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REGENT COLLEGE Distance Education APPL 522: CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND EQUIPPING: THE MAKING OF MATURING DISCIPLES OF JESUS SUMMER 2014 Lecturer: Darrell Johnson Course Instructor: Tony Tremblett,
[email protected] 3 graduate credit hours Course website: https://moodle.regent-college.edu/course/ Your start date: May 12, 2014 Your due date: November 12, 2014
Course Description In this course we seek to lay biblical, theological and practical foundations for the Church’s work of discipling, educating and equipping the whole people of God for life and ministry in and for the world. The course works from the assumption that “education” and “equipping” are sub-sets of “making disciples”. We will take considerable time to work through key biblical texts on discipleship, always with an eye toward hands-on application. We will also take time to work through a philosophy of education, looking at different models and theories of human learning. We will then work through ways of equipping God’s people to serve out of their Spirit-given giftedness “in the marketplace”. Learning Outcomes: - Gaining a better grasp of Jesus’ call to discipleship - Understanding of the dynamics of disciple-making - Developing a working philosophy of how different types of people learn - Developing curriculum for use in the parish or mission center - Developing small group materials - Developing a grid for evaluating church education resources - Identifying one’s own particular call within the ministries of discipling, educating and equipping the saints - Being discipled a bit further on one’s own journey Class Outline Lecture Title
Lecture A (CD 1, 2)
The Call to Discipleship
Discussion Due Thursday
May 15
a. Church Work and the Work of the Church [survey of key biblical texts] b. Inductive Study of Key Texts c. Deductive Study of Key Texts DE APPL 522 JOHNSON
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Lecture B (CD 3,4)
John 14-16
May 22
a. The “Space” in which we are called to Discipleship: In the Absence of Jesus’ Physical Presence b. A New Life and a New Way to Live It Lecture C (CD 5,6) a. b. c. d. e.
Matthew as a “Discipleship Manual”
May 29
The Sermon on the Mount The Sermon on Mission The Sermon on Mystery The Sermon on Management The Sermon on the Mount (of Olives)
Lecture D (CD 7,8)
So, What IS the Gospel?
June 5
a. The Gospel: What is it? b. The Gospel: An Attempt to Say it Lecture E (CD 9,10)
Ephesians as a “Discipleship Manual” Paul Williams: Equipping the Marketplace
June 12
Lecture F (CD 11,12)
Teaching the Book of Job
June 19
READING BREAK
no lectures or discussions
Lecture G (CD 13,14)
Teaching Genesis 1-3
July 3
Lecture H (CD 15,16)
Teaching Disciples to Pray
July 10
Lecture I (CD 17,18)
Helping Disciples Discern & Deploy the Gifts of the Spirit
July 17
Lecture J (CD 19,20)
Helping Disciples Listen to the “Voice” of Jesus
July 24
Lecture K (CD 21,22)
Marks of a Maturing Disciple
July 31
Please note: we have endeavored to provide most of the lecture notes that were distributed to the class. However, there are a few that cannot be included for copyright reasons.
Academic Requirements and Time Investment 3 cr hrs Online Discussion 15 hrs Lectures 22 hrs Reading (700 pgs) 35 hrs Reading Annotations 3 hrs
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Designing Small Group Booklet or Educational Course Evaluating Curriculum TOTAL
35 hrs 25 hrs 135 hrs
Assignments: 1. Online Discussion. Students must contribute substantively to the online forums on the Regent College Moodle site. Each week there will be an online discussion based on the lectures for that week. You should contribute to discussions each week; minimally, you are required to make substantial contributions to at least 9 of the 11 weekly discussions; these should involve both responses to the original question from the course Facilitator and responses to other students’ comments. While substance is more important than length, think in terms of about 250 words per week as a minimum. The purpose of the online forums is to promote genuine discussion of the issues. Thus, you are encouraged to contribute to the notice boards freely, asking questions, raising issues, consider practical implications, responding to other students, etc. Assessment will be based on how well you demonstrate your understanding of the course material (lectures and readings), of issues that arise from that material, and of your ability to communicate clearly. DUE: Weekly as lectures are completed
2. Evaluation of Curriculum Please email the course grader,
[email protected], for APPROVAL of the curriculum you are choosing. You may work with other students or people in your congregation/community for this assignment. Evaluate one of the educational curriculum resources being used by local congregations in our time. (If you are a member of a particular denomination, feel free to evaluate its published material). This assignment may be done in collaboration with up to four other students [the project submitted under all the team’s names, each receiving the same mark]. Because of the potential scope of such a project, you may focus on a particular age range (ie. youth, adults, seniors, etc). This project should include: a. A summary and evaluation of the curriculum’s philosophy of Christian education. b. A summary and evaluation of the curriculum’s use of the Bible (“proof-text-ing”, “grand story”, “moral code book”, etc.). c. An assessment of the curriculum’s understanding of what it means to be human apart from Christ and in Christ. d. An assessment of the curriculum’s understanding of the Gospel. (What is the good news? How wide a scope of presentation? Etc.). e. An assessment of the curriculum’s understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. f. An assessment of the way each lesson is developed.
