Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

Cornerstone Curriculum Official Certification Edition Student Workbook

Cornerstone Curriculum Official Certification Edition Student Workbook

© 2023. The Urban Ministry Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Copying, redistribution, and/or sale of these materials, or any unauthorized transmission, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher is prohibited. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to:

The Urban Ministry Institute 3701 East 13th Street North Suite 100 Wichita, KS 67208

ISBN: 978-1-62932-057-1

Published by TUMI Press A division of World Impact, Inc.

The Urban Ministry Institute is a ministry of World Impact, Inc.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bible. A division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

STUDENT WORKBOOK

Cornerstone Curriculum Official Certification Edition

The Urban

Mi n i s t r y I ns t i tute

a ministry of Wor l d Impac t , I nc .

Alvin Sanders | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis Rev. Terry G. Cornett | Rev. Ryan Carter

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone , in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

~ Ephesians 2.19-22

TUMI Press 3701 East 13th Street North Suite 100 Wichita, Kansas 67208

Table of Contents

Overview

9

About the Instructors

13 Introduction to the Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition 15 Course Description 17 Course Requirements

Part I: Redemptive Poverty Work

29

Introduction to Redemptive Poverty Work

Lesson 1 A Brief Theological Reflection

31

Lesson 2 Toxic Poverty Work

41

Lesson 3 Redemptive Poverty Work

51

Lesson 4 Rhythms of Life and Poverty Work

61

Part II: Bible & Theology

Unit One: Biblical Studies

77

Introduction to the Biblical Studies Unit

Lesson 1 Conversion and Calling: The Word That Creates Lesson 2 Bible Interpretation: The Three-Step Model Lesson 3 The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom: The Promise Given Lesson 4 The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom: The Messiah Opposed

81

99

129

153

Unit Two: Theology and Ethics

175

Introduction to the Theology and Ethics Unit

Lesson 1 The Kingdom of God: God’s Reign Inaugurated Lesson 2 God the Father: The Triune God – The Greatness of God Lesson 3 God the Son: Jesus, the Messiah and Lord of All – He Died Lesson 4 God the Holy Spirit: The Person of the Holy Spirit

179

197

219

241

Part III: Ministry & Mission

Unit One: Christian Ministry

263

Introduction to the Christian Ministry Unit

Lesson 1 Theology of the Church: The Church at Worship Lesson 2 Foundations of Christian Leadership: The Christian Leader as Pastor – Poimenes

267

291

Lesson 3 Practicing Christian Leadership: Effective Worship Leading – Worship, Word, and Sacrament

315

Lesson 4 The Equipping Ministry The Ministry of Proclamation – Kerygma

335

Unit Two: Urban Mission

363

Introduction to the Urban Mission Unit

Lesson 1 Foundations for Christian Mission: The Vision and Biblical Foundation for Christian Mission Lesson 2 Evangelism and Spiritual Warfare: Spiritual Warfare – Binding of the Strong Man Lesson 3 Focus on Reproduction: Church Growth – Reproducing in Number and Quality Lesson 4 Doing Justice and Loving Mercy: Let Justice Roll Down – The Vision and Theology of the Kingdom

367

401

415

441

Appendix

471

Appendix 1: The Nicene Creed

473

Appendix 2: Assignment Checklist for Part I: Redemptive Poverty Work

474

Appendix 3: Assignment Checklist for Parts II and III: Cornerstone Units

475

Appendix 4: Reading Completion Sheet Sample

476

Appendix 5: Scripture Memory Grading Form Sample

477

Appendix 6: Documenting Your Work

481

Appendix 7: List of Core Documents and Charts from Picturing Theology

Ministry Assessment Program

485

MAP Process: Diploma Students

487

C3-303 Ministry Assessment Project: Agreement to Supervised Ministry Plan

488

Course Instruction Plan: C3-303 Ministry Assessment Project

501

Outline for First Interview with Academic Advisor, Student, and Pastoral Supervisor Outline for Final Interview with Academic Advisor, Student, and Pastoral Supervisor

503

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About the Instructors

When people in under-resourced communities experience trauma, the local church can be a beacon of hope. Alvin Sanders learned this from firsthand experience. While serving as an urban leader in the second most violent neighborhood in the country, a tragedy took place. A police shooting with racial overtones rocked the neighborhood. As a response, Alvin planted an innovative church that continues to care for, serve, and encourage people from all walks of life. Through this experience he discovered his personal mission: to follow hard after God, to love his family, and to invest in those who invest in the poor. Alvin is a churchman at heart. After church planting and pastoring, he served as a denominational leader with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) for seven years. While there he directed the EFCA All People Initiative. Under his leadership the EFCA went from 13% of their congregations classified as urban, ethnic, or multi-ethnic to 22%. He also authored the book Bridging the Diversity Gap . With his passion for church leaders, his move to World Impact in 2015 was a natural fit. His educational background includes a BS in Biblical Studies from Cincinnati Christian University and an MA in Religion & Urban Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Miami University. Since 2004 he has served as an adjunct professor at a variety of seminaries across the nation. In his free time, Alvin is an avid reader and loves to follow his favorite sports teams. He is grateful for his amazing wife, Caroline, who maintains a counseling practice in their hometown of Cincinnati. They have been blessed with two wonderful daughters. In November 2017, Alvin was named the President and CEO of World Impact.

