MC500/600: Church in Mission (4 units)

Eddie Gibbs, Donald A. McGavran Professor of Church Growth
Spring 2006 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

This course seeks to interrelate the disciplines of ecclesiology and missiology from a biblical perspective, and covers the following topics: the Trinitarian nature of the church, the relationship of the Church to the Kingdom of God, New Testament images of the Church, the classical marks of the Church, worship, unity, the Sacraments, ministry of the people of God, mission in the world, and the structuring of the church to facilitate its missionary calling. Emphasizes the centrality of the Church for the spiritual growth of believers, developing ministry potential, and engaging in mission outreach. The course is relevant both for the student who has had little prior involvement in a local church, as well as for students who have experienced the fellowship of a local church without having been challenged by its call to mission.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Develop strong biblical foundations to shape and support understanding of the church.
• Encouragement to become active members of a faith community during their years of study at Fuller Seminary.
• Increase understanding of the nature of the Church and its centrality to world mission.

COURSE FORMAT:

This intensive course will meet daily, in three-hour sessions, for two weeks. A lecture and discussion format, allowing time for small group interaction in which students will have opportunity to evaluate their own engagement with their faith community.

REQUIRED READING: The student must read at least 1200 pages drawn from the required reading list, and supplemented by the recommended reading list if a student has already used one of the texts in a previous course.

Bloesch, Donald G. The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Pres, 2002, 300pp.
Guder, Darrel L. (ed.). Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998, 268pp.
McLaren, Brian D. The Church On The Other Side. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998, 2000, 221 pp.
McGavran, Donald, Bridges of God. Wipf and Stock, 2005 (reprint)
Karkkainen, Veli-Matti, An Introduction to Ecclesiology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995, 290 pp.
(Students may substitute a book that provides a model of a missional church, which better relates to their cultural context and church tradition).

RECOMMENDED READING:

Clowney, Edmund. The Church: Contours of Christian Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995. 290pp.
Sweet, Leonard, AquaChurch. Loveland, CO: Group Publishing, 1999, 268 pp.
Van Gelder, Craig. The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. 184pp.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. A 5000-word paper (double spaced, 12 point font) summarizing the main topics covered in the course and relating them from a missional perspective to your own cultural context (national or regional).

2. Four book reports, identifying and critically interacting with key insights that will be helpful to you in writing your final paper.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: A required core competency course in the MA-CCS degree. Meets Min 8 requirement for M.Div. Program.

FINAL EXAM: None.

Last Date Edited: February 2, 2006.