MS 508 EVANGELISM SYLLABUS REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY CHARLOTTE SPRING 2005 Rod Culbertson, Jr. Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology [email protected] FOR MS508: EVANGELISM REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - CHARLOTTE SPRING 2005 ROD CULBERTSON, JR. ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will train students to be thoughtful and passionate evangelists and to understand and use biblical principles and methods of church outreach. Emphasis is placed on having a deep desire to reach the lost for Christ. Personal and corporate evangelism and mobilizing the laity for ministry will be considered. 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 various models of church evangelism. 3. The student will be enabled to present his personal testimony and to help others do the same. 4. The student will learn how to build bridges to non-Christians as a lead into the gospel. 5. The student will learn how to handle objections and the people who make them. 6. The student will learn the importance of prayer in any evangelistic endeavor. 7. The student will be able to diagnose some of the cultural barriers which make the gospel presentation difficult today and give answers as to overcome these barriers. 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 grow in personal confidence and courage for sharing the gospel. 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 examine and critique various evangelical and Reformed gospel presentations. 2. 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 or ministry. 3. The student will be able to write out or verbalize a gospel presentation which 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. 4. The student will conduct an analytical Bible study of the book of Acts, noting both methods of evangelism and the content of the gospel as presented by the author and making practical applications to evangelism in his/her world today. 5. The student will conduct an interview with an unbeliever in order to understand the world views and the thinking of the lost and unchurched.6. The student will make an effort to be involved in some facet of evangelism during the semester. 7. The student will write out his/her personal testimony as an exercise which will assist the student to train others in doing their personal testimonies. 8. 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: (1033 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. 2. 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. 3. Metzger, Will. Tell The Truth, 1981, InterVarsity Press, 259 pp. 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. 4. 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. 5. Evangelistic Pamphlets packet. 246 pp. A collection of popular pamphlets which synopsize the content of both evangelical and Reformed presentations of the gospel. On Reserve (required reading): 6. 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. REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION: I. Class attendance and discussion (8% of course grade). You will be expected to participate in the class discussion, especially as we interact with the textbooks and assigned reading, as well as the required papers. We will also occasionally break into small groups. Textbook reading and papers are expected to be completed by the date scheduled for discussion so you can participate and interact in the class. Excessive, unexcused absences will affect your grade.II. Weekly Quizzes (12% of course grade). At the end of the first hour of each class, or at the professors discretion, there will be a 5 minute period set aside for a weekly quiz. Quizzes will be designed to help motivate the student to fulfill both the reading requirements and the Scripture memory work. Quizzes will (normally) include the following: (1) a statement that the student has fulfilled the reading assignment for that class date and/or (2) a reflective comment demonstrating interaction with Millers book and (3) two verses which are to be memorized for the gospel presentation (preferably in the New International Version). The quiz schedule and requirements are provided below. Date Reading Scriptures To Memorize 2/15 Matthew 5:48; Hebrews 9:27 2/22 Packer (all) John 3:16; Genesis 1:1 3/1 Miller (Chapter 1) Hebrews 4:13; Genesis