Introduces the basics of “Relational Evangelism” then gives students the tools needed to develop a cultural competency among Jewish friends. Through reading select resources, lecture and discussion, students will learn: how the Gospel can be shared from the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible); how to explain key Messianic prophecies; correct terminology that is sensitive to a Jewish hearer; how to discern when a friend’s faith and receptivity to learning new ideas about Jesus; how to share a testimony effectively.
Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” This course addresses the need for students to answer the call to faithfulness in sharing the Gospel with friends who are Jewish. Topics include “relational evangelism,” as well as “cultural competency” and social sensitivity to the particular needs of Jewish people and the objections they may have to believing in Jesus as the Messiah.
One of the fastest-growing segments of Judaism today is “Messianic Judaism,” which suggests that some Jewish people – despite serious objections – are turning to Jesus with faith, trust and belief. Studies show that it is through disciple-making conversation with trusted, genuine Christian friends that is the catalyst for these life-changing decisions. This course is important because it teaches MU students how to effectively share the Gospel and how to share their own testimony of Jesus among Jewish friends.
Key Old Testament prophecies that point to Jesus as the Messiah as well as communicating the Gospel from the Old Testament will be examined.
The starting point for this course is Jesus’ Missional Mandate to His church to preach the Gospel to “Jerusalem and Judea” then “to the ends of the earth” but, as Romans 1:16 states, “First to the Jew.”
Students will develop a uniquely Christ-like model for sharing the Gospel and carry the MU mission, vision and core values into their community’s marketplace of ideas through friendships and purposeful, intentional relationship-building.
Students will discover ways to establish, build and maintain relationships that are godly, meaningful and enriching among Jewish neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances, in order to share the Gospel across cultural boundaries, within a Jewish framework.
Students will prayerfully look for opportunities to meet, befriend, and grow in their relationships with Jewish people as missionally-minded Christians who deeply care about and love their neighbors as they love themselves.
Students in this course will be introduced to ways they may connect interpersonally with Jewish friends as missional Christians, Gaining an experience of sharing the Gospel with a Jewish person should result in transformational learning opportunities rooted in Christ’s Missional Mandate.
