Trinity Evangelical Divinity School ME 6000 Evangelism in a Post-Modern, Post- Christian, Post-Secular, Post-Ironic, Post-Everything Age 3 semester hours Wrap-Around Course in conjunction with Xenos Summer Institute July 9-12, 2014 Professor Randy Newman randydavidnewman@gmail.com cell: 703-606-5936 COURSE DESCRIPTION The Scriptures admonish us (1 Cor 9:19-22) and provide models for us (Acts 13,14, 17) to adapt our methods of evangelism to our culture and audience without compromising the integrity and truth of the gospel. Our current social context presents the church with new and complex challenges as we seek to proclaim the gospel in effective and compelling ways. This course seeks to analyze current trends in light of the evangelistic opportunities before us and attempts to formulate outreach strategies that will bear fruit. COURSE OBJECTIVES The course is designed to equip pastors, missionaries, and other Christian workers to 1) think critically about the nature of the gospel and the changing nature of evangelism, 2) do the work of an evangelist and 3) help others do the same. The course emphasizes practical application and transferability. As a result of this course, students will: - grow in knowledge of philosophies of evangelism, theological foundations for evangelism, and practical considerations for effectiveness in our contemporary world. - gain flexibility in formulating evangelistic strategies to fit their missional context. - be encouraged to trust God to use them in proclaiming the gospel to lost people for the rest of their lives. - engage in numerous evangelism experiences, evaluate their abilities, and plan for future development. COURSE FORMAT This course will be taught as a wrap-around course in conjunction with the 2014 Xenos Summer Institute (XSI). The student will attend the XSI, as well as special workshops and class sessions specifically for TEDS students enrolled in ME6000 (see schedule below). Class sessions will include a significant amount of student-teacher interaction, group discussion, and reporting on student assignments. PRE-COURSE READING AND ASSIGNMENTS
1. Read all of the following before July 9, 2014 (Be prepared to fill out a reading report of the percentage of pages read on the first day of class). Books Dallas, Joe and Nancy Heche, eds. The Complete Christian Guide to Understanding Homosexuality: A Biblical and Compassionate Response to Same-Sex Attraction. Harvest House, 2010. (read any 10 chapters). Follis, Bryan A. Truth with Love: The Apologetics of Francis Schaeffer. Crossway, 2006. (read entire book). Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Zondervan, 2012. (read pages 13-132, 181-289). Newman, Randy. Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People s Hearts the Way Jesus Did. Kregel, 2004. (read entire book). Article Netland, Harold. One Lord and Savior for All? Jesus Christ and Religious Diversity. To be accessed at: http://thegospelcoalition.org/cci/article/one_lord_and_savior_for_all_jesus_christ_and_religi ous_diversity 2. Listen to this audio before July 9, 2014: The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World by Timothy Keller http://www.desiringgod.org/conference-messages/the-supremacy-of-christ-and-the-gospel-ina-postmodern-world 3. Be prepared to hand in three reading evaluations on July 9, 2014 at 4:30 pm Write a brief evaluation (500-700 words, double-spaced, 1 margins, 12 point Times New Roman font) of the books by Dallas and Heche, Follis and Newman. Be sure to include: 1) The thesis of the book, 2) What you learned from the book, 3) What you disagree with, 4) What you liked about the book, 5) How you might use it in your ministry). These will serve as talking points in your participation in your small group discussions. 4. Pre-evangelistic Conversations Begin conversations with three non-christians before the class begins. Find out what they believe about God, the afterlife, and Jesus. Try to discern what objections they have to the gospel message. Ask them if you can continue the conversation after July 12 th. COURSE SCHEDULE July 9 4:30 6:30 Course introduction: A Changing Culture and an Unchanging Gospel
July 10 10 noon Valid and Invalid Contextualization July 10 3:45 5:00 XSI Breakout Session Tensions in Evangelism July 11 12 noon 1:45 The Gospel is for Christians, too July 11 2:00 3:00 XSI Breakout Session Bringing the Gospel Home July 11 7:00 8:00 Plenary Session Questioning Evangelism July 12 8:00 12:30 Evangelism in a Post-Everything Age Weaving Evangelism into the Life of the Church Equipping Timothys to Do the Work of Evangelists POST-COURSE ASSIGNMENTS 1. Interaction Paper Formulate your own philosophy of evangelism, based on your evaluations of all the readings (especially Keller), evangelism experiences, and personal reflection. Include your convictions about the gospel message, how it should be communicated in your current (or future) ministry context, and how you anticipate training Christians to engage in evangelistic activities. This paper is to be 1500-1800 words (double-space, 1 margins, 12 point Times New Roman font). 