WELCOME TO IRONWORKS!
Purpose 1 - Ironworks is a worship service
Our congregation has many people who would consider themselves messianic in their approach to theology. Some of them feel that we should observe the Sabbath and make it holy.
Since it begins on Friday evening, we felt it would be a perfect time to welcome the Sabbath and focus our minds on God by singing, studying the Scriptures and praying together.
It is never too late to take up studying the Word. It is never a wrong time to seek to sharpen one’s self through mutual accountability and self-discipline.
We want to share with you “simch’at Torah”, the joy of possessing and delving into the divinely inspired Word of God. We want to share with you the joy and peace that comes from having a close personal relationship with God.
If you would like to develop an authentic, enduring relationship with Yahweh Adonai and with others, join Pastor Pauley on Friday evenings at 5:00 at CBF!
Since it begins on Friday evening, we felt it would be a perfect time to welcome the Sabbath and focus our minds on God by singing, studying the Scriptures and praying together.
It is never too late to take up studying the Word. It is never a wrong time to seek to sharpen one’s self through mutual accountability and self-discipline.
We want to share with you “simch’at Torah”, the joy of possessing and delving into the divinely inspired Word of God. We want to share with you the joy and peace that comes from having a close personal relationship with God.
If you would like to develop an authentic, enduring relationship with Yahweh Adonai and with others, join Pastor Pauley on Friday evenings at 5:00 at CBF!
Purpose 2 - Ironworks is a seminary class
- Jeremiah 3:15 HCSB I will give you shepherds who are loyal to Me, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill.
On the other hand, Ironworks is a seminary level class that introduces the student to the biblical requirements of the eldership, the core doctrines of the church, pastoral administrative and leadership requirements, as well as offering an overview of comparative religions and church history.
The student who successfully completes the course should be amply qualified (as far as knowledge is concerned) to be ordained to ministry. However, we know that:
- 1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 HCSB ...Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. (2) If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. (3) But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
Therefore, Ironworks should not be viewed as merely entailing an academic course. It is a relationship between believers who are training to be godly men and women. In Ironworks, we agree to be mutually accountable and to
- Hebrews 10:24 HCSB ...be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works,
- Ephesians 2:10 HCSB For we are His creation--created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
Ironworks has been developed in the hope of training a cadre of future elders who will be able to guide our congregation wisely through the future generations.
Some of the subjects we study include:
1. Eldership studies
2. Biblical study methods
3. Biblical communication
4. Outreach
5. Christian education
6. Ministry leadership
7. Old Covenant survey
8. New Covenant survey
9. Theological studies
10. Ministry leadership
11. Church history
12. New directions in ministry
13. Pastoral and ethical studies
14. Comparative religions
15. Intro to Biblical and other important languages
The purpose of this class is to develop and mentor Christian laborers, be they elders, pastors, missionaries, evangelists or Sunday school teachers. Our goal is to, within a four year span, systematically cover what a person would get if they were to leave our community and attend a good Bible school.
I have many students who periodically must miss class due to work, sickness or ministry. They regret missing classes. There are also some whose schedules completely preclude their attendance on Friday nights. These have asked if it were possible to record the classes somehow.
We further wish to make the material available on an on-going basis for future generations of believers.
We also have the possibility of the teaching being used in India by Serve India Ministries in their mission to train 20,000 pastors to reach 100,000 villages by 2020.
With these criteria in mind, I have decided to begin by placing the material in one place and make it available online. We'll begin by putting the material here and organizing it so that the broad outline can be understood. Then as we record sessions (whether audio only or video too) we'll have a place to place those as well.
Pray for me as I try to make this happen. Believe me – it’s a challenge!
I don’t want to be an elder. Can I still come?
Ironworks is also based on the hope that even those who do not become elders will become better believers and thus, raise the overall level of spiritual maturity within the congregation.
Though this program was initially developed to train potential candidates for the ministry of eldership, we welcome all who are interested in studying God’s Word at a more advanced level.
Though this program was initially developed to train potential candidates for the ministry of eldership, we welcome all who are interested in studying God’s Word at a more advanced level.
I’m not particularly educated and you say the course is advanced. Should I not come? What if I don’t understand everything?
Do not let your present level of understanding hinder you. How will you ever improve if you don’t challenge yourself? If you don’t understand everything, that is all right. Even if you walk away with one new thing each week, you will have improved yourself. Again, Ironworks is not merely about academics. It is a mentoring and accountability group. It is a relationship. It's a chance to sing, study, worship and pray. Don’t be afraid. Reach out by faith and allow the Holy Spirit to raise you to a new level of spiritual advancement.
I'm not a member of your congregation. May I attend?
Absolutely. We'd love to have you attend. We believe that simch'at Torah (love of the Scriptures) should be shared with anyone and everyone. After all the Master commanded:
The discipleship process is for all people of all nations - not just our own congregation. Even if you are not a follow of Jesus, we invite you to come and see what He has to say to you. Though we believe the Scriptures are the ultimate source of all needful information regarding spiritual matters and day to day living, we acknowledge that we don't necessarily understand them all or that WE have a corner on the market of truth. We enjoy debating with those who are willing to have an open, honest discussion of ultimate truth.
- Matthew 28:19-20 HCSB Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
The discipleship process is for all people of all nations - not just our own congregation. Even if you are not a follow of Jesus, we invite you to come and see what He has to say to you. Though we believe the Scriptures are the ultimate source of all needful information regarding spiritual matters and day to day living, we acknowledge that we don't necessarily understand them all or that WE have a corner on the market of truth. We enjoy debating with those who are willing to have an open, honest discussion of ultimate truth.
