Practical Theology at Redeemer
The Department of Practical Theology exists to apply biblical exegesis and theology in the formation of godly and competent practitioners who can minister God’s unchanging Word to our changing world. To that end, the Practical Theology curriculum enables students:
- To be faithful and effective preachers of God’s Word to the present generation
- To shepherd the flock to which they have been called
- To minister the Word through biblical counseling
- To spread the good news of the kingdom of God in word and in deed in the task of evangelism and world missions
- To develop the realm of Christian education both within and without the church context
- To exercise gifts of leadership in various ministries
- To understand the church of Jesus Christ, its functions, its needs, and the variety of ministries into which leaders are called.
PT 013P English Bible Survey
Purpose: To provide a thorough survey of the content of the English Bible; to equip future church leaders with skills for teaching the English Bible in the local church; to meet the requirement of passing the English Bible examination. Topics covered include the reading of the entire English Bible, written exercises, class discussion, and laboratory experience in study methods. No auditing permitted. Non-credit (class meets two hours per week).
PT021 Mentored Ministry Integration Seminar
Purpose: to discuss the integration of biblical and theological principles to ministry situations, to provide a workshop in which each student will present one case from an actual ministry experience, to learn to analyze problems, apply biblical principles, and propose appropriate solutions in the context of lively class discussions. Students in the M.Div. program are required to take this seminar twice; $200 fee per seminar. Non-credit (class meets one hour per week). (M.Div. requirement)
PT111 Orientation to Ministry
Purpose: to receive an introduction to the comprehensive picture of preparation for kingdom ministry, including the biblical qualifications for those who would serve as shepherds of God’s flock, to understand the powerful ministry dynamic of Spirit and Word to transform lives, to remember the central role of a vital walk with the Lord to effective ministry (Spiritual Formation), to understand the steps necessary to achieve perceived ministry goals (Professional Formation), to understand and analyze the “call” to ministry, to receive an introduction to the Mentored Ministry program, to receive an introduction to the design of the Practical Theology curriculum, to complete the Ministry Preparation Contract designed to coordinate the resources of the Seminary and the church with one’s comprehensive preparation for effective kingdom service. Topics covered in this course include calling to ministry, the minister’s family life, and spiritual formation, using various approaches to learning, including readings, response papers, and interaction with “Pastors Panels” in which experienced clergy will interact with the class on important topics such as “Call to Ministry” and “The Minister’s Family Life.” This course is required for all first-year M.Div. students. 2 semester hours. (M.Div. requirement)
PT123 Gospel Communication
Purpose: To introduce the student to the basic elements of good sermon construction; to initiate practice in the skills of preparing sermons; to expose the student to various preaching models. Topics covered in this course include a biblical theology of preaching and gospel communication; the spiritual principles of proclaiming the gospel; the form of the message; studies in text and theme selection, exegesis, structure, and delivery. 2 semester hours. (M.Div. requirement)
PT211 The Doctrine of the Church
Purpose: to strengthen the student’s commitment to and service in the local church and to God, to articulate a clear understanding of the Reformed doctrine of the church, to aid the student in building a philosophy of ministry for the twenty-first century. Topics covered in this course include a biblical theology of the church; the marks, attributes, and mission of the church; form of government; women’s role in the church; gifts; and church discipline. 2 semester hours. (M.Div. requirement)
PT Elective Puritan Pastoral Theology
Purpose: To acquaint the student with the pastoral theology of the Puritans of the 17th century; to enrich the student’s appreciation of the pastoral concerns of Puritan theology; to explore the forms and methods of pastoral ministry practiced by the Puritans; to deepen the student’s preaching through a consideration of the role of preaching in Puritan pastoral ministry; to compare the modern practice of ministry with that of the 17th century. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PT332 Seminar in Leadership
Purpose: To examine biblical principles of leadership; to evaluate one’s leadership gifts, style, and strength; to discuss practical leadership models and methods within the local church. Topics covered in this course include characteristics of godly leaders, how to develop a ministry model, the importance of planning, practical pointers on leading a session and a congregation, a resume primer, and factors in evaluating a pastoral call. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PT343 Mission of the Church
Purpose: To instill a passion and commitment for the mission of Christ’s church in the world; to enable the articulation of how the mission of Christ is taught throughout the Scriptures; to equip with models for leading the church in its missions program; to equip with models for leading the church in its educational program; to enable the leadership in a church’s evangelistic outreach. Topics covered include a biblical theory of mission, issues in world evangelization, building a missions program for the local church, contextualization, education and the church, curriculum design, and building evangelistic outreach for the local church. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PT363 Orientation to Pastoral Counseling
