Club at Junior School; Pizza Truth [Youth Bible Study]; EverGreen [seniors’ ministry]; Evangelistic Meals; Holiday Bible Club; Week of Prayer meetings.
Practical Ministry Experience
Preaching (22x); Leading Morning and Evening Services; Leading Prayer Meetings; Taking services in local care home; Speaking at Jelly Tots, Kids Zone, EverGreen. Teaching at Youth Summer Camp.
Conferences
Various local Pastor’s Fraternal’s.
(Photo: Freely)