Foundations for Ministry Series Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition T2-640

Transcription

1 F OUNDATIONS for M INISTRY S ERIES Theology & Ethics CHURCH MATTERS: RETRIEVING THE GREAT TRADITION C OURSE S YLLABUS T2-640 T h e U r b a n M i n i s t r y I n s t i t u t e, a m i n i s t r y o f W o r l d I m p a c t, I n c.

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3 Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition T2-640 Theology and Ethics The Urban Ministry Institute World Impact, Inc. Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis 3701 E. 13 th St. Wichita, KS / Course Description and Objectives This course is designed to cover in brief the major periods of the history of the Church, including the Ancient Church, the Medieval Church, the Reformation Church, the Modern Church, and the Postmodern movements taking place today. I will emphasize the ways in which evangelical Protestants, especially those who are only loosely connected to a particular Church tradition, can be renewed and revived through a retrieval of the Great Tradition. Of great interest will be the elements, purposes, and ramifications of sharing a distinct spirituality, grounded in that Tradition, and what the impact this sharing can have on our individual, family, and congregational lives. Overview of Course Topics The Apostolic Age, the Ancient Church, the Apologists, and the Great Tradition The Medieval Church and the Reformation Modernity, Post-modernity, and the Church Today Church Matters and Going Back to the Future: What s All the Hubbub about the Great Tradition? The Purpose, Elements, and Advantages of Shared Spirituality Shared Spirituality and Church Plant Movements Sowing Good Seed: First Steps in Recapturing the Great Tradition in Shared Spirituality As a result of taking this course, each student should be able to: Recite the main milestones of the history of the Christian Church, from the age of the apostles to the current Postmodern church age. Provide theological rationales for the significance of the Great Tradition, and explain the way in which that Tradition embodies the creedal definition of the Church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Memorize and explain key verses dealing with the history of the Church, the Great Tradition, and shared spirituality. Reproduce the three essential elements connected with reproducing dynamic evangelical church planting movements. Know why viable Christian discipleship and ministry ought to flow from a shared spirituality rooted in the Great Tradition. Articulate concisely the various purposes, elements, and advantages of sharing a spiritual journey in the context of a tradition and community. Begin to apply personally practical ways to retrieve the Great Tradition in their own spiritual lives, and in their ministry in the church. Books and Materials Bible (for the purposes of this course, your Bible should be a translation (ex. NIV, NASB, RSV, KJV, NKJV, etc), and not a paraphrase (ex. The Living Bible, The Message).

4 Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Course Syllabus, page 2 Each course has assigned textbooks which are read and discussed throughout the course. We encourage you to read, reflect upon, and respond to these with your professors, mentors, and fellow learners. Because of the fluid availability of the texts (e.g., books going out of print), we maintain our official Foundations Required Textbook list on our website. Please visit to obtain the current listing of this course s texts. Paper and pen for taking notes and completing in-class assignments. Suggested Readings Buschart, W. David. Exploring Protestant Traditions: An Invitation to Theological Hospitality. Downers Grove: IVP Academic Press, Gillquist, Peter E. Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Faith. rev. ed. Ben Lomond, CA: Conciliar Press, Jones, Timothy Paul. Christian History Made Easy. Torrance, CA: Rose Publishing, Lane, Tony. Exploring Christian Thought. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Shelly, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language, updated 2nd ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Course Requirements If you are taking this course for credit from TUMI, you will have to complete the grad requirements listed below. Students have the opportunity, with our courses, to determine the number of credits they earn for each course they take by successfully completing the course requirements for the amount of credits they desire to achieve. Requirement 1 Credit 2-3 Credits % Points % Points Attendance and Class Participation 30% 30 5% 15 Memorized Scripture Texts 40% 40 15% 45 Required Text Reading and Precis 30% 30 10% 30 Exegetical Project 25% 75 Ministry Project 15% 45 Quizzes* and Final Exam 30% 90 Total Points * Not all courses have quizzes. Grade Requirements Attendance and Class Participation Attendance is a course requirement for credit. Much of the learning associated with this course takes place through interaction and discussion with your instructor and other students. Your full participation, therefore, is both welcome and encouraged throughout the course.

