MT520 Biblical Foundations of Mission

Winter/Spring 2020/Hybrid/MAGL

MT500A-B

Hopkins

MT500 A&B: BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION (A is 2 units, B is 2 units).

Mark Hopkins, PhD, Senior Associate Professor of Leadership

DESCRIPTION: During the past fifty years, Christian thinkers have examined and evaluated the theological presuppositions that underlie the thought and practice of Christian mission. The discipline that reflects biblically, theologically, philosophically, contextually, and missionally on these presuppositions is known as Biblical Theology of Mission. The fundamental components of Missiology parallel the basic aspects of Biblical Theology of Mission: Word (Bible basis as motivation for mission); church (the means of mission); personal and spiritual pilgrimage (the agents of mission); and world/cultural context (the goals of mission). In this course students will have an opportunity to learn from past mission thinkers and practitioners; hear from one another; and reflect personally on what God’s mission means for the mission of Christians and Christian churches in the rapidly changing, complex global city/village of the twenty-first century. Students will be introduced to a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approach to missiological reflection whereby the various components of Missiology (Word, church, personal spiritual pilgrimage, and world/context) are brought together in an integrated understanding of mission, focused on a specific issue of Christian ministry in a particular context.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the conclusion of this course, the student will have:

Understood the fundamental components of a biblical theology of mission;
Comprehended how biblical theology of mission provides tools for constructing contextually appropriate missiology;
Demonstrated familiarity with the broad contours of God’s mission as described in the Bible;
Designed a practical missions application based on a biblical theology of mission.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will introduce students to a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approach to missiological reflection whereby the various components of Missiology (Word, church, personal spiritual pilgrimage, and world/context) are brought together in an integrated understanding of mission, focused on a specific issue of Christian ministry in a particular context, which is consistent with the MAGL PLO “Graduates will integrate theology and praxis to develop informed responses to situations encountered in their ministry/mission.”

COURSE FORMAT: MT500 is a hybrid course, meaning that it is a ten-week course with nine weeks of online instruction and three days of classroom instruction. Classroom instruction will include 26 hours of lecture and discussion, along with an intentionality on community building through meals and shared time together. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructors regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1,253 pages - to be read in the order they appear below:

Bible, The Holy. Read 5 consecutive chapters in 10 different books of the Bible. Students will read 5 chapters each from the Pentateuch, Historical Writings, Poetic Literature, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets, Gospels, Acts, Pauline Literature, General Epistles and Revelation for a total of 50 chapters. (approx. 100 pgs)

Deane-Drummond, Celia. 2017. A Primer in Ecotheology: Theology for a Fragile Earth. Eugene, OR: Cascade Companions. ISBN 978-1498236997; Pub. price $19.17; Kindle edition $9.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller library. (selected readings, approx. 80 pages from selections)

Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. 2014. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN-13: 978-0310517825. Pub. price $15.75; Kindle edition $13.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library. (304 pgs)

Or if you have already read the above: How to Read the Bible Book by Book. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN-13: 978-0310518082. Pub. price $14.41; Kindle edition $12.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library. (448 pgs)

Glasser, Arthur F., and Charles Edward van Engen. 2003. Announcing the Kingdom: The Story of God's Mission in the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. ISBN-13: 978- 0801026261; Pub. price $27.03. Kindle $16.50. (350 pages)

Georges, Jayson. 2014. The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures. Timē Press. ISBN-13: 978-0692338018; Pub Price $8.99; Kindle edition $3.99. (80 pgs)

Greenman, Jeffrey P. 2012. Global Theology in Evangelical Perspective: Exploring the Contextual Nature of Theology and Mission. Downers Grove: Intervarsity. ISBN-13: 978-0830839568; Pub. price $17.55. Kindle. $16.67. (selected readings, approx. 115 pages from selections)

Reeves, Michael. 2012. Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith. Downers Grove: IVP Academic. ISBN-13: 978-0830839834; Pub. Price $10.41; Kindle edition $9.89. Available as an e-book from the Fuller library. (135 pgs)

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT (in accordance with Learning Outcomes – “LO”)
(subject to change as the course progresses):

MT500A (Winter 2020) [80 hours workload]

Pre-Seminar and in-class participation includes: (64 hours)

Pre-Seminar Reading: 654 pages approx. from texts [32 hours] LO 1, 2, 3 & 4
One week of online discussion with cohort learning community (5%) [2 hrs] LO 1
Proactive Reading Report on Fee & Stuart (10%) [2 hours] LO 1, 2 & 3
Analytical Reading Report (600 words) on Glasser (10%) [2 hours] LO 1, 2, 3 & 4
General participation in discussions, group work, etc. (45%) [26 hrs. in-class] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4

Work completed post-seminar, off-campus includes: (16 hours)

Post-Seminar Reading: 195 pages approx. from texts [10 hours] LO 1, 2, 3
Devotional Reading Report on Reeves (10%) [2 hours] LO 1
Assignment on Georges (10%) [2 hours] LO 3 & 4
A summary paragraph for 25 chapters of the Old Testament (10%) [2 hours] LO 1, 2 & 3

MT500B (Spring 2020) [80 hours workload]

Reading from texts approx. 354 pages [20 hours] LO 1, 2, 3 & 4
One week of synchronous discussion with cohort learning community (10 %) [2 hrs] LO 1 & 4
Analytical Reading Report (600 words) on Deane-Drummond, (15%) [2 hrs] LO 2 & 4
One week of analytical online discussion over Greenman (15%) [2 hours] LO 3 & 4
A summary paragraph for 25 chapters of the New Testament (10%) [2 hours] LO 1, 2 & 3
One 12-page (minimum) to 20-page (maximum) typed, double-spaced paper in which the student analyzes and reflects on an issue, a missiologist, a context, or a concept of mission praxis, based on the fundamental components of Biblical Theology of Mission, tracing that theme/issue of missiological significance through the Old and New Testaments, examining 2 passages from each Testament from the perspective of Word, world, church, and personal pilgrimage. The paper must show extensive interaction with the books read and explore the missiological implications for ministry in the student's particular context. (50%) [50 hours] LO 1-4

PREREQUISITES: This course sequence is only available to MA in Global Leadership students.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: This two-quarter sequence, MT500A and B, is part of the required MAGL cohort series of courses. NO AUDITORS.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

SPECIAL NOTE ON MT500A&B SERIES:

If you are unable toregister forand successfully complete MT500B in the subsequent quarter to MT500A, you will be required to follow the most current version of the course in the quarterthat you do register. Asthere is always a chance that the curriculum may change, please note that you wouldbe responsible for obtaining the books, and participating in the course interaction and assignments required in the most current version. Please confer with MAGL Academic Services Administrator (susanmajor@fuller.edu) before registering for Part B to confirm requirements.