An Introduction To Comprehensive Christianity
We live in a world that worships efficiency, individualism, and comfort. We want “40 Days of Purpose” when it may take 4000. We want to figure it out alone when it takes the gifts God has given to others.
CS Lewis said, “It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.” This is because every age has its own insight and short sightedness. This is why we must learn our way of being and becoming Christian from those tried and tested practices.
The Catechist Training School’s goal is to teach the old ways of following Christ so that we may benefit from their practice and share their saving power to a new generation.
Jesus said, “Everyone who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” –Matthew 13:52
WHo Is CAtechist Training School For?
All Christians Ready for The Ancient Way of Following Christ
Our modern Christianity is thin. It emphasizes individual belief and personal piety while leaving its believers to be formed by the institutions of secular modernity instead of the patterns and practices of a full life of faith. The Biblical faith that was expounded in the Nicene Creed converted the Roman empire. This is not a new way or even innovative, it is the old way.
Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. -Jer 6:16
Students
Parents and Teachers
Lay Leaders
Retired Christians
How to Read the Whole Bible
Have you ever heard that the Bible means Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth? Well there is nothing basic about this book. The topic of the scriptures is not us and our performance but the revelation of our glorious saving God and his faithfulness to us in Christ through the ages and forevermore.
Church History: The DNA of Your Faith
Millions have sent their DNA through the mail to find out their ancestorial heritage. This curiosity is understandable and leads to many discoveries of being 1% Basque. If you grew up Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian you might be surprised to find out you are between 23% and 85% Anglican.
The Beauty of the Creedal Faith
The biblical doctrines found in the Nicene Creed are 1700 years old this year. The doctrines it contains are the boundaries of the Gospel faith that saves and frees us from our sin. The faith they protect is recognizable Christianity in every century and the errors they expose are alive and well today.
Participate More Fully in Your Own Formation
The Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Identify those good works that God has prepared for you and the continual
Teaching the Faith
TWO YEARS
FOUR CORE MODULES
SIX TOTAL MODULES
EIGHT WEEKS EACH
Fall Year 1 – Covenants, Sacraments, and the Gospel
Spring Year 1 – Ancient Creeds, Doctrine, and Catechesis
Summer Year 1 – The Anglican Way (Elective)
Fall Year 2 – Prayer, Liturgy, and Sacraments
Spring Year 2 – Christian Mission and Ethics
Summer Year 2 – Patristics and Matristics (Elective)
What you will learn and how you will grow?
Each week the Catechist Training School will include a video between 30 and 45 minutes long, about one hour of reading, and a two hour cohort meeting, Saturday mornings 8AM – 10AM, that will include discussion over the week’s content and some additional teaching. Here are the ways we believe you will learn and grow over this two year program:
How to Read the Whole Bible
It is our natural instinct when we read the Bible to think it is primarily about us and what we should do. When we make the Bible about us we distort its meaning. The topic of the scriptures is not us and our performance but the revelation of our glorious saving God and his faithfulness to us in Christ through the ages and forevermore.
The Beauty of the Creedal Faith
Anglicans think the proclamation of the Nicene Creed is an act of worship. The biblical doctrines found in the Nicene Creed were codified 1700 years ago. The doctrines it contains are the boundaries of the Gospel faith that saves and frees us from our sin. The faith they protect is recognizable Christianity in every century and the errors they expose are alive and well today.
Church History: The DNA of Your Faith
Millions have sent their DNA through the mail to find out their ancestorial heritage. This curiosity is understandable and leads to many discoveries of being 1% Basque. If you grew up Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian you might be surprised to find out you are between 23% and 85% Anglican. CTS will teach you that the whole history of the church is 100% yours.
Mature in Formation
In the Karate Kid the young student starts his training by waxing cars and painting fences. It was unknown to him that his teacher was training his muscles and movements to prepare for his future. After the “Kid” was shown how these common chores trained him to be a great competitor. The CTS works to teach how the Anglican pattern of bible reading, liturgies, prayer, worship, sacraments, community, and service form us and our churches in to Christ likeness.
Teaching the Faith
Some who take this course will be called to teach formally in church settings but most teaching happens over dinner tables and in casual discussions. The goal of the catechist training school is to equip its students with a way of seeing Jesus Christ and his Gospel as the answer to all the deepest questions of life. When you are done you will know how the truth of the Trinity can save a marriage, how the incarnation can free us from painful habits, and how our assurance of salvation is not to be found in our performance but in His great and precious promises.
Weekly Course of Study
Training video(s)
Scripture reading
Original Documents
Assigned textbooks
ACNA Catechism
Weekly Zoom Call with Faculty
Additional teaching
Discuss the readings
Catechism questions
Ministry case studies
Cohort Prayer and Check in
Video content brought to you in proud partnership with St Paul’s House of Formation
www.saintpaulshouseofformation.com