5 Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Course Syllabus, page 3 Memorized Scripture Texts The memorized Word is a central priority for your life and ministry as a believer and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ. In order to fulfill your credit requirements for this course, you will need to memorize each of the following passages. (Please note: You are only allowed the equivalent of one mistake per verse for full credit. Additionally, you are also allowed the equivalent of two mistakes per verse for one-half credit. If you receive more errors than those allowed here, you receive no credit for this assignment. [Grammar and misspellings do NOT count as a mistake.]) You must grade your own verses and record your credit amount in order to receive credit for this assignment; your instructor will not grade your memorization assignment. The self grading form is attached to this Course Instruction Plan. Mark Timothy Thessalonians 3.6 Deuteronomy 32.7 Exegetical Project (Course Paper) The Scriptures are God-breathed and able to completely furnish God s person for every work of the ministry he calls them to (2 Tim ). In order to complete the requirements for this course you must select a passage and do an inductive Bible study (i.e., an exegetical study) upon it. The study will have to be 5 pages in length (double-spaced, typed or neatly hand written) for two credits, or 8 pages in length (double-spaced, typed or neatly hand written) for three credits, and should deal with one of the critical themes covered in this course. Our desire and hope is that you will be deeply convinced of the Scripture s ability to change and practically affect your life, and the lives of those to whom you minister. More specific details of what is required in the paper are given in the following pages. Ministry Project Our expectation is that all students will apply their learning practically in their lives and in their ministry responsibilities. You will be responsible for developing a ministry project where you can share with others some of the principles you have gleaned from your learning in this course. The project s details are explained in the following pages. Reading and Precis Assignment All students are required to purchase, read, and reflect upon the required textbooks for this course (go to to find the required textbooks for this course). Please reach each textbook and write a summary (precis) of its main point, as you see it. Summarize each text s major theme and argument, and then give, as clearly and concisely as possible, your evaluation of it. Your work for this assignment will differ depending on how many credits you hope to receive from this workshop. The following pages explain this assignment in greater detail. Quizzes and Take Home Final Exam Our courses may or may not include quizzes, but each course does have a Take Home Final Exam. You will be asked questions that help you reflect on what you have learned in the course and how it affects the way you think about or practice ministry. Quizzes are made up of multiple choice, short answer, and true/false questions. The exam will include multiple choice, short answer, true/false, and essay questions. All questions will be taken from the audio content of the course.

6 Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Course Syllabus, page 4 Grading The following grades will be given in this class at the end of the session, and placed on each student s record: A -- B -- C -- D -- F -- I -- Superior work Excellent work Satisfactory work Passing work Unsatisfactory work Incomplete Letter grades with appropriate pluses and minuses will be given for each final grade, and grade points for your grade will be factored into your overall grade point average. Unexcused late work or failure to turn in assignments will affect your grade, so please plan ahead, and communicate conflicts with your instructor. Course Credits The Hope School of Ministry at The Urban Ministry Institute allow our students the opportunity to increase (or decrease) the number of credits they earn for each course they take by successfully completing the course requirements for the amount of credits they desire to achieve (see chart below). Credit Hours Earned 1 Credit 2 Credits 3 Credits Required Assignments for Course and Workshop Credit Registration; Attendance; Memory Verses; Book Precis (1 page per book) Registration; Attendance; Memory Verses; Ministry Project; Final Exam; 5 Page Paper; Book Precis (2 pages per book) Registration; Attendance; Memory Verse; Final Exam; 8 Page Paper; Ministry Project; Book Precis (4 pages per book)

