INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
Equipping members for Global Mission
and Outreach
General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries
Community Services & Urban Ministry Certification Program
Module Syllabus & Teaching Notes
CS 01aTheological & Historical Concepts of
Holistic Ministry
2 contact hours
CS 01bEthical Concepts of Holistic Ministry
2 contact hours
Developed by Gaspar F. Colón, Ph.D., M.P.H, and
Zdravko (Zack) Plantak, Ph.D.
©2011 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®
Table of Contents
Page
Forward ...... 3
Module Objectives ...... 3
Student Requirements for the Module ...... 4
Textbooks ...... 4
Outline and Notes for the Module
Theological Foundations ...... 5
Historical Perspectives ...... 34
Social Ethics: From Relief to Policy ...... 41
Bibliography ...... 59
Forward
How this module fits in the International Institute of Christian Discipleship (IICD) Community Services & Urban Ministry Curriculum:
This is the first module in a series of nine modules in the Community Services Urban Curriculum of the International Institute of Christian Discipleship (IICD). This module has three objectives; first, to help participants understand the theological foundations of holistic (community-based) ministry; second, to give historical perspectives that show some of the key elements that contributed to the growth of Christianity during the first three centuries; and three, the ethical foundations of community service ministries. It is not intended to provide details of how to set-up and implement these various ministries. This detailed information is provided in companion modules in this IICD curriculum.
How to use the module materials:
Leader’s Guide: The material presented in this Guide is intended to serve as talking points for your presentation and is structured around the accompanying PowerPoint slides. You may find that you are not sufficiently familiar with the theological, historical, or ethical/sociological models presented as ways of conceptualizing the values that are represented in this module. If this is the case, background reading sources are presented in the bibliography and you are encouraged to use them or other sources to supplement your knowledge.
PowerPoint slides:These slides provide an outline of the material to be supplemented by your verbal presentation. The intent is to provide basic information in an outline format and to stimulate discussion between you and the participants and among the participants.
Materials you will need for your presentation:
*This Leader’s Guide.
*The PowerPoint presentation.
Module Objectives
At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:
- Understand the biblical foundations for holistic ministry;
- Articulate God’s plan to bring restoration of His image (physical, mental, and spiritual/social) to humanity;
- Discover the biblical mandate for community service ministry and the support that is found in the writings of Ellen White.
- Know facts about the growth of the early Christian Church that will inspire in them the value community-based ministry.
- Explain the ethical mandate that we have for getting involved in community transformation through community service.
- Challenge any system of ministry that ignores social justice as exemplified in the ministry of Jesus and the plan of salvation as taught in the Bible.
Student Requirements for the Module
Participants in this module do best when they have a basic knowledge of the Bible and the writings of Ellen White. During this module participants will be called on to interact with the instructor and actively engage in small group dialogue. Students will be required to readchapter 70 in The Desire of Ages and at least one of the textbooks listed below as well as two of the additional resource articles included with the module materials. In this module use any modern translation of the Bible.Attendance of all classes is expected.
Textbooks
Nelson, Dwight K. Pursuing the Passion of Jesus: How “Loving the Least” Helps You Fulfill God’s Purpose for Your Life. Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2005.
Samaan, Philip G. Christ’s Way of Reaching People: The Fine Art of Relational Witnessing. Hagerstown, MD: Review & Herald Publishing Association, 1990.
White, Ellen G.The Desire of Ages.Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2002.(Chapter 70, “The Least of These”)
Outline and Notes for the Module
Slide
/Time
/Action
/Commentary
1. Title / 2 min / SAY / CS 101 a & b is the foundation module for the Community Service Curriculum for IICD (International Institute for Christian Discipleship). In this module we will discover the biblical mandate for community service ministry and the support that is found in the writings of Ellen White. In addition to the biblical mandate, we will review briefly some little-known facts about the growth of the Christian Church during the first three centuries of the Christian Era. Then we will take an in-depth look at the ethical mandate that we have for getting involved in community transformation through community service. This module is in two parts: (a) “Theological & Historical Concepts of Holistic Ministry” and (b) “Ethical Concepts of Holistic Ministry.”2. Theological Foundations / 1 min / SAY / The first segment of this module deals with the most foundational issues relating to the restoration of the image of God in the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. Christ’s method and example of holistic ministry forms the foundation for this restoration to take place.
3. The Biblical Theme of Restoration / 1 min / SAY
READ / The most sweeping theme of the Bible is the theme of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. It begins with a perfect creation and the defection of Lucifer and one third of the angels. It continues with another perfect creation and the fall of Adam and Eve. With the loss of the image of God and the epidemic of sin comes the revelation of a plan that the Godhead had from before the creation of the world. The purpose of this plan is to restore humanity to the image of God. In this segment we will look at how we got to where we are in this Great Controversy and what God’s plan is for the restoration of His people to His image and His mission.
Restoration has two dimensions:
- Restoration of the image of God
- Restoration of dominion (management/stewardship)
4. Humans Created in God’s Image / 5 min / READ
NOTE
ASK
SAY / Genesis 1:26-28
Ask the following questions one at a time and let the students answer each in turn. Do not rush to the answer. Allow time for silence and reflection.
What does this passage mean when it says that man was created in the image of God? Does this mean that we look like God? Does it mean that we were created with a mental capacity to reason and understand? Does it mean that God created us to have the capacity for spiritual discernment?
The answer is that God created man in His image physically, mentally, and spiritually/socially.
(“Spiritually” also implies a social relationship. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit always have had a close social relationship, which God wanted to extend to Adam and Eve and all humankind. This spiritual/ social relationship between God and humanity and then from one human to another fosters social well-being and wholeness).
