Winter 2005/Pasadena
EV500
Peace
EV500: THE ART OF EVANGELISM. Richard Peace.
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 (Commitment); 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.
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:
- A mixture of lecture, discussion, case studies, and interactive
dialogue. This course will meet twice weekly for ninety-minute
sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Abraham, William. The Logic of Evangelism. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1989.
- Green, Michael. Evangelism in the Early Church. Rev. ed. Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
- Peace, Richard. A Church's Guide to Evangelism. Boston: Evangelistic
Association of New England, 1982.
- _________. Conversion in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1999.
- Mittelberg, Mark. Building a Contagious Church. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2000. (150 pages)
- OR McLaren, Brian. More Ready Than You
Realize. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- It is expected that each student will read the materials and be
prepared to participate in the classroom discussion and exercises.
- Interactive book reflections on the Green, Abraham, and Peace
(Conversion) books.
- 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
pp.).
PREREQUISITES:
- None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets M.Div. core requirement in Evangelism (MIN 3) or the
requirement in Ministry Foundations (MIN F) for other master's degrees.
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- None.