Trinity Evangelical Divinity School ME 5001 Foundations of Evangelism 2 Semester Hours Sep. 27-28, Nov. 1-2, Nov. 22-23 Fridays: 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm; Saturdays: 8:00 am 12:00 pm; 1:00-4:00 pm Fall Semester 2013 Dee Yaccino (dyaccino@tiu.edu) cell: 224-388-7946 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will provide the graduate student with the content and the context for developing a biblical and theological understanding of communicating the gospel to unbelievers. Through readings and lecture, open discussion, small group interaction, and reflection on evangelism experiences, the student will develop basic theoretical and practical convictions, skills, and confidence in communicating the gospel and thinking strategically about creating an appropriate overall approach for a local church setting. COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES As a result of this course, students will: 1. Know the biblical/theological foundations of evangelism. 2. Know different approaches of presenting the gospel to people in a postmodern culture. 3. Be more confident in communicating the biblical message to unbelievers 4. Practice integrating the course learning into an overall church strategy 5. Apply new methods and skills in the practice of sharing their story COURSE TEXTS McKnight, Scot. 2011. The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN: 031049298X Newman, Randy. 2004. Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People s Hearts the Way Jesus Did. Grand Rapids: Kregel. ISBN: 082543324X Richardson, Rick. 2006. Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey. Downers Grove: IVP. ISBN: 0830833420 RECOMMENDED READING (Classics on Evangelism) Lewis, C.S. 1943. Mere Christianity. New York: MacMillan. ISBN: 0060652888 Packer, J.I. 1961. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. England: InterVarsity Fellowship. ISBN: 083081339X Stott, John R. W. 1964. Basic Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. ISBN: 0830834036
COURSE EXPECTATIONS Class attendance and participation, reading required texts, and handing in assignments on due dates printed in the syllabus are expected of all students. LEARNING ASSIGNMENTS REQUIRED Summaries on textbook readings, a written personal testimony (to be shared in class), substantial interaction paper on a selected book from the course bibliography, reading Moodle articles (as assigned in class). ASSESSMENT AND FINAL COURSE GRADING Reading summaries on assigned texts (15% 45% each) Written personal testimony presented in 10% class Class Participation and attendance 10% Final Interaction Paper 35% GRADING SCALE 100% A (100-90), B (89-80), C (79-70), D (69-60), F (below 60) COURSE ASSIGNMENTS 1. Reading required texts with 1-2 page (double-spaced) summary on each. Each student will read the required texts and prepare a 1-2 page summary for discussion in class that should include: a brief summary of author s thesis, key learning points, your assessment of the book s usefulness, and implications for evangelism. 2. Written personal testimony and presentation Each student will be asked to write out and present a four-minute personal story of their journey to faith in Christ according to guidelines discussed in class. The class will be expected to offer constructive criticism to help each other share their stories well to others. 3. Final Interaction Paper Each student will select one book from the following list and write a 5-6 page (double spaced) interaction paper. The paper should include: the author s main thesis, your assessment of the strengths/usefulness of the book s philosophy of evangelism, what you may find challenging to your understanding and why, what the key learning points are and how you might apply what you learned for your own philosophy of evangelism in a church context.
Burke, John. 2005. No Perfect People Allowed: Creating A Come as You Are Culture in The Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN: 0310275016 Coleman, Robert E. 1963. The Master Plan of Evangelism. Grand Rapids: Baker. ISBN: 0800786246 Green, Michael. 1987. Evangelism In The Early Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. ISBN: 0802827683 Hirsch, Alan and Lance Ford. 2011. Right Here, Right Now: Everyday Mission for Everyday People. Grand Rapids: Baker. ISBN: 0801072239 Hybels, Bill. 2006. Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN: 0310266696 Keller, Timothy. 2008. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN: 1594483493 Kimball, Dan. 2007. They Like Jesus But Not The Church: Insights From Emerging Generations. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN: 0310245907 Kinnaman, David. 2007. Un-Christian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters. Grand Rapids: Baker. ISBN: 0801013003 McLaren, Brian. 2002. More Ready Than You Realize: Evangelism as Dance in the Post-Modern Matrix. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN: 0310239648 Newbigin, Lesslie. 1989. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. ISBN: 0802804268 Richardson, Rick. 2000. Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News. Downers Grove: IVP. ISBN: 0830822763 Wright, N.T. 2011. Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 0062084399 EXTENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR FURTHER READING Carson, D. A., ed. 2000. Telling the Truth: Evangelizing Postmoderns. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Chilcote, Paul W., and Laceye C. Warner, eds. 2008. The Study of Evangelism: Exploring a Missional Practice of the Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Edwards, Jonathon. 1992. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Presbyterian and
Reformed Publishing Fernando, Ajith. 1995. The Supremacy of Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. Geisler, Norman and David Geisler. 2009. Conversational Evangelism: How To Listen And Speak So You Can Be Heard. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House. Graham, Billy. 2003. The Key to Personal Peace. Nashville: W. Publishing Group. Green, Joel B., and Mark D. Baker. 2000. Recovering the Scandal of the Cross: Atonement in New Testament & Contemporary Contexts. Downers Grove: IVP. Hybels, Bill and Mark Mittelberg. 1994. Becoming a Contagious Christian. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN: 0310210089 Lin, David and Steve Spaulding, ed. 2003. Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist World. William Carey Library. Little, Paul E. 1979. How to Give Away Your Faith. Downers Grove: IVP. ISBN: 0830834214 Mittelberg, Mark. 2010. The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (With Answers). Carol Stream, Il: Tyndale. 2007. Becoming a Contagious Church: Increasing Your Churches Evangelistic Temperature. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN: 0310279194 Parshall, Phil. 2003. Muslim Evangelism: Contemporary Approached to Contextualization. Gabriel. Pippet, Rebecca Manley. 1999 [1979]. Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life. Downers Grove: IVP. Pollard, Nick. 1997. Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult: How To Interest People Who Aren t Interested. Downers Grove: IVP. Rainer, Thom S. 2003. The Unchurched Next Door. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Reid, Alvin L. 2002. Radically Unchurched: Who They Are and How to Reach Them. Grand Rapids: Kregel. Rosen, Ceil and Moishe. 1998. Witnessing to Jews: Practical Ways to Relate the Love of Jesus. Purple Pomegranate Productions. Stiles, J. Mack. 2010. Marks of the Messenger: Knowing, Living, and Speaking the Gospel. Downers Grove: IVP.
Strobel, Lee and Mark Mittelberg. 2009. The Unexpected Adventure: Taking Everyday Risks to Talk with People About Jesus. Zondervan, 2009 Thiesen, Elmer J. 2011. The Ethics of Evangelism: A Philosophical Defense of Proselytizing and Persuasion. Downers Grove: IVP. Tuttle, Robert G. 2006. The Story of Evangelism: A History of the Witness to the Gospel. Nashville: Abingdon Press.