WHAT DOES RECON STAND FOR?
Rationally
Engaging
Christian
Opponents with
Nobility (gentleness & respect)
WHAT ARE CRTI’S THEME SCRIPTURES?
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. I Peter 3:15
Dear friends, although I was eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. Jude 3.
As his custom was, Paul went into the Synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving… Acts 17:2
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CRTI?
To teach High School aged youth and young adults to apply their intellects as well as their hearts in their daily Christian walk, and to equip them to articulate and defend the Christian faith in every area of life.
WHAT DOES THE CRTI PROGRAM CONSIST OF?
The program consists of 8, 11 week training modules and a final test. The student must also read the assigned scripture readings for each module during the course of the module he/she will be studying in. The objective is for the CRTI student to read the entire Bible after completing all 8 modules. The scripture references in parenthesis next to each module subject heading is one eighth of the Bible.
Once a student has successfully completed this training program, he or she will have earned the title of Christian RECON Operative (CRO).
WHAT SUBJECTS DOES THE MODULES COVER?
MODULE 1
Introduction to Christianity & HS Prep (Mt. to Acts 23)What the Bible Says About Using Our Mind and Intellect
The Historic Creeds & Calendars of the Church
What Baptists & Evangelicals Believe
What Other Christian Denominations Believe
Survey of the New Testament Part 1
Survey of the New Testament Part 2
Survey of the Old Testament Part 1
Survey of the Old Testament Part 2
How to study the Bible with a concordance
Preparation for High School
MODULE 2
Church History 0 AD to 1,000 AD (Acts 24 to Gen. 30)1st Century
2nd Century
3rd Century
4th Century
5th Century
6th Century
7th Century
8th Century
9th Century
10th Century
MODULE 3
Church History 1,001 AD to Present (Gen. 31 to Deut 7)11th Century
12th Century
13th Century
14th Century
15th Century
16th Century
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
20th Century to present
MODULE 4
A Biblical & Historical Study of Gov. (Deut. 8 to I Kings 6)Self, Family and Educational Governments
Church, Local and Central Governments
The Origin and Development of Civil Government
The Purpose and Function of Civil Government
The Biblical Foundation of Civil Government
Jesus and Civil Government
The Christian History of the United States
The Purpose of the US Constitution
The Relationship of Church and State in the Bible
The Relationship of Church and State in the 1st Amendment
MODULE 5
Issues in Biblical Perspective (I Kings 7 to Neh. 10)Developing a Biblical World View
World Views in Conflict
Sovereignty and Dominion
Sovereignty and Ownership
Financing the Work of God's Kingdom
Financing the Responsibilities of the State
Biblical Economics
Enemies of Biblical Economics
The Causes of Poverty
The Conquest of Poverty
MODULE 6
The Restoration of a Republic (Neh. 11 to Prov. 16)The Biblical World View of Authority
The Enemies of Biblical Authority
God's Sovereignty Over the Nations
Establishing Christian Leadership
The Restoration of a Republic
The Foundation of Law
The Administration of Justice
Human Rights and Responsibilities
Sovereignty and Education
The Future of Government
MODULE 7
Basic Training for Defending the Faith (Prov. 17 to Jer. 43)The Myth of Neutrality
Introduction to Worldviews, Part 1
Introduction to Worldviews, Part 2
Worldviews in Conflict, Part 1
Worldviews in Conflict, Part 2
Defending the Christian Faith, Part 1
Defending the Christian Faith, Part 2
Problems for Unbelieving Worldviews, Part 1
Problems for Unbelieving Worldviews, Part 2
Watching an actual debate.
MODULE 8
Logic, Rhetoric & Debating (Jer. 44 to Malachi)Rhetoric and semantics
How to construct an argument
How to cross examine an argument
Practice debates
Practice debates
Practice debates
Practice debates
Practice debates
Practice debates
Practice debates
Practice debates
For the exception of Module 8, a final exam for each module will be given in the final and 11th session.
WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE CRTI PROGRAM?The program is open to those in the Spring semester of their 8th grade school year or higher.
One must be a committed baptized believer in the Christian faith having accepted Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior.
Those studying in the CRTI program who are US citizens and are 18 and older must be registered to vote.
One must be committed to tithing (This will be done on the honor system, no follow up or verification will performed)
One must complete a CRTI application that is to be signed by the applicant, a parent (if the applicant is under 18).
WHAT ARE THE MODULE PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS?
One must attend all 11 sessions for each module and arrive on time. Unexcused absences and tardiness will not be tolerated.
All assigned scripture reading for each module must be complete by the end of that module.
HOW IS THE CRTI PROGRAM WORK WITH THE EXISTING SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM?
The CRTI program is strictly an elective Sunday School course. Those High School aged youth who are attending the current Sunday School program may continue to do so, or study in the CRTI program when it is in session.
The regular Sunday School program is an ongoing year around program. Whereas, CRTI program will only be in session for a given period of 11 consecutive Sundays at a time.
WHAT DOES THE FINAL TEST CONSIST OF?
After the student has successfully completed all 8 of the CRTI Modules, the student will then have to take what he/she has learned and apply it by engaging a Christian Opponent in a formal debate.
WHERE AND WHEN WILL THE SESSION BE HELD?
Module 1 will begin on May 8, 2011 at:
Iglesia Bautista Lindale (Lindale Baptist Church)
6615 Irvington
Houston, Texas 77022
Sunday morning from 10:00 to 11:00am.
www.iblindale.org
CONCLUSION
In order for one to be a well grounded and educated Christian, one needs a good practical working knowledge in the following areas:
• The Bible
• Theology
• Church History
• The Denominations of the Christian Church
The CRTI program covers all of these areas.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Matthew Jackson is a graduate of the Agape Force Training Institute where he studied Ministry Communications while serving a 5 year stint in the mission field. He is the author of two books, The Pro-Life Position, and Are You A HEREDEWOSO? Matthew has also written over three dozen articles for various newsletters and his blogs.
One of Matthew's main concerns is the lack of interest and appreciation for the intellectual side of Christianity among most Evangelicals today. While Matthew is not diminishing the heart/emotional side of the Christian faith, he sees a very disproportionate imbalance between the two in the Evangelical community.
In an attempt to swing the pendulum back the other way and bring a reasonable balance between the head/intellect and the heart/emotion sides of the Christian faith, Matthew has created a training program as a way to encourage and equip High School aged youth to explore and develop the intellectual side of their faith. Hence, the Christian RECON Training Institute.
Matthew has extensive experience with engaging Christian opponents himself. He has defended the faith on several radio shows, and has engaged in 4 formal Lincoln-Douglas debates and several online debates. As a Pro-Life Activist back in the late 80's, Matthew has organized several abortion protests and has been arrested 8 times while participating in rescue missions.
Refusing to surrender the academic and intellectual venues in our culture to the liberal, non-Christians, Matthew would like to counter this pagan onslaught by training young people to be Christian RECON Operatives who will be willing to take on the liberal, non-Christian intellectual and academic establishment. Will you join him?
CRTI APPLICATION(Please Print)
Name:
Address: Zip Code:
Phone:
School: Current GPA:
I have read and understood the CRTI course prerequisites and requirements and I agree to abide by those terms.
Applicants Signature:
Date:
(Applicable if student is under 18)
I have read and understood the CRTI course prerequisites and requirements and I agree with those terms and I will support and encourage my child to abide by those terms.
Parent’s Signature:
Date:
