PM 102 EVANGELISM SYLLABUS

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1 PM102B Evangelism Dallas Theological Seminary Instructor: Dr. Barry D. Jones Fall 2014 W/F 2:25-3: hours credit I. COURSE DESCRIPTION PM 102 EVANGELISM SYLLABUS A study of the methods of personal and group evangelism, equipping laypersons to evangelize, use of church and parachurch structures in evangelism, care of new converts and discipleship, use of apologetics, and current issues in evangelism. 2 credit hours. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES A. Cognitive Objectives 1. The student will know at least one method to share the Gospel and begin to integrate evangelism into his/her life-style. 2. The student will identify the essential elements in an evangelistic presentation. 3. The student will identify various strategies that can be used to build bridges into a non-christian s life. 4. The student will identify the goals of an immediate and long term follow up program for new believers. 5. The student will describe ways to integrate an evangelistic program into the life of the local church. B. Affective Objectives 1. The student will be interested in developing a plan to reach his/her community for Christ. 2. The student will plan and become enthusiastic about sharing his/her faith with non- Christians on a regular basis. 3. The student will be interested in helping another person become better equipped to share the Gospel. C. Behavioral Objectives 1. The student will be able to effectively communicate the Gospel to a non-christian. 2. The student will be able to effectively communicate to an unbeliever how he/she came to personally place his/her trust in Jesus Christ through the use of an evangelistic personal testimony. D. Rationale The expanded statement of purpose of Dallas Theological Seminary states, Dallas Seminary is committed to fulfilling the mandate of Jesus to make disciples of all nations. Students are encouraged to grow spiritually in their personal relationship to God, to function responsibly within the Christian community, and to engage and witness to the world from a life of faith and integrity. This course is designed to help fulfill the purpose of the seminary and produce graduates who do the work of evangelism.

2 2 III. COURSE TEXTBOOKS A. Required Chafer, Lewis Sperry. True Evangelism. Grand Rapids: Kregel, pages. Keller, Timothy. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Dutton, pages. B. Suggested Cecil, Douglas M. The Seven Principles of an Evangelistic Life. Chicago: Moody, pages. Newman, Randy. Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People s Hearts the Way Jesus Did. Grand Rapids: Kregel, pages. C. Supplemental Supplemental Bibliography to be distributed in class IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS A. Response Paper to Chafer s True Evangelism (5%) The student will read True Evangelism and turn in a response paper (approximately two pages) answering the following questions: a. How would the student summarize the main ideas of the book in one paragraph? b. What is the best quote of the book and why? c. What was one new discovery that the student made from reading the book? d. What is one specific personal application that the student took away from reading the book? B. Response Paper to Keller s The Reason for God (5%) The student will read The Reason for God and turn in a response paper (approximately two pages) answering the following questions: a. How would the student summarize the main ideas of the book in one paragraph? b. What is the best quote of the book and why? c. What was one new discovery that the student made from reading the book? d. What is one specific personal application that the student took away from reading the book?

3 3 C. Response Paper to a Third Book Selected by the Student (5%) The student will select one evangelism book from the bibliography (or any other evangelism book with prior approval from the instructor) that he/she would like to read based on his/her personal interests, or future ministry goals. This evangelism book must be a book that the student has not read previously. The student will turn in a response paper (approximately two pages) answering the following questions: a. What was the name of the book and author? b. How many pages did the student read in this book? c. How would the student summarize the main ideas of the book in one paragraph? d. What is the best quote of the book and why? e. What was one new discovery that the student made from reading the book? f. What is one specific personal application that the student took away from reading the book? E. Personal Interaction with Non-Christians 1 (30%) The student will interview six non-christians to gain information and insight on their thoughts and feelings toward Christ and His church: 1. Two interviews of non-christians under the age of thirty 2. Two interviews of non-christians who are culturally different from the student (different in nationality, socioeconomics, race, etc.) 3. Two interviews of non-christians who is culturally similar to the student (family members, friends, coworkers, etc.) The student can interview non-christians that he/she knows personally or the student can interview strangers (at the mall, coffee shop, restaurant, gym, grocery store, park, etc.). In the interview, the student will ask the non-christian the following six questions: 1. How would you (the non-christian) describe your religious background and church involvement? 2. To you, what is God like? Describe God. (If the non-christian does not believe in God, do not ask the next two questions but instead ask To you, what is important in life? ) 3. What do you think is important and unimportant to God? 4. What do you think is takes to be straightened out with God? 5. Describe what the term Jesus Christ means to you. 6. From your perspective, what are the major problems of churches today? 1 This exercise is adapted from Will McRaney, The Art of Personal Evangelism (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2003),

