THINKING THEOLOGICALLY ABOUT CHURCH PLANTING
Or CHURCH PLANTING THEOLOGY
Modular Seminar for Seminary/University Level

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Course Description

Literature on church planting is abundant, but can largely be classified as practical in the sense that it is characterized by case studies, development of strategies, goal setting, demographic surveys, church planting project reports, etc. Although such study is important, this course instead emphasizes theological reflection upon church planting. This reflection will require reading and critically interacting with theological source material for the purpose of integrating that material with issues encountered in church planting. The theological source material is taken from the fields of biblical theology, systematic theology, and missiology. The integration of theology with church planting praxis will build upon issues either raised in the practical literature concerning church planting or, in appropriate cases, upon the church planting experiences of the participants. Although church planting experience is not a prerequisite for this course, at least one year of theological study is required.

Course Objectives

The purpose of the course is to encourage students to think theologically about church planting so that their own theological foundation for church planting will be strengthened. By the end of the course it is hoped that students…

• will be motivated and competent to identify and evaluate the theological bases or presuppositions of various church planting projects; and
• will be able to use their particular theological understanding to develop theologically sound church planting strategies and projects.

Lecture/Seminar Topics

1. INTRODUCTION: THINKING THEOLOGICALLY ABOUT CHURCH PLANTING (CP)

2. BIBLICAL THEOLOGY AND CP

2.1. CP in Luke-Acts

2.2. CP in Pauline Context I (Paul as Theologian)

2.3. CP in Pauline Context II (Paul as Church Founder)

3. SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY AND CP

3.1. CP in Trinitarian Context

3.2. CP in the Context of Theological Anthropology

3.3. CP in Ecclesiological Context

3.4. CP in the Soteriological Context of Postmodern Religious Plurality

4. MISSIOLOGY AND CP: CP in Intercultural Context

Further Details...

The course outline, learning assignments, evaluative method, and reading lists can be found in the downloadable files available above.