INTRODUCTION TO MISSIOLOGY 32960 DECEMBER 2016 Professor: Zane Pratt, zgpratt@sbts.edu Professor s Assistant: Garrett Milner, gmil2010@gmail.com COURSE DESCRIPTION This course serves as a general introduction to Christian missions. It seeks to root missiology in biblical and systematic theology, and to analyze missiological issues through biblical and theological lenses. It seeks to cultivate a biblical passion for the mission God has given His people and a biblical understanding of how to fulfill that mission. It also seeks to help both those called to cross-cultural ministry and those called to church ministry within their own culture know better how to advance the mission of God s people within their context. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. To introduce the student to the biblical theology of the mission of God and the mission of God s people. 2. To establish the authority for missions and the nature and scope of the missionary task from Scripture. 3. To examine the critical issues of missions theory and practice in the light of Scripture and scriptural theology. 4. Too explore the theology of religions, consider the claims of pluralism and inclusivism, and establish the validity of Gospel exclusivism. 5. To acquaint the student with the broad outline of the history of the global advance of the Gospel from the book of Acts to the present. 6. To expose the student to the current state of global lostness and global missions advance. 7. To explore the role of the local church in the task of global missions. 8. To cultivate a passion for the glory of God through the global advance of the Gospel. REQUIRED READING Pratt, Zane; Sills, David and Walters, Jeffrey. Introduction to Global Missions Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad DeYoung, Kevin and Greg Gilbert. What Is the Mission of the Church? Allen, Roland. Missionary Methods: St. Paul s, or Ours? Miles, Todd. A God of Many Understandings? Horner, David. When Missions Shapes the Mission
COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Each student will read each of the books listed above. Students will be asked to account for their reading at the time of the final exam by filling out and signing a form indicating how much of each book they have read. 2. Each student will write a two page (double spaced) book review on each of the required books except for Introduction to Global Missions. The format of the book review is attached to this syllabus. The book reviews are due on the following dates: Piper, Dec 28 DeYoung & Gilbert, Jan 2 Allen, Jan 9 Miles, Jan 16 Horner, Jan 23 3. Each student will conduct three ethnographic interviews within the non-christian immigrant communities in the city where they live, utilizing the format attached to this syllabus. Interview subjects must be non-christians from a Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim background, and they must have moved to the United States after their 16 th birthday. The results of the interviews will be typed and submitted by the students at the time of the final exam. 4. Each student will be expected to locate any country in the world on an unmarked map, as part of the final exam. 5. Regular attendance in class is expected. 6. Each student will take an online final exam on or before Jan 6. COURSE GRADING Reading: 15% Book reviews: 3% each, for a total of 15% Ethnographic Interviews: 10% each, for a total of 30% Final Exam: 40% COURSE OUTLINE Session 1: Session 2: Missiological Foundation of the Bible The Grand Biblical Narrative Missions in the Old Testament Missions in the New Testament Theology and Missions The Missiological Implications of the Major Heads of Doctrine The Nature and Content of the Gospel Missionary Motivation Universalism, Pluralism, and Inclusivism The Case for Gospel Exclusivism
Session 3: Session 4: Session 5: The Nature and Scope of the Missionary Task What is the Mission of the Church? History of the Global Advance of the Gospel Lessons Learned from Missions History Missions and Culture Theology of Culture Cultural Anthropology Theology of Religions World Religions Distribution of Lostness and the Current State of Global Evangelization The Practice of Missions The Missionary Call and Missionary Qualifications Elements of Missionary Strategy Prayer Research Strategic planning Access Language & culture acquisition Bible translation and distribution Other media tools for evangelism and discipleship Proclamation Discipleship Church Human needs ministries Leadership training and theological education Exit Money, Control and Dependence in Missions Missions and Suffering Missions and the North American Church BOOK REVIEW FORMAT 1. The book review should not have a separate title page 2. At the top left of the first page, the student should give his/her name, the course, the author and name of the book being reviewed, and the date submitted, single-spaced. a. Example (aligned top left of the first page) Zane Pratt Introduction to Missiology, 32960, January 2016 Book Review of John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad 4 Jan 2016 3. The book review should consist of three sections. The first section is a summary of the contents of the book. The second section is an evaluation of the book, including both
strengths and weaknesses noted in the content and/or style. The third section should be personal reflection on the implications of the book for your own future ministry. 4. It is acceptable to write in the first person for these book reviews. 5. Each book review should be between two and three pages in length, double spaced. There is no penalty for going over three pages, but the review must at least extend to the bottom of the second page. 6. Footnotes are not necessary. Citations from the book being reviewed may be noted in parentheses in the text of the paper. Example: if quoting or referring to something on page 23 of Piper s book in your review of Piper s book, simply put (p. 23) ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEW FORMAT These are the questions you are to ask each interview subject. Remember that you may not interview Christians, that each interview subject must be from a Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist background, and that each interview subject must have lived outside the United States and not moved to this country until after his or her 16 th birthday. To report the interviews, copy the format given below and insert the answers to the questions. Submit a separate report for each interview. INTRO TO MISSIOLOGY ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEW STUDENT NAME: INTERVIEW DATE: INTERVIEW LOCATION: GENERAL INFORMATION: 1. What is your name? 2. How old are you? 3. What is your home country? 4. When did you move to the US? 5. Are you married? If so, do you have children? What ages? 6. What level of education do you have? 7. Do you have a job? If so, what do you do?
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN 1. Briefly describe the governmental system of your home country. 2. Briefly describe the economy of your home country. 3. Briefly describe the ethnic makeup of your home country. What are the main ethnic groups? What percent is each? What are the major languages spoken? How do the different ethnic groups feel about each other and relate to each other? 4. What is the role of family in the culture of your home country? How much does family affect the decisions you make? 5. What things should a good person never do? 6. What are the differences between the roles of men and women? 7. How important is hospitality? How should a guest be treated? 8. In your home culture, what does it mean to be on time, and how important is it? 9. What foods are most commonly eaten? Are there foods that should never be eaten? 10. What things are considered particularly unlucky in your home culture? 11. Briefly describe your religion. What are the main beliefs of your religion? What are the main practices of your religion? What happens after you die? 12. Tell me what you know about Christianity. What are the main beliefs of Christians? What are the main practices of Christians? What are the main values of Christians? How do Christians live? COMING TO AMERICA 1. Why did you come to America? 2. What was it like for you when you first got to America? 3. What aspects of American culture stand out to you the most? How is American culture least like your home culture?