MT520: Biblical Foundations of Mission (4 units)
Robert L.
Gallagher, Visiting Associate Professor of Biblical Theology of Mission
Winter 2009 -- Houston, TX
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 Holy Spirit and the Church, as developed in Pauline theology of mission.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Develop
a missiological hermeneutic that will be applied to Scripture
• Read selected portions of the Bible to understand the nature of God's mission
in Scripture
• Allow biblical understanding and mission practice to influence one another
• Develop practical mission applications based on biblical theology of mission
COURSE FORMAT:
Biblical studies on the lives of Abraham, David, Jonah, Jesus, and Paul as they interact with the other nations and provide contemporary models of mission; outside reading and reports, coupled with class lectures and discussion following the sequence of the syllabus. Intensive format, March 9-13, 2009. Monday to Friday mornings, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Monday to Thursday afternoons, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
REQUIRED READING:
• The Bible:
Students will read selected passages from Genesis, Exodus, 1 & 2 Samuel, Jonah, and Luke-Acts.
• Required Textbooks:
Gallagher, Robert L. and Paul Hertig, eds. Mission in Acts: Ancient Narratives in Contemporary Context.
Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2004.
Glasser, Arthur F. with Charles E. Van Engen, Dean S. Gilliland, and Shawn B. Redford. Announcing the Kingdom:
the Story of God’s Mission in the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2003.
Kaiser, Walter C. Mission in the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: 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.
ASSIGNMENTS:
• Reading Assignments: Students will write brief missiological reflections for each of the class reading assignments during the course (5%).
• Reflection Paper: Students will write a one-page missiological reflection paper on Genesis 11:27-20:18. Due March 9 (10%).
• Book
Reviews: Students will do four 2 ½-3-page book reviews on Announcing the
Kingdom and three of the other required textbooks. Due March 9 (60%).
• Research Paper: Students will write an 8-10-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. Due March 20 (25%).
• Special Instructions: Class attendance is required throughout the intensive. Assignments are to be submitted according to the syllabus. Grades are only given for completed work.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Core competency for SIS M.A. programs. MIN8 requirement for M.Div. MAT: Elective.
FINAL EXAM: None.
Last Date Edited: November 3, 2008.