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Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis is the Executive Director of The Urban Ministry Institute and a Senior Vice President of World Impact. He attended Wheaton College and Wheaton Graduate School, and graduated summa cum laude in both his B.A. (1988) and M.A. (1989) degrees, in Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology, respectively. He earned his Ph.D. in Religion (Theology and Ethics) from the University of Iowa School of Religion. As the Institute’s Executive Director and World Impact’s Senior Vice President, he oversees the training of urban missionaries, church planters, and city pastors, and facilitates training opportunities for urban Christian workers in evangelism, church growth, and pioneer missions. He also leads the Institute’s extensive distance learning programs and facilitates leadership development efforts for organizations and denominations like Prison Fellowship, the Evangelical Free Church of America, and the Church of God in Christ. A recipient of numerous teaching and academic awards, Dr. Davis has served as professor and faculty at a number of fine academic institutions, having lectured and taught courses in religion, theology, philosophy, and biblical studies at schools such as Wheaton College, St. Ambrose University, the Houston Graduate School of Theology, the University of Iowa School of Religion, the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies. He has authored a number of books, curricula, and study materials to equip urban leaders, including The Capstone Curriculum , TUMI’s premiere sixteen-module distance education seminary instruction, Sacred Roots: A Primer on Retrieving the Great Tradition , which focuses on how urban churches can be renewed through a rediscovery of the historic orthodox faith, and Black and Human: Rediscovering King as a Resource for Black Theology and Ethics . Dr. Davis has participated in academic lectureships such as the Staley Lecture series, renewal conferences like the Promise Keepers rallies, and theological consortiums like the University of Virginia Lived Theology Project Series. He received the Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award from the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2009. Dr. Davis is also a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, and the American Academy of Religion.

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Rev. Terry Cornett (B.S., M. A., M.A.R.) is Academic Dean Emeritus of The Urban Ministry Institute in Wichita, Kansas. He holds degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, the Wheaton College Graduate School, and the C. P. Haggard School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University. Terry ministered for 23 years as an urban missionary with World Impact before his retirement in 2005. During that time he served in Omaha, Los Angeles, and Wichita where he was involved in church-planting, education, and leadership-training ministries. Rev. Ryan Carter is the Academic Dean of The Urban Ministry Institute. He is a native of Houston, Texas. Before joining the World Impact Wichita staff in 2008, he and his wife, Amber, served among the urban poor in Houston and Dallas. In September 2018, after ten years as a missionary in Wichita, Ryan joined TUMI Staff as our Resource Developer. He is a graduate of the University of Houston (BA in Philosophy) and Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM in Old Testament Studies and Christian Education). His ministry experience includes missionary, children and youth ministries, associate pastor, church planter, and pastor. The Carters have two sons, Benjamin (3/10/09) and Nathaniel (12/09/10).

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Introduction to the Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

Welcome to the Cornerstone Curriculum , your new opportunity to be equipped for effective ministry in the Church!

The Challenge: Great Need, No Time, Few Funds The harsh reality faced by anyone equipping pastors and lay ministers serving in at-risk communities is that of scarcity. Money and time are too scarce and too short for these valiant leaders to engage in a long, structured study who serve God in poor communities. They do extraordinary work often while holding down a full-time job and growing ministry. Many thousands of urban Christian workers who would benefit from our premier, comprehensive, seminary-level curricula like the Capstone Curriculum don’t have either the availability or the funds to complete it. (The average time for bi-vocational students to finish Capstone’s sixteen modules is three to four years.) Meeting the Challenge: The Cornerstone Curriculum To meet this great need, we have designed this unique curriculum, the Cornerstone Curriculum . Selected from specific, targeted lessons taken from Capstone , and adding Dr. Alvin Sanders’s Redemptive Poverty Work , we created this course of study for those who will never have the time or funds to complete our more extensive Capstone set. The time to complete Cornerstone’s three parts is the equivalent of only three Capstone modules. We created this resource to help these students access helpful resources without sacrificing quality or their ministry opportunities. Cornerstone will dramatically cut both the time and expense associated with typical Bible school or seminary studies or even the Capstone Curriculum , with no loss to either our fidelity to biblical truth or practical ministry training. Be Equipped to Plant, Pastor, and Serve the Church! Cornerstone’s lesson materials combine the Redemptive Poverty Work course with material distilled directly from Capstone’s modules, drawing out its essential truths from its four department areas (Biblical Studies, Theology and Ethics, Christian Ministry, and Urban Mission). We put

