MS 508 EVANGELISM SYLLABUS Parish Track REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY CHARLOTTE SPRING 2009 Rod Culbertson, Jr. Associate Professor of Practical Theology [email protected] FOR MS508: EVANGELISM/PARISH TRACK REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - CHARLOTTE SPRING 2009 ROD CULBERTSON, JR. ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will train students to be thoughtful evangelists and to understand and use biblical principles and methods of church outreach through the utilization of a student/mentor relationship. Emphasis is placed on having a deep desire to reach the lost for Christ. Personal, relational and corporate (organic) evangelism and motivating the laity for ministry will be addressed by the professor and the mentor pastor. COURSE OBJECTIVES: COGNITIVE (KNOW/UNDERSTAND): 1. The student will be able to present a full explanation of the gospel message, including an introduction, an organized outline of gospel content, attendant biblical references and illustrations, a conclusion and a follow-up strategy. 2. The student will be exposed to a local model of church evangelism. 3. The student will be learn how to present his personal testimony and to help others do the same. 4. The student will learn how to build bridges to non-Christians in a relational context for the sake of the gospel. 5. The student will learn the importance of prayer in any evangelistic endeavor. 6. The student will learn the role of pastoral leadership in both personal and corporate evangelism. AFFECTIVE (FEEL/MOTIVATION): 1. The student will gain a greater motivation and compassion for reaching the lost. 2. The student will gain a deeper desire to maintain a God-centered view and practice of evangelism. 3. The student will gain a deeper conviction that the local church body is God’s primary means of evangelism. 4. The student will be inspired in personal confidence and courage for sharing the gospel through the modeling of a mentor pastor. 5. The student will become more sensitive to the needs of the surrounding culture and the people in his/her world. 6. The student will be compelled to care and pray for the lost, the endangered and the unchurched. VOLITIONAL (DO/COMPETENCIES): 1. The student will conduct an interview with either his/her pastor and reflect upon how he or she will do evangelism in his/her church. 2. The student will be able to write out or verbalize a gospel presentation that will enable him or her to effectively present the gospel. The student will also be able to train others in how to present the gospel. 3. The student will conduct an interview with an unbeliever in order to understand the worldviews and the thinking of the lost and unchurched. 4. The student will be involved in some facet of local church evangelism, with a mentor, during the semester and will fulfill two assigned projects in the local church context.35. The student will be enabled to be a more effective personal evangelist, while also able to develop a plan for corporate evangelism through the local church. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS (FOR THE STUDENT): (1000 pages) 1. Packer, J. I. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, 1961, InterVarsity Press, 126 pp. A solid defense on why Christians who believe in God’s sovereignty ought to have greater motives to evangelize than whose who do not hold to Reformed doctrine. 3. Metzger, Will. Tell The Truth, 1981, InterVarsity Press, 259 pp. (REQUIRED FOR MENTOR PASTOR) A focus on gospel content with an emphasis on God-centered evangelism and communication of the whole gospel, i.e., God’s holiness and sovereignty, as well as His love. On Reserve (required reading): Kennedy, D. James. Evangelism Explosion, 1970, Tyndale (Fourth Edition). An introduction to a method of programmatic church “follow-up” evangelism, which is probably the most effective approach of its type. Read Chapters 3 (Sharing Good News), 12 (Handling Objections) and 13 (Adding Illustrations). Total pages: 69 pp. FURTHER REQUIRED READING: Choose from any of the following and read at least 546 total pages. Multiple texts may be read. On April 6, you will be asked to turn in your list of the book(s) and the pages that you have read. 1. Aldrich, Joe. Lifestyle Evangelism, 1981, Multnomah Press, 205 pp. The classic text on the importance and methodology of relational evangelism. 2. Barrs, Jerram. The Heart of Evangelism, 1999, Presbyterian and Reformed, 220 pp. A philosophy of relational evangelism from a Reformed perspective. 3. Beeke, Joel R. Puritan Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, 1999, Reformation Heritage Books, 52 pp. A brief look at the methods, message and principles of Puritan evangelism. 4. Bonar, Horatius. Words to Winners of Souls, 1979, Baker, 76 pp. A classic work, soul searching in nature, and lending itself to passion for and courage in reaching others with the gospel. 5. Greenway, Roger S. The Pastor Evangelist, 1987, P&R Publishing, 200 pp. A variety of perspectives regarding pastoral leadership in evangelism with a focus on doing evangelism through the local church. Written by various authors and pastors in the Reformed tradition.46. Hunter George G., III. The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West...Again, Abingdon Press, 2000. An alternative approach to modern styles of evangelism based on historical precedent and practices from the Celtic era. 7. Hybels, Bill and Mittelberg, Mark. Becoming a Contagious Christian, 1994, Zondervan, 205 pp. Written from a non-Reformed perspective, this book, nevertheless, is helpful in thinking through relational evangelism and includes lots of ideas. 8. Larsen, David L. The Evangelism Mandate. 1992, Crossway Books, 174 pp. Although he takes a middle-of-the-road perspective theologically, Larsen wrestles with some great issues regarding evangelistic preaching and also provides some insight into the history of evangelism. 9. Miller, C. John. A Faith Worth Sharing. 1999, P&R Publishing, 133 pp. An account of one man’s personal growth in evangelism, as he reflects upon encounters of various types throughout his life. An inspiration for the aspiring evangelist. 10. Miller, C. John Outgrowing the Ingrown Church. 1986, Zondervan, 176 pp. A well beloved book which provides helpful thoughts and motivation for moving a church out of an ingrown mentality. 11. Peterson, Robert A. Hell on Trial. 1995, P&R