4 4 If the non-christian seems receptive to the Gospel and the student thinks the non- Christian would like to talk further, the student is strongly encouraged to make an evangelistic appeal to the non-christian to trust in Jesus Christ. After each interview, the student will write a brief (two page) reflection on the experience. The reflection will include: A summary paragraph of the interview Significant quote(s) from the non-christian One specific need that the student perceived from the non-christian One thing the student learned about non-christians in general Rationale as to why or why not the Gospel was presented to the non-christian after the interview If the Gospel was presented, what was the outcome? F. Written Evangelistic Testimony (15%) The student will write his/her story of how he/she came to a place to trust in Jesus Christ in language that a non-christian can understand. This evangelistic personal testimony should be written so that the listener (non-christian) can clearly understand how a person can place his/her trust in Jesus Christ. Make sure that the Gospel is included. The person listening to the testimony should be viewed as a lost person. G. Gospel Project (40%) The student will design an original gospel presentation for his/her use in evangelism. The presentation must be theologically sound, attractive, and creative. This gospel presentation should be a product that the student will use after graduation from seminary (even publishable). Ideas for this presentation can be ANY of the following (but not limited to these be creative): A letter to a family member or friend A tract for a specific target group A teaching outline for use with a specific target group A web presentation (flash animation, website, widget, blog entry, Facebook, etc.) A video presentation for use with a specific target group A children s resource (toy, game, teaching tool, etc.) V. COURSE POLICIES A. Letter/Numerical Grade Scale A B C D F 0-69 A B C D A B C D

5 5 B. Late Assignments Late assignments are only accepted with prior notice from the student. Late assignments will be reduced proportionately for each class session that the assignment is late. C. Absences Attendance at each class session is expected. As stated in the student handbook, no more than two weeks, or four absences may be missed without grade penalty. For each unexcused class session beyond four, the final course grade will be lowered. One additional unexcused absence will result in a reduction of one-half a letter grade (i.e., A to A-), two absences will lower the grade an additional step (A to B+), etc. Each student is expected to keep his own attendance records and report any excess absences at the end of the course. D. Discrimination Policy of Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas Theological Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the operation of any of its programs and activities. To avoid discrimination the student is responsible for informing the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities and the course instructor of any disabling condition that will require modifications. VI. COURSE SCHEDULE Class Date Topic Assignment 8/27 Introduction to the Course 8/29 The Mission of God and the Mandate for Evangelism 9/3 What is the Gospel? (Part I) 9/5 What is the Gospel? (Part II) 9/10 Biblical Models of Evangelism: Learning from Jesus (Part I) 9/12 Biblical Models of Evangelism: Learning from Interviews #1 and 2 Jesus (Part II) 9/17 Biblical Models of Evangelism: Learning from Paul (Part I) 9/19 Biblical Models of Evangelism: Learning from Paul (Part II) 9/24 Evangelism in Church History (Part I) 9/26 Evangelism in Church History (Part II) 10/1 The Role of Prayer and the Holy Spirit in Evangelism Chafer response paper 10/3 Presenting the Gospel (Guest Lecture Dr. Larry Moyer: Bad News/Good News ) Written Evangelistic Testimony

6 6 10/8 Evangelism in a New Day: Commending the Gospel in a Post-Everything World 10/10 Encountering Evangelistic Roadblocks: Apologetics, Part I Keller Response Paper 10/15 Encountering Evangelistic Roadblocks: Interviews #3 and 4 Apologetics, Part II 10/17 Boldness in Evangelism (Guest Lecture Dr. Larry Moyer: Principle of Divine Boldness 10/22 Establishing New Believers: Follow Up, Part 1 10/24 Establishing New Believers: Follow Up, Part 2 Third book response paper 10/29 Summary and Review Gospel Project, Interviews #5 and 6