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together Cornerstone’s lessons to provide you with a timely, cost-effective, and solid training regimen. Our training will provide you with certification, enrich your knowledge of the Scripture, and outfit you to minister effectively as a pastor, lay leader, or a Christian worker where you live and work. God has called and gifted you, and we hope to see you fulfill his calling on your life, that you may honor our Savior in everything you do. I challenge you, therefore, to fulfill the Lord’s ministry for you, all in the spirit of Paul’s admonition to Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2.15, ESV). Know that if you do present yourself to God as one approved, you will fulfill his call and bear spiritual fruit that honors Christ and pleases God. May God richly bless you in your studies, your discipleship, and your ministry! With bold confidence in God’s eternal Word to heal and transform, Dr. Don Davis

Wichita, Kansas February 1, 2023

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Course Description

The Cornerstone Curriculum is high-quality training for Christian leaders who may not need or have the time for training that takes several years. It provides knowledge and skills for Christian leadership in a succinct format. This excellent training covers three major parts.

Part I: Redemptive Poverty Work Redemptive Poverty Work offers a fresh perspective on how to empower those living in the condition of poverty. Students examine their ideas concerning those who live in the condition of poverty and learn how to do godly and effective work among them. Part II: Bible & Theology The Biblical Studies unit equips students to minister the Word of God with accuracy and effectiveness. The servant of Christ must master the biblical content, submit to its injunctions, and teach its truths. The Theology and Ethics unit equips students to articulate and defend fundamental Christian truth. The favorite subject of Jesus himself was the Kingdom of God. It was his salvation message, master plan, and heart theology. This unit explores the kingdom story – the King and his Kingdom – and sees its importance in the life of personal discipleship and ministry. Part III: Ministry & Mission The Christian Ministry unit equips students to skillfully tend the flock of God, the Church. Jesus of Nazareth has been exalted as head over his new people, the Church. We focus on the critical role of the Church in personal and corporate discipleship. Indeed, there is no discipleship or salvation apart from God’s saving action in the Church. The Urban Mission unit equips students to represent Christ as an ambassador of his Kingdom. We focus on the Christian faith as a response of mission, the call to go to the nations and proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and King of the reign of God.

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After completing the Cornerstone Curriculum , you will have the tools to: • Do poverty work that honors God and helps make the world a better place • Minister the Word of God with accuracy and effectiveness • Articulate and defend fundamental Christian truth • Skillfully tend the flock of God, the Church • Represent Christ as an ambassador of his Kingdom We believe that the training you receive through the Cornerstone Curriculum will equip you to be a redemptive poverty worker who will glorify God by serving Christ and his Church.

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Course Requirements

Part I: Redemptive Poverty Work Course Requirements

To complete this Redemptive Poverty Work training you will need the following materials: • A Bible • A copy of the book Uncommon Church: Community Transformation for the Common Good , by Dr. Alvin Sanders • A copy of the handbook Redemptive Poverty Work , by Dr. Alvin Sanders • Course schedule (Your Mentor will provide this.) • Assignment Checklist (See appendix. Your Mentor will provide this.) • Reading Completion Sheet (See appendix. Your Mentor will provide this.) • Scripture Memory Grading Form (See appendix. Your Mentor will provide this.) Attendance and Class Participation . . . . . . 30% 60 pts MemoryVerses . . . . . . . . . . . 10% 20pts Quizzes.............15%30pts Discussion Questions . . . . . . . . . . 10% 20 pts Readings and Homework Assignments . . . . . 15% 30 pts FinalExam. . . . . . . . . . . .20% 40pts Total: 100% 200 pts Grade Requirements Attendance at each class session is a course requirement. Absences will affect your grade. If an absence cannot be avoided, please let your Mentor know in advance. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to find out the assignments you missed, and to talk with your Mentor Summary of Grade Categories and Weights

Required Books and Materials

Course Requirements

Attendance and Class Participation

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about turning in late work. Much of the learning associated with this course takes place through discussions with your classmates. Therefore, your active involvement will be sought and expected in every class session. The memorized Word is a central priority for your life and ministry as a believer and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ. There are relatively few verses, but they are significant in their content. Each class session you will be expected to recite (orally or in writing) the assigned verses to your Mentor. (See the Appendix for a sample Scripture Memory Grading Form. Your Mentor will provide this form for you.)* After each lesson there will be five discussion questions that your mentor will provide. If you are meeting online, you will discuss these questions in the forum with your classmates in WIU. If your class is in person, your Mentor will decide how/when the discussion will happen in your class. Classwork and homework of various types may be given during class by your Mentor or be written in your Student Workbook. If you have any questions about what is required by these or when they are due, please ask your Mentor. It is important that the student read the assigned readings from the text and from the Scriptures in order to be prepared for class discussion. Please turn in the “Reading Completion Sheet” on a weekly basis. There will be an option to receive extra credit for extended readings. (See the Appendix for an example of the Reading Completion Sheet. Your Mentor will provide this form for you.)* At the end of each unit, your Mentor will give you a unit exam (closed book) to be completed at home. You will be asked a question that helps you reflect on what you have learned in the unit and how it affects the way you think about or practice ministry. Your Mentor will give you due dates and other information when the Unit Exam is handed out. Grading Redemptive Poverty Work course is Pass/Fail, where passing is 70%. Unexcused late work or failure to turn in assignments will affect your grade, so please plan ahead and communicate conflicts with your instructor.

