IN HOC SIGNO VINCES |
of the Order of Centurions Teach the way of God in truth |
TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM |
|
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES |
of the Order of Centurions Teach the way of God in truth |
TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM |
The purpose of this page is to identify educational opportunities for Centurions to enable them to increase their knowledge for their service in the Church.
You may find local colleges and universities that have courses and degrees in Bible and Theology. If you would like a distance-learning course, where you can get your training from the comfort of your home with perhaps some residential requirement, those options are also available. Some, like the Asbury Online Institute are fully accredited by the US Department of Education. Other smaller and less expensive alternatives are also available such as St Elias School of Orthodox Theology and St Andrew's College and Seminary.
There are several on-line resources that provide excellent works for a structured, self-study program. The Bible Studies Foundation - BSF is a good place to start. Another resource is Religion On Line - ROL. Here is a recommended listing of studies:
* BIBLE - Read it, all of it. Understand it. Believe it. You may begin with a Free Basic Bible Course . The New English Translation (NET) Bible has extensive notes for study, Biblical Resources has links to many useful sites and translations, and the World Wide Study Bible has many links to commentaries and translations. Biblical Studies on the Web features contemporary scholarly and scientific papers. Blue Letter Bible Institute offers free bible courses
* CHURCH HISTORY - Notes on Church History, a Timeline is an excellent place to begin your study and return for a year by year chronology of the history of the Church. Also review these ancient documents that provide a view of the early Church: Didache or Teaching of the Apostles, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions, and the Apolsolic Tradition of Hippolytus. For a more indepth study, you may look to Schaff: History of the Church. The Ecumenical Council (with particular attention to the first four councils that established the creeds and the doctrine of the trinity and are broadly accepted by all Christians)
* THEOLOGY - Computer Assisted Theology is a good place to begin. The BSF Theology Program is a sytematic Theology course for lay people. The ROL site lists many thological sources as do these sites: St Johns University, Wabash Center, Computer Assisted Theology . Christian Theology Page .
* EARLY CHURCH FATHERS - Become familiar with their concepts and theology Writings of the Early Church Fathers, Early Christian Writings and Early Church Fathers. The Order of Centurions is established specifically with the objective to encourage the practice of a simple, ancient form of worship; and encourage members to live by the plain Word of Scripture. The theology of the Early Church Fathers is very important to the Centurion's study. These Christians were close to the New Testament writers, and their theology was developed in the age of persecution when the influence of the Empire and corruption did not impact on the theology. Latter-day theology, including the present era, has resulted in a host of issues causing death, war, and multiple fractures in Christ's One Holy Church. Identify what is essential, search the Scriptures, understand that an inference is just that.
* ORTHODOXY - Recommend CS Lewis as a primary resource for a general non-denominational orthodox Christian presentation that is ideal for the beginning student. Mere Christianity is a basic orthodox theological introduction. The book Mere Theology provides an exemplary introduction to Lewis orthodoxy and this Mere Theology Reading Guide shows related Lewis works for each of Vaus' chapters. The CS Lewis book online here, The Abolition of Man, is an excellent place to begin with an argument for objective right and apology for the existence of God. Check your local library or here for other apologetic works by Lewis. You may like to read this Mere Apolgetics for a description and summary of Lewis. For those seeking scholarly resources, we recommend you look to this site for a listing of resources.
* WORSHIP - The Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, the Order's Worship Guide; the Sacraments, Ordinances, Mysteries; , and Ken Collins' Website are useful.
* HOMILETICS - The Lesson Planner, Sermon Outlines, and Sermon Illustrations may be useful.
* LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Leadership University has a wealth of information for leading your cohort.
* RESOURCES - Protestant Encyclopedia and Catholic Encyclopedia
CALLING OF SERVANTS - Centurions may call out Cohort members to serve the people, according to their gifts, in the work of the Church. Cohorts should consider the Scriptures in calling and appointing.
And when they had appointed (cheirotoneô - elected by stretching forth the hand) for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed [Ac 14:23]DISCIPLINE Cohorts are independent, but Centurions must ensure that whatever is preached or whatever ordinances are observed are in accordance with the plain word of Scripture, and must guard against vain invention and anything that is contrary to Scripture. They may wish to adopt certain traditions of the Early Church. Ancient manuscripts of Church discipline include the Didache or Teaching of the Apostles, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions , and the Apolsolic Tradition of Hippolytus and the Ecumenical Councils. These ancient documents may provide a basis for Cohort discipline.
* Rev 1:6 - and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father; to him [be] the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
* Mt 28:19 Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
OTHER SITES
The Anglican Way Seminary . Anlgican Library
* 1st Peter, iv. 7 ...if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ...
Copyright 2003-05 Order of Centurions | www.orderofcenturion.org | 5/13/2005
