Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

Unit Description

In the Christian tradition, kerygma has a very specific meaning. It refers to the preaching or proclamation of the message of the Gospel: that is, the good news that through Jesus Christ salvation, redemption and healing has come to the world. Although one could make the case for kerygma referring specifically to one form of proclamation – that is, preaching – in this unit an expanded understanding of the term kerygma (communicating the gospel) will be developed.

The essentials of Communicating the Gospel are explored through an overview of the role of prophets in the Old Testament and the significance of the Gospels in the New Testament. Special attention is given to the proclamation of the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ preaching.

This theme is continued as we explore how the church proclaimed Christ throughout the centuries. This introduces two important doctrines, namely the doctrine of revelation and the doctrine of Christ.

The learner is encouraged to consider the challenges faced by the local church to proclaim Christ in a 21st century context. If “the medium is the message” the church has to be conscious of how it presents itself in a contemporary world. Different models and modes of communication are explored. Learners will be required to articulate the contextual nature of proclamation while being able to highlight the positive and negative implications of this awareness.

Since narratives make up a large segment of the biblical corpus, storytelling as an ancient art form, (as used not only by Jesus and biblical writers but in one way or another in all cultures,) is identified and affirmed. Narrative theologies in their numerous forms are identified, and the different kinds of questions they raise for preachers and theologians are addressed. Learners are encouraged to go beyond matters of method and technique to ask important theological questions about narrative, the arts and multi-media as they relate to proclaiming Christ in their current and emerging contexts

Teaching Strategies

The learning process consists of three phases: Reading, Residential, and Research. Each phase has a blend of individual and group learning, and subsequent phases build upon the learning of those that come before.

The first phase is a Reading phase, and lasts for 12 weeks. The learner, as part of a small cohort study group (3 to 5 members), is guided through a reading program to explore the current scholarship on the practice of communicating the gospel.

Reading assignments are compiled with the help of the librarian, the educational technologist, and administrative support staff. Required weekly readings are posted to the unit website once a week for downloading, utilising Tabor Victoria’s Moodle platform.

Students are also required to read the prescribed textbooks in this phase.

During this first phase learners in cohort groups embark on a guided social inquiry, resulting in a research project . Hands-on research conducted in context by each participant allows him/her to gain an understanding of specific, emerging ministry concerns/questions encountered by local churches.

Second phase is a residential phase: Equipped with the reading and research, learners then undertake a Residential phase of 40 hours’ worth (one week, full-time) of residential study. During the residency, all cohort groups gather in a teaching church chosen because of a leader who is known as a thoughtful practitioner, and because the agency has a proven track record in “Communicating the Gospel”.

In the third Phase students complete a personal theology in which issues related to “Communicating the Gospel” are explored. Cohorts also plan and implement an intervention at a local church. The intervention is a professional presentation that summarises findings and proposes a number of ways the church might go about addressing the emerging questions. The intervention invites thoughtful practitioners into theological reflection and constructive thinking about the concern and what might be done to begin addressing it. Following the intervention, the small cohort study group reflects upon and assesses their collaborative work.


Unit offerings

Face to face: (Every 3rd Year, Semester 2)
Online: (Every 3rd Year, Semester 2)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.