Memory Verses

Discussion Questions

Class and Homework Assignments

Readings

Final Exam

* Mentors may download the Assignment Checklist, Scripture Memory Grading Form, and the Reading Completion Sheet from the WIU Church-based Seminary Dashboard.

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Parts II and III: Cornerstone Curriculum Course Requirements

• Bible (for the purposes of this course, your Bible should be a translation [ex. NIV, NASB, RSV, KJV, NKJV, etc.], and not a paraphrase [ex. The Living Bible, The Message]). • Each Cornerstone Curriculum unit has assigned textbooks which are read and discussed throughout the course. We encourage you to read, reflect upon, and respond to these with your professors, mentors, and fellow learners. Because of the fluid availability of the texts (e.g., books going out of print), we maintain our official Cornerstone Curriculum Required Textbook list on our website. Please visit www.tumientree.com to obtain the current listing of this unit’s texts and reading assignments. • Davis, Don L. with Terry Cornett and Don Allsman. Picturing Theology: An A-Z Collection of TUMI’s Key Diagrams, Charts, Graphics, and Articles . Wichita, KS: TUMI Press, 2019. • Paper and pen for taking notes and completing in-class assignments. Attendance and Class Participation . . . . . . 30% 90 pts MemoryVerses . . . . . . . . . . . 20% 60pts Exegetical Project . . . . . . . . . . . 20% 60 pts Ministry Project . . . . . . . . . . . 10% 30 pts Readings and Homework Assignments . . . . . 10% 30 pts FinalExam. . . . . . . . . . . .10% 30pts Total: 100% 300 pts Grade Requirements Attendance at each class session is a course requirement. Absences will affect your grade. If an absence cannot be avoided, please let your Mentor know in advance. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to find out the assignments you missed, and to talk with your Mentor about turning in late work. Much of the learning associated with this course takes place through discussion. Therefore, your active involvement will be sought and expected in every class session. Summary of Grade Categories and Weights

Required Books and Materials

Course Requirements

Attendance and Class Participation

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The memorized Word is a central priority for your life and ministry as a believer and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ. There are relatively few verses, but they are significant in their content. Each class session you will be expected to recite (orally or in writing) the assigned verses to your Mentor. (See the Appendix for a sample Scripture Memory Grading Form. Your Mentor will provide this form for you.)* Please see the Introduction to each unit for specific Scripture Memory assignments. The Scriptures are God’s potent instrument to equip the man or woman of God for every work of ministry he calls them to (2 Tim. 3.16-17). In order to complete the requirements for this course you must select a passage and do an inductive Bible study (i.e., an exegetical study) upon it for each unit . Each study will have to be five pages in length (double spaced, typed or neatly hand written) and deal with one of the four aspects of the Word of God covered in the four lessons of each unit. Our desire and hope is that you will be deeply convinced of Scripture’s ability to change and practically affect your life and the lives of those to whom you minister. As you go through each unit, be open to finding an extended passage (roughly 4-9 verses) on a subject you would like to study more intensely. The details of the project are covered on page 23, and will be discussed in the introductory session of this course. Also see the Introduction to each unit for further Exegetical Project instructions. Our expectation is that all students will apply their learning practically in their lives and in their ministry responsibilities. For each unit, the student will be responsible for developing a ministry project that combines principles learned with practical ministry. The details of this project are covered on page 25, and will be discussed in the introductory session of the course. Classwork and homework of various types may be given during class by your Mentor or be written in your Student Workbook. If you have any question about what is required by these or when they are due, please ask your Mentor.

Memory Verses

Exegetical Project

Ministry Project

Class and Homework Assignments

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Each Cornerstone Curriculum unit has assigned textbooks which are read and discussed throughout the course. We encourage you to read, reflect upon, and respond to these with your professors, mentors, and fellow learners. Because of the fluid availability of the texts (e.g., books going out of print), we maintain our official Cornerstone Curriculum Required Textbook list on our website. Please visit www.tumientree.com to obtain the current listing of this unit’s texts and reading assignments. It is important that the student read the assigned readings from the text and from the Scriptures in order to be prepared for class discussion. Please turn in the “Reading Completion Sheet” on a weekly basis. There will be an option to receive extra credit for extended readings. (See the Appendix for an example of the Reading Completion Sheet. Your Mentor will provide this form for you.)* At the end of each unit, your Mentor will give you a unit exam (closed book) to be completed at home. You will be asked a question that helps you reflect on what you have learned in the unit and how it affects the way you think about or practice ministry. Your Mentor will give you due dates and other information when the Unit Exam is handed out. For your convenience, an assignment checklist is located in the Appendix. Grading The following grades will be given in this class at the end of the session, and placed on each student’s record: A – Superior work D – Passing work B – Excellent work F – Unsatisfactory work C – Satisfactory work I – Incomplete Letter grades with appropriate pluses and minuses will be given for each final grade, and grade points for your grade will be factored into your overall grade point average. Unexcused late work or failure to turn in assignments will affect your grade, so please plan ahead, and communicate conflicts with your instructor.

