Syllabus for Grace Bible Institute
Spring 2015 Theo 104
Personal Evangelism and Apologetics
Mike Sprott, Pastor Grace Bible Church of Tampa
Phone #: (813) 317-0625
Email: bibluver@msn.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A focus on the material and means by which Christians can communicate
the Gospel message and answer the most common arguments against Christianity. Topics will include
Scriptural methods of witnessing and leading persons to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, some history of
apologetics, methods of defending the Christian faith in the face of diverse cultures, opposing
worldviews, and competing religious belief systems. A program of personal discipleship will be
integrated into the course for students to gain practical experience. 2 credits.
OBJECTIVES FOR STUDENT OUTCOMES
Evangelism & Apologetics Course Objectives
•
Summarize the Biblical teaching on the lost condition of humankind;
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Explain the Biblical plan of redemption of lost humankind;
•
Produce a Biblical philosophy of gospel communication;
•
Be able to explain the Gospel to someone who is unfamiliar with Christianity;
•
Be able to execute basic instructions in the basic teachings of Christianity to a person.
•
Define apologetics and explain its role in the Christian faith.
•
Summarize the major historical and philosophical arguments for God’s existence.
•
Critique the major claims against Christianity and produce and answer to such claims.
•
Develop passion and implement skills for engaging in conversations about the Christian faith.
•
Explain personal convictions rooted in a confident belief in the veracity of Christian truth
claims.
BASIS FOR EVALUATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE
The amount of work the student completes determines the grade he receives. The work will all be
graded to confirm the proper level of effort was achieved. If a specific project is not at the level that
the student is attempting to achieve then the final grade could be affected. The student determines the
grade they will receive by the amount of work he or she turns in. The two book reports and
observations from three books of the Bible will be used to help reveal if the student is achieving their
desired grade level for the work they are turning in. The two book reports are due: March 8th and
May 8th. The observations are due February 22nd, March 22nd, and April 19th. The rest of the work
will be turned in as a printed or emailed document by Thursday May 16th. There will also be two
exams that will count 20% of the grade.
1. The requirements for a D in the class.
The following work from the list below is due on time in order to receive a D: A. The
Apologetics Interview & the Gospel presentations; B. The Written Gospel presentations; C. The
Exams; G. Classroom participation and attendance; and H. A five-minute Oral Gospel presentation.
2. The requirements for a C in the class.
The following work from the list below is due on time in order to receive a C: A. The
Apologetics Interview & the Gospel presentations; B. The Written Gospel presentations; C. The
Exams; D. A Book Review; F. Observations on Romans only; G. Classroom participation and
attendance; and H. A five-minute Oral Gospel presentation.
3. The requirements for a B in the class.
The following work from the list below is due on time in order to receive a B: A. The
Apologetics Interview & the Gospel presentations; B. The Written Gospel presentations; C. The
Exams; E. A Book Review; F. Observations on Romans and John; G. Classroom participation and
attendance; and H. A five-minute Oral Gospel presentation.
4. The requirements for an A in the class.
The following work from the list below is due on time in order to receive a B: A. The
Apologetics Interview & the Gospel presentations; B. The Written Gospel presentations; C. The
Exams; D. A Book Review; E. A Book Review; F. Observations on Romans, John and Acts; and H.
Classroom participation and attendance; and I. A five-minute Oral Gospel presentation.
The Assignment list:
A. Apologetics Interview and Gospel presentation: Interview and Written Report:
1) Interview one non-Christian. This person can be an acquaintance, a friend, or a family member. It
can even be a stranger. Ask the person the following questions (with accompanying explanations of
answers):
a) Should religion play an important role in private or public life? If so, how important and why?
What role has religion played in your own life?
b) Do you think there is one true religion? If so, what is it? If not, can religions that make
contradictory claims be true? (E.g., can Christianity, which claims that Jesus is God and that Jesus
died on the cross, be true at the same time as Islam, which claims that Jesus is not God and that Jesus
did not die on the cross?)
c) Do you think some religions are false? If so, give an example and why you think it’s false.
d) Is there one major religious issue that you find very difficult to deal with or answer (such as why
there is evil in the world if God exists or what is the purpose of human life)? Do you want to find
answers to it?
e) Can you summarize in a sentence or two what Christians believe? Do you think you could ever be
convinced that Christianity is true? If so, what would it take? If not, why?
f) What do you think of the Christian church today? Is it a good argument for the truth of Christianity
or not?
2) Write up a report and analysis of your conversation in an essay that is approximately 2000 words
(double-spaced). In your analysis, reflect on your conversation in light of the readings in Christian
Apologetics. What arguments could you have (or did) employ in the conversation. Why would you
use these? What was the worldview perspective of the interviewee (Monotheist, Pantheist, Atheist,
etc.)? What inconsistencies did the interview reveal about their worldview? How would you address
these inconsistencies? Think strategy here and walk through it.
3) Ask them if they mind if you could share with them what biblical Christianity is? Make sure you
cover the five points of the Gospel Presentation.
4) The report is due by 4/30, midnight. Late reports are accepted at a penalty of 10% per day.
B. Written Gospel Presentations: Each student will turn in a preliminary gospel presentation on the
second Thursday of the semester. The student will also be required to memorize a summary outline
for presenting the Gospel to an unbeliever. The student then will write out another Gospel
presentation based on the outline on March 5th in class.
C. The Exam: There will be two exams. There will be a study sheet provided before each of the
exams. The exams will be open notes and open Bible exams.
D. A Book Report: Each student is to write a summary paper of 3-4 pages in length, summarizing
the content of Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer. The paper must include the
student’s personal evaluation of the book. Reflect upon the impact of the book on your personal
evangelism. The goal of this assignment is not to be a historical retelling of the content of the book,
though there should be enough to assure that you have read the book. It should include your personal
interactions with the contents.