2. Evangelism Journal As a part this course, you will initiate three evangelistic relationships with non-believers. You will have at least one conversation with each of the three people before July 9 th and at least one more conversation with each of the same people after July 12 th. All interactions must be face to face (not on the telephone, via email, Facebook, etc. You can use the telephone and email to augment your face-to-face conversations). At some point, you should try to communicate the gospel message to each of the three people. Write a journal entry for each conversation with each person. (You should have a minimum of six entries when completed) reporting on the date, location, and length of time of conversation. Summarize what you learned about their worldview, religious experiences, and response to the gospel. Evaluate your own evangelism skill, what you learned about yourself and offer ways you need to improve and grow in your ability to communicate the gospel clearly and compellingly. Each journal entry must be at least 300 words. Include a 500-600 word summary of your entire journal, summarizing the various experiences and evaluating what you learned along the way. Both the Interaction Paper and the Evangelism Journal are due by 5 pm on August 15 th, sent by email to randydavidnewman@gmail.com.
GRADING Class Participation 10% Reading 10% Written Reading Evaluations 10% Interaction Paper 40% Evangelism Journal 30%
Helpful literature: Barrs, Jerram. The Heart of Evangelism. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. Carnegie, Dale. How to Win Friends and Influence People. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1936. Carson, D.A. The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism. Zondervan, 1996. The Intolerance of Tolerance. Eerdmans, 2012. Dever, Mark. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. Wheaton: Crossway, 2007. Downs, Tim. Finding Common Ground: How to Communicate with Those Outside the Christian Community While we Still Can. Chicago: Moody, 1999. Everts, Don and Doug Schaupp. I Once Was Lost: What Postmodern Skeptics Taught Us About Their Path to Jesus. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2008. Fernando, Ajith. The Supremacy of Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1995. Sharing the Truth in Love. Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 2001. Finke, Roger, and Rodney Stark. The Churching of America, 1776-2005: Winners and Losers in Our Religious Economy. 2nd ed. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2005. Geisler, Norman and David. Conversational Evangelism: How to Listen and Speak so you can be Heard. Eugene: Harvest House, 2009. Graham, Billy. Just as I Am. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. Green, Joel B., and Mark D. Baker. Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in New Testament & Contemporary Contexts. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000. Green, Michael. Evangelism in the Early Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970. Groothuis, Douglas. Truth Decay: Defending Christianity against the Challenges of Postmodernism. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2000. Keller, Timothy. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Dutton, 2008. Lewis, C.S. The Abolition of Man. Macmillan, 1944. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. Little, Paul E. How to Give Away Your Faith. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2008. Moreland, J.P., and Tim Muehlhoff. The God Conversation: Using Stories and Illustrations to Explain Your Faith. Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2007. Newbigin, Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Eerdmans, 1989. Newman, Randy. Corner Conversations: Engaging Dialogues About God and Life. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2006. Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family Members, Close Friends, and Others who Know you Well. Wheaton: Crossway, 2011. Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993. Prothero, Stephen. God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions that Run the World. HarperOne, 2010. Richardson, Rick. Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2000. Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2006.
Smith, Christian and Patricia Snell. Souls in Transition: The Religious & Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. Oxford, 2009. Smith, Christian with Kari Christoffersen, Hilary Davidson, and Patricia Snell Herzog. Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood. Oxford, 2011 Smith, Gordon T. Beginning Well: Christian Conversion and Authentic Transformation. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2001. Transforming Conversion: Rethinking the Language and Contours of Christian Initiation. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010. Stark, Rodney. The Rise of Christianity. New York: HarperOne, 1996. Stiles, J. Mack. Speaking of Jesus: How to Tell Your Friends the Best News They Will Ever Hear. InterVarsity, 1995. Marks of the Messenger: Knowing, Living and Speaking the Gospel. Intervarsity, 2010. Strobel, Lee and Mark Mittelberg. The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People About Jesus. Zondervan, 2009.