VMI 111 Introduction to Evangelism
4th Term, 2007
Instructor:
In this class we will study personal evangelism: one person sharing faith in Christ with an unbeliever. The course will consider issues ranging from soteriology to practical advice for sharing faith and leading men and women to Christ. Class time will involve lecture, guided discussion and role play.
We will also engage in personal evangelism by attempting to identify, study, pray for and contact the unbelievers in your life.
The class will pay special attention to hostile critiques of evangelism in order to learn to overcome invalid objections, but also acknowledge legitimate criticism of evangelism and methods.
Student Responsibilities:
F 4 weekly essays on questions taken from the book and/or class. (28%)
Essay Assignment. Fridays, starting March 2, students will come prepared to write an in-class essay, about two pages, taken from questions in appendix C that has to do with that week’s reading. The instructor will choose the questions and inform the students early in the week.
F A final examination.(25%)
The Final Exam will consist of questions regarding the material in the book. The exam will include essay questions, multiple choice and fill-ins..
F A journal listing prayers, contacts and analysis of unbelievers in your life, and a plan for continued evangelism. (20%)
The Journal Assignment will involve finding 2 unbelievers from your life; analyzing their positions with regard to the gospel; praying for them, and attempting to contact them before the end of the class. The journal will conclude with a plan for continued contact and witness. All of the above steps must be fully developed and documented. There are no specific form requirements, but the journal must reflect consistent and thoughtful development.
F Role plays. (15%)
The Role Play assignment gives each student the chance to play two parts: an unbeliever and an evangelist. Students will receive a secret identity. It will be their job to research that particular identity to learn how that person would be likely to think about or respond to a presentation of the gospel. During the role play the evangelist will have to determine the identity of the person to whom he or she is witnessing and make the appropriate adjustments. Some of the unbelievers will be pre-determined to respond positively and others negatively. A two page outline of notes and short descriptions documenting insights from research into your secret identity will be half of the grade.
F Participating in classroom discussions and exercises. (12%) This class requires a high degree of participation and a cooperative attitude. Your participation grade is neither easy, nor automatic. Students will start with 0 and earn this 12 % of the grade through regular participation.
Book: Tell the Truth by Will Metzger. 267 pages
First Week Read Chapters 1-2 Before February 23
Second Week Read Chapter s 3-6 Before March 2
Third Week Read Chapters 7-10 Before March 9
Fourth Week Read Chapters 11-13 Before March 16
Fifth Week Read Appendices A-D Before March 23
Possible Identities: Students should seek to understand their secret identity’s beliefs by researching in the library. You want to understand motives, and potential difficulties in understanding. You will be required to hand in a list of sources you have used and notes regarding how you developed your particular role. These notes will be used in grading the role play exercise. All students must do some research on each role so that they can make appropriate changes in witnessing. If during the role play you appear to be confused or taken off guard by any of the roles and their typical beliefs it will count against your grade.
Some of the identities:
Hedonist Bad Person (criminal)
Mormon Muslim
Nominal Buddhist Psychologically Wounded Person
Materialist Health nut/vegetarian/exerciser
Good Person Relativist
Leftwing Political Activist New Ager
Backslidden Christian Mad at the Church
News Junkie Roman Catholic
A Content Person Poor Person
Rightwing Conservative Never Thought About It.
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