Readings

Unit Exam

Assignment Chekclist

* Mentors may download the Assignment Checklist, Scripture Memory Grading Form, and the Reading Completion Sheet from the WIU Church-based Seminary Dashboard.

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Cornerstone Certificate Requirements In order to earn the Cornerstone Certificate, the student must meet the following conditions: • Complete all course requirements for each of the four units of the Cornerstone Curriculum and earn a total grade of at least 70% in each unit. • Complete the Redemptive Poverty Work course. TUMI Certificate Credit The student who earns a Cornerstone Certificate may continue their TUMI studies and work toward onoe of our 32 credit hour certificates certificates. The work done for the Cornerstone certificate will benefit the student in the following ways: • Certificate in Urban Theological Studies (CUTS) – A Cornerstone certificate will be counted as 6 credit hours toward CUTS. • Certificate in Christian Leadership Studies (CLS) – CLS is a certificate awarded to those who complete all 16 Capstone modules. A Cornerstone certificate will be counted as 6 credit hours, or the equivalent of 3 modules, toward the CLS. The student may fulfill the remaining hours by completing any 13 Capstone modules.

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Exegetical Project As a part of your participation in the Cornerstone Curriculum, for each unit you will be required to do an exegesis (inductive study) on a passage in the Word of God. The purpose of this exegetical project is to give you an opportunity to do a detailed study of a major passage on the nature and function of the Word of God. As you study one of the texts listed under “Unit Assignments” at the beginning of each Unit, our hope is that you will be able to show how this passage illumines or makes plain the significance of the Word of God for our spirituality and for our lives together in the Church. We also desire that the Spirit will give you insight as to how you can relate its meaning directly to your own personal walk of discipleship, as well as to the leadership role God has given to you currently in your church and ministry. This is a Bible study project, and, in order to do exegesis, you must be committed to understanding the meaning of the passage in its own setting. Once you know what it meant, you can then draw out principles that apply to all of us, and then relate those principles to life. A simple three-step process can guide you in your personal study of the Bible passage: 1. What was God saying to the people in the text’s original situation? 2. What principle(s) does the text teach that is true for all people everywhere , including today? 3. What is the Holy Spirit asking me to do with this principle here, today , in my life and ministry? Once you have answered these questions in your personal study, you are then ready to write out your insights for your paper assignment . Here is a sample outline for your paper: 1. List out what you believe is the main theme or idea of the text you selected. 2. Summarize the meaning of the passage (you may do this in two or three paragraphs, or, if you prefer, by writing a short verse-by verse commentary on the passage).

Purpose

Outline and Composition

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3. Outline one to three key principles or insights this text provides on the Word of God. 4. Tell how one, some, or all of the principles may relate to one or more of the following: a. Your personal spirituality and walk with Christ b. Your life and ministry in your local church c. Situations or challenges in your community and general society As an aid or guide, please feel free to read the course texts and/or commentaries, and integrate insights from them into your work. Make sure that you give credit to whom credit is due if you borrow or build upon someone else’s insights. Use in-the-text references, footnotes, or endnotes. Any way you choose to cite your references will be acceptable, as long as you 1) use only one way consistently throughout your paper, and 2) indicate where you are using someone else’s ideas, and are giving them credit for it. (For more information, see Documenting Your Work: A Guide to Help You Give Credit Where Credit Is Due located in the Appendix.) Make certain that your exegetical project, when turned in meets the following standards: • It is legibly written or typed. • Is a study of one of the passages listed under “Unit Assignments” at the beginning of each Unit. • It is turned in on time (not late). • It is 5 pages in length. • It follows the outline given above, clearly laid out for the reader to follow. • It shows how the passage relates to life and ministry today. Do not let these instructions intimidate you; this is a Bible study project! All you need to show in this paper is that you studied the passage, summarized its meaning, drew out a few key principles from it, and related them to your own life and ministry. The exegetical project is worth 60 points, and represents 20% of your overall grade, so make certain that you make your project an excellent and informative study of the Word.

