The Paradigm Papers

The Paradigm Papers addresses a broad scope of concerns surrounding education, leadership development, missions, and theology and explains why and how the Church needs to fundamentally shift in the way it prepares itself for ministry. The Paradigm Papers serves as a church-based "manifesto," which church and missions leaders can use to reshape their ministries. The ideas presented in these papers form the philosophical and theological foundations of BILD International. Written by Jeff Reed, founder and CEO of BILD International.

The individual Paradigm Papers are available for download free of charge. Select a title below and your paper should begin downloading. (Adobe® Reader® version 5.0 or higher required.)

Church-Based Theological Education: Creating a New Paradigm

Church Based Theological Education: Creating a New Paradigm describes the shifts taking place in formal education, reviews the biblical principles of theological education, and proposes a new model of theological education rooted in the local church and shepherded by a qualified leadership team of elders and ministers of the gospel.

Church-Based Missions: Creating a New Paradigm

Church Based Missions: Creating a New Paradigm describes problems of the Western colonial missions model and proposes a new model of missions based in local churches and focused on the planting and establishing of churches.

Church-Based Christian Education: Creating a New Paradigm–Part I: Childhood and Adolescence

Church Based Christian Education: Creating a New Paradigm proposes a model of education that integrates the home, church, and school.

Church-Based Christian Education: Creating a New Paradigm–Part II: Adulthood

Church Based Christian Education: Creating a New Paradigm-Part II addresses the fragmented, cafeteria-style approach to adult Christian education found in many churches today and proposes a new model of integrated learning founded upon a framework of lifelong wisdom development, which begins with the first principles of the Christian faith. The paper addresses development processes for elders, deacons, adults, and other leadership roles in local churches.

Church-Based Theology: Creating a New Paradigm

Church Based Theology: Creating a New Paradigm addresses the fragmented, scientific approach taught today in formal institutions and proposes a new model of theology that is rooted in wisdom and whose focus is the strength and shepherding of local churches.

Church-Based Hermeneutics: Creating a New Paradigm

Church Based Hermeneutics: Creating a New Paradigm proposes a model of interpreting and using the Scriptures in local churches that replaces the act of interpreting as a strictly individualistic endeavor, with an endeavor that is shared by a local church functioning as a critical-thinking learning community.

A spiral bound version of The Paradigm Papers is available for purchase. To order, download the BILD International Resource Catalog and Order Form.

Church-Based Ministry Training Which is Truly Church-Based

Church-Based Ministry Training Which is Truly Church-Based tackles the complex issue and question: "What makes a training program truly church based, rather than institutionally or organizationally based?"