DISTINCTIVE FOCAL POINTS
1. The biblical and Reformed experiential character of theology
2. The centrality of preaching
3. Our confessional basis
4. The international emphasis
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Hab. 2:14
The mission of Puritan Reformed is to prepare students to serve Christ and His church through biblical, Reformed, experiential, and practical ministry. Reformed experiential Christianity is the fruit of God’s revealing His glory to people (Isa. 60:1) so that they are deeply aware of their sinfulness and His grace in Christ (Ezek. 16:62–63). It is the communion of God’s people with God through Christ as they walk in the fear of the Lord (Ps. 25:4–14). As the Holy Spirit illuminates their hearts with God’s glory, He conforms them into the image of Christ to live wholly and solely for Him (2 Cor. 3:18).
The Heidelberg Catechism (LD 1) states that each believer must “know” three things in true Christian experience: first, “how great my sins and miseries are,” second, “how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries,” and third, “how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.” This knowledge goes hand in hand with knowing the triune God as “my
faithful Savior Jesus Christ,” “my heavenly Father,” and “His Holy Spirit,” who “makes me sincerely willing and ready . . . to live unto Him.”
Therefore, the faculty, staff, and students of Puritan Reformed must have a personal, experiential knowledge of God and His ways (John 17:3). We do not base our knowledge on experience but on the Holy Scriptures, God’s inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16). The Word is inerrant truth from God (John 17:17), the seed of regeneration (1 Pet. 1:23), and the food of our souls (Jer. 15:16). Our knowledge is experiential because the Holy Spirit applies the Word to the soul in personal experience (John 6:63). The Spirit enables believers to discern authentic Christian experience by the Word. We do not merely read and search the Bible. The Bible reads us and searches us (Heb. 4:12). God’s Word brings us into His presence for judgment and salvation by grace alone.
Theological education finds it apex in preaching the Word of God, as the apostle reminds us in Romans 10:1415, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” This high calling of gospel preaching (death in Adam and life in Christ) is central to the vision and mission of the seminary. Our degree program for pastoral ministry contains numerous courses on preaching.
Attention is given to the intentional reading, prayer, and meditation of God’s Word when preparing a sermon. Proficiency of the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), as well as grammatical analysis of the text, is important for proper exposition. In the various practice preaching sessions, students are evaluated on their exegesis, theology, use of Scripture, how they shepherd the block in preaching, as well as delivery. Care is given to the sermon’s proposition, outline, transitions, progression, conclusion, and delivery. Attention is also given to how the text is read, use of notes, eye contact, vocal variety, and gestures. But above all, we stress the need of the Holy Spirit to pierce the heart of the hearers.
T he e nglish p u R i Tan & c on T inen Tal
R efo R med confessional TR adi T ion
The faculty at Puritan Reformed subscribe and adhere to both the Westminster Standards (Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms) and the Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort). Highly valued is the theology and practice of English Puritanism and the continental Reformed tradition, including the Dutch theological tradition from the seventeenth century Nadere Reformatie (Dutch Further Reformation) to the nineteenth century Dutch Secession. The biblical doctrine, piety, and practices of these Reformed traditions are valued in the supporting denominations and churches we serve.
T
he i n T e R naT ional emphasis
Puritan Reformed has always had an international focus. Through the worldwide teaching and conference ministry of our faculty, the seminary has been privileged to welcome many students from around the world. Over three hundred alumni serve in thirty countries through pastoring, preaching, and teaching. The seminary has formed strategic partnerships with a variety of conservative and confessional seminaries. As such, the seminary is able to serve the church through six global campuses for the ThM degree program— ,
CAIRO (EGYPT), PRETORIA (SOUTH AFRICA), LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM), SANTIAGO (CHILE), SAÕ PAULO (BRAZIL), TAIPEI (TAIWAN)
and at least twenty-five countries with the MA embedded degree program in multiple languages, including
ARABIC, CHINESE, ENGLISH, FRENCH, PORTUGUESE, SPANISH, AND RUSSIAN.
With this global reach the seminary extends the vision and mission to the end of the earth, but mindful that theological education is by the church for the church—the local congregation, and churches worldwide. We are privileged to respond to the many requests from around the world for sound, biblical, Reformed education. Truly, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35). The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (Matt. 9:37-38).
What are degree programs? "Degree programs" refer to structured
and systematic educational courses offered by the seminary to train men for pastoral ministry and men and women in other forms of ministry (such as counseling or writing ministries). Completion of a degree program leads to the awarding of an academic degree upon completion of their studies. These programs have a defined curriculum, including a required number of courses, and may involve other academic requirements (such as research projects, internships, or practical training).
