Outcomes

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Re-Forma has developed a number of outcomes, which reflect what we believe pastors need to be able to know, do and be. Those providers who already have a curriculum, may only need to supplement their existing outcomes with any they have not done in the list below, while new providers will do all of them. In both cases, however, students need to show that they have successfully demonstrated all the outcomes before being awarded the Certificate of Biblical Training for Ministry.

The Re-Forma outcomes are available free of charge to any provider wanting its students to qualify for the Re-Forma Certificate, which is underwritten by the World Evangelical Alliance. Please note that this is not an accredited programme, but the Certificate provides an international standard for non-formal/informal training. If a provider already has a curriculum and its students have successfully demonstrated all Re-Forma’s outcomes, they will automatically qualify for the Certificate. If they have demonstrated only some of the outcomes, the provider will be required to supplement its curriculum with the missing outcomes to be able to fulfil the required outcomes.

The awarding of the Certificate will cost a nominal administration fee of $5 US per student, plus the courier fee, in the developing world and $10 per student plus the courier fee, elsewhere. Kindly note that no certificates will be issued without prior payment.

You will find helpful resources for many of the outcomes under the Useful Links tab.

Here are the outcomes.

Important! In all cases, students must be able to apply what they have learnt to their context. Please send a completed Assessment Sheet for each student at the end of the programme to the address provided on the Assessment Sheet.

All the outcomes begin with Students will be able to …

  • Knowing the Scriptures, usually called Biblical Theology, Old Testament and New Testament Surveys
    • Recount 10 of the main events in the Old Testament and share the stories of at least 10 of the main characters in the Old Testament
    • Explain by using 5 examples how Jesus fulfils Old Testament prophecy
    • Summarise at least 5 major teachings of Jesus
    • Explain why the death and resurrection of Jesus is so important
    • Explain the significance of Jesus' relationship with His disciples for discipling others today
    • Describe 10 main events in the book of Acts
    • Explain at least three of Paul's key teachings
  • Living by Faith, usually called Practical Theology, Hermeneutics, Children's Ministry, Church Management, Relationships
    • Preach or teach effectively
    • Successfully explain a Bible passage to a group of people
    • Bear the fruit of the Spirit in all areas of life and practise humility, integrity and simplicity
    • List, explain and exercise the spiritual disciplines
    • Apply biblically ethical principles to relationships with the congregation
    • Demonstrate compassion, welcome and forgiveness in all relationships, including with people who have special needs
    • Practise kindness and hospitality
  • Outreach, usually called Evangelism, Missions, Discipling
    • Motivate others for mission
    • Effectively share the gospel with family, friends and strangers
    • Mentor at least one person in a specific form of evangelism or mission.
    • Explain why the Bible is more important than culture
    • Use technology and social media for ministry
    • Demonstrate servant leadership
    • Identify and train at least 3 others to serve in some form of church leadership
  • Listening and Encouraging, usually called Counselling, Family
    • Comfort and assist others in times of crisis, namely death, marital problems, illness, etc.
    • Help a couple prepare for their marriage
    • Recount at least 7 stories in the Bible where God used children
    • Explain how Jesus' attitude towards children should change the church
    • Involve themselves in ministry to, with and by children
    • Nurture faithfulness and love in marriage and family
    • Describe the impact of absentee fathers
  • Trustworthy Faith, usually called Systematic Theology, Ethics, Church History, Stewardship
    • Believe and practise sound doctrine
    • Summarise and explain the key doctrines of the New Testament
    • Explain 3 of the most important events in the history of the Church
    • Describe how their denomination (or church movement) came into being
    • Explain the biblical basis for stewardship, giving and offerings
    • Explain why the prosperity gospel is unbiblical and unethical. (Note: If the prosperity gospel is not a problem in your region, then select the most important issue that is.)
    • Describe the importance of the church
1. Leading like Jesus
  1. Bear the fruit of the Spirit in all areas of life and practise humility, integrity and simplicity.
  2. List, explain and exercise the spiritual disciplines.
  3. Explain and demonstrate 5 key, biblical principles of prayer as the basis for all ministries.
  4. Outline the principles of personal and corporate worship and describe how to practise them as a lifestyle.
  5. Apply biblically ethical principles to relationships within the church or ministry.
  6. Explain how Jesus' attitude towards women and children should change the church.
  7. Explain the biblical basis for stewardship regarding time, abilities, resources, and creation.
  8. Describe the importance of the church.
  9. Explain the biblical basis for the sacraments/ordinances, especially baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
  10. Explain how to organise and administrate a church or ministry with excellence and integrity.
  11. Explain how the power of Christ overcomes the lust of the flesh, the world, and the devil.
2. Handling the Word
  1. Describe the 'big story' of the whole Bible with Jesus at the centre of God's plan of salvation.
  2. Introduce 3 books of each type of genre in the Bible by identifying the author, period, purpose, and type of writing.
  3. Summarise at least 5 major teachings of Jesus.
  4. Explain the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
  5. Describe 5 main events in the book of Acts.
  6. Prepare and preach or teach God’s Word effectively.
  7. Believe, explain and practise the key biblical doctrines.
  8. Explain in what ways the “prosperity gospel” is unbiblical and unethical.
  9. Demonstrate the superiority of the biblical worldview to alternative worldviews in their context.
  10. Describe 3 important events, each from a different period in the history of the Church.
  11. Describe the historical roots of their denomination (or church movement).
3. Reaching and Making Disciples
  1. Effectively share the gospel with family, friends and strangers.
  2. Motivate and mobilise others for the mission of God.
  3. Mentor at least one person in a specific form of evangelism or mission.
  4. Explain how they would implement Jesus’ model of making disciples.
  5. Identify and train at least 3 others to serve in some form of church ministry.
  6. Explain how the Bible should relate to and inform culture in their context.
  7. Purposefully use technology and social media for ministry.
4. Shepherding God's People
  1. Demonstrate Christlike servant leadership.
  2. Demonstrate compassion, hospitality and forgiveness in all relationships (including with people who have special needs).
  3. Comfort and assist others in times of crisis (namely death, marital problems, illness, conflict resolution, etc.).
  4. Help a couple prepare for their marriage.
  5. Involve themselves in ministry to, with and by children and youth.
  6. Describe the roles of husbands and wives in nurturing faithfulness and love in marriage and family.
  7. Describe the impact of absentee fathers.
  8. Resolve conflicts in relationships.