TERM
Winter 2013
January 7 – March 18, 2013
FACULTY INFORMATION
Paula Benson, MDiv, D.Min. candidate
Bethel Seminary, PO 7052
paula-benson@bethel.edu
Cell Phone: 763-229-0020
GC503DE: Evangelism and Missions – InMinistry Section 10
Course Description:
This course will further apply various aspects of the 4-R model, with special focus on the capacities
of the DICE +1 leader serving in the spokesperson leadership role. This will be accomplished by
laying a biblical foundation for the mission of the church in the world, as well as for a biblical
theology and practice of evangelism. The goal of this course is to empower participants to develop
and implement effective, Spirit-directed, and biblically based strategies to reach lost people and to
make disciples of all who believe among all the peoples of the world.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this course the student should be able to . . .
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
To provide a biblical and theological rationale for the global mission of the church
To provide a biblical and theological rationale for the practice of evangelism
To deepen one's grasp and experience of God's passion and plan to redeem lost people
To understand how a local church and/or ministry agency can become effective as a center
for global evangelization
To grow in the appreciation and communication of one's personal story in the evangelistic
process
To gain confidence in developing culturally sensitive strategies that effectively reach diverse
audiences with the Gospel
To design, develop and begin implementing a personal plan for continuing development as a
"World Christian" in the tasks of local and global evangelization and discipleship
To gain an increasing understanding and appreciation for the wide range of research and
resources available in the study of evangelism theory and practice
Required Texts:

Pocock, M., Van Rheenen, G, & McConnell, D. The Changing Face of World Missions. Grand
Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005. ISBN-978-0-8010-2661-4.
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
1

Richardson, Rick. Reimagining Evangelism. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
ISBN-978-0-8308-3342-0.

Stetzer, Ed & Putman, David. Breaking the Missional Code. Nashville: Broadman & Holman
Publishers, 2006. ISBN-978-0-8054-4359-2.

Winter, Ralph D., and Steven C. Hawthorne, eds. Perspectives on the World Christian
Movement: A Reader. 4th Edition. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009.
ISBN-978-0-87808-390-9. (Required articles: chapters 1, 4, 9, 13, 36, 41, 51, 55, 83, 84, 95,
125, 128, 131, 136.)
Self-Selected Reading:

Winter, Ralph D., and Steven C. Hawthorne, eds. Perspectives on the World Christian
Movement: A Reader. 4th Edition. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2009. (Please select
3-5 additional articles in the Perspectives book that interest you. Focus your reading of these
articles on a specific contextual question or issue related to global missions).
Optional Resources:

Hybels, Bill, and Mark Mittelberg. Becoming a Contagious Christian. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1994. ISBN-0-310-48500-2.

Mittelberg, Mark. Building a Contagious Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing
House, 2000. ISBN-0-310-22149-8.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Submission Guidelines:
1. All assignments are to be typed in Calibri 12-point font (or an approximate size equivalent),
double-spaced and submitted electronically.
2. Please label your submitted work as follows: “Your Last Name.Initial of Your First
Name.Assignment Name” (ex: Benson.P.IntegrativeProject).
*Weekly Reading in the Required Text
*Weekly Moodle Interaction/Discussion (15%)
It is expected that each student be well prepared; with an attitude that facilitates learning. This
portion of the overall course grade reflects that preparation and also that of a student whose
interaction throughout the course fosters learning for themselves and for others. This includes
completing the reading assignments and engaging in the material during online discussions.
Weekly Moodle interaction is expected per the instructor’s weekly postings.
