ME 5000—FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN MISSION

SYLLABUS

Nate IrwinTrinity Evangelical Divinity SchoolIndianapolis Extension, College Park ChurchIrwin@yourchurch.com317.875.02822015 dates: Jan. 9,10; Feb. 6,7; March 13,14

Course DescriptionA course designed to help the student learn the biblical, theological, and historical foundations

for Christian mission and then to engage the student in grappling with contemporary issues in the practice of missions, from both the sending and receiving sides.

Learning ObjectivesBy the end of the course, the students should:1. Have an understanding of the biblical basis for missions, from Genesis through Revelation.2. Be able to analyze the theological underpinnings of missions.3. Be familiar with and able to evaluate the history of the missionary endeavors of the church.4. Have a passion for the glory of God among the nations and a compassion for the lost, especially those who have never heard the Gospel.5. Recognize and engage in their own role in God’s global enterprise, at least for this point in time.6. Be acquainted with the major strategic issues in missions today, and be able to articulate their own position on them.7. Have a deepening understanding of and love for the role of the local church as both the beginning and ending point of missions.

Course TextsMoreau, A. Scott, Gary R. Corwin, and Gary B. McGee. Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical,

and Practical Survey. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004.Winter, Ralph D. and Steven C. Hawthorne, Editors. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A

Reader, Fourth Edition. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2009.Pocock, Michael, Gailyn Van Rheenen, and Douglas McConnell. The Changing Face of World Missions:

Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005.Speer, Robert. “What Constitutes a Missionary Call?” (handout)

For book review:DeYoung, Kevin and Greg Gilbert. What is the Mission of the Church: Making Sense of Social Justice,

Shalom, and the Great Commission. Wheaton: Crossway, 2011.Allen, Roland. Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962.

For additional reading:Borthwick, Paul. Western Christians in Global Mission: What’s the Role of the North American Church?

Downers Grove: IVP books, 2012.Dubose, Francis. God Who Sends. Nashville: Broadman, 1983.Engel, James and William Dyrness. Changing the Mind of Missions: Where Have We Gone Wrong?

Downers Grove: IVP, 2000.

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ME 5000—FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN MISSION

Glenny, W. Edward and William Smallman. Missions in a New Millennium: Change and Challenges inWorld Missions. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2000.

Guthrie, Stan. Missions in the Third Millennium: 21 Key Trends for the 21st Century. Waynesboro, GA: Paternoster, 2000.

Olson, C. Gordon. What in the World is God Doing: The Essentials of Global Missions. Cedar Knolls,N.J.: Global Gospel Publishers, 1988.

Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad! Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993.Terry, John Mark, Ebbie Smith, and Justice Anderson. Missiology: An Introduction to the Foundations,

History, and Strategies of World Missions. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1998.Tucker, Ruth. From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions. Grand Rapids:

Zondervan, 1983.Wright, Christopher. The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative. Downers Grove: IVP,

2006.

Course Requirements and Grading1. Regular class attendance and participation in discussion (10%)2. Readings as assigned, with written summary and/or quizzes as assigned (20%)3. Critical book review of either DeYoung or Allen—5 pages (15%)

Due March 134. Class presentation on missionaries of your choice (15%)

You will be researching and comparing the background, motivation, ministry, struggles, successes, failures, and joys of your missionaries

You should work in pairs, each person preparing a report on one of the missionaries in the couplets below. Spend some time in comparative interaction, either in person, on the phone, or by e-mail

Choose from:o Francis Xavier/Raymond Lullo David Brainerd/Count Nicolas von Zinzendorfo William Carey/Adoniram Judsono John Paton/CT Studdo Mary Slessor/Gladys Aylwardo Helen Roseveare/Amy Carmichaelo John and Betty Stamm/Jim and Elizabeth Elliotto Donald McGavran/Ralph Winter

Prepare a 30 minute oral report for class (per pair), with a one-page handout Due Feb. 6

4. Personal involvement summary paper (10%) This is to be a personal reflection of your own convictions about missions and about where you

sense God has gifted and is calling you to be involved. Think of it as your personal missions manifesto. It should include some actual experiences in your church’s missions program.

