CREATIVE METHODS FOR EVANGELISM AND COMMUNITY IMPACT
PMN 670 01
Summer, 2009
Cincinnati Christian University
3 Graduate Hours
Monday-Friday May 18-22
Dr. Dale Holzbauer
(937) 372-7687
dholzbauer@fccxenia.org
I. Curriculum Data
Course description
This class will meet from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Monday and from 8:00
a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The class will feature several guest
lecturers, the professor of record and a special guest, Bob Russell, who will teach the
entire class on Friday. Class time will consist of lecture, discussion, media, and student
presentations. A fresh look at evangelism will be offered with particular attention paid to
impacting the local community for Christ and His church.
Course Rationale
Evangelism is the heartbeat of the church. Evangelism has taken place in the
most primitive cultures known to man and evangelism is taking place in the most
sophisticated cultures known in human history. The church, when it speaks in terms
which can be understood, will grow if its members desire it to be so and are willing to
pay the price in order for growth to take place. This course is offered in a sincere attempt
to bring revival to the local church as the church makes evangelism, the salvation of the
lost, a priority. The world is increasingly losing its way. Jesus still has the answers and
He still offers salvation.
II. Course Purposes and Objectives
Purposes and Objectives
It will be the purpose of this class to emphasize the critical importance of local
evangelism, that is, evangelism within the particular community where the church is
found. Creativity will be the watchword, but those methods which are “tried and true”
will not be abandoned.
The course will include, but not be limited to, the following:
--overcoming entropy
--a fresh look at the supernatural
--the importance of symbol, media, story
--community partnering
--preaching theology
--cruise ship Christianity vs. battleship Christianity
--intangibles in evangelism
--creative worship
--doing church in a post-Christian society
--evangelism and people skills
--creative discipleship
Successful completion of this course will help the student become more evangelistic and
help the student become one who ignites the passion for evangelism in others. Students
will gain a wealth of knowledge as to both the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of evangelism.
III. Course Resources
Students are required to read a minimum of 1,200 pages for this course.
Suggested authors include: Joe Ellis, Leonard Sweet, Thom Rainer, Bob Russell, George
Barna and Aubrey Malphurs. Any book read should have a strong component of
evangelism, building the local church, understanding the culture from a Christian
concern, etc. If there is doubt in the selection of a book to be read, contact the professor.
Each book selected is to be read in its entirety. Each student will turn in a list of the
books read for this course with a signed statement stating that each book has been read
exclusively for this course---and read in its entirety. The paper is to be turned in on the
Wednesday of the class, May 20 at the beginning of the class.
Further Assignments
Each student is to interview an active evangelist. This individual could be a paid staff
member of a local church. The interview is to last no less than two hours. A two-page
paper summarizing the interview is to be turned in on the first day the class meets, May
18.
Each student’s notebook will be graded on Thursday, May 21 near the close of the class
period. Students utilizing laptop computers are to bring a printed copy of their notes to
class after lunch on May 21. Please note that any and all electronic devices brought into
the class are to be used (during class times) exclusively for note-taking and/or research
pertinent to the class.
The study guide labeled, “For your consideration and discussion” (attached) is to be
commented on in the following manner: Take each of the twenty-five
segments/paragraphs and write down your thoughts, impressions, opinions and ideas.
The total number of pages is to be between twenty-two and twenty-five. This paper is
due at the professor’s address on June 12. Your class notes will prove invaluable in
writing this paper. It is recognized that this is not a ‘scholarly’ paper, nor is it intended to
be a scholarly paper. It will serve, however, as a source of excellent ideas for evangelism
in your community through your local church.
Each student is to attend each class session. Emergencies will be handled on a case-bycase basis. Timely breaks from class will be given throughout the day. Assignments are
to be handed in on the days indicated.
Grades will be assigned as follows:
Major Paper
Notebook
Interview
Reading
Attendance/Participation
30%
15%
15%
25%
15%
The above procedures, assignments, due dates and policies are subject to change as the
class develops.
