2022 Bible Teachers and Preachers (Foundational) Network
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The church is always at its healthiest where there is a passion for the preaching of God’s Word. Across the world there is a growing movement of church leaders and lay preachers who are committed to biblical, clear, engaging, and relevant Bible teaching and preaching. This movement transcends denominations and brings together people with a passion to feed the church and spread the Gospel through effective presentation of God’s Word.
This year’s Bible Teachers and Preachers Network will again be split into two levels. Each level will incorporate the dynamics of a learning community to enable participants to learn together and grow together as Bible teachers. Both levels are driven by a commitment to understanding not only the mechanics of Bible teaching and preaching, but also the theological heartbeat of effective ministry. They will share a passion for practical training as well as a determination to understand the Word and expound it clearly, relevantly and engagingly, in our European context.
The Foundational Network is designed to be an introduction to bible teaching. All those who teach the Bible, (whether in a local church setting, on university campuses or elsewhere, whether from the pulpit or not), are welcome to join us. While the primary focus will be on pulpit preaching, the principles of handling and communicating the Bible will apply in multiple ministry contexts.
Prior preparation will be set for all applicants.
Applicants should be gifted local church pastors and lay preachers who want to develop their skills in expository preaching. This Foundational Track seeks to provide essential skills for communicating God's truth in engaging, relevant, and above all, biblical ways.
Network Leadership
Network Speakers
Mike Chalmers is a mentor with Cor Deo, a ministry training programme, and is also UFM Worldwide’s Short-term Mission Coordinator. Previously, he was a Staff Worker in Wales with UCCF. He enjoys preaching and discipling and continues to support and encourage university students by speaking at… Read more
Stefan Gustavsson is a member of the European Leadership Forum Steering Committee. He is the director for Apologia – Centre for Christian Apologetics and makes his home in Stockholm. He was the founding general secretary for 16 years of the Swedish Evangelical Alliance. Stefan travels widely… Read more
Andy Hamilton is originally from Northern Ireland but has lived in Italy for most of his life. Andy obtained a Master of Theology from Queen’s University Belfast through Belfast Bible College and a Doctor of Ministry degree in preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He lives in the… Read more
Steve Mitchell is part of the leadership team at Cornerstone Church in Swindon, a small church plant in the rapidly expanding north of the town. Steve is passionate about seeing God’s people equipped to share God’s Word no matter what context they are in. Previously, he worked in the IT industry… Read more
Peter J. Williams is the Principal and CEO of Tyndale House, Cambridge. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he received his MA, MPhil, and PhD in the study of ancient languages related to the Bible. After his PhD, he was on staff in the Faculty of Divinity at the University of… Read more
Network Programme
Sunday, 22 May
The Bible is God’s instrument of change, transformation, and, above all, a revelation of His heart. We should expect that whenever the Bible is opened and faithfully taught, lives will be changed and transformed. This session will consider the importance of the Bible in the life of every disciple and the local church. How should the teacher/preacher approach the Bible in order to see transformation in their own life as well as in the lives of those who hear?
How do we move from personal Bible study to preparing a message that is biblical, clear, engaging, and relevant to our listeners? This session gives an overview of the steps from the study of the text to understanding the main idea. A group exercise will engage the process with a specific biblical text.
Monday, 23 May
This session gives an overview of the steps involved in shaping a message based on previous study of the text. Following the presentation, we will work in facilitated groups to apply the learning to a biblical text as we move from text to sermon.
The Bible God has given us is overflowing with variety. It was written by over forty authors, in three languages, on three continents, over a couple of thousand years, and yet is united by the Spirit into a single masterful work that points us to Christ. The Bible is anything but dull. The Bible God has given us is what you might expect from the kind of God we find in it: creative, diverse, and fully united. It doesn’t remain aloof and abstract, but engages with real life in all its fullness. This session looks at the main three types of literature in the Bible: narrative, poetry, and discourse. If we can rightly understand the types of literature, we can tap into their unique strengths to make our preaching the best it can be!
Tuesday, 24 May
Working together as a learning community we will seek to reinforce the learning that has already taken place as we work with examples of the different genres introduced in the previous session. How will a different genre of passion change the approach we take to shaping our message when we preach? How can we make sure that the main idea is effectively communicated, and how can we be certain that God’s inspired genre influences the message we fashion?
Biblical preaching is not simply a matter of building up the church by instructing believers. It is a ministry of proclaiming what God has done in Christ. The Gospel should be at the centre of all true preaching. Yet the idea of preaching evangelistically can be daunting. How should we approach preaching the Bible to mixed audiences? How should we seek to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a culture that rejects any notion of Scriptural authority? In this session we will be given instruction and example which we will process in our learning community.
Wednesday, 25 May
This combined session with both Bible Teachers Networks will offer a unique opportunity to hear and learn from Peter J. Williams as we bring questions to him about the plenary Bible teaching, as well as the rest of God’s Word too.
Preaching is not only about the message, but it is also about the context of the listeners. In this final session, we will think together about preaching in a time of change – whether it is international turmoil, or local adjustment, change is at the heart of many seasons of church life. How can we preach God’s Word in a way that will be heard by those who are living through uncertain times? We will also use some of the session to conclude the week together.