ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYContinuing Education DepartmentSpringfield, MOA Graduate Credit OptionIn Partnership with the Montana District CouncilJuly 8-12, 2002PTHE 640 Emerging Church and Shifting CultureCOURSE SYLLABUSDouglas A. Oss, Ph.D. Summer, 2002(2 Credits)COURSE DESCRIPTIONAn investigation of the New Testament evidence pertaining to ministry in the earlychurch, and what implications the evidence holds for today’s emerging church in the lightof our shifting world-culture. Special emphasis will be given to leadership models in theNew Testament, and to the work of the Holy Spirit in and through New Testamentcongregations, with a view toward developing relevant, biblical models for emerging newparadigm leadership and ministry.OBJECTIVESUpon completion of this course the student should be able to:1. Describe the primary characteristics of emerging church models (new paradigmmodels).2. Describe the diversity among New Testament church models.3. Evaluate and explain the NT evidence as it applies to contemporary issues of ministry-relevance in today’s shifting culture.4. Apply the relevant NT material to emerging models of ministry, focusing on methodsthat may connect with contemporary people (people who are the products of shiftingculture).5. Compare and contrast new paradigm models of ministry with more traditional“wineskins.”PTHE 640 Emerging Church and Shifting CultureDouglas Oss, Ph.D.Page 26. Develop and articulate models of ministry with potential for reaching today’sgeneration.7. Define and explain the function of “frameworks” in our understanding of Scripture.8. Relate insights from the seminar to her/his own ministry.TEXTBOOKSThe Bible in a contemporary translation (e.g., NASB, NIV).Erickson, Millard J. Postmodernizing the Faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998.Erickson, Millard J. & James L. Heflin. Old Wine in New Wineskins. Grand Rapids, MI:Baker Books, 1997.Frazee, Randy. The Connecting Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House,2001.George, Carl F. How to Break the Growth Barriers. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993.George, Carl F. Prepare Your Church for the Future. Grand Rapids: Revell, 1991.Gibbs, Eddie. ChurchNext: Quantum Changes in How We Do Ministry. DownersGrove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.Haggard, Ted. The Life Giving Church. Ventura, CA: Regal, 1998.Henderson, Robert Thornton. Subversive Jesus Radical Grace: Relating Christ to a NewGeneration. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2001.McLaren, Brian. A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a SpiritualJourney. San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2001. . The Church On the Other Side: Doing Ministry in the Postmodern Matrix.Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.Miller, Donald E. Reinventing American Protestantism. Los Angeles: University ofCalifornia, 1997.Mittelberg, Mark. Building a Contagious Church: Revolutionizing the Way We View andDo Evangelism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.PTHE 640 Emerging Church and Shifting CultureDouglas Oss, Ph.D.Page 3Ogden, Greg. The New Reformation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990.Oss, Douglas A. “A Pentecostal/Charismatic View,” pp. 237-283; and responses, pp.284-308; in Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Ed. Wayne Grudem. Grand Rapids,MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.Regele, Mike. Death of the Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.Schaller, Lyle E. The New Reformation. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995.Sweet, Leonard. Aqua Church. Loveland, CO: Group, 1999. . Soul Tsunami: Sink or Swim in New Millennium Culture. Grand Rapids:Zondervan Publishing House, 1999.Wagner, C. Peter. Churchquake: How the New Apostolic Reformation Is Shaking Up theChurch as We Know. Ventura, CA: Regal, 1999.Wagner, C. Peter. Confronting the Powers. Ventura, CA: Regal, 1996.Wagner, C. Peter. The New Apostolic Churches. Ventura, CA: Regal, 1998.White, James Emery. Rethinking the Church: A Challenge to Creative Redesign in anAge of Transition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1997.COURSE OUTLINEI. Raising the issues: What is the Emerging Church?A. Power ministry and charismaB. Relationships and programsC. Role of prayerD. Deliverance and discipleshipE. Outreach and evangelismF. Leadership and visionG. Developing ministersH. WorshipI. PreachingJ. Apostles, networks, and the local churchK. Understanding the culture shiftII. Examining the issues: What does the New Testament have to say about all this?A. Preliminary considerations1. Frameworks and perceptiona. Paradigm shiftsPTHE 640 Emerging Church and Shifting CultureDouglas Oss, Ph.D.Page 4b. Experience (or lack of experience) and our understanding of themeaning of biblical texts2. The two primary works of the Spirit as frameworka. Inner-transformationb. Empowerment3. Diversity among the New Testament churchesB. New paradigm ministry in the light of the New Testament1. Power ministry and charisma2. Relationships and programs3. Role of prayer4. Deliverance and discipleship5. Outreach and evangelism6. Leadership and vision7. Developing ministers8. Worship9. Preaching10. Apostles, networks, and the local church11. Understanding the culture shiftIII. Reflections on leading churches through paradigm shiftsA. Is a shift necessary?B. PressingC. CloningD. FracturesE. PassionF. Release of the SpiritG. FreedomMETHODOLOGYSeminar format.COURSE REQUIREMENTS1. Pre-session:Read the assigned material from the textbook section. Some of the readings havespecified page numbers; for the others read the entire work. If you have alreadyworked through any of these books, you should substitute something you have notread from the select bibliography (the amount of the substitute reading should beequivalent).PTHE 640 Emerging Church and Shifting CultureDouglas Oss, Ph.D.Page 52. SessionAttend all class sessions and participate in the discussion and interaction portionsof the course.3. Post-session:Write a 25 page research paper bringing to bear the New Testament evidence on aselected issue relating to the emerging church & shifting culture.SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHYAhn, Che. Into the Fire. Ventura, CA. Gospel Light, 1997.Arnott, John. The Father's Blessing: A Refreshing Move of God That Is ShakingToronto--and the World. Orlando: Creation House, 1995.Barna, George. The Second Great Coming of the Church. Dallas: Word Books, 1998.Barron, Bruce. The Health and Wealth Gospel. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,1987.Bartleman,