III. Discussion guide below…
For your consideration and discussion…..
It is generally true that if the lead minister/pastor is not evangelistic, the church will not
be evangelistic.
An unkempt building and grounds will, most likely, send a very clear message re:
evangelism to the surrounding community.
Everyone in the church must be ‘evangelistic’ in order for evangelism to take place.
A church of 75 people (which has been a church of 75 people for decades) cannot
possibly be an evangelistic church.
Brainstorm strategies whereby a small fellowship of Christians can have a global impact
even though they are located in a small, isolated town.
Name some pre-evangelistic strategies, that is, strategies which will come before a
definitive evangelistic effort.
Churches may have a hidden agenda that they may not even be aware of when it comes to
evangelism. That is, a church may officially state that it is interested in seeing the lost
saved, but erect hidden barriers to this being accomplished.
Is it possible for a mega-church not to be evangelistic? If so, how did they get so big?
Several years ago a young child, Jessica, was rescued from an abandoned well at great
cost to the town’s treasury. Was this money well spent? Why?
An old story (possibly apocryphal) comes to us from the American Civil War about an
old Confederate woman who showed up to fight the Union army carrying a garden
implement. When told that she could not possibly fight successfully with that implement
as a weapon, she is said to have replied that “any durn fool knows that, but at least they
will know what side I’m on.” Do you ever feel like her? Why?
Is there wisdom in ‘thinking small’ when it comes to evangelism? Why or why not?
How, specifically, does one’s theology impact evangelistic effort?
How are these elements critical to evangelism: story, testimony, attitude, love,
friendship?
Were we too quick to condemn ‘the social gospel’ of liberalism? Where was it weak?
How is it effective as far as evangelism goes?
Jesus corrected His men several times for their wrong-headed thinking. On one occasion
Jesus said that He would not stop a group from speaking about Him even though they
were not part of His select group. Who would you cooperate with in an all-city
evangelistic effort? Who would you not cooperate with? Why? What is the litmus test?
Is there more than one ‘litmus test’?
What if Christians from five generations ago would have decided to do just two things:
raise their own families to obey and fear the Lord and disciple just one person? What if
Christians of today would decide to do this? What if you would decide to do this---and
teach your church to do the same?
Do you agree/disagree with this old chestnut from days gone by: ‘The Devil doesn’t
have any happy middle-aged or old people?’ The implication here is that sin makes one
unhappy given enough years of indulgence—do you think this is necessarily true?
Can you define these terms: liberal, conservative, charismatic, Pentecostal, fundamental,
evangelical? Why bring these up in a class on evangelism?
Creeping into evangelical circles is the notion that a literal hell does not exist. Clark
Pinnock is one powerful voice who is challenging the church’s teaching on hell. Carlton
Pearson represents another view on this with his teaching on universalism. Annihilation
is an alternate view to the orthodox teaching on hell as is the ‘second-chance’ theory.
How can you justify orthodox teaching on hell in view of society’s attitudes, the
changing landscape of evangelical thought, a strong shift towards being inclusive and the
modern definition of ‘tolerance’?
Can you define these biblical words/concepts: abyss, pit, hades, hell, tartarus, heaven,
hell, sheol, paradise, the grave…and these non-biblical words/concepts: limbo,
purgatory?
Define: justification, sanctification, forgiveness, atonement, substitutionary atonement,
redemption, propitiation, expiation…..
How can a church’s infrastructure hinder evangelism? How can this structure aid in
evangelism?
If you are a minister/preacher/pastor…. (if you are not at the present time, pretend that
you are)
How would you handle the following situations:
An individual wants to sing in your choir, but they are not saved. Should they be
allowed to participate? (The larger issue here is, obviously, what can non-Christians do
in the church? Can they do anything? What about Christians from other communions?)
Why discuss this in an evangelism class?
Is there an advantage in tying the church in with the interests of the community?
Can a church be community minded and still be true to its mission?