Introduction to Personal Evangelism
A Core Unit for first-year students which will ensure that you can give a clear and theologically sound presentation of the gospel and answer key apologetic questions within a range of worldview frameworks.
Workload: One semester, 2 credit points, 16 contact hours plus field work (see below)
Status: Ridley Core. ACT Type B Elective
Who: Rev. Dr. Tim Foster
Purpose
This course is designed to ensure that you can communicate the gospel and answer key apologetic questions.
The key aims are to:
- equip you to communicate and defend the gospel in personal evangelism.
- model an approach to training others for evangelism that you can use
- address key theological and practical issues in evangelism
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit you will:
- be able to articulate a gospel outline that engages contemporary Australians ;
- understand the theological foundations of this gospel outline
- answer common objections to Christianity;
- have engaged in evangelism;
- be able to equip others in evangelism.
1. Classroom Component
Classes are divided in four parts
- Network News - hearing how others are going in their evangelistic conversations, and praying for one another;
- Player - looking at who is involved in our evangelistic activity;
- Proclamation - considering the theological foundation of our gospel outline;
- Perspectives - examining different worldviews and answering tough questions from different perspectives.
2. Field Work Component
Throughout this unit you will be set tasks relating to personal evangelism. Those taking this option will need to have a non-Christian in mind who they are prepared to engage with in a fairly open way.
This engagement may be initiated by telling the person that you need to engage with someone with another worldview for a subject you are taking at college. Otherwise you can initiate the conversations more naturally. You will also engage your Christian network in praying for your and supporting you in this.
In addition to regularly praying for this person, the type of tasks you will undertake over several weeks include asking them if they know you are a Christian, asking them what they think a Christian is, what their experience of Christians has been like, what they think of Jesus. You will also set up and host a social event for your network.
3. Homework
Memory Work
One key aspect of this unit is memorising the gospel outline, along with its illustrations. In addition you will have to know how to answer tough questions. This will constitute much of the preparation required for the exam.
Reading
Each lecture there is set reading of 5-8. You will have to provide topical summary of 25 words for each reading.
4. Assessment
Field Work Diary
Weight: 25%
Submission of a diary documenting your field work.
Exam
Duration: 2 hours
Weight: 75%
Written, oral and worldview exam will be held during exam week.
4. Recommended Texts
The following texts are recommended in order of importance:
Webber, Robert E., Ancient-Future Evangelism: Making Your Church a Faith-forming Community. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2003.
Keller, Timothy, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Dutton, 2008.
Dickson, John, Promoting the Gospel: A practical guide to the biblical art of sharing your faith Sydney: Blue Bottle Books, 2005.
5. Timetable
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Players |
Proclamation |
Perspectives |
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Feb |
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1 |
March |
Introducing the Approach |
The Five Bases |
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March |
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2 |
March |
God |
First Days |
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March |
Reading Week |
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Mar |
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3 |
April |
Your Friend: The Journey |
Dark Days |
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4 |
April |
The Christian Community |
Jesus |
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April |
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April |
Easter Break |
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May |
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5 |
May |
You: Sharing Your Hope |
Last Day |
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May |
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6 |
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Our Community Life |
Today |
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June |
Swot Vac |
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June |
EXAM |
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