Inquirers' Class

When trying to learn about the meaning of the "Reformed Faith" it is easy to become overwhelmed
with all of the various information - Scripture, history, practice, and so forth - that is associated with
being Reformed.  How does one understand it all?  Pastor Fartro could not find much of a comprehensive
class back then, but has endeavored over the years to produce one. 

Reformed people have a very high view of Scripture, yes.  In fact, it is the highest view of
Scripture that can be held.  We not only believe that the Bible is our ultimate written authority - and everything else is subordinate to it.  But we also believe that the assumptions, ideas, and implications of Scripture are also very important.  So, the Bible really is a complete system. 

It is this system that will be conveyed in the class that starts on Sunday, 11 July 2010
at 4:30 p.m. at the PVPCA church building and continues for 21 weeks.  We promise you will learn a lot!  Hopefully, all of your questions about the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) will be answered by the end of the class. 

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.  Do remember that you are under
absolutely no obligation to join Pleasant Valley PCA because you take the class.  The class
is there so that as many people as possible can better understand the Bible and the PCA. 

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Pleasant Valley Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Inquirers’ Course Schedule and Outline for Summer/Fall 2010
Class Meets on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the Church Building

Week Number (Date): Topic
Week 1 (7/11): Introduction and Overview

Week 2 (7/18): What It Means to be a Christian
I. Saving Faith/Being in Covenant with God.
II. Repentance. 
III. Assurance. 
IV. Telling Others about Christ. 

Week 3 (7/25): The Bible (part 1)
I.      The Origin of the Bible.
II.      The Authority and Structure of the Bible.
III.     Understanding the Bible: One Attitude and Two Great Rules.
A. Commit all study of Scripture to God in Prayer. 
B. Analogy of Scripture.
C. Analogy of Faith. 

No Class on 8/1 – Vacation Bible School (VBS)

Week 4 (8/8): The Bible (part 2)

Week 5 (8/15): A Brief Biblical Defense of Creeds and Confessions
I.      Definitions.
A. Creed.
B. Confession.
C. Catechism.
II.      Objections to Using Creeds and Confessions. 
III.      Some Important Confessions in the History of the Reformed Church.

No Class on 8/22

Week 6 (8/29): The Doctrine of the Church
I.      The Definition of “Church.” 
II.      The Unity of the Church. 
III.      The Function of the Church. 
IV.     The Distinctions of the Church. 
V.      The Government of the Church. 

No Class on 9/5 – Labor Day Weekend

Week 7 (9/12): The Five Points of Calvinism – Total Depravity &  Unconditional Election
I.      Origin of the Points and Overview. 
II.     The Doctrine of Total Depravity.
III.      The Doctrine of Unconditional Election. 

Week 8 (9/19): Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, & Perseverance of the Saints
I.      Limited Atonement. 
II.      Irresistible Grace. 
III.      Perseverance of the Saints. 

Week 9 (9/26): The Means of Grace – The Word
I.      The Word Read. 
II.     The Word Preached. 
A. Listening to the Word. 
B. Meditating on the Word. 
C. What about the Methodology of Preaching?

Week 10 (10/3): The Means of Grace – The Sacraments & Prayer
I.      Definitions. 
II.      Baptism. 
III.     The Lord’s Supper. 
IV.     Prayer. 

Week 11 (10/10): The Law of God
I.      Law in the Bible. 
II.     Rationale for the Two-fold Division of the Commandments. 
III.      Summary of the Ten Commandments. 

Week 12 (10/17): The Second Commandment
I.     Consideration of Ex. 20:4 as One Commandment. 
II.     Restrictions of the Second Commandment. 
III. Obligations of the Second Commandment – The Regulative Principle. 

Week 13 (10/24): The Fourth Commandment
I.     The Day We Celebrate the Christian Sabbath. 
II.     The Requirements for the Day. 
III.     The Restrictions for the Day. 

Week 14 (10/31): Christian Liberty
I.      The Composition of Christian Liberty. 
II.     The Corollary of Christian Liberty: Liberty of Conscience.

Week 15 (11/7): Relating to One Another in the Body of Christ (part 1)
I.     Why be Concerned about Relationships as Christians? 
II. Interpersonal Conflict Resolution. 
III. One-anotherness. 
IV. A Note on Gossip. 

Week 16 (11/14): Relating to One Another in the Body of Christ (part 2)

Week 17 (11/21): A Survey of Presbyterian & PCA History
I.     Why Study History?
II.      Presbyterian History.
III.      Important Events in PCA History. 

No Class on 11/28 – Thanksgiving Weekend

Week 18 (12/5): How the PCA Operates (part 1)
I.     Preliminary Considerations – Church Power. 
II.     Formal Offices in the Church. 
III.      The Governing of the Church.
IV.      Discipline in the Church. 
V.     Worship in the Church. 

Week 19 (12/12): How the PCA Operates (part 2)
I. Permanent Committees of the Denomination. 
II.     Special Committees of the Denomination. 
III.      Agencies of the PCA. 

Week 20 (12/19): PCA Membership Vows, Rights, and Responsibilities
I.      The Five Membership Vows. 
II. Formal Membership Rights. 
III. Membership Responsibilities. 
A. Supporting the church. 
B. Using your spiritual gifts. 

Week 21 (12/26): Review and Wrap-up