DE015-512 - Young Adults' Ministry

  • 2,784 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 5
    AQF level
  • Category developing unit
    B
  • develop ministeriesUnit Discipline

Exclusions

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code DM315 or DM015-512.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

Demonstrate Foundational knowledge and understanding of young adults ministry, including the methods and standards of professional, safe and ethical practice. 

B. Be able to

1. Outline the Foundational biblical, theological, historical and strategic foundations of young adults ministry

2. Identify the Foundational aspects of young adults development and contemporary young adults culture

3. Describe the nature, shape and forms of young adults ministry

4. Present Organised evidence-based perspectives on young adults ministry

C. Be in a position to

1. Relating perspectives and skills from ‘Young Adults Ministry’ to ministry contexts

Content

Section A:  Foundations for Young Adult’s ministry

Biblical, theological, historical and strategic foundations for young adults’ ministry in church with an introduction to young adults in society

  1. A biblical theological understanding of adulthood in relation to family, church and society.
  2. The significance of singleness and marriage in the community of God.
  3. Historical overview of Christian young adult’s ministry in Australia; the changing face and role of this ministry.
  4. An examination and development of strategic models of ministering to young adults; motivation, goals, content, methodologies.

Section B:  Young Adults in Society

  1. The emergence of late-adolescence and the place of young adults in society.
  2. A comparison of beliefs and values between secular and Christian young adults.
  3. A survey of the issues facing young adults in Australia today.

Section C:  Ministry with Young Adults

  1. A biblical and theological understanding of key issues facing Christian young adults:
    1. identity formation;
    2. sex, singleness and marriage;
    3. employment and financial independence;
    4. secular work and Christian ministry;
    5. drugs and alcohol;
    6. technology & mental health;
    7. environmental and social issues
    8. backpacking & overseas travel
    9. other issues
  2. Discipling young adult Christians
  3. A survey of the nature, shape, and forms of a selected young adult ministry.

Set Readings

Akst, D. (2011). We Have Met the Enemy: Self-Control in an Age of Excess. New York: Penguin Press.

Allberry, S. (2021). What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Arnett, J. J. (2015). Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Arnett, J. J.  (2006). Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century (Decade of Behavior). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. 

Arnett, J. J. (2018). Adolescence and emerging adulthood: A cultural approach. (6th Edition). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson. 

Barry, C. M., & Abo-Zena, M. M. (2014). Emerging Adults’ Religiousness and Spirituality: Meaning-making in an Age of Transition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

de Botton, A. (2005). Status Anxiety. London, UK: Penguin.

Cameron, A. (2011). Joined-up life: a Christian account of how ethics works. Leicester, IL: Inter Varsity Press. 

Cortez, M. (2016). Christological Anthropology in Historical Perspective: Ancient and Contemporary Approaches to Theological Anthropology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Crouch, A. (2022). The Life We’re Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World. London, UK: Hodder & Stoughton.

Hunter, D. (2018). Made for Friendship: The Relationship That Halves Our Sorrows and Doubles Our Joys. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Ketcham, S. G. (2018). Reciprocal Church: Becoming a Community Where Faith Flourishes Beyond High School. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity.

Kinnaman, D. (2011). You lost me: Why young Christians are leaving church...and rethinking faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Kinnaman, D., & Matlock, M. (2019). Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Longenecker, R. N. (1996). Patterns of Discipleship in the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Perrin, R. (2020). Changing Shape: The Faith Lives of Millennials. London, UK: SCM Press.

Rosner, B. S. (2017). Known by God: A Biblical Theology of Personal Identity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Rosner, B. S.  (2022). How to Find Yourself: Why Looking Inward Is Not the Answer. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Setran, D. P, & Kiesling, C. A. (2013). Spiritual formation in emerging adulthood: A practical theology for college and young adult ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Smith, James K.A.,  (2014). How (Not) to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Strange, D. (2019). Plugged In: Connecting your faith with what you watch, read, and play. Epsom, UK: The Good Book Company.

Trueman, C. R. (2020). The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Vanhoozer, Kevin J. (2007). Everyday theology: How to read cultural texts and interpret trends. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Watkin, C. (2022). Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible’s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic