This Summer, Oak Hill will be once again hosting a “Ministry of the Word Cohort” designed to equip disciple-makers in word-based ministry. We have designed two tracks of study based on the type of word ministry in which you hope to be most engaged – preaching or personal word ministry. Both tracks will include immersion in the book of James, learning and employing specific study techniques to understand the author’s intended purpose and faithfully apply the text to situations today.
TRACK 1 – Preaching
Track 1 is for those who desire to grow in preaching a text of scripture to a larger group of people. Because we only have one venue for this type of ministry at Oak Hill – the Sunday morning sermon – this track will only be available to men. A group of men selected and approved by the elders will be given the opportunity to preach on a Sunday this summer. Other men who will not preach can also participate in this track to work toward that goal.
TRACK 2 – Personal Word Ministry
Track 2 is for those who desire to use the word in other formal or informal interpersonal settings (biblical counseling, biblical friendships, discipleship, smaller Bible studies, evangelistic settings, etc.). This track is open to both men and women. Participants will use the same Passage in James and study process as the preaching track, but instead of creating a preaching outline and sermon applications at the end, they will be encouraged to apply their assigned Psalm to a few different real-life situations they have encountered, and to a case study that is assigned to them.
Cohort Expectations:
In preparation for the cohort, track 1 participants are encouraged to read or listen to Expositional Preaching by David Helm OR take the Simeon Trust Online Course on Persuasion. Track 2 participants are encouraged to read or listen to Crosstalk by Mike Emlet OR Saints, Sufferers and Sinners by Mike Emlet. It would be most helpful to you to have this preparatory work complete prior to our first meeting on May 17, as well as watch the updated Ministry of the Word YouTube Playlist. We ask that you purchase the required book/course on your own and/or access it in Audiobook form on your favorite source for those books (both books are available on Hoopla).
Each participant will be assigned a passage from the book of James to study using an adapted version of the Charles Simeon Trust worksheet. On the assigned date, they will present their worksheet to those in their track and receive encouraging, constructive feedback. On days they are not presenting, they will play the valuable role of giving edifying feedback to others. All participants are asked to watch the Ministry of the Word Cohort videos for 2025 as they work through their studies. We also ask that participants prioritize the majority of the cohort gatherings to maximize the small group discussions.
Schedule
7:30-9:00 AM - May 17
7:30-9:00 PM - May 31
7:30-9:00 AM - June 14
7:30-9:00 AM - June 28
7:30-9:00 AM - July 12
7:30-9:00 AM - July 26
7:30-9:00 AM - August 9