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
2
*Assignment: Biblical Philosophy of Evangelism (20%)
Study the fifteen Biblical passages assigned below, observing what each passage reveals
(through instruction, example or inference) about evangelism concerning:
 God and his role in evangelism (The Master)
 The audience in evangelism (The Masses)
 Believers as messengers in evangelism (The Messengers)
 The message communicated (The Message)
 The methods used to communicate, including the relational contexts (The Methods)
On the basis of these passages and the insights drawn from them, write a Biblical Philosophy
of Evangelism paper (1000-1500 words, or about 4-6 pages). The paper should articulate
principles of biblical evangelism, interacting with the five primary areas of focus (God, the
audience, the messenger, the message and methods) and providing support from these
biblical texts:
 John 1:35-51
 John 4:1-42
 Luke 10:1-24
 Matthew 28:16-20
 Luke 24:45-49 & Acts 1:8
 Acts 2:41
 Acts 8:26-40
 Acts 11:19-26
 Acts 17:16-34
 Romans 1:8-17
 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
 1 Corinthians 9:15-23
 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2
 Philippians 1:12-30
 1 Thessalonians 1:4-2:12
[Tip: Make a worksheet by creating a separate page for each of the five areas of focus
(Master, Masses…). Record your observations with references from the passages on each
page. After surveying all fifteen passages, reread your observations and synthesize your
findings into summary principles. These will form the basis of your paper. You may use the
5-M’s (Master, Masses…) as the outline for your paper.]
*Assignment: Faith Story (10%)
Using the Faith Story exercise for preparation, complete a 500-750 word (1-2 page) paper
telling your faith story for an unbelieving audience, as a means to communicate coming to
and experiencing Christ in your life. Note "Faith Story Guidelines" found in course
documents.
*Assignment: Journal of Spiritual Conversations & Witness (Verbatim) (25%)
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
3
Developing as leaders in mission and evangelism necessitates personal engagement with and
understanding of lost people. You will submit a journal of four significant spiritual
conversations in which you explore the thinking and experience of individuals who are not
yet Christ-followers, with at least two involving clear communication of the gospel through
your personal story or through a gospel explanation. See the Verbatim Instructions for how
to write up your journal (i.e. Introduction; Body: Context, Conversation, Reflection,
Evaluation; Conclusion) in the course documents.
*Assignment: Final Integrative Project (30%)
This assignment has been identified as a required integrative assignment that you may wish to
review and reference in future integrative coursework.
OPTION 1:
Design a biblically based, effective and sustainable church based initiative for mobilizing your
local church in world mission. Assuming the spokesperson and/or coaching leadership role
and communicating to other church leaders and members (or potential participants),
articulate a comprehensive plan for how you will lead a local church mission strategy. It
should address in 2,500-3,500 words (10-14 pages) the following four elements crucial to
leading a church based missions initiative:
1. Vision Casting: Cast a compelling vision (to your leaders, team or congregation) based upon
your study of the biblical panorama of the global mission of God in the world. This portion
should identify key biblical texts related to a theology of God's mission in the world.
2. Strategy Formulating: A detailed description of strategies for implementing the biblical
world mission of God in your local church setting. It should be clear what you are doing, how
you will do it and what the anticipated results will be.
3. Aligning: A plan to align people and resources behind the mission effort of the local church,
with special emphasis on how your aligned people will connect with American missionaries,
national partners and international opportunities.
4. Motivating: A plan for motivating and equipping your people to sustain the mission effort in
the face of potential difficulties and obstacles.
OPTION 2:
Design a biblically based, effective and sustainable church based initiative for equipping and
mobilizing the laity of your church in the practice of local evangelism. Assuming the
spokesperson and/or coaching leadership role and communicating to other church leaders
and members (or potential participants), articulate a comprehensive plan for how you will
lead a local evangelistic strategy. It should address in 2,500-3500 words (10-14 pages) the
following four elements crucial to leading a church based evangelistic initiative:
1.
Vision Casting: Cast a compelling vision (to your leaders, team or congregation) based upon
your study of the biblical panorama of mission and evangelism. This portion should identify
key biblical texts related to a theology of evangelism. It should serve to ground your
evangelism plan in God’s overall mission purposes and plan.
