The Grace Discipleship Group

Grace Fellowship – Intern Program

Our Purpose
The purpose of Grace Fellowship’s intern program is to teach, train, and test men in the hands-on environment of a local church, in order to prepare and evaluate them for the possibility of future biblical eldership, either with Grace Fellowship or with another church or ministry (e.g., missions).

Our Emphasis
See appendix 1
Our Plan
Our plan is threefold:

1. Teaching: The elders of Grace Fellowship will provide instruction in matters of doctrine, evangelism, church practice, and biblical eldership. Teaching will rarely be in the form of lecture, but rather, most often, through discussions with the elders and other interns. In addition, interns will be given reading, writing, and Scripture memory assignments, and may be required to attend or listen to specified Bible conferences or lectures.
2. Training: Interns will be given numerous opportunities to hone their teaching skills. These will most often be in the context of the elder/intern meetings and home gatherings, but may also include teaching at our whole-church gatherings. Teaching and preaching will be evaluated and critiqued by the elders and others who can provide sound, pertinent input. Interns will also be required to regularly attend another gathering with the goal of building up any true believers who are there and explaining the gospel to any who do not understand.
3. Testing: Interns will be required to attend a weekly meeting with one or more of the elders. The times and length of these meetings may vary. It will be helpful for interns to have a somewhat flexible schedule. Interns will also be assigned the duties of planning, coordinating, and carrying out much of the necessary work involved in the various activities of the church. In this way they will not only serve the body of Christ and relieve the elders, but will also have the opportunity to demonstrate their eagerness to be found faithful in whatever tasks they are assigned.

Prerequisites
Because we will make a significant investment in an intern, not just anyone may be a part of the program. A prospective intern must meet the following criteria:

1. He must be a member of Grace Fellowship for a minimum of six months before applying for the intern program.
Note: The only exception will be in the case of prospective interns who will be moving to our area for the purpose of internship. In such cases, membership with Grace Fellowship will still be required before entering the program, but the six-month period will be waived if the prospective intern can provide satisfactory written commendation (as defined in prerequisite #2).
2. He must obtain written commendations from three people (not family members) who are known and approved by the elders. These people must affirm their current and personal awareness of the applicant’s character, enthusiasm, self-discipline, work ethic, teachable spirit, submission to leadership, cooperation with others, faithfulness in attendance and participation, etc.
3. He must be in complete agreement with Grace Fellowship’s statement of faith. If there are points of doctrine that he does not fully understand, or with which he does not fully agree, he is required to disclose his differences and/or lack of understanding in writing before entering the program. The elders will review his written statements and determine whether or not his doctrinal differences and/or lack of understanding are significant enough to preclude him from teaching, in which case he would be ineligible for the intern program.
4. He must be in agreement with Grace Fellowship’s philosophy of ministry, and our emphasis.
5. He must have a God-given desire, evident giftedness, and every intention, to dedicate his life to serving as a pastor, missionary, evangelist, church planter, Bible teacher, etc. Our investment in the training of interns is too significant to allow for those who merely want the experience or education.

Counting the Cost
Like all dedicated Christian ministry, internship will place certain necessary demands on a man and his family (e.g. time, energy, extra study, etc.). Men who are already excessively busy with school or work, or those who do not have the full and informed support of significant family members (specifically, wives) should not consider internship.

Reading Requirements
Interns will be required to read 2 books during each quarter of internship (i.e. 2 books every three months). All books must be selected from the list below, and at least one must be read from each of the categories. After reading each book, the intern must submit a written overview, no more than 2 pages in length (typed, single-spaced), which he will distribute and verbally summarize at one of the elder/intern meetings. Interns must obtain their own books for these reading assignments.

1. The Supremacy of God
Book. Desiring God by John Piper
Book. The Pleasures of God by John Piper
Book. The Attributes of God by A. W. Pink
Book. The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul
Booklet. “The Glory of the God Most High” by Murray McLellan

2. The Supremacy of God in the Church
Book. A Journey in Purity by Richard Belcher
Article. “Every Believer is a Minister” by Geoff Volker
Article. “Biblical Leadership and the New Covenant Priesthood” by Bill Knaub

3. The Supremacy of God in Pastoral Ministry/Teaching
Book. The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper
Book. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture by Graeme Goldsworthy
Book. Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch
Book. The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter
Book. Brothers, We are not Professionals by John Piper

4. The Supremacy of God in Counseling
Book. Our Sufficiency in Christ by John MacArthur
Book. When People are Big and God is Small by Edward T. Welch

5. The Supremacy of God in the Family
Book. Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp

6. The Supremacy of God in Evangelism
Booklet. “What is a Christian” by John Reisinger
Booklet. “Evangelism 101? by Matt Waymeyer
Booklet. “The Distinctiveness of the Christian Gospel” by Fred Zaspel
Booklet. “Sinners, Jesus Will Receive” by William Payne
Book. Faith Works by John MacArthur
Book. Tell the Truth by Will Metzger
Book. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer

7. The Supremacy of God in Missions
Book. Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
Book. A Vision for Missions by Tom Wells

8. The Supremacy of God in the Word
Book. Abraham’s Four Seeds by John Reisinger
Book. Tablets of Stone by John Reisinger
Book. The Five Points of Calvinism by Steele, Thomas, and Quinn
Book. The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Lorraine Boettner
Book. Still Sovereign; Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware, ed.
Book. A Price for a People by Tom Wells
Books on the all five points of Calvinism by John Reisinger
Book. A Journey in Grace by Richard Belcher
Book. New Covenant Theology by Wells and Zaspel
Booklet. “Gabriel’s Prophecy of the 70 Weeks: A Prophecy of the Christ!” by Murray McLellan
Booklet. “The Law Speaks” by Murray McLellan
Booklet “New Covenant Theology” by Murray McLellan
Booklet “Theology of Fulfillment” by Fred Zaspel

9. The Supremacy of God in Sanctification
Book. When I Don’t Desire God by John Piper
Book. A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson
Book. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount by D.A. Carson
Book. The Valley of Vision Compiled by Arthur Bennett
Booklet. “Is There a Difference Between Old Covenant and New Covenant Holiness?” by Murray McLellan
Audio Message. “Doing Missions When Dying is Gain” by John Piper
Book or Audio of Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

10. The Supremacy of God in Church History/ Biography
Book. Jonathan Edwards; A New Biography by Iain Murray
Book. The Reformers and Their Stepchildren by Leonard Verduin
Book. The Life and Diary of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards
Book. George Whitefield by Arnold A. Dallimore
Books D. Martin Lloyd Jones (2 volumes) by Iain Murray
Book. The Autobiography of John Patton by James Patton, editor
Book. William Carey by S. Pearce Carey

(Other books may be added to this list in the future)

Review of an Unbiblical Book

(pursuant to Titus 1:9)

In addition to the reading assignments described above, each intern must review and refute the teaching of one book of his choice (one that is currently in print) that presents Christian doctrine and/or practice in an unbiblical manner. The book must be previously unread and the intern’s choice must be approved by an elder. This review should be more in-depth than the summaries of the books listed above, and at least 4 pages in length (typed, single-spaced).

Scripture Memory
Each intern must memorize passages of Scripture. Scripture memory may be done using NKJV, NIV, or ESV.