Grading

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Ministry Project The Word of God is living and active, and penetrates to the very heart of our lives and innermost thoughts (Heb. 4.12). James the Apostle emphasizes the need to be doers of the Word of God, not hearers only, deceiving ourselves. We are exhorted to apply the Word, to obey it. Neglecting this discipline, he suggests, is analogous to a person viewing our natural face in a mirror and then forgetting who we are, and are meant to be. In every case, the doer of the Word of God will be blessed in what he or she does (James 1.22-25). Our sincere desire is that you will apply your learning practically, correlating your learning with real experiences and needs in your personal life, and in your ministry in and through your church. Therefore, a key part of completing the Cornerstone Curriculum will be for you to design a ministry project for each unit to help you share some of the insights you have learned from this course with others. There are many ways that you can fulfill this requirement of your study. You may choose to conduct a brief study of your insights with an individual, or a Sunday School class, youth or adult group or Bible study, or even at some ministry opportunity. What you must do is discuss some of the insights you have learned from class with your audience. (Of course, you may choose to share insights from your Exegetical Project in this unit with them.) Feel free to be flexible in your project. Make it creative and open-ended. At the beginning of the course, you should decide on a context in which you will share your insights, and share that with your instructor. Plan ahead and avoid the last minute rush in selecting and carrying out your project. After you have carried out your plan, write and turn in to your Mentor a one-page summary or evaluation of your time of sharing. A sample outline of your Ministry Project summary is as follows: 1. Your name 2. The place where you shared, and the audience with whom you shared 3. A brief summary of how your time went, how you felt, and how they responded 4. What you learned from the time The Ministry Project is worth 30 points and represents 10% of your overall grade, so make certain to share your insights with confidence and make your summary clear.

Purpose

Planning and Summary

Grading

Part I

Redemptive Poverty Work

REDEMPTIVE POVERTY WORK INTRODUCTION / 29

Introduction to Redemptive Poverty Work

Welcome to Dr. Alvin Sanders’s training on the concept of Redemptive Poverty Work. Whether you volunteer or serve in full time ministry, this teaching offers a fresh perspective on how to empower those living in the condition of poverty. This learning path will enable you to examine your ideas concerning those who live in the condition of poverty and how to do effective work among them. This perspective offers a fresh and revolutionary way to engage and interact with those who live in underserved communities, here in the United States and around the world. Watch the video, An Opportunity to Live Redemptive Poverty , by Dr. Don Davis, on how we need a clear, biblical, and compelling perspective on what it means to conduct life-affirming care in communities of poverty. Course Description The goal of this course is to help you do the type of work among the poor that honors God and helps you fulfill your desire to make the world a better place. • Our first lesson, A Brief Theological Reflection , provides a simple, practical theology for poverty work. We’ll talk about three themes that undergird why we do what we do. • Lesson two, Toxic Poverty Work , outlines the type of poverty work that naturally arises from our sinful nature. We’ll talk about what our work will produce if we do not practice self-awareness. • Lesson three, Redemptive Poverty Work , defines the goal of our activity. We’ll explore the three types of poverty work available to us and how our response to the work that Christ has done on the cross should aspire us towards redemption of lives and neighborhoods. • Lesson four, Rhythms of Life and Poverty Work , lays out the spirituality of The Great Tradition of the Church. World Impact invites you to implement these practices in your life to act as a countermeasure to toxic poverty work, as well as a catalyst to grow in your faith.

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Course Objectives After completing Redemptive Poverty Work , you will have the tools to: • Articulate a brief biblical theology for poverty work. • Analyze poverty work for toxic practices and attitudes. • Reflect critically on poverty work to align it with God’s redemptive work in Christ. • Enact a commitment to root poverty work in effective spiritual practices that represent the Great Tradition of the Church.

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A Brief Theological Reflection

LESSON 1

page 25 & 1

Welcome in the strong name of Jesus Christ! After your reading, study, discussion, and application of the materials in this lesson, you will be able to: • Renew your thinking concerning people who live in poverty. • Reflect on how your preconceived ideas about those in poverty measure up to key biblical themes. • Provide a brief practical theology for your poverty work. Pray the following prayer: Jesus, you are the King of Glory and the King of Creation. Teach us to recognize the ways of your kingdom that we might participate as faithful and devout residents in the space between a broken world and the coming kingdom of God. Amen. Read Matthew 25.31-46 . Reflect and journal on potential life application. Close this section by listening to “The Sovereign Love of God” and meditate on the Scripture you just read. If I could wave a magic wand, I would do so to give every Christian a passion to study their Bible. In several decades of ministry, I have come to believe the number one problem we face is biblical illiteracy. I know when I began to read the Bible for all its worth, it changed the trajectory of my faith. I hope every Christian will have this testimony at some point in their life. The condition of poverty is a huge theme we find throughout Scripture. One thing concerning this theme commonly overlooked is the fact that most biblical characters lived out their faith while in poverty. The whole book of Exodus is about how God delivered an impoverished nation of slaves, showing generosity by giving them a land of their own. Jesus was born into poverty, lived while working among the poor, and condemned the abuse of wealth. One of the reasons why I think this theme is not recognized is the stigma that is often attached to those in poverty. This stigma is the common ~ Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals.