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
4
2. Strategy Formulating: A detailed description of strategies for implementing the effective
biblical evangelism in your local setting. It should be clear what you are doing, how you will
do it and what the anticipated results will be.
3. Aligning: A plan to align people and resources behind the local strategy, with special
emphasis on how your aligned people will connect with the unbelieving and unchurched
population in your area.
4. Motivating: A plan for motivating and equipping your people to sustain the evangelistic
initiative in the face of potential opposition and obstacles.
*Course Evaluations:
Student course assessments are an important part of course development and enhancement.
Completing the course evaluation at the end of this course is included as a component of class
participation. While your responses are anonymous, failure to submit an electronic evaluation will
reduce your course grade by 2%. For any questions regarding the course evaluation process, please
go to https://bethelnet.bethel.edu/ureg/bssp/eval_index.
Course Grading:
Moodle Interaction/Discussion:
Biblical Philosophy of Evangelism:
Verbatim
Faith Story
Integrative Project
15%
20%
25%
10%
30%
Course Evaluation (Required. Failure to submit evaluation will reduce your course grade by 2%.)
The course grade will be the total of all assignments, based on the scale below:
A……95-100
B……85-87
C……75-77
D……65-67
A-…..92-94
B-…..82-84
C-…..72-74
D-…..62-64
B+….88-91
C+….78-81
D+….68-71
F……Below 62
A final grade of “A” (95-100) is reflective of an extremely high demonstrated quality level for
graduate studies with reference to the areas of (a) class preparation-participation, and (b)
accomplishment of the course assignments according to the stated criteria for each assignment.
A final grade of “B” (85-87) is reflective of an average demonstrated quality level for graduate
studies for these categories. A final grade of “C” (75-77) is reflective of a below average
demonstrated quality level for graduate studies for these categories.
EXPECTED WORK QUALITY
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
5
Ultimately, what is important from this class is your personal growth and development, and in
particular, what God does to prepare you for more effective ministry and leadership. Your grade
cannot adequately measure this priority, but rather serves as a reflection of your ability and
performance in mastering the subject matter and interacting at a graduate studies level.
The following comments should help you understand expectations and perform to the best of your
ability.
Reading and Group Interactions:
The following process will allow you to gain the most from your reading in an efficient manner and
enable you to post critical and constructive responses of substantive value.
i.
Examine the book or reading assignment, taking a few minutes to gain an overview. (For
books, read the publisher comments (on the cover), the table of contents, the forward
and/or introduction. This should give you a general idea of the author’s purposes and plan in
writing.)
ii. Write 1-3 questions that you would like to answer from your reading. These questions
should represent what you sense to be valuable from this book or reading assignment for
you and your ministry and will serve as your primary learning objectives for that reading
assignment.
iii. Read the assignment, paying attention to what the author is trying to communicate and
what you are trying to discover (i.e., your primary learning objectives.)
iv. Post a response to your reading on the discussion board, stating your learning
objective/question and what you discovered in the material. Your post should: 1. Interact
with the author’s point of view, assumptions, or key concepts presented, and 2. Share the
insight(s) you gained, the implications for leadership and/or applications to your ministry.
Writing Papers:
Each assignment will be graded based around the following areas:
(1) Quality of Writing – see below
(2) Quality of Content – see below
(3) And finally: Did you specifically engage the assignment? Did you address the questions
and/or particulars of the assignment as they were posed? Did you do what the
assignment asked?
1. Quality of Writing: This is a graduate course. As such each assignment should reflect
appropriately high standards for:
(a) clarity of language,
(b) the development of well-informed arguments, and
(c) the documentation of evidence cited for your arguments or position. (Please refer to the
Turabian Style Manual for the proper format, citation, and styles to use.)
Papers should be reasonably free from errors in spelling and grammar, and should utilize gender
inclusive language unless it violates a theological conviction.
