Course Description
A study of the development of Christianity from the 1500’s to the present day with an emphasis on the history of the church in Asia and the Pacific, the impact of the Reformation and the reaction of the Counter Reformation, the continuing thread of holiness teaching up to the present day, Arminius and other influences on the Wesley brothers and Methodism, the history of the American Holiness Movement and the Church of the Nazarene.
Course Rational
The story of history is more important to a pastor than the names and dates of history. Names and dates gives us the title and when but do not give us the “why” behind the persons who are mentioned. The story gives the why and allows pastors to connect that story with the story of their current ministry and congregation. Many brief stories are preferred as a method of teaching history, especially when the stories connect and the students begin to grasp the overall story and where they fit into it.
Program Outcomes
Content
CN-8 Ability to identify and describe the events, personalities and main themes of the history of the Christian Church.
CN-9 Ability to identify and describe the events, personalities and main themes of the history of the Christian Church in Asia-Pacific.
CN-10 Ability to describe Nazarene history in terms of events, personalities, and theology.
CN-11 Ability to describe the events, personalities and theology in the history of the Church of the Nazarene and other indigenous churches in Asia-Pacific.
CN-14 Ability to summarize the sources of theological reflection, its historical development, and its contemporary expressions.
Competency
CP-14 Ability to teach the position of the Church of the Nazarene on the doctrine of holiness.
Character
CH-7 Ability to reflect theologically on life and ministry.
Context
CX-1 Ability to identify and describe the events, personalities, social structures, and history that help shape the context in which we minister.
CX-2 Ability to apply this current information to the ministries of the Church.
Activity Outcomes
Accountability
ACC-1 Demonstrate a Christ-like character of submission, integrity and love in all relationships.
Administration
ADM-3 Explain the development of authority and structures from the early church (New Testament) until modern times.
ADM-4 Tell the story of the history of the Church of the Nazarene and consider its mission, message, governance, and its place in the larger Christian story.
Disciple
DIS-4 Use the reading of God’s Word to foster spiritual growth and for personal devotions.
DIS-8 Tell several stories of persecution in history, personal tragedy, and Christian responses.
Fasting
FAS-3 Explain various types of fasts, when and how to fast, and the history of fasting in the church with examples. Students will fast and explain how their life has changed because of fasting.
Personal Spiritual Development (Holiness)
HOL-9 List ten persons from church history who displayed Christlikeness and show how these character qualities can be used to form a model for contemporary Christians to follow.
Impact Community
ICO-5 Tell the story of historical examples of the interaction of meeting human needs and sharing the gospel and explain how to balance them.
ICO-6 Give historical examples of how relationships were built with local officials and the negative or positive outcomes of these. Explain how some laws have historically impacted congregations and compare those impacts with modern examples.
Ministry
MIN-8 Tell historical stories of how ministry has changed in the history of the church or locally in a contextual way to the community and church and make local application.
Prayer
PRA-1 Model the prayers of Christ and His relationship to the Father through a strong passion for a life of prayer shown by devoting time to prayer and keeping a prayer journal, including a list of lost people for whom God has made them responsible.
Preach
PRE-8 Explain various perspectives of holiness and its application to the Christian life from a variety of theological perspectives, e.g. Reformed, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox.
PRE-10 Tell the story of the expansion of Christianity during different points in history, noting key ideas, persons, dates, and locations. Explain how holiness has been a key theme of the church throughout the ages. Connect the growth of the church and development of theology to the student’s current context of ministry.
Ritual
RIT-1 Use various rituals to point to the person and work of Christ and explain how this impacts the student and the church.
RIT-2 Explain and demonstrate several techniques for administrating various rituals. (weddings, funerals, baptisms, and communion must be included) including theological, cultural issues and legal implications. Demonstrate public reading or memorized scripture quotation during a ritual.
RIT-3 Analyze various historical forms of Christian worship and devotion (Protestant Reformation) and consider how to apply these forms within today’s cultural context.
| Content | 49% |
| Competency | 21% |
| Character | 12% |
| Context | 18% |
Course Texts
Examining Our Christian Heritage 2, Rev. 2. RIIE Course Module. Kansas City: Clergy Services, 2004.
Crutcher, Timothy J. John Wesley: His Life and Thought. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 2015.
Course Requirements
- The local school’s attendance policy should be placed here.
- Bible Reading and Prayer Journal: Students should read through the Bible as designated in the Master Plan for Bible Reading in the Course of Study. For this course, students will read Micah 1 – Malachi 4 and Revelation 13 – 22. The focus of the Scripture reading and prayer time for this course is on fasting. Students will choose one meal time per week. Instead of cooking and eating during that time, students will spend the time in prayer and fasting (if students are unable to fast food because of medical reasons, please talk to the instructor about other types of fasts). At the end of each week, students will reflect in one paragraph of 200 words in their journal on how God is growing them to be more like Christ.
(Outcomes CN-7, ACC-1, DIS-4, FAS-3, PRA-1)
- Content Evaluations: Regular quizzes on important themes and people will be given at the end of units.
(Outcomes CN-8, CN-9, CN-10, CN-11, CN-14, ADM-3, FAS-3, ICO-6, PRE-8, RIT-1, RIT-2, RIT-3)
- Timeline: Tell the story, in chronological order, of the history of the Church since the Reformation, including the most significant people, events, and dates. This can be either an oral presentation in class or a written paper.
(Outcomes CN-14, HOL-9, MIN-8, PRE-10)
- The Wesleyan Movement: Working in small groups, determine the key teachings of the movement started by John and Charles Wesley that continues today through the Church of the Nazarene. Prepare an oral report to the class on what these themes are and how they impact the ministry in your context.
(Outcomes CN-14, CP-14, ADM-4, HOL-9)
- The Church in Asia: Write a three-page report about the challenges the church in the student’s context faces. Identify any historical reasons for this challenge. Offer at least one idea for how to overcome this challenge
(Outcomes CX-1, CX-2, ICO-5)
Course Evaluation
Journal 10 %
Content Evaluations 20 %
Timeline 20 %
The Wesley Movement 25 %
The Church in Asia 25 %
Grading Policy
A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
45-59% (Passable for the certificate level and toward the requirements for being ordained in the Church of the Nazarene)
If a student marks a final grade lower than 45% he or she must take the course again for credit at the diploma level
Course Outline
Unit 1: Christianity in the Reformation Era—1500-1650
- Background of the Reformation: Renaissance and Humanism
- Martin Luther
- Reformation Leaders and Groups
- Protestant Worship and Ministry, and Great Britain
- Protestant Groups’ Continued Development
- Roman Catholicism Moves Forward
- Roman Catholicism in America and Asia
Unit 2: Christianity in the Modern Era—1650-1900
- Enlightenment and Pietism
- Protestant Beginning in America
- Wesley and the Beginnings of Methodism
- Revivalism and the Holiness Movement
- The Protestant Missionary Movement and Its Impact in Asia
- Christianity Around the World and the 19th- Century European Church
- Western Church Life and Eastern Orthodoxy
Unit 3: Christianity in the 20th and 21st Centuries
- Developments in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries
- Missions, Ecumenism, and Theology ….16-1 Lesson 17:
- Church and State, and Pentecostalism .17-1 Lesson 18:
- Arrival and growth of the Church of the Nazarene in Asia Pacific
- The future of Asian and Pacific Christianity: Creating our own story