Cultural Apologetics – APOL 820
CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 02/01/2024
Course Description
This course equips students to understand, evaluate, and engage cultural trends from a Christian ministerial perspective. Students will learn a biblical theology of culture which they will use to evaluate strategies for church engagement in the culture. Particular emphasis will be placed on the intersections that exist between ecclesial ministry, cultural influences in the western world, and apologetics.
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Rationale
This course will provide the student a Christian framework for understanding western culture and engaging with those who have adopted its assumptions.
Course Assignment
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
Discussions (2)
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt. The thread must be 400–600 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 other classmate's thread. Each reply must be at least 200 words.
The student will submit two Reflective Essays. The first essay will discuss how Paul Gould's method of worldview analysis may be adapted to preaching. The second essay will examine the value of Smith's "Worldview Questions" rubric as a format for sermon/lesson building. In both Essays, extensive attention will be given to scripture passages and how they may speak relevantly to modern worldviews.
Worldview Exercises (6)
The student will complete six worldview exercises, designed to give the student practice in worldview analysis that will be of practical benefit to the student and to the church where the student is in leadership. Each one will involve using one or more of the worldview analysis methods examined in the course to critically examine a false worldview drawn from the reading in Wilkens' Eight Worldviews book. The exercises will be in the form of charts, sermon outlines, or short essays. The last of the exercises will be an integrative exercise where the student will write a personal worldview analysis and develop a plan for enhancing and growing a personal worldview that is concurrent with the biblical worldview.