What degree programs are offered at Puritan Reformed?
The Master of Arts (MA) in Religion educates and prepares the student for service in a teaching capacity. It can also be used as a transitional degree to additional graduate studies. Puritan Reformed offers an MA in Biblical Studies, Historical Theology, and Systematic Theology.
The Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling
(MABC) is designed to serve the church with biblical, Reformed, and experiential counselors who teach and model the wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Master of Divinity (MDiv) educates and prepares men for official, ordained ministries of instruction and leadership in the church as pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and teachers.
The Master of Theology (ThM) program expands and deepens a student’s abilities in ministry. It is designed for students who possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent to help them take their learning to a higher level. Puritan Reformed offers a ThM in Biblical Studies, Historical Theology, and Systematic Theology.
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) is designed for those who desire to advance their ministry skills, particularly in preaching and counseling. Puritan Reformed offers a DMin in Homiletics (preaching) and Counseling.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program is designed for those who desire to advance their ministry skills, particularly in teaching at seminaries, bible schools, and other forms of theological education. Puritan Reformed offers a PhD in Biblical Studies, Historical Theology, Systematic Theology, and Homiletics (preaching).
Foundational to all the degree programs offered at Puritan Reformed is the dual emphasis on both the academic and spiritual formation of the student. Our aim is to offer programs that captures academic rigor and combines this with biblical piety (de pietate cum scientia conjungenda). We thus offer programs that are accredited, affordable, and accessible.
Contact: registrar@prts.edu for more information.
T he i ni T iaT ives
The worldwide growing demand for biblical, Reformed, experiential, and practical theological education, by God’s grace, through the preaching and ministry of our alumni, the conference ministry of Dr. Joel R. Beeke, and the teaching, preaching (sermons) and writings of our faculty has resulted in a number of four initiatives:
MULTILINGUAL INITIATIVE
Puritan Reformed believes it can be more effective in theological education by offering our education in multiple languages. Often, our partner seminaries can only offer a non-accredited MDiv program, and they lack the resources to adequate support their students. We have the privilege to come alongside and embed our online MA degree (fully accredited) within the local seminary’s context and pastoral training. The local faculty is trai -
The local mentorship of an experienced pastor helps with the formation of the student, a next generation pastor and preacher. Furthermore, the introduction of competency-based education, recognizes the talents and skills of incoming students while giving attention to those aspects of ministry training that need to be developed. In addition, although theological education understandably has a strong cognitive component of learning (head), the seminary will give more and more
ned in academic and spiritual formation to facilitate our MA courses, which are now being translated into multiple languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish (Acts 2:8). For example, a student or pastor in Colombia in need of (further) training is now able to hear and study a course of Dr. Gerald Bilkes, Dr. Michael, Barret, or Dr. Joel Beeke in their own language, in Spanish.
EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE
To bring our theological education closer to the churches and congregations, Puritan Reformed is rolling out a church embedded MDiv program. In this program, students remain for a length of time in their local congregation while they study (online or livestream).
intentional attention to a meditative approach of instruction and appropriation of theological knowledge (the art). Our desire and prayer is that the experiential character will be more and more imbibed by our students more and more. Puritan Reformed also desires to serve a broader constituency with the same theological content, thus reaching short-term learners including women, men, young adults, and office-bearers. Finally, our aim is to foster lifelong learning as a further means of nurturing a closer relationship between the seminary and the congregation. As an example of this, we will invite our graduates to return to seminary for further training in preaching, counseling, or other ministry-related disciplines.
DIGITAL INITIATIVE
The question is not whether Puritan Reformed should develop its digital approach, but what is the place of Puritan Reformed in the digital landscape? The famed “highways” and routes over land and sea of the ancient Roman empire were appropriately used by the Apostle Paul throughout his ministry
practical theological education more accessible and affordable to many.
CAMPUS INITIATIVE
The seminary’s growth in the number of students, the global reach, the multiple educational programs as well as expanded focus on preaching results in the need for more facilities. To ac -
for the propagation of the gospel. The digital “highway” lies open for now, and the seminary could better use new technology in its content development and distribution; indeed, this use is done with critical discernment (as the apostle and others were led by the Spirit, Acts 13, Acts 16:6-10). This may result in subscription-based education whereby short-term learners can select from an offering of available online courses. Our aim is to make our biblical, Reformed, experiential and
commodate this growth and strategic focus on preaching, a global preaching center faculty is envisioned to support lifelong learning and short-term course offerings. For example, our aim is to invite pastors and preachers to campus for a week to participate in a variety of week-long preaching or counseling courses. To accommodate these needs the global preaching center will need a larger chapel, classrooms, and additional classrooms and housing.
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