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
6
2. Quality of Content: Assignments will be evaluated on the following content-oriented criteria:
a. The level of analysis of the concerns, problems, and questions addressed in your work. For
instance, a simple and surface (even though accurate) articulation and application of
information learned in your reading and in class sessions will not meet the standards for an
“A” on the assignment. An “A” assignment will vigorously process the information learned
through the framework of the Bible, expert content, and personal values and experience
such that issues critical to the assignment are addressed. An “A” assignment will
demonstrate that you have deeply thought about the issues and questions identified in the
assignment.
b. The level of synthesis of course material evidenced by your work. Did you make use of the full
range of course material relevant to the assignment, appropriately differentiating,
combining, integrating, and applying the materials to the issue at hand? Does your work
reflect that you have carefully read and thoughtfully integrated all relevant course material,
including class sessions?
c. The level of evaluation and critical reflection evidenced in your work. Did you employ
appropriate criteria (eg., the Bible, personal values, personal experience, expert opinion) for
making critical judgments and for arriving at considered conclusions with reference to the
issues at hand? After being informed by the Bible, expert opinion, class reading and
discussions, and personal experience, did you come to a set of biblical-based, well-reasoned,
and well-defended conclusions?
Note:
Students will be penalized for submitting assignments late unless extenuating
circumstances are involved or the professor’s permission is received.
Academic Course Policies:
Please familiarize yourself with the catalog requirements as specified in the Academic Course
Policies document found on the Registrar’s website at:
https://bethelnet.bethel.edu/ureg/bssp/acp/. You are responsible for this information, and any
academic violations, such as plagiarism, will not be tolerated.
COURSE SCHEDULE
**Accompanying lectures, PowerPoints, videos and instructions will be found in Moodle for each
week. It is expected that you read, listen to, and/or engage with each of the topics as presented in
Moodle.
Week 1 – Jan 7 - 13
Post: Discussion Forum (Self Introduction)
Bible Study: as per Moodle instructions
Read: Perspectives on the World Christian Movement – ch 1, 4, 9
Listen: Lectures – Introduction
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
7
A Biblical Theology of Missions – OT
Reflect: Begin reflecting on your faith story – see guidelines in Moodle
Prayer: Make (or update) your personal prayer list for “outsiders,”
unbelieving or unchurched individuals from your life and
ministry.
Week 2 – Jan 14-20
Read: Perspectives – ch. 13, 136 (look up passages for one or more of
the topics addressed)
Bible Study: as per Moodle instructions
Listen: Lecture – A Biblical Theology of Missions in the NT
DUE: Faith Story – due 1-17
Post: In Discussion Forum post your Faith Story (1-17). Then read &
respond to at least 2 of your classmates’ posts for 1-19.
Conversations: Seek opportunities to engage with “outsiders” in
significant spiritual conversations. (See Verbatim)
Optional Reading: If you feel the need for additional equipping in
personal evangelism, please read applicable sections of
Becoming
a Contagious Christian.
Week 3 – Jan 21-27
Read: The Changing Face of World Missions – ch. 4, 6 12
Bible Study: Complete the passages for Biblical Philosophy of
Evangelism assignment
Listen: Lectures – Toward a Theology & Practice of Evangelism
Context & Contextualization
Post: Respond to questions found in Discussion Forum with an initial
post due 1-24. Interact with at least 2 of your classmates’ posts
by 1-26.
Week 4 – Jan 28-Feb 3
Read: Devotional found in Moodle
Begin reading Reimagining Evangelism
Lecture: Equipping & Caring for the Messenger
Post: Interact with the Devotional for the week by discussing the
questions found in Moodle – due 1-31. Then interact with at
least
2 classmates – due 2-2.
DUE: Biblical Philosophy of Evangelism paper – due 2-2.
Week 5 – Feb 4-10
Read: Perspectives – ch 83. After reading the whole report, select one
of the nine topics and work through the discussion questions at
the end of the section.
Post: A summary of insights and principles from the above discussion –
due 2-7. Then respond to at least 1 classmate - due 2-9.
