Would you want a surgeon who got an A+ on all of his exams, but had never performed one operation? Fortunately, students in medical schools learn techniques through simulations, by dissecting animals, working alongside skilled doctors, and spending years of practice under the watchful eyes of experts before they are board certified surgeons.
The same is true for ministry. You don’t learn evangelism simply by reading a book. You learn how to witness by sharing your faith. Becoming good at preaching and teaching requires years of experience. You’d don’t learn how to pray by reading, but by praying.
This is not a new educational concept. James said it this way, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22. We learn best by doing.
That is why at Rockbridge students are required to be in a leadership role in a church or ministry organization where they can practice the leadership skills we teach. Each class contains practical ministry projects they can use immediately in their ministry. Here are a few projects they develop and apply in their ministry:
- Conducting a spiritual census of your neighborhood
- Developing a disciple-making system in your church
- Assessing the evangelism strategy in your church
- Evaluating the assimilation process in your church
- Writing and delivering a sermon or Bible teaching lesson
Students are guided by the teaching professor and a local mentor, ensuring that what they produce is relevant and applicable in their ministry context. If you know of someone that could benefit from this kind of hands-on-experiential learning, direct them to admissions@rockbridge.edu or direct them to our website. We would be honored to show them how they and their ministry could benefit from our training.
A Call to Irrelevance
Some churches cannot compete with the glamour and the extensive variety of programs of the large church across town, but they can be an authentic community of believers who offer nothing but broken, vulnerable lives that are being radically changed by Jesus Christ. To read more on this…
Graduation, June 25, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
Saddleback Church, The Terrace View Room, Lake Forest, California. If you are in the area, we would love for you to be part of the celebration.
Church Partnerships
We are grateful for over 400 churches and ministries that support Rockbridge. Thank you for your financial gifts, prayer support, and trusting us with students. Encourage your church to financially support our mission of developing servant leaders for Christian ministry around the globe. If you would like to be a partner, click this link.
