Individualized Distance Learning

EV500

Peace

EV500: THE ART OF EVANGELISM. (4 units) Richard Peace, Professor of Evangelism and Spiritual Formation.

 

DESCRIPTION:

The aim of this course is to communicate a vision for evangelism based on the paradigm of spiritual pilgrimage. In this light, the variety of ways in which people start moving toward Jesus will be considered (Quest); as will the nature and character of conversion (Encounter); and the subsequent process of spiritual growth (Formation). All this will be placed in a biblical and historical context. This theoretical foundation will then provide the background for a multifaceted discussion of how one goes about planning and executing a viable, on-going, church-based program of evangelism.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  Students completing this course will have (1) developed an understanding of evangelism from biblical, historical, and theological perspectives, (2) understood how knowledge about the ministry of evangelism translates into outreach, (3) become more motivated to engage in evangelism, (4) demonstrated the ability to plan outreach programs, and (5) learned how to critique outreach programs, organization, and activities in terms of their faithfulness to theological traditions and effectiveness in reaching a particular audience.


RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:

Evangelism is the process of communicating the Good News to those who have not heard it or who have not yet responded to it. As such, evangelism is a prime responsibility of the church. Unfortunately, in North America evangelism is often conceived of (both inside and outside the church) as something that is coercive, manipulative, and bad mannered. In fact, genuine New Testament evangelism is characterized by a warm-hearted, loving desire on the part of "one beggar to tell other beggars where to find bread" (D. T. Niles). The aim of this course is to help students learn how to do evangelism in this spirit. It is hoped that they will become knowledgeable about evangelism, skilled in certain church-based methodologies, and motivated to do evangelism.

 

COURSE FORMAT:

The course uses recorded lectures, a detailed study guide, and readings.  It is designed to be completed in a 10-week period while allowing for flexibility in the student’s schedule.


REQUIRED READING:

·          Abraham, William. The Logic of Evangelism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.

·          Green, Michael. Evangelism in the Early Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970.

·          Peace, Richard. A Church's Guide to Evangelism. Boston: Evangelistic Association of New England, 1982 (NOTE: this text is only available from Fuller Bookstore).

·          _________. Conversion in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.

·          _________.  Holy Conversation: Talking About God in Everyday Life.  Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2006.

Choose one of the following:

·      McLaren, Brian. More Ready Than You Realize: Evangelism as Dance in the Postmodern Matrix. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002 (Emerging Church EV): OR,

·      Mittelberg, Mark. Building a Contagious Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000 (Traditional style EV)

  

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.        Three short reflection papers (500-750 words) (12% each = 36%)

2.        Midterm Exam (24%)

3.        A project involving the design of a year-long outreach project for a church or organization; or the development of a case study of an outreach venture (10-12 pp.) (40%).

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Evangelism (MIN 3) or the requirement in Ministry Foundations (MINF) for other master's degrees; Ministry Focus Elective in MA in Global Leadership program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

Updated February, 2008