SEAN courses have been developed upon
the recognition that the purposes of God go beyond evangelism, to the building
up of a mature people in Christ. The Compendium of Pastoral Theology provides
for this need: based on Biblical teaching throughout, it is a very useful tool
that comprehensively equips all God's people for His service.
The course based on St Matthew's Gospel, is so structured that the whole of the
life of Christ is studied in the correct sequence. Subsequently, through the
application of what is learnt in their own situation, the life of each student
can be profoundly affected. Not only that: in many countries the students, in
applying the Biblical principles emphasised in this course, have planted many
on-going, maturing churches.
The whole Compendium course consists of 6 consecutive books. It combines lessons
for individual home study with group discussion. The lessons are arranged in
units; each unit being a week's work (3 hours per unit, approx.). After each
unit there is a group meeting, and guidance for this is provided in a separate
Group Leader's Training Manual. The Group Meeting is an essential part of the
course: it greatly enriches the learning process and enables and enhances the
application of theory to practice in the local church setting.
This course aims to introduce the student to all the basic disciplines of the
Christian life and ministry, providing:
A thorough knowledge of Christ's
life and ministry
A comparative analysis of the
four Gospels
The Old Testament background to
Christ's ministry
Techniques of study, reflection
and application
An outline of systematic theology
A comparison of Christianity with
other religions
An emphasis on practical ministry
in the local church including:
active participation in group
studies;
individual and group Bible
studies;
personal evangelism;
stewardship;
preaching;
developing devotionals;
family worship and
counselling;
planting a new church;
dealing with the occult;
Baptism; the Lord's Supper;
discipline in the church;
relationships, marriage and
the family
social reform and /or direct
help; and
psychological adjustments
The six study books:
Book 1: Infancy Jesus' birth, infancy and youth; the geography and political background in
Palestine in Jesus' lifetime; the Roman empire; the Herod family; the Kingdom of
Heaven; the stages in Jesus' life and ministry; the genealogies; Bible study
techniques; Son of God /of Man; God's promises; His sovereignty.
The Tutor Manual for Book 1 is a particularly good resource for group leaders
and is a training course in its own right within the main Book 1 course.
Book 2: Year of Preparation John the Baptist; confession of sin; Pharisees and Sadducees; the Trinity;
the Apostles' Creed; the attributes of God; Jesus' temptations; His use of
Scripture; inspiration of the Bible; leading others to Christ.
Book 3: Year of Popularity Expansion of the Kingdom through Galilee and beyond; Edicts of the Kingdom;
sermon preparation; prayer; Evidences of the Kingdom; science and miracles;
Envoys of the Kingdom; Enemies of the Kingdom; Examples of the Kingdom;
parables; Extending the Kingdom; personal testimony; planting churches.
Book 4: Year of Passion (part 1) Jesus' journeys and teaching; the doctrine of man; the image of God; sin;
death; Spiritism; psychological adjustments; sex, marriage, family; material
possessions; God's generosity; ambitions - spiritual and worldly.
Book 5: Year of Passion (part 2) Jesus, Prophet, Priest, King; mind, emotions and will; evaluation
techniques; Second Coming; the Jewish nation; parables; church finances; Lord's
Supper; Jesus Passion and Resurrection; comparative analysis of the four
Gospels.
Book 6: Risen Life
Proofs of Resurrection; Great Commission; Jesus' ascension and exaltation;
Pentecost; person, work, fullness of the Holy Spirit; early church and its
discipline; baptism; miracles and healing; persecution and suffering; Apostles'
teaching; personal evangelism; counselling; techniques of Bible Analysis.
