Instructor: Joe Whitchurch
Joe Whitchurch has been a student of the Bible since 1973, focusing on apologetics, evangelism, and creative use of arts in outreach and discipleship. He came to faith in Christ as a young college student and now holds a Master of Arts degree in Christian Thought and Systematic Theology and a Philosophy of Religion degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Joe has served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in various parts of the world, ministering to undergraduates, grad students, international students, and faculty.
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Course description
The objective of this class is to gain a biblical understanding the gospel and how to share it with prayer, authenticity, sensitivity, and confidence in its truth and in the power of the Holy Spirit, the risen Savior, and the authority of God’s word. Our goal is that the love of Christ will constrain you, you will be aware of how others are responding and speak to real needs with truth that is understandable to various kinds of people from the post modern millennials, to the scientific modernists, to the ‘spiritual’ pre-modern mystics.
With this class, as with all future classes, our hope is that when you are finished you will have a greater love for the word of God, the people of God, the gospel of God, and God’s sure prerogatives in the world which will ultimately prevail. The goal is a growing love for God and His word and His people that compels us to study, worship, love, and in particular WITNESS, and serve more with greater faith in the One who said “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
It is not our desire to increase your knowledge as an end in itself which puffs up, but to increase your knowledge so that you can see the magnificence of your God and Savior and grow in Him. Colossians 1:28 And that from the overflow of God’s Spirit you cannot help but share your faith in every aspect of life.
With this class, as with all future classes, our hope is that when you are finished you will have a greater love for the word of God, the people of God, the gospel of God, and God’s sure prerogatives in the world which will ultimately prevail. The goal is a growing love for God and His word and His people that compels us to study, worship, love, and in particular WITNESS, and serve more with greater faith in the One who said “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
It is not our desire to increase your knowledge as an end in itself which puffs up, but to increase your knowledge so that you can see the magnificence of your God and Savior and grow in Him. Colossians 1:28 And that from the overflow of God’s Spirit you cannot help but share your faith in every aspect of life.
COURSE PLAN:
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Class 1:
Testimony; Elevator/Cardboard, 1 minute, 3 minute, 10 minute, >10 min forget it, they are humoring you. Two silence barriers...starting, and ending well. 2W2L verses mem. Class 2: Apologetics extensive intro only. a. Premodern; dreams, visions, providences, miracles, b. Modern; Deity/Humanity of Jesus, Bodily resurrection, Problem Pain idea, Authority of Bible, c. Postmodern; my problem with personal pain, God hates divorcee(s), gays, becoming a lockstep clone, being ignorant and anti-intellect, same politic bigotry, media caricatures, Jesus Camp. d. Third way Cumulative Case, suffering well, persecuted church, humility, genuine love, non-defensive serve. Class 3: Gospel content what it is and what it is NOT. 1Cor 15:1-4, Romans, John’s gospel, Luke’s gospel, 1 verse diagram bridge teach and video of teaching it, 2W2L Worldview evangelism. Class 4: Four Thresholds, Engels Scale, Role Play 2W2L Class 5: Two Plus Prayer, Rabbit hole Christians with no reciprocity relationship or trust. MIDTERM EXAM Class 6: Third party materials; Music, Film, Use of tracts/literature, Gospels, Read/Carry/Share.org, Grad IVCF Ethos Workplace Ethos Similarities with other fields of Commonality; Health, Family, Work,Time Mgmt, Parenting, Sports, Fitness, Health... Class 7: Temperment and Spiritual gift evangelism profile authenticity, hospitality, invitation, prophetic, mercy... Class 8: Open Air, Proxe station, Symposium, PRACTICUM ASSESSMENT. Contact evangelism, Friendship evangelism dichotomy. Class 9: Our Fear of converts and feigned best-est friends. Networking disciples into the body of Christ. Making disciples while doing the work of an evangelist, Their Fear of change, fear of people, fear of looking stupid, fear of family, persecution. Altar call illustration. Red herring/distraction/masks, moving beyond with two clarifying pastoral questions, question behind question Class 10: IBD Investigative Bible Discussions, EBS Evangelistic Bible Studies, GIG Group Investigating God. Worksheet from BnL 1, Be a friend, Share your faith. Phillip & Ethiopian Eunich Class 11: Asking/and-or calling the question, the point of conversion, backing off but still urging incremental but still prior investigative integrity decisions, altar calls, hand-raising, public testimony, card signing, contact management for 2+ converts and ongoing prayer disciples, Believers’ baptism, crossing the thresholds. Class 12: Final Project Presentations. |