Read: Reimagining Evangelism
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
8
Week 6 – Feb 11-17
Week 7 – Feb 18-24
Post: Thoughts & interactions with Reimagining Evangelism. See
Moodle for details. Initial post due 2-14. Interact with at least 2
classmates’ posts – due 2-16.
Read: Begin reading Perspectives – ch. 36, 41, 54, 84, 95, 125, 128, 131
As well as 3-5 additional chapters selected according to your
Interests.
Begin: Preparation for your Final Integrative Project. Select option, and
begin research.
Read: Continue reading Perspectives – ch. 36, 41, 54, 84, 95, 125, 128,
131. As well as 3-5 additional chapters selected according to
your
interests.
View: Jason Mandryck’s State of the Gospel at
http://harvestmediaministry.com/State_Gospel_Full.htm or
Read same Perspectives – Ch 55 – The State of the Gospel
Read: The Changing Face of World Missions – ch. 3, 9
Listen: Lecture – Global Evangelism & People Reaching
Post: Thoughts and interactions from this weeks readings according to
instructions found in Moodle. Initial post due 2-21. Interact with
at least 2 classmates’ posts due 2-23.
Week 8 – Feb 25-Mar 3
Read: Breaking the Missional Code
Post: Post a list of evangelism resources and a list of missions
resources. See Moodle for additional guidelines. This is to extend
our awareness beyond the class. Due 3-2.
Week 9 – Mar 4-10
Post: Thoughts and interactions from Breaking the Missional Code,
follow instructions in Moodle. Initial post due 3-7. Interact with
at least 2 classmates’ posts due 3-9.
DUE: Verbatim-Journal of Spiritual Conversations and Witness. Be sure
to follow the Verbatim Instructions. Due 3-9.
Week 10 – Mar 11-17
Post: Reflection on God has used this course in your development as a
leader in missions and evangelism.
Submit: Course evaluation
DUE: Final Integrative Paper – due 3-18.
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
9
Additional Information:



Each topic will have a PowerPoint presentation
Lectures for the accompanying PowerPoint may be in audio format or written in the NOTES
section of each PowerPoint slide. The title slide of each presentation will state the format of the
lecture
Each assignment is to be submitted by the end of the day on the date it is due
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
10
Professor’s Perspective on Teaching and Learning!
Typically, what one receives from a course of instruction is directly related to what one puts into
that course. As adult learners, I expect you to be active and engaged, pursuing growth in at least
five different areas of your lives:
1. This course involves considerable cognitive content which if adequately and accurately
perceived can positively impact your lives and ministries.
2. In addition, it is my sincerest desire that you open yourselves up to growth in the affective
(attitudinal) dimension of your lives and ministries—oftentimes, we need to change the
attitudes we carry with us into the various tasks related to Christian ministry.
3. Furthermore, missiology is a very practical discipline which demands that one develop
practical skills which can positively impact the effectiveness of one’s ministry—knowing how
to use knowledge is wisdom.
4. Most ministry tasks of necessity involve working with others—team ministry. It is my
prayer that this course will provide you valuable insights into how to further develop your
relational skills, an absolute necessity for successful ministry.
5. Finally, a real theological education should foster personal spiritual growth.
My personal goal, particularly during our time together, is to foster growth in these five dimensions
of your lives. However, that can only happen if you are open and willing to grow in these five ways!
Please also note that I am more than willing to make myself available at times convenient to you for
further discussions related to this course, the topic of cross-cultural ministry, or other areas as
appropriate.
Disclaimer:
This syllabus is intended to reflect accurately the course description, content outline, objectives,
grading criteria, written projects, and other information necessary for students to appraise the
course. However, during the course of the term the professor reserves the right to modify any
portion of this syllabus as may appear necessary because of events and circumstances that may
change during the term of study.
gc503de-w13-s10-benson-im.docx
11