Chaplain Evangelism and Discipleship
CHPL-655

This course will focus on the biblical imperative of evangelism and various methods of witnessing in the pluralistic cultures in which chaplains serve. Particular emphasis will be given to wisely sharing the Gospel in military, healthcare, and community settings. Additionally, attention will be given to evangelism follow-up, discipleship, and scripture memorization. This course is taught online and in residence.

Evangelical chaplains need to be prepared to share the Gospel in secular and pluralistic settings to which they are called. Every chaplain needs to be fully prepared to evangelize and make disciples within the culture to which they are called.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Explain the biblical perspective of evangelism.
2. Identify the characteristics of an evangelistic, servant leader.
3. Implement the process of sharing one’s faith consistently within a secular, pluralistic context.
4. Compare and contrast contemporary culture with the Gospel message.
5. Explain one’s salvation testimony and changed life as a basis for evangelism.
6. Develop an evangelistic plan that can be implemented in the military, healthcare, or community ministry settings.

Required Resources

The resources below are provided in the course at no cost to the student.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. New York, NY: Touchstone, 1995.

Dempsey, Rod and Dave Earley. Disciple Making Is - : How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2013.

Earley, David and David Wheeler. Evangelism Is–How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010.

Fay, William and Linda E. Shepherd. Share Jesus Without Fear. Nashville, TN: B and H Publishing Group, 1999.

McDowell, Josh. More Than a Carpenter. Revised & Updated Ed. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2009.

Metzger, Will. Tell The Truth, Inter Varsity Press, 2012.

Nash, Ronald. Is Jesus the Only Savior? Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994.

Disclaimer: The above resources provide information consistent with the latest research regarding the subject area. Liberty University does not necessarily endorse specific personal, religious, philosophical, or political positions found in these resources.

Additional Materials for Learning

1. 1. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
   2. Internet access (broadband recommended)
   3. Blackboard recommended browsers
   4. Microsoft Word
   5. School of Divinity Writing Guide: https://www.liberty.edu/divinity/index.cfm?PID=28160

The student will write a 5-page paper explaining their theology of discipleship based on the Scriptures. Each point of the paper must be rooted in Scripture and supported with sound biblical interpretation and analysis. The paper should be focused on God’s plan and purpose to make disciples.

The student will write a 5-page paper explaining their theology of evangelism based on the Scriptures. Each point of the paper must be rooted in Scripture and supported with sound biblical interpretation and analysis. The paper should be focused on God’s plan and purpose of evangelism.

The student will write a 5-page paper giving their testimony. The testimony should reflect on God’s work in your life as He brought you to salvation. Scripture and scriptural principles should support your testimony. Your testimony should reflect three distinct “phases”: Life before Christ, Conversion, and your new life in Christ..

The student will write three 2-3-page evangelism reports of his/her efforts to share the Gospel with an interested unbeliever. The best way to learn how to evangelize is to do it. Therefore, each student should be praying for opportunities to share their faith with others and being attentive to God’s leading. All encounters must be from the current semester.

To receive full credit, the student must show through the report that the individual was brought to a point of decision. Specifically, this means you must demonstrate intentionality in reference to presenting Christ. The individual’s response is not the issue, rather it is your intentional obedience to the Holy Spirit in calling people to a decision. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and demonstrate a servant’s heart..

Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread must be at least 800 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 300 words.

Students will write a 5 page critical evaluation of the assigned text, consisting of a summary, critique, and application. The summary must focus on the main ideas and significant themes in the book, as well as an account of the author’s overall purpose in writing. The summary should not exceed 1 page in length. The critique section must contain a well-thought-out critical interaction with the author’s thesis and the main points of the argument he presents in the book. The critique must present the strengths and weaknesses, as well as an overall evaluation of the book. The critique should be no less than 2 pages. The application section of the paper should address how you will apply the concepts learned from the text to your specific ministry context (i.e. Military Chaplain, Hospital Chaplain, Community Chaplain, etc.). The application section should be no less than 1 page in length. The paper must be accomplished in Turabian footnote citation style.

In addition to these requirements, the paper must have a proper introduction and conclusion and follow the structure of a standard academic essay (Title page, Introduction, summary, critique, application, conclusion, Bibliography).

The student will write a 2-3-page paper explaining their personal philosophy of evangelism. This paper should be focused on the way you think you should evangelize in pluralistic and secular chaplain ministry settings. Use Scripture and scriptural principles to support your philosophy. Remember, your philosophy is specific to your ministry context. This should reflect the incarnational aspect of your ministry and be rooted in your Theology.

The student will write three, 2-3 page reports detailing his/her discipleship group. The intent is for each student to lead, or co-lead, a ministry group devoted to discipleship. Each report will detail different aspects of the group. Students should direct their responses as follows:

Report 1: This report will focus on the vision, purpose, goals, and target audience of the group.

Report 2: This report will focus on current physical and spiritual progress of the group. First, address how the group is developing and how well it is staying in line with it’s original vision, purpose, and goals. Most importantly, address how group members are growing in Christ.

Report 3: This report will be more reflective in nature. Reflect on how the group has progressed and give evidence of spiritual growth. Be sure to include how well the group has kept to the original vision, purpose, and goals. Give an honest assessment of what you have done well, and what you would do differently in the future.

The student will write a 2-3-page paper explaining their personal philosophy of discipleship. This paper should be focused on the way you think you should disciple in pluralistic and secular chaplain ministry settings. Use Scripture and scriptural principles to support your philosophy. Remember, your philosophy is specific to your ministry context. This should reflect the incarnational aspect of your ministry and be rooted in your Theology.

The Student will create a comprehensive chaplain ministry plan (9 to 10 pages) for one of the following groups:  children, students, adults, singles, men, women, or support/recovery.  The student should base all decisions on his/her specific Chaplain Ministry context.  Your project should include the following:

State the characteristics of the group that you are ministering to (macro or micro).

Scriptural Foundations- What passages of Scripture validate and guide this ministry?

Core Ministry Values- From the passages describe key values/ principles that guide the ministry.

Create a Comprehensive (paragraph) and a Concise Mission Statement (sentence).

Create Slogans and Visuals that illustrate the ministry.

Ministry Plan: How are you going to get from point A to point B? (Need detail here) Models/ Diagrams/ Illustrations included- How to develop disciples who develop disciples.

Proposed Team Members/ Personnel- Who and what will the team look like?

Proposed 12 month Ministry Calendar

Proposed 12 month Budget

Scope and Sequence Plan- What topics will you study? (3 year Curriculum plan)

Communication tools and techniques: How are you going to get your message delivered?

Verifiers: Final measurable statement: “By the time a child/student/ adult… has been in this ministry area for three years… How will you know you have been successful? Numbers/ percentages/ ratios…

Course Assignments, including discussion boards, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
4. Group projects, including group discussion board threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due date outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at [email protected] for accommodations.  Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition.   For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/. Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at [email protected].  Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion board posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion board post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory.

Liberty University comprises a network of students, Alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=19155.

CHPL 655

Textbooks: Dempsey, Disciple Making Is… (2013).

Metzger, Tell the Truth (2012).

Earley, Evangelism Is… (2010).

McDowell, More Than a Carpenter (2009).

Nash, Is Jesus the Only Savior? (1994).

Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship (1995).

Fay, Share Jesus without Fear (1999).