Assignments for COMM 3780, Communicating Christian Faith, Independent Study

Assignments for this course take the form of written summaries, research, and analysis. They are designed to help us work through the course objectives, while keeping a focus on our spiritual growth through conceptual learning.

For each assignment, please develop a document and submit it to me in either Microsoft Word or HTML format (your word processing software should permit you to do a "save as" and choose either of those formats). You may use other online recourses in your study please site your sources.

Assignment 1
This assignment is designed to meet the course objective: "Be exposed to the importance of sharing their faith with others." Please review the following online resources to prepare to complete the assignment.

http://www.wcg.org/lit/gospel/sharing/unchurched.htm 
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/learntoshare.shtml

http://www.wayofthemaster.com/watchwitnessing.shtml

Go thru the street University Course on street evangelism at http://www.mercystreet.com/university/  

Assigned Work:
Recall your own conversion experience, in the light of others' efforts at sharing their faith with you. What were their (your) biggest challenges? What were their (your) biggest opportunities? What forces propelled you toward faith? What forces held you back? How does your experience compare to the authors of the linked articles? Send us a copy of your Street University certificate.

Assignment 2
This assignment is designed to meet the course objective: "Understand that the 'non-verbal' effects of our lives are sources of great impact in communicating faith." Please review the following online resources to prepare to complete the assignment.
Servant Evangelism:http://www.servantevangelism.com/ideas/search_ideas.php

Inner-Varsity http://www.intervarsity.org/evangelism/article_item.php?article_id=1593

Assigned Work:
What are the most important "non-verbal" ways that Christians are instructed to communicate their faith? What position does the bible seem to take on communicating faith non-verbally? Give several examples from your own experience of people who have communicated their faith clearly without saying a word?

Assignment 3
This assignment is designed to meet the course objective: "Understand the role of faith, and of the believer, in times of hardship, grief, and pain." Please review the following online resources to prepare to complete the assignment.

http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/1-crisis.html

http://www.crossroad.to/HisWord/verses/topics/grace.htm

http://www.4thewordofgod.com/chapter02.htm

Assigned Work:
Give two examples where you endured-or observed others enduring-grief, pain or a hardship. What role did you find your faith played? What was your role? What did you do and how did the situation turn out? How does your experience compare to the authors of the linked articles?

Assignment 4
This assignment is designed to meet the course objective: "Be introduced to a systematic method for articulating Christian faith." Please review the following online resources to prepare to complete the assignment.
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/videolessons.shtml

http://www.livingwaters.com/witnessingtool/browse.shtml
http://www.blessitt.com/internet.html

http://www.blessitt.com/home.html

Assigned Work:
Give some examples of styles you have observed others use that were both successful and unsuccessful in articulating one's faith? Give at least two examples for each. How does your experience compare to the authors of the linked articles?

Assignment 5
This assignment is designed to meet the course objective: This weeks objective: Be aware of case studies and histories of applied Christian faith." Please review the following online resources to prepare to complete the assignment.
http://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/home.html

http://www.persecutionblog.com/

Assigned Work:
1.) Please profile two martyrs you find particularly notable from Fox's Book of Martyrs
2.) Think of two people who have stood firm in their faith that you know today. What is it about their faith and the way they instill it in their lives that inspires you?
3.) Reflect on your own life and specify two areas where you could and should be standing more firmly in your faith. Be specific and include how you plan on being more radical or as some say more 'Christ like'.

Assignment 6
This assignment is designed to meet the course objective: This week's objective's: Articulate plans for sharing their faith, verbally and nonverbally in their own life circumstances and Be exposed to the nature of perseverance and faithfulness in the historic Christian experience. Please review the following online resources to prepare to complete the assignment.
http://prayerfoundation.org/books/book_review_heroes_0_of_the_faith_index.htm

http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bio.html

http://www.cantonbaptist.org/halloffame/index_content.html

Assigned Work:
Formulate and explain your plan for sharing your faith, verbally and nonverbally in your own life. You can use situations, people in your life to help you. How does your experience compare to the author of the linked article?

Final Paper Assignment
Please review the following Bible stories, and relate how each character and situation relates to the ideas shared in this course:
Noah
Abraham
Elijah
Joshua
Mary (mother of Jesus)
John the Baptist