Due March 135. Final exam (30%)

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ME 5000—FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN MISSION

Course Outline

WEEK ONE: The ScripturesSession 1

The biblical basis for missions: where we find God’s global agenda in the BibleSession 2

The advance of missions in the New Testament The centrality of the local church

Session 3 Theological foundation for missions

o The Kingdom of Godo Heaven and hello The eternal destiny of those who have never heard of Christo Evangelism and social concern

WEEK TWO: The storySession 4

Missions up until William CareySession 5

The modern missionary movementSession 6

World Christianity todayo The global mission forceo Urbanizationo The Pentecostal tsunamio Role of dreams and visions

WEEK THREE: The strategiesSession 7

Culture and world viewo Contextualizationo Insider movement, C spectrumo Translation questions

Spiritual warfareSession 8

Relating to the world’s religions Unreached peoples Orality Church planting movements

o T4To Dependency and the Three Self principleso Training indigenous theologians

Session 9 The role of the local church in sending

o Authority, selection, training and accountabilityo Fundingo Relationship with the agency

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ME 5000—FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN MISSION

o Short term missionso Global professionalso Prayer

The role of the local church in receivingo The working relationship of the missionary with the national church

Now it’s your turn

READING ASSIGNMENTS:Session 1

Moreau, A. Scott, Gary R. Corwin, and Gary B. McGee. Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Survey. Chapters 1-3 (pp. 11-51)

Winter, Ralph D. and Steven C. Hawthorne, Editors. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, Fourth Edition. Chapters 1, 2, 7-9 (pp.3-16; 42-69)

Session 2 Introducing World Missions. Ch. 4 (pp. 52-70) Perspectives. Chs. 20, 21, 25, 26 (pp. 126-136; 149-158)

Session 3 Pocock, Michael, Gailyn Van Rheenen, and Douglas McConnell. The Changing Face of World

Missions: Engaging Contemporary Issues and Trends. Ch. 6 (pp. 161-181) Introducing World Missions. Ch. 5 (pp.71-89) Perspectives. Chs. 13, 14, 16, 29, 93, 136 (pp. 83-97; 100-111; 170-175; 592-597; 764-768)

Session 4 Introducing World Missions. Chs. 6, 7 (pp. 93-135) Perspectives. Chs. 36, 37 (pp.209-238)

Session 5 Introducing World Missions. Ch. 8 (pp. 136-155) Perspectives. Chs. 41, 42, 48 (pp.263-285; 312-318)

Session 6 The Changing Face of World Missions. Chs. 1, 3, 5 (pp. 21-44; 79-104; 131-159) Perspectives. Chs. 55, 56, 61, 86 (pp.361-370; 387-392; 559-564)

Session 7 The Changing Face of World Missions. Chs. 7, 12 (pp. 183-208; 321-348) Introducing World Missions. Ch. 16 (pp. 263-278) Perspectives. Chs. 63, 64, 68, 109-111 (pp. 397-406; 425-429; 663-676)

Session 8 Introducing World Missions. Ch. 18 (pp. 295-310) Perspectives. Chs. 30, 54, 71, 81, 84, 85, 101, 102, 107 (pp. 176-182; 347-360; 440-444; 497-502;

531-558; 627-642; 657-659)

Session 9

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ME 5000—FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN MISSION

The Changing Face of World Missions. Chs. 8, 9, 11 (pp.209-278; 279-297) Introducing World Missions. Chs. 10, 15, 17 (pp. 172-189; 244-262; 279-294) Perspectives. Chs. 27, 78, 125-127, 134, 135 (pp. 159-162; 482-485; 718-730; 752-763)

A personal word:My wife and I, both MK’s from Pakistan, served in Pakistan with TEAM from 1986-2000. After

language study, I taught at and then for 8 years was the principal of Zarephath Bible Institute. Our vision was to train Pakistanis on Pakistani soil to reach Pakistan for Christ.

We returned to the U.S. in 2000 due to health issues. I have been serving in global outreach at College Park Church since 2001 and have been the Pastor of Global Outreach since 2006.

I have an M. Div. from TEDS in missions (1982) and a Th.M. in Old Testament from TEDS (1983), and was ordained by the Evangelical Free Church in 1991.

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