BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Theological Studies offered

I believe that a church should provide a seminary-like experience for lay members who want more intensive theological study. I was able to put this concept in place in three of the churches that God allowed me to serve as pastor. In one setting, we even offered Hebrew and Greek classes for laypersons.

During the next weeks I want to share with you a series of doctrinal/theological studies written for the classes in my earlier pastorates. I recently edited the doctrinal studies to teach in Haiti. This month, the Florida Baptist Convention and New Orleans Theological Seminary will begin providing theological education classes for the pastors of the Baptist churches in Haiti. We are excited about this new venture and working in cooperation with the seminary.

Dr. Tommy Green, president of the Florida Baptist State Convention and pastor of First Baptist Church of Brandon, is teaching this month the first class, Introduction to the New Testament. Please remember to pray God’s blessings on this new avenue, especially for the persons who teach, translate and study.

The Florida Baptist Convention now includes approximately 500 churches in Haiti which were started under our leadership and oversight. Theological education for the pastors is a must for the development of the churches. It is not only a new venture, it is a faith venture. God has so many details to work out in our hearts and planning. It is an exciting time to be a Florida Baptist!

In the articles I will be sharing with you, I will discuss:

• The Doctrine of God
—“Central idea in religion is God” (first in series of five)
—“God’s power and presence” (second in series of five)
—“Holiness: God’s very nature” (third in series of five)
—“God’s love and wrath” (fourth in series of five)
—“Doctrine of trinity” (fifth in series of five)

• The Doctrine of Man

• The Doctrine of Sin
—The Doctrine of Sin (first in series of three)
—The Nature of Sin Defined (second in series of three)
—Man’s weakness brings guilt and separation to all (third in series of three)

• Doctrine of the Christian Life
—Doctrine of Christian life defined by salvation, justification and union with Christ

• Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
—The sovereign Holy Spirit inseparably relates to Christ
—The Revelation of the Holy Spirit
—‘Spiritual warfare’ and ‘dancing in spirit’ not always applicable to New Testament church
—Charismatic practices remove focus from God
—The Holy Spirit revealed through conviction, experience and illumination

• The Doctrine of Atonement
—Atonement:God's act to make salvation possible (first in series of four)
—Reconciliation possible through Christ's death on the cross (second in series of four)
—Christ was fulfillment of Old Testament sacrificial law (third in series of four)
—Understand atonement in light of New Covenant (fourth in series of four)

• The Doctrine of the Church
—Church is to reflect the nature and work of Christ (first in series of four)
—The church: a fellowship of believers and divine organism (second in series of four)
—The Great Commission personifies the church's mission (third in series of four)
—Functions of church are to worship, proclaim, educate, minister (fourth in series of four)

• The Doctrine of the Second Coming
—Second coming of Christ critical to biblical theology (first in series of two)
—Pre-millennialism offers pragmatic view of Scripture (second in series of two)

My prayer is that the articles will be helpful to you and perhaps a resource for future reference. Any time I write, it is always impressed upon my mind to write to Baptists, not for Baptists. These materials were first initiated in my heart at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It has been my joy through the years to add, subtract, refine and condense. These are not full, systematic, theological discussions. They are however, basic to all we believe and hold as truth that would form the framework of systematic theological discussions.

SULLIVAN'S OTHER ARTICLES

You may contact Dr. John Sullivan at
1-800-226-8584, ext. 3015, or by e-mail.