When God started his narrative of redemption for humanity through Israel, he called Abram and his family and put them on mission together. The goal of this course is to provide the framework of how God is continuing to use the family as a primary community to embody his message and image to local neighborhoods.
This course provides a biblical and theological framework for the primary role of family as the agent of mission in local neighborhoods. Students will understand the story and foundation of ‘Patrilineal Kinship Groups’ in the first century Mediterranean world from which our New Testament language of spiritual family resides. Special attention will be given to the relevant missional work of Mike and Sally Breen’s ‘Family on Mission’ from 3DM discipleship training.
The family unit is a powerful and primary Gospel community where God forms his people, plants them in neighborhoods and calls them to embody his life and image there. From Abram to New Testament community, God has powerfully used biological and spiritual family systems for mission. This course powerfully examines this relational history and engages this faithful mission to student’s specific contexts.
Students will study Abram’s family on mission to become Israel.
Students will study how God forms a ‘fictive family’ as Christian community and embodies his life and mission within it and for the neighborhood.
Students will do historical and modern analysis of the role of family as a discipleship formation model.
Faith and culture play a large role in how families are formed and operate within the larger society. Special attention will be given to the diversity of family models expressed around the world.
Students will explore the powerful connection between ‘family systems’ theory and ministry leadership capacity.
Students will develop their own family mission statement for their ministry context to embody the Gospel as hope for the neighborhood.
