Fall 2020 / Fuller Online / MAGL

MT500

Hopkins

MT500 BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF MISSION

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.

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

  1. Understood the fundamental components of a biblical theology of mission;
  2. Comprehended how biblical theology of mission provides tools for constructing contextually appropriate missiology;
  3. Demonstrated familiarity with the broad contours of God’s mission as described in the Bible;
  4. 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:

Conducted online, the ten weekly lessons align with Fuller’s academic calendar. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructors regularly through asynchronous and synchronous discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1,164 pages

Bible, Holy The. 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 $23.00; 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 $22.99; Kindle edition $15.99. 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 $22.99; Kindle edition $12.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library. (approx. 304 pgs required)

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-13:9780801026263 ; Pub. price $36.00. 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 $14.95; Kindle edition $3.99. (80 pgs)

Greenman, Jeffrey P. 2012. Global Theology in Evangelical Perspective: Exploring the Contextual Natureof Theology and Mission. Downers Grove: Intervarsity. ISBN-13: 978-0830839568; Pub. price $27.00. Kindle edition. $15.33. (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 $18.00; Kindle edition $9.89. Available as an e-book from the Fuller library. (135 pgs)

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT
(subject to change as the course progresses): 160 hours

  1. Complete the 1,164 pages of required reading [56 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  2. View course video professor lectures and other course documents [4 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  3. Participate in fourteen discussions: (15%) [15 hours] LO 1, 2, & 3
  1. with cohort learning community (13%) [13 hours] LO 1 & 3
  1. on course concepts (2%). [2 hours] LO 2
  1. Write ten journal entries (10%) [10 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  1. For week 1, Initial reflection on Bible and mission (1%) [1 hour] LO 1 & 3
  2. For weeks 2-8, Devotional entries on Reeves (7%) [7 hours] LO 1
  3. For weeks 10-11, Reflection on course impact (2%) [2 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  1. Respond to five assigned readings (25%) [25 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  1. Write four reading reports LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  1. Complete a quiz on Glasser Readings (5%) [5 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  1. Write an Applied Missiological Research Paper (50%) [50 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  1. For weeks 2-3, 5-7, subsection papers (5%) [5 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  2. For week 8, one section (5%) [5 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4
  3. For week 11, write one 12-page (minimum) to 20-page (maximum) typed, double-spaced paper in which the student analyzes and reflects on an issue/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 course concepts. The paper must show extensive interaction with the books read and explore the missiological implications for ministry in the student's particular context. (40%) [40 hours] LO 1, 2, 3, & 4

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

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MT500 is part of the required MAGL cohort series of courses. NO AUDITORS.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTES: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design, but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are subject to change.[1]

[1] Prices as of May 2020.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.