MO507: Power Encounter (4 units)

Charles Kraft, Sun-Hee Kwak Professor of Anthropology and Intercultural Communication
Winter 2006 Pasadena

 

 

DESCRIPTION:

Study of “power encounter” (as defined by Tippett) in the extension and growth of the people of God. In both Old and New Testaments, God's activity in the world is presented in a context of the opposition between His Kingdom and that of evil spiritual powers. That encounter has been and continues to be a major factor in contemporary Christianity. The course will focus on the biblical validity and contemporary relevance of spiritual power encounters in the extension of the Kingdom of God. Topics treated will include: western worldviews and spiritual power, power encounter defined, power encounters in the Bible, power encounters in the historical extension of Christianity, relationships between power encounters and allegiance and truth encounters, collective and individual power encounters, etc.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Understand the nature of power encounters and their place in God’s activity in the world
• Understand the relationships between power encounters and spiritual warfare
• Understand the activities of Satan and demons in the contemporary world and what to do about them
• Observe and perhaps experience ministry to individuals that involve power encounters

 

COURSE FORMAT:

The class will meet one evening per week with optional ministry session from 5-6:30 each evening (excluding the first evening.) Class sessions will follow a seminar format, consisting of lecture and discussion. In addition to the regular class sessions, an instructor and/or teaching assistants and/or other enrolled students will be available for optional prayer ministry sessions, during which power encounter will be demonstrated in the context of a form of lay counseling called “prayer ministry” or “deep level healing,” and students may have the opportunity to participate. Attendance at the optional prayer ministry sessions is limited to currently enrolled credit and audit students. Prior to attending the prayer ministry session(s) all attendees are required to sign an Informed Consent and Release, after viewing a specific video in class. In addition, any attendee desiring to participate as a subject of the lay counseling must complete a Personal History Questionnaire and sign a Privacy and Confidentiality Waiver.

 

REQUIRED READING:

Kraft, C.H. MO507 Syllabus (includes several required readings.)
Kraft, C.H. Confronting Powerless Christianity, Grand Rapids: Chosen Books, 2002.
Kraft, C.H. I Give you Authority. Grand Rapids: Chosen Books, 1997.
Kraft, C.H. Defeating Dark Angels. Ventura, CA: Regal, 1992.
Rommen, E., ed. Spiritual Power and Missions. Pasadena ,CA: Wm. Carey Library, 1995.
Wagner, C. Peter. Warfare Prayer. Regal Books, 1992.

 

RECOMMENDED READING: None.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Required Reading totaling 1,000 pages in the required books and others.
• Term paper: M.A. students—3750-5000 words; Th.M. students—6250-7500 words.
• Observation of 5 ministry sessions and written report on one.

 

PREREQUISITES: None. M0506 recommended. Power Encounter ministry sessions are limited to registered credit and audit students.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

 

FINAL EXAM: None.

 

Last Date Edited: October 18, 2005