MA in Global Leadership Seminar 1 ‐ Colorado Springs
MT520A: Summer 2010, MT520B: Fall 2010 [Cohort #22]
Gallagher
MT520 A & B: BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MISSION (A is 2 units, B is 2 units).
Robert L. Gallagher, Visiting Associate Professor of Biblical Theology of Mission
DESCRIPTION:
A central theme of the Scriptures is the mission of God as it relates to the present and coming Kingdom of God. By this is meant the sovereign, living God exercising absolute reign in and through history, and establishing a covenant relationship with the people of God redeemed, and called to be God's instruments among and for the nations. This means continuity with the Old Testament expectation and New Testament fulfillment. This also means Jesus Christ is the "hinge of history," the Great Commission is the culmination of Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom of God, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is the climactic event which creates the Church and completes the Christ event. From Pentecost onward the mission of the Church has to be viewed eschatologically because the glorious appearing of the Kingdom at our Lord's coming marks the end of the Church's mission. There is no separate "theology of mission" distinct from a theology of the Spirit and the Church, as developed in Pauline theology of mission.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As a result of this course the student will:
· Develop a missiological hermeneutic which will be applied to Scripture
· Re‐read the Bible in order to understand the nature of God’s mission in Scripture
· Allow biblical understanding and mission practice to influence one another
· Develop practical missions application based on biblical theology of mission
COURSE FORMAT:
Biblical study of the lives of Abraham, David, Jonah, Jesus, and Paul as they interact with the other nations, and provide contemporary models of mission. MT520A will meet for the second week of a required two-week intensive residency for the MA in Global Leadership from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students will do pre-seminar readings and assignments. MT520B will involve post-seminar readings and completion of post-seminar assignments in the students’ ministry contexts after they return home.
REQUIRED READING: A total of 1,250 pages
1. The Bible (a minimum of 50 chapters of the Bible are to be read, equivalent of 100 pages). Students will read selected passages from Genesis, Exodus, 1 & 2 Samuel, Jonah, and Luke-Acts.
2. Glasser, Arthur F., Charles E. Van Engen, Dean S. Gilliland, and Shawn Redford. Announcing the Kingdom: The Story of God’s Mission in the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003.
3. Four Additional Required Texts
· Gallagher, Robert L. and Paul Hertig, eds. Mission in Acts: Ancient Narratives in Contemporary Context. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2004.
· Kaiser, Walter C. Mission in the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2003.
· Piper, John. Let the Nations be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions. Grand Rapids , MI: Baker Books, 1993.
· Van Engen, Charles E., Nancy Thomas, and Robert L. Gallagher, eds. Footprints of God: A Narrative Theology of Mission. Monrovia, CA: MARC/World Vision, 1999.
4. Supplemental Reader
Students will read selected chapters from Robert L. Gallagher and Paul Hertig, eds. Landmark Essays in Mission and World Christianity. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2009 to help students prepare for writing the paper and for greater understanding of the course material.
RECOMMENDED READING:
· Bright, John. The Kingdom of God. Nashville: Abingdon, 1953
· De Ridder, Richard. Discipling the Nations. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1971.
· Kraybill, Donald B. The Upside Down Kingdom. Scottdale: Herald, 1990.
· Ladd, George, E. The Gospel of the Kingdom. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1959.
· Padilla, René. Mission Between the Times. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985.
· Scherer, James. Gospel, Church and Kingdom. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1987.
· Shenk, Wilbert, ed. The Transfiguration of Mission. Scottdale: Herald, 1993.
ASSIGNMENTS:
MT520A (Summer 2010)
1. Participation in the Seminar—class attendance is required throughout the intensive (60%)
2. Three Book Reviews (Glasser and two of the other required textbooks) due prior to class, following instructions in syllabus. (30%)
3. A one-page missiological reflection paper on Genesis 11:27-25:12. (10%)
MT520B (Fall 2010)
1. One Book Review on the remaining required text following the instructions in the syllabus. (20%)
2. Supplemental Reading. (15%)
3. A one-page reflection paper on the course (5%)
4. Students will write a 10-12-page thematic paper tracing a biblical theme of missiological significance through the Old and New Testaments. The theme will be selected by the student and related to the student's pilgrimage in ministry, and the mission of the people of God touching the nations. The paper should develop the missiological meaning of the theme chosen, and demonstrate the missiological implications for ministry in the student's particular context. (60%)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Assignments are to be submitted according to the syllabus. Grades are only given for completed work.
PREREQUISITES: This course is only available to those who are accepted into the MA in Global Leadership.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: A required course for the Cohort portion of the MA in Global Leadership. NO AUDITORS.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None. Updated April, 2010