7 Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Course Syllabus, page 5 Exegetical Paper Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Purpose This assignment represents a key part of your participation in this Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition course of study. In order to fulfill this requirement, please select a passage of Scripture, and do an inductive study (exegesis) on the text. You may choose any one of the following Scripture texts: The Church as Pillar and Buttress of the Truth, 1 Timothy Making the Commandment of God Void through Tradition, Mark Keeping the Tradition of the Apostles, 2 Thessalonians 3.6 and 1 Corinthians (together in the same project) Learning from What Our Fathers and Mothers Have Told Us, Psalm The purpose of this project is to give you an opportunity to do a detailed study of a major passage in John s gospel, focusing on the person of Christ and his teaching regarding himself and God s Kingdom. The premier skill of Christian leadership is the ability to make plain the meaning of Scripture, both in its own context and in the lives of others. Studying the Word of God is critical for your own personal walk of discipleship, as well as for those whom God has called you to minister to in and through your church or ministry. Depending on the amount of credits, your paper should be 5 pages in length (2 credits) or 8 pages in length (3 credits), double-spaced, making consistent use of footnotes with a bibliography attached at the end of the paper if you cite anyone else s work. While grammar, writing style, and sentence structure will not be graded, carefully written and proofed papers will be deeply appreciated. Your seminar paper is significant for your grade, so do your best. Outline and Composition Your paper should be divided into three parts. Start by discussing what you believe the passage meant first in its own setting. Next, once you have summarized what it meant, you should talk about what this principle means to us, drawing out principles that relate to our problems and issues today. Finally, you should talk briefly about how this truth applies to our lives and ministries today. Three simple questions will guide you as you explore the Bible passage for its truths and insights: 1. What was God saying to the people in the text s original situation? 2. What principle(s) does the text teach that is true for all people everywhere, including today? 3. What is the Holy Spirit asking me to do with this principle here, today, in my life and ministry? Here is a sample outline for your paper: 1. List out what you believe is the main theme or idea of the text you selected. 2. Summarize the meaning of the passage (you may do this in two or three paragraphs, or, if you prefer, by writing a short verse-by verse commentary on the passage). 3. Outline one to three key principles or insights this text provides on the subject of how this text speaks to the topic/theme of this course. 4. Tell how one, some, or all of the principles may relate to one or more of the following: a. Your personal spirituality and walk with Christ b. Your life and ministry in your local church c. Situations or challenges in your community and general society

8 Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Course Syllabus, page 6 As an aid or guide, please feel free to read the course texts and/or commentaries, and integrate insights from them into your work. (Of course, make sure that you give credit to whom credit is due if you borrow or build upon someone else s insights. Use in-the-text references, footnotes, or endnotes. Any way you choose to cite your references will be acceptable, as long as you 1] use only one way consistently throughout your paper, and 2] indicate where you are using someone else s ideas, and are giving them credit for it. Please see Documenting Your Work located in the Appendix of this book for more information.) Make certain that your exegetical project, when turned in meets the following standards: It is legibly written or typed (with 1 inch margins) Is a study of one of the passages above It is turned in on time (not late) It is 5 pages in length (for 2 credits) It is 8 pages in length (for 3 credits) It follows the outline given above, clearly laid out for the reader to follow It shows how the passage relates to life and ministry today Please note: There should be neither filler nor super-wide margins in this project. Carefully follow each step of the outline and you will have received plenty of insight, and you will have plenty to write! Do not let these instructions intimidate you; this is a Bible study project! All you need to show in this paper is that you studied the passage, summarized its meaning, drew out a few key principles from it, and have related them to your own life and ministry.

9 Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Course Syllabus, page 7 Ministry Project Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Purpose The Word of God is living and active, and penetrates to the very heart of our lives and innermost thoughts (Hebrews 4:12). James the Apostle emphasizes the need to be doers of the Word of God, not hearers only, deceiving ourselves. We are exhorted to apply the Word, to obey it. Neglecting the invaluable discipline of obedience to the Word of God, James suggests, is analogous to a person who views his natural face in a mirror and then forgets his identity, both who he is, what he is meant to do, and how he was meant to live. In every case, the doer of the Word of God will be blessed in what he or she does (James 1:22-25). Our sincere desire is that you will practically apply your learning, matching and correlating your learning with the very real experiences and needs in your personal life, and your ministry in and through your Church. Therefore, a key part of completing this course will be for you to design a ministry project to help you share some of the insights you have learned from this course with others. Planning and Summary The focus here is application and sharing your insights many ways exist which allow you to fulfill this requirement. You may choose to conduct a brief study of your insights with an individual, or a Sunday School class, youth or adult group or Bible study, or even at some ministry event or opportunity of which you are a part. The goal here is dialogue: what you must do is discuss some of the insights you have learned from class with your audience. (Of course, you may choose to share insights from your Exegetical Project with them as well.) For instance, you may choose to: Conduct a brief study of your insights with an individual Share during a devotional in your Sunday School class, youth group, or adult Bible study Share during a sermon or ministry event Dialogue with a friend, coworker, or neighbor using your workshop insights Feel free to be flexible in your project make it creative, and open ended. You should decide where you want to share your insights and plan ahead and avoid the last minute rush in selecting and carrying out your project. Moreover, focus your sharing and discussion on the very specific insights that you have gleaned from our study together, not just on what was covered by the instructor. If at all possible, ask your audience for feedback and if you can seek to dialogue with them about your presentation, whether it is an audience of one or before a large group. After you have carried out your plan, write a one-page summary or evaluation of your time of sharing, and give it to the Instructor (you may mail it in or drop it by). A sample outline of your Ministry Project summary is as follows: 1. Your name 2. The place where you shared, and the audience with whom you shared 3. A brief summary of how your time went, how you felt, and how they responded 4. What you learned from the time

