EM223 - Foundations for Evangelism

  • 0 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 4
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 5
    AQF level
  • evangelism missiolUnit Discipline

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

  1. Evangelism principles
  2. Evangelistic practice and methods

B. Be able to

  1. Outline the theological concepts and principles of evangelism
  2. Describe models and practices of evangelism
  3. Under supervision, engage in evangelistic field work

C. Be in a position to

  1. Use perspectives from ‘Foundations for Evangelism’ for personal understanding and in ministry contexts

Content

A study of the theological and practical principles of communicating Christian faith to non-believers.

 

Section A:  Evangelism Principles (35%)

  • Theological perspectives: divine sovereignty and human response; the church and evangelism; motivations for evangelism; baptism and conversion; evangelism and social concern.
  • Principles of evangelism: proclamation, witness and presence; hindrances to evangelism; the nurture of new Christians.
  • Communicating faith: person to person, through human relationships, in small groups, by dialogue and presence.
  • The evangelist: the gift of evangelism; professional and non-professional evangelists; the role of the congregation as evangelist and supporter of evangelists.

Section B:  Evangelistic Methods (35%)

  • Church-based evangelism: advantages and disadvantages of various approaches—building-based, using homes, “neutral ground”, evangelism, worship and revival (of members).
  • Personal evangelism: earning the right to speak; use and evaluation of at least two methods of personal evangelism.
  • Evangelising various groups: e.g. youth, industrial workers, nominal church members, ethnic groups, secular humanists.
  • The use of mass media, publicity, literature and tracts.

Section C:  Evangelism in Practice (30%)

Personal involvement (with supervision) in not less than 10 hours in specifically evangelistic programmes, including at least 2.5 hours of direct evangelism by the candidate.  (These hours exclude preparation and writing-up time.)  This work should include both inter-personal and small group contexts, using the methods studied in Section B.  This work should include people known to the candidate as evangelist, and those unknown to the candidate.  Large group and media settings may also be used.

Candidates are to submit a 1500-word report (to their college) on their work in this programme.

Set Readings

Prescribed:

Allison, L. and M. Anderson, Going Public With the Gospel: Reviving Evangelistic Proclamation (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2004).

Chapman, J., Know and Tell the Gospel (Sydney: Matthias Media, 1998).

Cowan, S. B. and W. L. Craig, Five Views on Apologetics (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000).

Drummond, L., Reaching Generation Next: Effective Evangelism in Today’s Culture (Grand Rapids: Baker 2002).

Finney, J., Emerging Evangelism (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2004).

Hughes, B. and J. Bellamy, A Passion for Evangelism: Turning Vision into Action (Adelaide: OpenBook, 2004).

Kallenberg, B. J., Live to Tell: Evangelism for a Postmodern Age (Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2002).

Little, P. and M. Little, Know Why You Believe (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2000).

Long, J., Emerging Hope: A Strategy for Reaching Postmodern Generations (2nd ed.; Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2004).

McQuoid, S., Sharing the Good News in C21: Evangelism in a Local Church Context (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2002).

Mittelberg, M., Building a Contagious Church: Revolutionizing the Way We View and Do Evangelism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000).

Pippert, R., Saltshaker Resources: An Evangelism Toolkit (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2003).

Richardson, R., Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2000).

 

Recommended:

Webber, R., Ancient-Future Evangelism (Grand Rapids: Baker 2003).