Purpose: to help students develop a functional, biblical counseling worldview; to help students understand the importance of heart change as a methodological goal; to develop an understanding of the role of Scripture in biblical counseling; to highlight and practice the critical skills for effectiveness in biblical counseling. Topics covered include how to build a counseling relationship, how to gather and interpret data, how to function as an agent of repentance, and how to guide and assist others as they seek to apply change to daily life. 2 semester hours. (M.Div. requirement)
PT372 Worship
Purpose: To deepen the students’ biblical and theological understanding of public worship; to familiarize students with historic patterns of Christian worship; to help students develop a vision for a worshiping congregation; to encourage students to be thoughtful, joyful worshipers of the triune God; to provide students with resources as they plan and lead public worship. Topics covered include biblical-theological foundations of worship, the directive principle of worship as outlined in the Westminster Standards, the role of the means of grace in worship, contextualization and worship, music and worship, and contemporary issues with regard to worship. 1 semester hour. (Elective)
PT421 Theological Bibliography and Research Methodology
Purpose: To study research methods and librar y use designed for graduate level writing in the theological disciplines; to provide some awareness of bibliographical form and style; to have a sense of what academic research involves, what it takes; to write a scholarly article, and what skills are needed for first-rate scholarly work; to be able to solve, with reference to notes, particular research problems; to produce footnotes, bibliography, and typewritten text in accord with SBL and Westminster guidelines (with assistance from Turabian); to locate and utilize materials in the seminary’s library as well as other libraries. Topics covered include goals of research and academic standards, orientation to the basic features of library and research, bibliographical guides, bibliographies, encyclopedias, special publication formats, serials and periodical indexes, form and style, biblical studies, church history, systematic theology, practical theology, making a bibliography, and use of computers for research. 1 semester hour. (Elective)
PT433 Introduction to Youth and Campus Ministry
Purpose: To provide a theological foundation for youth and campus ministry; to provide models of ministry that will help students do theological and missiological reflection; to provide students with skills in engaging youth in their context; to examine existing models of youth and campus ministry in order to develop the students’ style and form of ministry. Topics covered are theological foundations of youth and campus ministry, major issues in youth and campus ministry, the church and the importance of youth and campus ministry, discipling youth, and the importance of para-church organizations. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PT551 Preaching Seminar
Purpose: To create an appreciation for expository teaching, to enhance the student’s skill for choosing, understanding, and structuring a biblical text for the purpose of preaching, to provide an opportunity to practice those skills, to encourage critical reflection upon the student’s own preaching for continuing development. Topics covered in this course include analysis of various sermon forms and structures; unity, movement, and purpose in sermon construction; and grace dynamics of Christian preaching. Two expository messages will be preached and videotaped by each student and evaluated by the professor. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PT564 Pastoral Theology of Jonathan Edwards
Purpose: To examine the role of the pastor as evangelist and revivalist; specifically, we will examine the Biblical model for this kind of ministry with a specific focus on the revivalistic writings and sermons of the Puritan pastor/theologian/philosopher Jonathan Edwards (1703–58). The course will be text-based. By a close reading of several of Edwards’ major treatises, in addition to several lesser ones (i.e., sermons and short works), it is hoped that the student will gain a depth of understanding that is not possible in a more broadly-based survey course. The principle texts for the course will be Religious Affections, Freedom of the Will, Original Sin, True Virtue, and The End for which the World was Created. Sermons and other selections have been chosen that contribute to an understanding of the central themes of these texts. The Goals of the Course: (A) that the student will come to some awareness of the issues that stirred Jonathan Edwards to take up his quill by entering into his life and the issues of the eighteenth century; (B) that the student in understanding Edwards’ conception of such crucial doctrines as the nature of conversion, the ability of the will, and the depth of the human dilemma will come to a deeper self-understanding and spiritual experience; (C) that the student will develop a critical faculty to judge Edwards’ use of Scripture and rational argument; (D) that the central concern of Edwards might become for us more than a theological phrase, that God’s glory be revealed in the conversion of sinners and that God’s glory be revealed in saintly living; (E) that the class might enjoy a time together of mutual study and dialogue. 2 semester hours. (Elective) The course number for this occasional elective does not designate the term in which it is offered.
PT610 Ministry in the PCA
Purpose: to provide preparation for licensure in the PCA, with focus on Bible, theology and church government examinations. Theological orientation related to the ‘good-faith’ creedal subscription of the PCA, and also to the preaching trajectory needed by the church today, will be taken up individually. 1 semester hour. (Elective)
PT620 Prayer in Holy Scripture and Church Tradition
This course is an introductory study of the vitally important subject of prayer. It focuses on what the Bible teaches concerning the nature and practice of prayer, while gleaning insights from church history, mainly the English Puritans – a movement primarily concerned with experimental subjects such as prayer. Its main objective is to deepen the student’s commitment to and practice of a life of prayer, both personal and corporate. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PT671 Ecclesiology, Women, and the Contemporary Church
Purpose: To affirm women’s place and role in the church; to explore the biblical teaching on women; to examine current trends on the teaching of women in the church; to help guide the student in ministering to women in the church. Topics covered include an understanding of the hermeneutical issues, a biblical understanding of male and female, the New Testament teaching on women’s role in the church, and practical consideration of how women can serve in the church. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PTC 251 Marriage Counseling
Purpose: to help students develop a rich, biblical-theological view of marriage and relationships that challenges popular goals for marriage/relationship counseling and provides powerful hope and direction; to provide students with conceptual and methodological tools for marriage counseling that are rooted in a biblical worldview of marriage and that recognize the unique challenges of marriage counseling; to interact with prevailing secular models of marriage counseling within a biblical worldview; to begin to develop the ability to offer relational skills within a larger context of heart change; to consider current marriage problem areas impacting the church. Topics covered include a biblical theological review of marriage and relationships; and an introduction to systems theory, gender differences, communication, and conflict. 3 semester hours.
PTC 261 Human Personality
Purpose: To deepen students’ understanding of biblical doctrine as it applies to the person; to examine what doctrines are especially important to apply in this generation; to understand how to apply biblical doctrine in personal ministry; to be able to uncover the implicit theology in other models of personal ministry and dialogue effectively about these issues. Topics covered include a review of systematic theological categories with a commitment to developing multiple applications, an examination of both Christian and non-Christian counseling case studies with an eye to enrich them with our theological work, and the practical application of a biblical-theological approach to the study of people. 3 semester hours. (M.A. Core)
PTE400 Research in Muslim Evangelism
Purpose: To know the history,theology,and culture of Islam; to prepare students to share their faith with Muslims; to be able to build a ministry that will reach out to Muslims. Topics covered in this course include the life of Mohammad,the history of Islam, the culture of Islam,Islamic theology,Islamic worldview, folk Islam, how to answer Muslims questions, witnessing to Muslims, and building a ministry to Muslims. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PTM151 Mission to the City
Purpose: To guide students in examining biblical principles as they are related to urban ministry; to examine and define urban ministry in missiological terms; to provide firsthand experience in terms of the significance of living, worshiping, and ministering in an urban context; to evaluate personal tension in cross-cultural situations; to present God’s interest in the cities of his world. This is an introductory course in the urban mission program. Topics covered include assumptions for winning the city; elements necessary for urban ministry; statistics and issues in urbanization; reasons for urban growth; understanding cities; anti-urban attitudes; biblical and theological interpretation of our perceptions; incarnation; biblical background to the city; pictures and motives of the city in the Bible; summary of urban dynamics; response to urban dynamics in relationship to ministry models; transitions and the urban church; pictures of the church; models of churches in the city; the minister in the city; and the importance of youth in the city. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PTM163 Church Growth and Church Planting
Purpose: To provide the student with various aspects of church growth methods, principles, and practices; to review a brief history of the School of Church Growth; to evaluate church growth principles and practices in order to become better equipped in the area of church growth ministries; to develop skills in relationship to growing a church. Topics covered include church growth philosophy, history of church growth, organic church growth, theological presuppositions, critique of church growth, review of various urban models of church growth, and signs and wonders as a means to growth. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PTM462 Understanding the Islamic Challenge
Purpose: to look at the world of Islam, its beginning, its growth, and the doctrines of its major divisions; to examine the current movements and stresses in the Muslim community with the challenge they pose to the church; to suggest ways the church can meet today’s Islamic challenge. Topics covered include the development and demographic profile of various American Islamic communities as well as their international connections; Muslim immigrants; the American born descendants of these immigrants; American converts to Islam; and reasons behind the rapid growth of Islam today among Americans without a Muslim background. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PTM 572 The History and Theology of the African American Church
Purpose: To gain a better understanding of the African American church. Topics covered include the history, theology, and culture of the African American church. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PTM 650, 652 Cross-Cultural Missions Trip
Purpose: To give students experience in working with a team crossculturally; to help students determine their calling to cross-cultural ministry; to increase students’ vision for reaching the world. Topics covered include pre-field orientation, cultural overviews of country to visit, and issues related to team ministry. 2 semester hours. (Elective)
PTM671 Urban Mission Seminar
Purpose: to guide students in the use of critical analysis when evaluating ministries or strategizing for new ministries; to provide opportunities for students to learn from the life experiences of other students; to present challenging situations facing those in ministry for students to evaluate in terms of theology, social sciences, and mission. Topics covered will change every semester so students can take the course more than once. These topics will include ministry models, mission case studies, reconciliation issues, and presentation of books for discussion. 1 semester hour. (Elective)
PTM681, 683 Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
Employing numerous speakers and multimedia presentations, this class will seek to educate and enlist the student to the cause of worldwide evangelism. The class is offered in conjunction with the international educational efforts of the U.S. Center for World Mission. 3 semester hours. (Elective)