10 Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition Course Syllabus, page 8 Reading and Precis Assignment Church Matters: Retrieving the Great Tradition A critical part of your own leadership development is to be able to engage the ideas and claims of others respectfully, to read what they have written, and restate their position clearly, whether or not you believe it. Only when you understand and restate their argument are you in a position to evaluate its truth value. You must strive to understand before you seek to judge. Please note: Your work for this assignment will differ depending on how many credits you hope to receive from this course. For instance, if you are taking the course for 1 credit, you will need to write a paragraph summarizing the meaning of the text, and an additional paragraph giving your reaction to its content. For those taking this course for 2 credits, you will need to write a page summarizing the key principles of the text, and a page highlighting your reaction with these principles. Finally, if you are taking the course fo 3 credits, you will need to summarize the arguments of the book in two pages, and write out your own detailed analysis of the key principles (to you) in an additional two pages. The following chart will help you understand the different weights of the assignment: Course for 1 Credit Course for 2 Credits Course for 3 Credits 1 page total (half-page summary, half-page response) per book 2 pages total (single-page summary, single-page response) per book 4 pages total (two-page summary, two pages response) per book Outline and Composition Whatever your credit level for this workshop, your precis (summary and reaction paper) should be legibly handwritten or typed, double-spaced. Follow the guidelines given below, especially paying attention to include both your understanding of the author s argument as well as your own careful analysis of the argument s worth. Your summary ought to be divided into three sections: 1. First, simply list out clearly the general biographical information for the text (Title, Author, Publisher, date published). 2. Second, please outline, as best as you can, the general thesis and argument of the book (what is the author trying to say?). Attempt to summarize the author s main point, along with the major sub-points he provided to support his main point. This section should be at least half of your entire precis, presented in a logical and organized fashion. Basically, you need to show that you understand what he is saying (his main point), and then show how he backed up what he was saying (supporting subpoints). 3. Finally, the second half of your precis will be your reflection and engagement of what he said. Now that you have identified the main point (thesis) and supporting points of the author, tell me what you think about it. Is the argument he gave well-supported and well-argued? What evidence was irrelevant or invalid? Did he make any logical errors? Did you find the argument personally persuasive why or why not? Focus on a few of your most important critiques and specifically share what you believe about the overall value of the argument of the book.

11 Documenting Your Work A Guide to Help You Give Credit Where Credit is Due The Urban Ministry Institute Avoiding Plagiarism Plagiarism is using another person s ideas as if they belonged to you without giving them proper credit. In academic work it is just as wrong to steal a person s ideas as it is to steal a person s property. These ideas may come from the author of a book, an article you have read, or from a fellow student. The way to avoid plagiarism is to carefully use notes (textnotes, footnotes, endnotes, etc.) and a Works Cited section to help people who read your work know when an idea is one you thought of, and when you are borrowing an idea from another person. Using Citation References A citation reference is required in a paper whenever you use ideas or information that came from another person s work. All citation references involve two parts: Notes in the body of your paper placed next to each quotation which came from an outside source. A Works Cited page at the end of your paper or project which gives information about the sources you have used Using Notes in Your Paper There are three basic kinds of notes: parenthetical notes, footnotes, and endnotes. At The Urban Ministry Institute, we recommend that students use parenthetical notes. These notes give the author s last name(s), the date the book was published, and the page number(s) on which you found the information. Example: In trying to understand the meaning of Genesis , it is important to recognize that in biblical stories the place where dialogue is first introduced will be an important moment in revealing the character of the speaker... (Kaiser and Silva 1994, 73). This is certainly true of the character of Melchizedek who speaks words of blessing. This identification of Melchizedek as a positive spiritual influence is reinforced by the fact that he is the King of Salem, since Salem means safe, at peace (Wiseman 1996, 1045).