Lesson Objectives

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Devotion

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(but not biblical) belief that those in poverty deserve to be there. We have all been influenced by the strong notion of the protestant work ethic. This is the belief that if we are prepared, attentive, and thrifty enough poverty will not come our way. Yet that is not the picture the Bible paints. Certainly, one of the causes of poverty is unwise moral choices. Yet it is not the only cause. For example, Luke 16.19-31 points out a person could be poor because of neglect. It’s not hard to find examples where the citizens work hard, but the people are exploited by corrupt leaders of industry and/or government. Among other poverty causes we find in Scripture are the weather, sickness, being old, unexpected loss of a spouse – the list is lengthy. We all are affected by the fall described in Genesis 3, and poverty is one of the results. The first step in empowering the poor is to realize the Bible positions poverty as a condition, not an identity. Viewing poverty this way is essential because it is foundational to redemptive poverty work. We can work among the poor without toxicity because the Kingdom of God is here. Let this brief overview launch you into deeper study, renewing the ideas you may have about the poor and their neighborhoods.

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Recite and/or sing the Nicene Creed (located in the Appendix).

Nicene Creed

Memorize Matthew 25.45 in a standard Bible translation (not a paraphrase version, e.g. The Message ) and grade yourself using the scripture-memory-form.doc.

Scripture Memory

To prepare for class, refer to the schedule for this course to see what assignments are due before your next class meeting and complete the

Assignments

assignments below: Read the following:

• Redemptive Poverty Work – “Introduction” and “A Brief Theological Reflection” (pages 11-22)

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• Uncommon Church: Community Transformation for the Common Good – Foreword by Efrem Smith – Chapter 3: Jesus Did, Not Jesus Would: Jesus and the Condition of Poverty – Chapter 6: Faith and Works: Eliminating the Tension Between Evangelism and Justice Summarize each book reading with no more than a paragraph or two per summary. In this summary, please give your best understanding of what you think was the main point in the reading. Do not be overly concerned about giving detail; simply write out what you consider to be the main point discussed in that chapter of the book. Use the Reading Completion form. Submit a Reading Completion Sheet for readings for each book (if you are completing this course in World Impact U, use the “Submit Assignments” green bar at the top of any page in your Redemptive Poverty Work course in WIU). Case Study A young urban minister who oversees training volunteers for a tutoring program for a school in an impoverished neighborhood has come to you for advice. Her job is to give an orientation before the volunteers are assigned kids to work with. She has found that she consistently runs into a problem. In every orientation a debate breaks out among the new volunteers concerning the causes of poverty. One group argues that people are poor because they made bad choices in their lives. The others argue that people are poor because of economic injustice. Rarely does either group cite Scripture to back up their arguments. What is your advice to her?

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CONTACT

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A Brief Theological Reflection

Dr. Alvin Sanders

CONTENT

This lesson provides a simple practical theology for poverty work. We’ll talk about three themes that undergird why we do what we do. Our objectives for this lesson, A Brief Theological Reflection , is to enable you to: • Renew your thinking concerning people who live in poverty. • Reflect on how your preconceived ideas about those in poverty measure up to key biblical themes. • Provide a brief practical theology for your poverty work. Christians are much more likely than non-Christians to view poverty as the result of personal failure. This mentality leads to the poverty-stricken being treated as “projects” instead of people to serve, which is not what God intended. The Bible gives significant instruction concerning how we are to treat those in poverty. We will survey Old Testament principles of empowerment and then point out two things we know about Jesus: he favored the poor, and he warned against riches.

Summary page 25 & 2

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I. Poverty Is a Theme in Both the Old and New Testaments.

Video Outline page 26 & 3

A. Old Testament principles of empowerment

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1. Definition: To empower someone is to provide pathways of opportunity to improve their situation.

2. In the Old Testament we see that:

a. Extraordinary attention was to be given towards making sure that justice was done regarding those who were poor (Exod. 23.6; Amos 5.12; Ps. 10.2, 9).

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b. At all times, some fruit and vegetables were to be left in the fields for the poor to gather (Lev. 19.9-10).

c. No interest was to be charged on loans to those in poverty (Exod. 22.25).

d. Every three years a tithe was to be made to orphans and widows (Deut. 14.28-29).

e. Every seven years farm fields were to rest and not to be used for profit but rather for those less fortunate to gather what grew naturally for themselves (Exod. 23.10-11; Lev. 25.3-6).

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f. Slaves were to be freed after six years of service (Exod. 21.2).

g. Every fiftieth year (Year of Jubilee) lands were to revert to their original owners (Lev. 25.8-17).

B. Jesus favored the poor.

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1. We see Christ’s special concern for the poor in his earthly ministry (Luke 4.18-20).

a. Jesus did his ministry as an everyday, common person (Mark 2.15-17)

b. His hometown of Nazareth was not looked upon favorably (John 1.44-45).

c. His birth in a stable was characteristic of people in poverty (Luke 2.7).

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d. Jesus entered and lived in the world in the humblest, most ordinary way imaginable (2 Cor. 8.9).