E. A Book Report: Each student is to write a summary paper of 3-4 pages in length, summarizing the
content of Biblical Apologetics by Clifford McManis. The paper must include the student’s personal
evaluation of the book. Reflect upon the impact of the book on your personal evangelism. The goal of
this assignment is not to be a historical retelling of the content of the book, though there should be
enough to assure that you have read the book. It should include your personal interactions with the
contents. Ebook is only $3.99 http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0134054003/BiblicalApologetics.aspx
F. Bible Observations: On the days when Bible reading is assigned the student must write down
observations from the text in a notebook or in a Word document to be turned in. An observation must
be a complete sentence on something observed about the Gospel from the text. The complete sentence
can be in the form of a question concerning a thought or concept that the student would like to
understand more. The complete sentence can also include repeated themes from the context. There
must be ONE sentence for every chapter of the Bible the student reads. We will be making our
observations from the following books of the Bible: Romans, John and Acts. Observations should be
Gospel centered. That is, they observe something about God, humanities’ need, God’s provision of
the Lord Jesus, God’s required response to the Gospel or what takes place at salvation.
G. Class Participation & Attendance: Students should be prepared for class and interacting with the
material and other students. Part of the classroom participation is identifying five people you will
pray for the throughout the semester who are in need of the Lord. The student must bring their Bibles
to class and be ready to read every class. Any student that misses more than three unexcused classes
will see a grade reduction.
H. Oral Gospel Presentation: Each man will give a 5-7 minute Gospel presentation. The
presentations will be made at the start of class or one of the services for GBCT. The presentation will
be without notes. ‘The evangelist’ can use a Bible. The Gospel must include the five main points of
a Gospel presentation.
OUTLINE OF WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF CONTENT
Week
Date
1
Jan 24
2
31
Romans 1-5
Feb 7
Romans 5-10
14
Romans 11-16
21
No Class but work on Observations
28
John 1-5
3
4
Mar 7
5
Topic
Introduction & Definitions
7
Initial written Gospel presentation
Romans Observations are due Sunday
22nd
John 6-10 No Class but work on Book
JI Packer Book review is due Sunday
report
the 8th
14
John 11-15
21
John 16-21 No Class but work on
Observations
6
Assignment
28
Acts 1-7
April 4
Acts 8-15
11
Acts 16-22
18
Acts 23-28 No Class but work on
John Observations are due Sunday
22nd
Acts observations are due 19th
observations
8
9
10
25
McManis chapter 1-3
May 2
McManis chapter 4-7
7
McManis chapter 8-11
12
Finish Interview
17
No Class just work on Final
Final Exam due 18th
24
No Class just work on Final Work
Final work is due 25th
Absences/Late Work
McManis Book review is due Sunday
the 8th
•
•
•
The rules regarding absences and tardiness (see the handbook) will be enforced. Work
received late will be marked down one-half letter grade for every day late. Tests may
NOT be taken late unless for serious sicknesses or emergencies as defined by the student
services.
Absences during gray days will count as double absences and will cause the student to forfeit
homework or assignments due on those days
Late Work cannot and will not be accepted past Final exam day. All late work will get the 5%
per day deduction.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL AND RESOURCES
Evangelism
• A copy of the HOLY BIBLE – to be brought to class daily.
• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer, InterVarsity Press, 1961.
• Biblical Apologetics: Advancing and Defending the Gospel of Christ By Clifford B. McManis.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
1. Lecture
2. Discussion
3. Video
4. In class group projects
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY ELEMENTS ADDRESSED
This course seeks to affirm that the Word of God is inspired and is the rule of faith and practice. It
also seeks to affirm that God is the Author of creation and the Source of all truth and that God
through Jesus Christ reveals truth.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Please note the attendance policy as found in the Guide. You are responsible to follow all the
attendance policies stated therein. You are allowed 3 absences from class for personal or illness
reasons. After three, you will be dropped from the class. All work must be completed prior to a
scheduled absence. If you are sick, you should contact me by institute email (bibluver@msn.com)
prior to class.
PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING POLICY
Plagiarism is not tolerated at GBI. Use proper citations for reworded material and quotation marks for
exact words. If you quote yourself from another paper, cite it. Plagiarism is stealing and lying and
carries heavy disciplinary and academic penalties and could result in suspension from the Institute.
The following three statements will help clarify.
Plagrism
•
If you cite your own previous writing, submit that work with your current assignment.
•
Properly cite all research. Use proper documentation for direct quotations, as well as
information restated (paraphrased) in your own words. Only general knowledge should
not be cited.
•
The student who affixes his or her name to the paper must be the sole author of the
paper. Students may consult with the teacher at any point in composing a paper. A typist
or significant other may not ghostwrite, proofread, or correct the paper.
Attribution Errors
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•
•
Papers that have more than two sentence-length attribution errors receive a zero. This
severe penalty reflects the moral disgrace of the offense. Attribution errors comprise
these wrong practices:
Plagiarism: the presenting as one’s own the words or ideas from a source
Misrepresentation: inaccurately presenting the words or ideas from a source
The following are typical attribution errors:
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Failure to use quotation marks for exact words (with or without citation)
•
Failure to cite the words or ideas of a source
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Failure to paraphrase correctly (mixing source and student words without quotation
marks around the source’s words)
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Failure to give the correct location of a source (wrong source or wrong page number)
Cheating
•
Cheating is copying another’s work and claiming it as your own original work, whether
it is on a homework assignment, quiz, test, exam, or project. Group work is designated
as such by the faculty.
•
Cheating is not tolerated at GBI; students who cheat will receive a “0” on the
assignment and could be suspended from the Institute.