Ordination Preparation

Purpose: Ruby Mountain Bible Church (RMBC) seeks to train its qualified men to minister to Jesus’ church and their local communities. To that end, these resources provide materials to help prepare those with a desire to prepare their doctrinal statement and defend it before a council of church leaders.

Definition: Ordination is the essential step required by scripture for recognizing qualified men for gospel ministry.

Accountability: Working closely with a mentor will provide a sounding board for discussing the assigned materials and internalizing the information to be used in practical applications.

Introduction to Ministry & Theology

Grasping the Bible - Jeff South

Architecture of Theological Studies (1) - Jeff South PowerPoint

Blueprint for Systematic Theology (2) - Jeff South PowerPoint

Dean H Taylor. Pathway to Pastoral Ministry: First Steps for Young Men. Ankeny, IA: Faith Publications, 2024. (119 pp.)

Paul David Tripp. Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012. (~240 pp.)

John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue. Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017. (~1,100 pp.)

Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020. (~1,290 pp.)

Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, eds. Understanding Christian Theology. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003. (~960 pp.)

J. Gresham Machen. Christianity and Liberalism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1923. (~190 pp.)

Arthur F. Baylis. From Creation to the Cross: Understanding the First Half of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. (~600 pp.)

Andreas J. Köstenberger, L. Scott Kellum, and Charles L. Quarles. The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2009. (~900 pp.)

John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, eds. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. 2 vols. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983–1985. (~1,600 pp.)

Nick Roark and Robert Cline. Biblical Theology: How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel. Wheaton IL: Crossway, 2018. (160 pp.)

Bibliology (Doctrine of Scripture)

Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix. From God to Us: How We Got Our Bible. Rev. ed. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2012. (~400 pp.)

R. Laird Harris. Inspiration and Canonicity of the Bible: An Historical and Exegetical Study. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1969. (~300 pp.)

Cyril J. Barber. Jesus Christ: The Alpha and Omega of Bible Study. Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1978. (~150 pp.)

Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks. Living by the Book. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2007. (~300 pp.)

Roy B. Zuck. Basic Bible Interpretation. Colorado Springs: Cook Communications Ministries, 1991. (~300 pp.)

Canonicity - Harris in Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible

How Firm a Foundation - Jeff South

Issues in Hermeneutics - Jeff South booklet

Bibliology - Jeff South Lectures (23 Sessions)

Theology Proper (Doctrine of God)

A. W. Tozer. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York: HarperCollins, 1961. (~120 pp.)

John C. Peckham. Divine Attributes: Knowing the Covenantal God of Scripture. Ada, MI: Baker Academic, 2021. (336 pp.)

Trinity 101 - Jeff South Lectures

Theology 101 - Jeff South Lectures (5 Sessions)

Deity of Christ and Trinitarian Theology - Jeff South PowerPoint

Let Me Introduce You to God - Jeff South Booklet

The Infinite Intimate - Jeff South PowerPoint

Christology (Doctrine of Christ)

Mark Jones. A Christian's Pocket Guide to Jesus Christ: An Introduction to Christology. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 2013. (~120 pp.)

Bruce A. Ware. The Man Christ Jesus: Theological Reflections on the Humanity of Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012. (~160 pp.)

Dane C. Ortlund. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020. (~220 pp.)

Life of Christ [Harmony] - Jeff South

The Career of Christ - Jeff South

Jim Pettegrew. The New Covenant Ministry of the Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2001. (~200 pp.)

Pneumatology 101 - Jeff South

Anthropology & Hamartiology

Anthony A. Hoekema. Created in God's Image. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986. (~275 pp.)

Anthropology 101 - Jeff South

Hamartiology 101 - Jeff South

Soteriology (Salvation)

Bruce Demarest. The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1997. (~550 pp.)

David Powlison. How Does Sanctification Work?. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017. (~200 pp.)

Dane C. Ortlund. Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021. (~170 pp.)

Issues In Soteriology - Jeff South

Angelology (Angels & Demons)

Merrill F. Unger. Biblical Demonology: A Study of Spiritual Forces at Work Today. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1994. (~300 pp.) (Note: Unger wrote several works in this area; Angels and Demons appears to be a shortened reference title.)

Angels and Demons - Jeff South Booklet

The Unseen War - Jeff South PowerPoint

Ecclesiology (Church)

Gregg R. Allison. Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012. (~500 pp.)

Issues in Ecclesiology - Jeff South

RMBC DNA - Jeff South Lectures (17 Sessions)

Eschatology (Last Things)

Michael J. Vlach. Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths. Los Angeles: Theological Studies Press, 2016. (~300 pp.)

Paul J. Tanner. Daniel. Evangelical Exegetical Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020. (~500 pp.)

Robert L. Thomas. Revelation: An Exegetical Commentary. 2 vols. Chicago: Moody Press, 1992–1995. (~1,100 pp.)

Craig A. Blaising, Alan Hultberg, and Douglas J. Moo, eds. Three Views on the Rapture: Pre-, Mid-, or Post-Tribulational? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010. (~250 pp.)

John F Walvoord. The Prophecy Knowledge Handbook: All the Prophecies of Scripture Explained in One Volume, Victor Books. 1990. (809 pp) - Updated - Every Prophecy of the Bible, Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2011. (626)

Issues in Eschatology - Jeff South

Daniel - Jeff South

Prophetic Teachings of Christ - Jeff South Lectures (3 Sessions)

Revelation - Jeff South

Pastoral Theology

Jason Helopoulos. The New Pastor’s Handbook: Help and Encouragement for the First Years of Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2015. (205 pp.)

R. Kent Hughes. Disciplines of a Godly Man. Rev. ed. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2001. (~270 pp.) OR Donald S. Whitney. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Rev. ed. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014. (~350 pp.)

Wayne Grudem. Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018. (~1,200 pp.)

Brad Bigney. Gospel Treason: Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2012. (~250 pp.)

R. Albert Mohler Jr. The Gathering Storm: Secularism, Culture, and the Church. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2020. (~150 pp.)

Robert W. Kellemen. Counseling Under the Cross: How Martin Luther Applied the Gospel to Daily Life. Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2017. (~400 pp.)

Robert D. Jones. The Gospel for Disordered Lives: An Introduction to Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling. Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, 2021. (560 pp.)

Practical Theology - Jeff South

Leadership Skills - Jeff South Booklet

Skills for Living: A Study in Proverbs - Jeff South

Church History

Bruce L. Shelley. Church History in Plain Language. 5th ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2020. (~550 pp.)

Roger E. Olson. The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1999. (~650 pp.)

Francis A. Schaeffer. How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2005. (~300 pp.)

Church History Survey - Jeff South

History of the Christian Church - Jeff South Lectures

Total approximate library size: ~18,000 pages.