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g. An indication of how you might need to modify the material so it is more consistent with your own understanding of education as disciple-making. *Ensure that you give yourself enough time to receive approval from your Course Grader before proceeding with your evaluation. Your Evaluation must submitted/postmarked by your DUE DATE that is set according to the Student Contract you signed. 3A. Educational Course Design a six-week education course for a local congregation on either a major theme of Christian Life and Faith [Walking by Faith, the Life of Jesus, Four Pictures of the Cross, The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit, the Ministry of Women in the Bible, Spiritual Warfare, the Preferential Option for the Poor, etc]. Submit for this assignment: a. An introduction to the course with: - Purpose of the course - Hope for outcomes [especially in terms of discipleship] - Course format and educational strategy b. Lesson plans for each session c. Outline of the material to be covered in each session d. Bibliography of both sources you will use and resources you will encourage participants to use e. Description of the people for whom the course is structured (youth, young adults, married with kids, etc) OR 3B. Small Group Bible Study Booklet Design and write-up a six to eight week small group study booklet on a book of the Bible for use in a local congregation. You may also work with someone from your congregation or another student [to earn a shared grade] for this assignment. Submit for this assignment: a. A separate introductory paper (one or two pages) with: - Purpose of the study - Hoped for outcomes (especially in terms of discipleship) - Assumptions you are making about the people involved - Your expectations of the people (which should also be stated in the booklet) b. The booklet itself, which should contain (in your own creative way) - An introduction to the study Why this biblical book? Format of the study Group expectations - An introduction, background of the biblical book - Each of the separate weekly studies Questions for preparation Questions for the group time
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Application – “discipleship implications” Suggestions to the group facilitator on how to: Use the booklet Lead the sessions
Note: Either of these projects may be done in collaboration with people from your congregation/community. Questions regarding this or other assignments can be answered by the Course Tutor (
[email protected]). 4. Reading and Reading Annotations Read: (i) Israel Galindo’s The Craft of Christian Teaching (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1998), (ii) plus three other books, one from each of the three headings below. These readings can be counted as part of your reading for other assignments. Your reading should add up to a combined required total of 700 pages (in some cases this may mean supplementing the books you choose from the general bibliography). Students should submit a half-page annotation on each of three of the books they have read, stating the two or three major benefits of the book for education and equipping. A list of the all books and pages you have read should also be submitted. Reading Annotations are to be submitted/postmarked by your DUE DATE. a. Disciple Making Greg Ogden, Transforming Discipleship OR David Watson, Called and Committed b. Education Larry Richards, Creative Bible Teaching OR Wilhoit & Ryken, Effective Bible Teaching c. Equipping Ministry Sue Mallory, The Equipping Church OR Greg Ogden, Unfinished Business
Evaluation 3 cr hrs Online Discussion Educational Course OR Small Group Booklet Evaluation of Church Curriculum Reading Annotations
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15% 45% 35% 5%
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NB: The Course Evaluation Form must be returned by your due date Bibliography on Discipleship and Disciple-Making Banks, Robert. Paul’s Idea of Community: The Early Churches in Their Historical Setting. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1980. 200 pages Bankson, Marjory. The Call to the Soul: Six Stages of Spiritual Development. Innis Free Press, 1999, 185 pages Blackaby, Henry and Claude King. Experiencing God. Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1994. 175 pages Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. Simon and Shuster. 316 pages _______. Life Together. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins, 1954. 122 pages Bruce, A.B. The Training of the Twelve. Kregel Publications, 1971. 545 pages Coleman, Robert. The Masterplan of Evangelism. Fleming H. Revell Co., 1964. 126 pages Coppedge, Allan. The Biblical Principles of Discipleship. Grand Rapids, MI: Asbury Press, 1989, 166 pages Dunn, James D. G. Jesus’ Call to Discipleship. Cambridge University Press, 1992. 128 pages Eims, Leroy. The Lost Art of Disciple Making. Zondervan Publishing House, 1978. 157 pages Fowler, James. Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian: Adult Development and the Christian Faith. San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row, 1984. 147 pages Guiness, Os. The Call. Word Publishers, 1998. 247 pages Henderson. Michael. John Wesley’s Class Meeting: A Model for Making Disciples. Nappaneo, IN: Evangelical Publishing House, 1997. 169 pages Hettinga, John. Follow Me: Experience the Loving Leadership of Jesus. NavPress, 1996. 267pp. Hull, Bill. Building High Commitment in a Low Commitment World. Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 1995. 199 pages ____. The Disciple Making Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 1990. 251 pages ____. The Disciple Making Pastor. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell Books, 1988. 250 pages ____. New Century Disciplemaking. Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming Revell, 1984. 238 pages Kempis, Thomas. The Imitation of Christ. Image Books, 1955. Lewis, C.S. Screwtape Letters. London: Fount, 1977. 160 pages Mortimer, Arias. Announcing the Reign of God. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress, 1984.
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Mulholland Jr., Robert. Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. 168 pages Ogden, Greg. Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVaristy Press, 2003. 57 pages ____. Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003. 200 pages Ortberg, John, et al. Pursuing Spiritual Transformation. Willow Creek Resources, Zondervan. Sheldon, Charles. In His Steps. Smithmark, NY: 1992. 242 pages. Sider, Ronald. Living Like Jesus: Eleven Essentials for Growing a Genuine Faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996. 180 pages Smith, Gordon T. On the Way. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2001. Stanley, Paul D. and Clinton, J. Robert. Connecting: The Mentoring Relationships You Need to Succeed in Life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1992. 252 pages Warren, Rick. The Purpose-Driven Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. Watson, David. Called and Committeed: World Changing Discipleship. Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers, 1982. 216 pages Watson, David L. Covenant Discipleship: Christian Formation Through Mutual Accountability. Nashville, TN: Discipleship Resources, 1991. 166 pages Wilksin, Michael. Following the Master: A Biblical Theology of Discipleship. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992. 360 pages ____. In His Image. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1997. 208 pages Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy. Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. San Francisco, CA: Harper, 1998. 400 pages ____. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Chnages Lives. San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row, 1988. 265 pages ____. Renovation of the Heart. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002. 256 pages
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