Today we continue our interview with Dr. Tom Goodman, senior pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, and author of a book on evangelism called The Anchor Course. Tom also blogs regularly at Get Anchored. Learn more about Tom and his ministry in our first interview.
Tom, while you were here at FBC you began work on something called The Anchor Course. Could you tell us what The Anchor Course is and what prompted your work on it?
The Anchor Course is a 9-week small-group study designed to bring seekers and believers together to discuss the basics of the Christian faith. As I mentioned in our previous visit, I know that the word “seeker” is out of fashion among some church leaders, but in light of Acts 17:27 I still can’t think of a better word to describe those I’ve met who are respectfully curious about the Christian faith. They are like the pearl merchant of Matthew 13:44-46. They need to be part of our worship services and our small-group Bible studies, as Tim Keller put it so well in this article. But they also need to be given an overview of the key convictions of the Christian faith, and The Anchor Course is designed for that.
Why did you choose to build your evangelistic approach on the Apostles’ Creed? What do you think are the advantages of a creedal approach to sharing the faith with others?
The Apostles’ Creed is a summary of Christian belief that has been recited around the world, across cultures, for perhaps 1400 years. It is believed to have started as a statement a new believer was to recite before his or her baptism. I couldn’t imagine a better framework around which to organize an overview of the faith. I developed the material by trying to answer the questions, “What does it mean to say ‘I believe in God’?” and “What does it mean to say ‘I believe in Jesus’?” and so on.
In this approach to evangelism, you no doubt touch upon topics that typically are not included in gospel appeals. Can you discuss some of the benefits and challenges of an approach that includes explanations of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the church, and even “amen”?
One of the most beautiful nights is when we discuss the person of the Holy Spirit. The participants have had enough weeks to get to know each other and feel safe enough to open up. That, combined with a focus on the personal involvement of God with his people through the person of the Holy Spirit, has made this a night I look forward to every time I lead the course.
It’s likely I would have overlooked an explanation of the church in my overview of Christianity had I not organized my material around the Apostles’ Creed. Most of us tend to talk about involvement in a church as a post-conversion discipleship issue. But disillusionment with the church is one of the biggest obstacles our world has to considering the faith. Its been good to have an up-front conversation with seekers about it.
As for “Amen,” since that word expresses assent to what has been said, I spend the last week encouraging participants to stake their claim in Christ. Though the course is really more of a “seed-sowing” effort, harvest often takes place, I’m pleased to say.
How have individuals and churches used The Anchor Course? Are there other resources to go along with the book?
A few individuals and churches have started to use the course, and I’m anxious to expand its use beyond my own setting. In addition to the 260-page textbook, I have a teaching DVD that includes the nine 15-minute talks, the listening sheets, and the discussion guides. I also have a training manual for course leaders.
You’re currently inviting pastors to help you improve work. Can you tell us more about that?
I’m offering the teaching DVD, listening sheets, discussion guides, and training manual for free for those (in the U.S. and Canada) who will run a course this Fall and give me feedback. The only cost would be in placing the textbook order. The leader will need to order the number of textbooks he expects he’ll need by Friday, August 6 to have them in time for a Fall course. Once that order is placed with my publisher, I’ll send out the materials a leader will need to run his course. I think this is a fair exchange for their feedback on how the course “plays” in their own settings.
How can interested pastors get more involved?
Church leaders can “test drive” the Anchor Course at this web page. They can learn more about the free offer for the Fall campaign at the “Lead Your Own Course” at the website. Leaders who have questions can contact me at tom@anchorcourse.org or (512) 497-5238.