SOUTHERN BIBLE COLLEGE & SEMINARY
Post Office Box 764
Lenoir City, Tennessee 37771-0764
Web Site: www.southernbiblecollege.org
COURSE: Dangers in Ministry
TEXTBOOK: Dangers, Toils, & Snares
AUTHOR: Richard Exley, Mark Galli & John Ortberg
PUBLISHER: Multnomah
PUBLICATION DATE: 1994
ISBN #: 0-88070-625-2
Syllabus:
Course Description:
This is a textbook assignment. This course examines the hidden temptations of ministry and deals with some issues that lay heavily on the hearts of Christian leaders today.
Course Objective:
The student will learn of traps the enemy sets for those in the ministry and will be encouraged through practical wisdom from other professionals to resist the hidden temptations of ministry.
This course will attempt through the personal experience of others to help the student fine tune their ministry skills by preparing the student to stand strong in the face of stress and mounting pressures, both personally and professionally.
Instructions:
Complete the questions included with this syllabus for this textbook..
Mastering Dangers, Toils & Snares
BEGINNING QUESTION
•How does Pope Gregory describe what it means to be a pastor?
- How can the two spiritual sins of hypocrisy and pride affect the Christian leader?
- “Helmet Thielicke” offered words of wisdom for teachers of God's Word. What words did he offer?
- Chapter one mentions three important areas every Christian leader should guard carefully. What three areas were mentioned? Explain each area.
4. What can be the most troublesome state for a Christian leader to find themselves in? Why? And how can we prevent this from happening?
5. Describe “Approval Addiction” in your own words from chapter two.
6. How can we make “ambition” our servant rather than our master?
7. Richard Foster wrote, “Nothing is more dangerous than what?”
8. List Gordon MacDonald's eight characteristics of driven people.
9. Name and summarize the “Perils of Professional Holiness” as described in chapter one.
10. John Ortberg in chapter two says there are at least two types of situations that call for criticism to be confronted and refuted. What are the two types?
11. In three words – What is the secret of taming ambition?
12. How did Richard Exley measure his self worth the first fourteen years of his ministry?
13. How should Christian leaders measure their self worth?
14. List Max DePree’s four signs of entropy:
15. John Ortberg in chapter four lists six tell tale signs of a lazy Christian leader.
What are those six signs?
16. John Ortberg says that he periodically asks himself four questions.
17. How do you set priorities and balance your time between ministry and family?
18. According to chapter 5 – How can you as a Christian leader lead your congregation to make a difference in controversial issues?
(List the 6 suggestions and explain each one).
19. What is “Compulsive Ministry?”
20. John Ortberg in chapter 6 states three strategies that help him manage anger. What are the three strategies?
21. In chapter 7 how did ‘Mike’ overcome despair and what things would he have to let go of?
22. In chapter 4, John Ortberg mentions Steven Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and in it he notes that our work can be placed in one of four quadrants depending upon the degree of urgency and importance. List the four quadrants and describe each one.
23. According to chapter 8 – How can Christian leaders live the joy they preach?
24. List five early warning signals of emotional attachment between the counselor and the counselee:
25. In chapter 10 – What was Susan’s dream about and what was the interpretation of her dream?
26. If a minister experiences a moral failure should the minister be restored to public ministry? Why? (Please substantiate with scripture)
27. In chapter 9 the writer states that he prays for his counselees only on the day he will see them. He says this serves two purposes – What are his two purposes?
28. In chapter 6 John Ortberg mentions an author who outlines four common profiles of anger management. Name the four profiles and explain each one.
29. Who in chapter 8 wrote, ‘it is in paradox that the truth of Christianity emerges most clearly?’
30. What pastor played a significant role in the rehabilitation of Truman Dollar?
31. Louis McBurney says that trust must be established between the pastor, counselor and fallen minister on several levels. What are the 3 levels mentioned?
32. Once emotional and spiritual wholeness has been restored, we can turn our attention toward restoration to ministry. This process Richard Exley says includes three stages. What are the 3 stages?
33. What does Richard Exley say the final official act in the restoration should be?
34. Do you believe a fallen minister can be restored? Why or why not? Please substantiate with scripture.
35. Chapter 11 mentions two levels of restoration. What are the two levels?
36. Explain how this book has helped you better discern deception:
37. How has this book affected your outlook on ministry?
38. Do you agree with the viewpoints, discussion and subject matter of each writer? If no explain –
●YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS COURSE
