Summer 2008/Pasadena
Five-week Intensive: June 23-July 25
EV531
Elofson
EV531: EVANGELIZING THE POSTMODERN GENERATIONS. Matthew Elofson.
DESCRIPTION: The aim of this course is to assist students in developing
effective approaches to evangelism in an increasingly postmodern culture. In
order to do this it is necessary to engage various values and beliefs
propagated by postmodernity in order to identify possible points of contact and
barriers for evangelism. In addition, students will be exposed to a number of
past and present approaches to evangelism in order to consider their value for
doing evangelism in a postmodern context.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) become conversant with important
ideological and practical shifts occurring as a result of the influence of
postmodernity; (2) be able to analyze certain cultural trends in order to
identify possible opportunities and barriers for evangelism that result from
them; (3) be more motivated to develop innovative yet faithful means of
evangelism to engage postmodern people effectively; (4) demonstrate the ability
to develop an effective evangelistic plan to reach postmodern people.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: One of the primary tasks of Christians in every culture
and time is to remain faithful to the heart of the gospel while conveying its
message in a manner that is relevant and coherent to their contemporaries. This
responsibility compels Christians living in Western culture at the beginning of
the twenty-first century to understand the values and mindset of an
increasingly postmodern society. This class seeks to develop the comprehension
of students regarding the beliefs and practices of postmodern people in order
that they might engage them more effectively with the gospel.
COURSE FORMAT: A mixture of lecture, discussion, small groups, media, and
interactive dialogue. This class will meet twice weekly for four-hour sessions
for five weeks.
REQUIRED READING:
- Finney, John. Emerging Evangelism. London: Darton, Longman
& Todd, 2004.
- Hunter, George G. The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can
Reach the West . . . Again. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000.
- Kallenberg, Brad J. Live to Tell: Evangelism for a Postmodern Age.
Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2002.
- Long, Jimmy. Emerging Hope: A Strategy for Reaching Postmodern
Generations. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
- Newbigin, Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1989.
- White, Heath. Postmodernism 101: A First Course for the Curious
Christian. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2006.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Attendance and Participation: Each class member is expected to attend class
and participate in the various discussions occurring throughout the course
(10%).
- Reading: Each class member is to complete all assigned reading and submit a
Reading Report (10%).
- Short Paper: Each class member will engage at least three people who have
been significantly influenced by postmodern thought in a conversation regarding
their views on the various issues addressed by White's Postmodernism
101. After having all three conversations, each student will write a short
paper (5-6 pages) assessing the content of their conversations and their
significance for evangelistic practice in a postmodern context (20%). Due Date:
Wednesday, July 9, 2008.
- Book Discussion and Critical Reflection: Each class member will be assigned
to a learning team for the purposes of leading a book discussion on one of the
required texts. Each student will also submit a two-page, single-spaced
critical reflection regarding the text their learning team discussed
(Presentation: 20%; Critical Reflection: 10%). Due date dependent on assigned
text.
- Final Paper: Each student will develop a rationale and a plan for a local
church or other outreach to engage postmodern people with the gospel (10-15
pages; 30%). Due Friday, Sept. 5, 2008.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the MDiv core requirement in Evangelism
(MIN3).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (4/08)