Copyright © 2015 Michael Justin Wainscott All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. EQUIPPING ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, JACKSON, TENNESSEE TO BE CHRIST-CENTERED EXPOSITORS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT __________________ A Project Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry __________________ by Michael Justin Wainscott December 2015 APPROVAL SHEET EQUIPPING ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, JACKSON, TENNESSEE TO BE CHRIST-CENTERED EXPOSITORS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT Michael Justin Wainscott Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ James M. Hamilton Jr. (Faculty Supervisor) __________________________________________ Danny R. Bowen Date______________________________ To Anna, my loving wife and constant encourager; to Ella, Graham, and Gavin, true gifts from God; and to First Baptist Church, Jackson, Tennessee, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii PREFACE ........................................................................................................................ viii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 Purpose ............................................................................................................... 1 Goals ...................................................................................................................1 Ministry Context .................................................................................................2 Rationale .............................................................................................................3 Definitions ...........................................................................................................4 Limitations and Delimitations .............................................................................6 Research Methodology........................................................................................6 2. BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR TEACHING THE OLD TESTAMENT FROM A CHRIST-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE ...............8 Introduction ........................................................................................................8 Luke 24:25-27 ....................................................................................................9 Luke 24:44-48 ..................................................................................................13 John 5:36-46.....................................................................................................16 Matthew 1-9 .....................................................................................................20 Selected Texts from the Pauline Epistles .........................................................26 Romans 5:12-21 .......................................................................................26 1 Corinthians 5:7 ......................................................................................27 iv Chapter Page 1 Corinthians 10:4 ....................................................................................28 Galatians 3:16 ...........................................................................................29 Conclusion .......................................................................................................30 3. THEORETICAL SUPPORT FOR TEACHING THE OLD TESTAMENT FROM A CHRIST-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE ...............................................32 Introduction ......................................................................................................32 Christ-centered Exposition of the OT and Authorial Intent .............................33 Christ-centered Exposition of the OT throughout Church History ..................35 The Patristic Era .......................................................................................36 The Reformation Era ................................................................................44 The Resurgence of Christ-centered Exposition Illustrated by Current Evangelical Publishing Trends ....................................................50 Thematic Works .......................................................................................51 Preaching and Teaching Helps .................................................................52 Commentary Series and Bible Study Series .............................................52 Children’s Bibles and Books ....................................................................53 Stemming the Tide of Biblical Illiteracy by Teaching the Unity between the Two Testaments ...................................................................54 Conclusion .......................................................................................................58 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ...............................................60 Introduction ......................................................................................................60 Week 1 .............................................................................................................60 Week 2-Week 4................................................................................................61 Week 5-Week 14..............................................................................................63 Week 5 ......................................................................................................64 Week 6 ......................................................................................................64 Week 7 ......................................................................................................65 v Chapter Page Week 8 ......................................................................................................66 Week 9 ......................................................................................................67 Week 10 ....................................................................................................68 Week 11 ....................................................................................................69 Week 12 ....................................................................................................70 Week 13 ....................................................................................................71 Week 14 ....................................................................................................72 Week 15 ...........................................................................................................73 Conclusion .......................................................................................................73 5. PROJECT EVALUATION ..................................................................................75 Introduction ......................................................................................................75 Evaluation of the Project’s Purpose .................................................................75 Evaluation of the Project’s Goals ....................................................................77 Strengths of the Project ....................................................................................79 Weaknesses of the Project ...............................................................................80 What I Would Do Differently ..........................................................................81 Theological Reflections ...................................................................................82 Personal Reflections.........................................................................................84 Conclusion .......................................................................................................86 Appendix 1. PRE-PROJECT AND POST-PROJECT SURVEY ............................................87 2. EXPERT PANEL EVALUATION SURVEY.....................................................89 3. SURVEY RESULTS ...........................................................................................91 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................. 93 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page A1. Results of expert panel evaluation of class content ............................................91 A2. Teachers’ knowledge level and confidence level averages ................................91 A3. Pre-project and post-project survey results ........................................................92 vii PREFACE This project would never have been completed were it not for the assistance, encouragement, and sacrifices of numerous people. First, I want to thank my parents, Mike and Rose, for the consistent sacrifices they have made throughout the years (known and unknown) to ensure that I was able to further my education. I can honestly say that none of this would be possible without them. Second, I would like to thank the five men who served as the panel of experts for me: Brad Green, George Guthrie, Eric Smith, Lee Tankersley,