2. At his return, we will give an account to our Lord of how we treated the poor during our lifetimes (Matt. 25.31-46).

a. We will have to provide evidence of what we did to create pathways of opportunity for those who live in the condition of poverty (Matt 25.35-36, 42-43).

b. Jesus equated taking care of people who are hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, and in prison as taking care of him (Matt 25.40, 45).

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c. This is not done to earn salvation, but rather to live considering the grace we have been extended by Christ (Eph 2.8-10).

C. Jesus warned against riches.

1. Jesus emphatically taught against the common mentality that being wealthy guaranteed salvation (Matt. 19.23-30).

2. He taught that money is the primary thing we need to guard against becoming an idol (Matt. 6.24).

3. He taught that money has no owners, just spenders and that we should not put our identity in wealth (Luke 12.13-21).

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Conclusion Redemptive Poverty Work is anchored on a simple, practical theology that includes renewing your thinking concerning people living in poverty, identifying your own preconceived ideas on poverty against key biblical themes, and affirming basic truths related to doing poverty work. The following questions were designed to help you reflect on the material in Uncommon Church , Redemptive Poverty Work , and the video A Brief Theological Reflection . Be clear and concise in your answers (reflect on these questions and answer them in the Forum and be prepared to discuss them in our face-to-face meeting). 1. Do you believe biblical illiteracy concerning the poor is a problem that can be solved? More importantly, how firmly do you believe it is a problem worth solving? 2. Many people feel uncomfortable when the topic of poverty comes up, especially if they have never experienced it. Other than the protestant work ethic mentioned, why do you think this is the case? 3. Besides it being a kingdom priority, what are your top three reasons for pursuing poverty work from a biblical perspective? Are there legitimate reasons to not pursue it? How do you plan on reconciling these to move forward? 4. How you spend your time, talent, and treasure towards those in poverty shows that you have a passion for loving your neighbor. Provide life evidence to support where you presently are concerning this. 5. What do you suggest is the most important thing you can do to apply the things you’ve learned to your life?

Student Questions and Response page 28 & 6

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CONNECTION

This lesson provides a practical theology for the practice of redemptive poverty work. • Too often we let our societal ideas overshadow biblical ideas concerning those in poverty. • Most of the characters of the Bible were people who lived in working poverty.

Summary of Key Concepts

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• The Old Testament stresses the principle of creating pathways of opportunity for the poor. • Jesus was not wealthy when he lived on earth and his ministry occurred mainly among the common people. • Jesus showed special concern for those in poverty. • Jesus warned against riches and condemned economic injustice.

Now is the time for you to discuss with your fellow students your questions about our lesson, A Brief Theological Reflection . What questions do you have, considering the material you have just studied?

Student Application and Implications

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CASE STUDY

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Having completed this teaching, revisit the case study from earlier in the lesson. How might you respond differently, given the content of the teaching? A young urban minister who oversees training volunteers for a tutoring program for a school in an impoverished neighborhood has come to you for advice. Her job is to give an orientation before the volunteers are assigned kids to work with. She has found that she consistently runs into a problem. In every orientation a debate breaks out among the new volunteers concerning the causes of poverty. One group argues that people are poor because they made bad choices in their lives. The others argue that people are poor because of economic injustice. Rarely does either group cite Scripture to back up their arguments. What is your advice to her?

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Redemptive Poverty Work is anchored on a simple, practical theology that includes renewing your thinking concerning people living in poverty, identifying your own preconceived ideas on poverty against key biblical themes, and affirming basic truths related to doing poverty work.

Restatement of the Lesson’s Thesis

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If you are interested in pursuing some of the ideas from this lesson, A Brief Theological Reflection , you might want to give these books a try: Davis, Don L. A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God’s Servant , Foundations Course, Wichita: TUMI, 2006, 2012. Davis, Don L. Sacred Roots: A Primer on Retrieving the Great Tradition , 2nd Ed., Wichita: TUMI, 2010, 2017. Take some time to meditate on how the Holy Spirit is connecting the material from this lesson A Brief Theological Reflection to your life and ministry. How might you think, or act differently in a real situation based on this lesson? Does this lesson cause you to reconsider any of your past thoughts or actions? Pray that our Lord would show you examples from your own life where this lesson may apply.

Resources and Bibliographies

Ministry Connections

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Ask the Holy Spirit to illumine your heart concerning A Brief Theological Reflection . Offer yourself anew to our Lord’s service as a redemptive poverty worker. Pray that he would provide both the insight and the courage to apply what you are learning.

Counseling and Prayer

ASSIGNMENTS

Memorize Luke 4.18-19 from a standard translation.

Scripture Memory

To prepare for the next lesson, please read the following: • Redemptive Poverty Work – “Toxic Poverty Work” (pages 23-30) • Uncommon Church: Community Transformation for the Common Good – Chapter 2: What Would Jesus Do? Poverty Is a Condition, Not an Identity – Chapter 7: There Goes the Neighborhood: Understanding the Powers That Be

Reading Assignment