12 Documenting Your Work (continued) A Works Cited page should be placed at the end of your paper. This page: lists every source you quoted in your paper Creating a Works Cited Page is in alphabetical order by author s last name includes the date of publication and information about the publisher The following formatting rules should be followed: 1. Title The title Works Cited should be used and centered on the first line of the page following the top margin. 2. Content Each reference should list: the author s full name (last name first) the date of publication the title and any special information (Revised edition, 2nd edition, reprint) taken from the cover or title page should be noted the city where the publisher is headquartered followed by a colon and the name of the publisher 3. Basic form Each piece of information should be separated by a period. The second line of a reference (and all following lines) should be indented. Book titles should be underlined (or italicized). Article titles should be placed in quotes. Example: Fee, Gordon D Gospel and Spirit: Issues in New Testament Hermeneutics. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

13 Documenting Your Work (continued) 4. Special Forms A book with multiple authors: Kaiser, Walter C., and Mois s Silva An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics: The Search for Meaning. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. An edited book: Greenway, Roger S., ed Discipling the City: A Comprehensive Approach to Urban Mission. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. A book that is part of a series: Morris, Leon The Gospel According to John. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Gen. ed. F. F. Bruce. An article in a reference book: Wiseman, D. J. Salem In New Bible Dictionary. Leicester, England - Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Eds. I. H. Marshall and others. (An example of a Works Cited page is located on the next page.) For Further Research Standard guides to documenting academic work in the areas of philosophy, religion, theology, and ethics include: Atchert, Walter S., and Joseph Gibaldi The MLA Style Manual. New York: Modern Language Association. The Chicago Manual of Style th ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Turabian, Kate L A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 5th edition. Bonnie Bertwistle Honigsblum, ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

14 Documenting Your Work (continued) Works Cited Fee, Gordon D Gospel and Spirit: Issues in New Testament Hermeneutics. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers. Greenway, Roger S., ed Discipling the City: A Comprehensive Approach to Urban Mission. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. Kaiser, Walter C., and Mois s Silva An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics: The Search for Meaning. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. Morris, Leon The Gospel According to John. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Gen. ed. F. F. Bruce. Wiseman, D. J. Salem In New Bible Dictionary. Leicester, England-Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Eds. I. H. Marshall and others.

15 The Urban Ministry Institute 1 of 1 Name: Credit: Translation: Passage Memorized: It is the student s responsibility to grade his/her own Scripture Memory work. As a reminder, please memorize Scripture only from a translation (ex. ESV, NIV, NASB, RSV, KJV, etc.) and not a paraphrase (ex. The Living Bible, The Message). Please follow the process below in order to grade your work: 1. Put away any helps you may have (including your Bible), and on a blank sheet of paper, write out your Scripture Memory passage in its entirety. 2. Write the translation on the top of your page along with your name. 3. Using your Bible, check your work, word for word and put a line through any errors you may have. 4. Count up the number of errors and write them here: 5. How many verses were there in this memorized passage? 6. You are allowed the equivalent of one mistake per verse to receive full credit for your memory work. If your passage was three verses and you scored perfect on two of the verses and had three errors in the third verse, you will receive full credit for this passage. The following ARE counted as errors: A wrong word (each wrong word is an error) A missing word (each missing word is an error) A word or words out of order (each word out of order is an error) The following SHOULD NOT be counted as errors: Missed or wrong punctuation A misspelled word 7. You are allowed the equivalent of two mistakes per verse to receive half credit for the passage. If your passage was three verses and you made 4-6 mistakes you will receive half credit for this passage. 8. If you made more than the equivalent of two mistakes per verse, you will receive no credit for this passage. 9. Write full credit, half credit, or no credit at the top of this page, depending on how you scored, and give this page to your instructor The Urban Ministry Institute. All Rights Reserved. TUMI is a Ministry of World Impact, Inc.