Stanton Center: Evangelism: Good News to Share
EVANGELISM: GOOD NEWS TO SHARE (Theology and Practice) January - May 2023
How do we share our faith in daily life?
What makes the Gospel good news in our world today?
How can our parish be good news in word and action?
What can we learn from Jesus’ example?
Come get equipped and ignited in how to live more deeply into our baptismal covenant to share the good news of God in Christ in word and action in daily life. This course will look at how we share good news in our daily lives and as a parish.
Last Tuesdays of every month online January -May 2023:
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Canon Carrie Headington
Episcopal Biography - Carrie Boren Headington is the Founder of the Good News Initiative, equipping congregations to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in word and action. Carrie speaks nationally and internationally as an evangelist and apologist. Carrie is a graduate of Yale, Harvard and Oxford Universities with degrees in theology, evangelism, and Christian apologetics. Carrie is the Canon Evangelists for the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, a frequent blogger and author on evangelism (most recently contributing to Acts to Action: The New Testament Guide to Theology and Mission published by Forward Movement; The Gospel and Pluralism Today: Reassessing Lesslie Newbigin in the 21st Century (InterVarsity Press); and Sent to Flourish (IVP Academic). Canon Headington recently formed the Order of Evangelists in the Episcopal Church, under Bishop George Sumner, with 51 commissioned evangelists. Carrie serves on Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Evangelism and Revival Team and is an adjunct professor for evangelism at Fuller Theological Seminary.
EVANGELISM: Good News to Share (Theology and Practice) :
Course Instructor: Canon Carrie Boren Headington
www.goodnewsinitiative.com
903-399-3230
Stanton Center Online, Spring 2023
DESCRIPTION: The course is designed to equip students in sharing their faith in daily life and to serve as missional catalysts for their parish. Students who complete this course will be eligible to be nominated to be members of the Order of Evangelists.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, students will have demonstrated the following:
- An ability to reflect theologically and practically on the meaning of evangelism and its role in the life of the church.
- An understanding of the nature of the Gospel and an ability to express the Good News of Jesus in a clear manner.
- A capacity to engage in conversations about faith and an ability to equip others (i.e. members of the church) to do the same.
- An understanding of the way Jesus evangelized and an ability to apply these lessons to their parish context.
- An ability to teach and to motivate their congregations in evangelism.
- A capacity to create an evangelistic action plan for their parish.
COURSE FORMAT:
This course will be conducted over the course of 5 months total meeting for class once per month online. (Last Tuesday of every month except in May)
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
COURSE SCHEDULE OVERVIEW:
January 31 – What is the Gospel and How do We Share it?
February 28- Personal Evangelism: Sharing Faith in Daily Life.
March 28- Jesus: The Missionary and the Message. How did Jesus engage in evangelism? How can this be applied to our context?
April 25 - Being an Evangelistic Church. PARISH MISSION VISION.
May 20 – YOUR PARISH ON MISSION (in person class)
REQUIRED READING:
Book of Acts, Holy Bible
Coleman, Robert. Master Plan of Evangelism. Baker Book House, 2006. ISBN: 0800731220, Pub. Price $12.99
Harvest Intercessory Prayer Booklet
Mittelberg, Mark. Contagious Faith. Zondervan Reflective, 2021. ISBN: 978-0-310-11328-7
Pippert, Rebecca Manley, Stay Salt. InterVarsity Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781784984366, Pub. Price $13.60
Wright, Christopher, The Mission of God’s People. Zondervan, 2010. ISBN-13:978-0310291121, Pub. Price $35.00, Kindle $19.24
Wright, N.T. Simply Good News. Harper One Publishing, 2015. ISBN: 9780062334350, Pub Price $17.99 [
COURSE SCHEDULE and ASSIGNMENTS:
January 31 – What is the Gospel and How do We Share it?
Reading: Wright, N.T. Simply Good News. Harper One Publishing, 2015. ISBN: 9780062334350, Pub Price $17.99 [153 pages] (Due January 31)
Video: Salvation History Overview
Reflection. Write a personal reflection on the Christian Gospel, addressing what is the Good News we share? What makes it good news? How is this message unique? Why do we as followers of Jesus share it? What is the best part of the good news for you. No minimum words but no more than 800 words. (Due January 31)
February 28- Personal Evangelism: Sharing Faith in Daily Life.
Reading: Pippert, Rebecca Manley, Stay Salt. InterVarsity Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781784984366, Pub. Price $13.60, [pp. assigned 243 total] (Due February 28)
*Engaging the Questions Packet by Carrie Headington
Assignment 1 Short Personal Reflection. What does it look like to share your faith in daily life? What holds you and others back from sharing faith in our particular context? What are the obstacles? What are the opportunities? What are ways we can personally engage in evangelism with others? (Due February 28)
Assignment 2: Reflection. Write and map your personal faith story. Be prepared to shared it with the class in a shorter form. 4-minute version. (Due February 28)
Assignment 3: Write a prayer that you can lead someone in who is ready to make a commitment to Jesus. Also write what you tell the new believer is the next step now that they have made this commitment? Read and respond to fellow students in class. (Due February 28)
March 28- Jesus: The Missionary and the Message. How did Jesus engage in evangelism? How can this be applied to our context?
Reading: Coleman, Robert. Master Plan of Evangelism. Baker Book House, 2006. ISBN: 0800731220, Pub. Price $12.99 [pp. assigned 191 total] (Due March 28)
Reflection Notes for Discussion. What aspect of Jesus’ example stood out for you and how does this impact the way you evangelize personally and the way you will equip your congregation to share their faith? Read aloud your reflections and respond to fellow students. (Due March 28)
April 25 - Being an Evangelistic Church. PARISH MISSION VISION.
Reading: Mittelberg, Mark. Contagious Faith. Zondervan Reflective, 2021. ISBN: 978-0-310-11328-7 (Due April 25)
Harvest Intercessory Prayer Booklet (Due April 25)
Book of Acts (Due April 25)
Assignment: Write an evangelistic rule of life for yourself which includes prayer and intentional ways to share your faith. (Due April 25)
May 20 – YOUR PARISH ON MISSION (in person class)
Reading: Wright, Christopher, The Mission of God’s People. Zondervan, 2010. ISBN-13:978-0310291121, Pub. Price $35.00 [255pp.]
Final Assignment: Create a 3-year evangelistic action plan for your parish including: equipping the congregation for the missional tasks, ways to involve the entire church body in the work of evangelism, providing space for seekers to ask questions and explore faith, ways to be a transformative presence in their community, and to be good news in word and deed as the body of Christ.
Ask yourself: Who is in your community, both in your church and surrounding your church? What is your demographic landscape? What are their felt needs? What are their spiritual needs? (Suggested use of www.perceptgroup.com and www.link2lead.com)