Intercultural Studies Course Descriptions

This introductory course will help students discover basic understandings, motives, and methods for successful missionary work. Practical subjects such as good and bad reasons for going into missions, departure from and reentry into one’s own culture, entering a new culture, and choosing a mission field will be discussed. Basic skills for God’s work in another culture will be introduced. Theological and strategic foundations will provide a conceptual understructure for further studies in intercultural missions. Three hours.

An introduction to the Pentateuch and the Historical Books of the Old Testament with special reference to background, historical setting, literary composition, theology and message. After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of background issues which introduce one to the study of various concepts of the Old Testament, the historical milieu of each Old Testament book studied, the purpose and general content of each Old Testament book studied, the use of the Old Testament in modern ministry, and the foundation the Old Testament provides for the New Testament. Three hours.

An introduction to the Poetic and Prophetic books of the Old Testament with special reference to background, historical setting, literary composition, theology and message. After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of background issues which introduce one to the study of various concepts of the Old Testament, the historical milieu of each Old Testament book studied, the purpose and general content of each Old Testament book studied, the use of the Old Testament in modern ministry, and the foundation the Old Testament provides for the New Testament. Three hours.

This course introduces the New Testament with special reference to background, historical setting, literary composition, theology, and message. After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of background issues which introduce one to the study of various concepts of the New Testament, the historical milieu of each New Testament book studied, the purpose and general content of each New Testament book studied, the relationship between the New and Old Testaments, and the use of the New Testament in modern ministry. Three hours.

Students will explore the theological methods and presuppositions practiced by the diversity of theological systems. Students will seek answers to questions such as, how is presuppositional apologetics different from evidential apologetics. How is systematic theology different from biblical theology? How is dispensational theology different from covenant theology? How is reformed theology different from Armenian theology? How is progressive dispensationalism different from classic dispensationalism? Students will study the methods and presuppositions of leading theologians, from the Apostle Paul to the present. Prerequisite: BIB1050. This is an upper level course available to juniors and seniors. It is also offered at a graduate level. Three hours.

Students will identify the central affirmations of Christianity that distinguish orthodoxy from heresy, heterodoxy, liberalism, and neo-orthodoxy. Students will be able to support each defining doctrine from Scripture. The role of creeds, church councils, and doctrinal statements in defining and preserving orthodoxy will be explored. Students will appreciate the diversity within Christian orthodoxy, while the central affirmations are preserved. Prerequisite: BIB1050. Three hours.

Students will seek to understand how people thought, communicated, and lived in the ancient world during the OT, NT and Intertestamental Periods. Special emphasis will be placed on key people groups and political, cultural, theological, and literary developments that form the background to the Bible. Students will learn to use insights from geography, cultural anthropology, archaeology, sociology, philosophy, politics, literature, and history for the interpretation of Scripture in light of the history and culture of the people to whom it was addressed. Three hours.

This is 3-credit course that explores the biblical basis and theological framework of humanity as “image bearers”. It teaches students how to understand culture, engage current moral conversations, and effectively communicate their faith in contemporary and intercultural contexts.

This course is designed to facilitate senior level students in the application of theory to ministry practice. The learner will be challenged to integrate biblical/theological knowledge gained in a variety of courses together with specialized research that pertains to specific ministry issues. Three hours.

Theoretical principles of interpersonal communication and conflict management skills will be applied to ministry settings in order to equip the learner to work more effectively with a variety of people in diverse settings. Through course material, individual reflection, and small group experiences, learners will explore the biblical foundations of relationships, personal relating style, small group dynamics and roles, and conflict management skills. The focus of this course contains principles for evaluating relational maturity, elements that help and hinder spiritual community and skills for dealing with conflict in healthy ways utilizing effective communication skills necessary for personal and ministerial development. Three units.

Students will examine the principles and processes of communicating effectively with people from a second cultural context, whether in multi-cultural U.S.A. or in other countries. The course will investigate functional perception and how cultural worldview, beliefs, and values affect it through the personal perception of each individual. Students will explore how the shaping of the message, the style of communication, and the use of communication networks help to penetrate different cultures with the gospel. Dangers of ethnocentrism and its effect on the cross-cultural communication process will be discussed. The principles examined are valuable for intercultural relations in any field of work. Prerequisite: MIS2010. Three hours.

The nature of man and how his culture affects him are explored with a view to how this, in turn, affects ministry in intercultural contexts. Worldview assumptions and resulting values, beliefs, behavior, and attitudes are studied as to how they affect the person in his perception and understanding of the physical and spiritual world around him and, ultimately, his understanding of the Gospel. Social organization is examined as to how it affects ministry strategy, and the nature of culture change is investigated with a view to evangelism. Prerequisites: MIS2010. Three hours.

Foundational principles of effective Bible study will be applied for personal study and Bible study leadership. Observational skills of the English text of the Old Testament will be developed through hands-on activities and assignments. Hermeneutical principles will be applied to various biblical genres with the goal to equip the learner to interpret the text based on its historical/cultural and literary context. Application of the meaning of the text for spiritual formation will be emphasized as well. Prerequisites: BIB1050 and BIB2010. Three hours.

Foundational principles of effective Bible study will be applied for personal study and Bible study leadership. Observational skills of the English text of the Old Testament will be developed through hands-on activities and assignments. Hermeneutical principles will be applied to various biblical genres with the goal to equip the learner to interpret the text based on its historical/cultural and literary context. Application of the meaning of the text for spiritual formation will be emphasized as well. Prerequisites: BIB1050 and BIB2010. Three hours.

In this course the belief systems of major religions are studied with a view to understanding why the tenets make sense and drive behavior for the adherents. How each religion affects the host culture and how the culture affects the religion will be explored. The inadequacies of each belief system will be discussed in light of the adequacy of Christianity, thus, an introductory understanding of biblical theology is assumed. Three hours.

The Cross-Cultural Internship is for a minimum of 14 weeks (one semester) in a second culture. The internship itself is for six hours of academic credit. While in the host context the student will complete two campus courses (BBL3090 Spiritual Formation and MIS2100 History of World Missions) for three hours of credit each. These two courses will be taken by distance education with the supervision and grading of the professors on campus.

In this course the backgrounds and development of the missions enterprise from the apostolic period until the present will be analyzed with a view to discovering the benefit to the intercultural task before us today. A proper understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in this endeavor is emphasized. To give the student a good grasp of present-day major movements, significant current trends in missiological thought and practice will be examined. Prerequisites: MIS2010. Three hours.

Students will explore the various dynamics that converge to produce maturity in the life of a Christian. They will seek to construct a theory of spiritual formation based on a practical knowledge of God, a realistic awareness of self, a full-orbed understanding of pertinent scriptural insights, and a historical perspective of various approaches to spirituality. They will examine the necessity of the integration of the individual pursuit of spiritual maturity with the corporate dimension. The approach of the course will include practical application along with classroom discussion and outside research. Prerequisite: BIB 2010. Three hours.