In fact we have some very definite statements in the writings of Ellen White that help us better understand what this image is.
5. What Kind of Image is it?
- Physical
- Mental
- Spiritual [Social]
READ / In the book Education, Ellen White gives us a glimpse of what God’s intention was in creating Adam and Eve in His image.
"When Adam came from the Creator's hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. 'God created man in His own image,' and it was His purpose that the longer man lived, the more fully he should reveal this image – the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity and vigour were continually to increase." – Education, page 15:1.
6. Reflectors of the Creator’s Glory / 1 min / SAY
READ / In addition to that statement, we have some additional dimensions brought to light in the book Education, page 20.
"Created to be 'the image and glory of God,' Adam and Eve had received endowments not unworthy of their high destiny. Graceful and symmetrical in form, regular and beautiful in feature, their countenances glowing with the tint of health and the light of joy and hope, they bore in outward resemblance the likeness of their Maker. Nor was this likeness manifest in the physical nature only. Every faculty of mind and soul reflected the Creator's glory. Endowed with high mental and spiritual gifts, Adam and Eve were made but ‘a little lower than the angels,' that they might not only discern the wonders of the visible universe, but comprehend moral responsibilities and obligations." – Education, page 20:2.
7. A Living Soul (Being) / 1 min / SAY
READ
SAY
SAY / The Bible teaches that human beings are integral creatures.
According to the creation story in Genesis 2:7 ”And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (RSV).
Note that God created Adam as a combination of “dust of the ground” and “breath of Life.” This is consistent with the Hebrew concept of the wholeness of man.
Up to this point in the creation of the earth, God had simply used the spoken Word to create. Here we see God involving Himself physically in the formation of man. God invested a special degree of personalized workmanship; setting Adam apart from the rest of His creation.
8. A Living Soul Placed Under Law / 4 min / SAY
READ
ASK / Not only did God invest Himself physically in the creation of Adam and Eve, but He established an environment that protected the integrity of His creation through distinct principles and rules that would allow His creation to multiply and prosper. Ellen White puts it this way:
"In the creation of man was manifest the agency of a personal God. When God had made man in His image, the human form was perfect in all its arrangements, but it was without life. Then a personal, self-existing God breathed into that form the breath of life, and man became a living, breathing, intelligent being. All parts of the human organism were put in action. The heart, the arteries, the veins, the tongue, the hands, the feet, the senses, the perceptions of the mind – all began their work, and all were placed under law. Man became a living soul. Through Jesus Christ, a personal God created man, and endowed him with intelligence and power." – Testimonies, vol. 8, page 264:1
As you read the Genesis creation story, what kinds of laws do you think God placed in the garden to protect His creation?
9. Created Perfect / 1 min / SAY
READ
SAY / When Adam and Eve were created, God looked back at all that He had done and rejoiced.
In Genesis 1:31 we read: “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.”
Adam and Eve started out as part of a perfect creation.
10. All was perfect / 1 min / READ / "God looked with satisfaction upon the work of His hands. All was perfect, worthy of its divine Author, and He rested, not as one weary, but as well pleased with the fruits of His wisdom and goodness and the manifestations of His glory.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, page 47:2
11. Twenty Times the Vital Force / 4 min / SAY
READ
ASK / Most of us have very little concept of what “very good” means in reference to God’s creation of Adam and Eve. Notice this statement.
"If Adam, at his creation, had not been endowed with twenty times as much vital force as men now have, the race, with their present habits of living in violation of natural law, would have become extinct.“ – Testimonies, vol. 3, pages 138, 139.
As you look at this statement, what do you think it means? What does this say about how marvelous “very good” really is?
12. Vital Force-Mitochondria / 5 min / SAY
NOTE
SAY
ASK / We don’t really know exactly what Ellen White meant when she referred to this “vital force.” Some scientists would suggest that part of the answer could be found in the energy-producing organelle in the cell structure of living creatures called the mitochondrion.
Get a basic biology book if you need to review this concept, or get a nurse or doctor to explain this to your audience.
Mitochondria create energy for the body by turning adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) into adenosine di-phosphate (ADP) plus energy. The mitochondrion then takes the ADP and restructures it back to ATP and starts the process over and over again and again.
In modern exercise physiology and measurement of athletic endurance and performance this is a very important concept. Regular exercise will increase the proportion of mitochondria in the body. Alcohol, tobacco, lack of exercise, etc., will decrease what is called mitochondrial volume in the cells of the body.
Why is this important?
13. Mitochondrial Volume / 2 min / SAY
REF. / The world’s greatest Olympic Athletes have between 8-10% more mitochondrial volume than the average person.*
Adam and Eve had 20 times the vital force. If that has anything to do with the mitochondria of the cells of the body, then Adam and Eve would have had 2,000% more mitochondrial volume than the average person today.
That is truly amazing. You see, when God creates something and says it is “very good,” it really is much more than we can understand on the surface.
*(Ann. Rev. Physiol. 1983. 4J:169-89)
14. More Than Twice as Tall / 1 min / SAY
READ
SAY / Adam and Eve were not only surprisingly energetic at their creation, but we also learn that:
"As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator, he was of noble height and of beautiful symmetry. He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and as well proportioned." – Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, page 34:top.
So, when we consider how far beyond our imagination “very good” is, we are struck with awe.
15. Dominion = Stewardship/Management / 1 min / SAY
READ / A close reading of Genesis 1:26, 28 reveals that Adam and Eve were created for a purpose. They were to have constant fellowship with God and they were to have dominion over all the earth.
In fact in Psalm 8:6-8 repeats this concept. It reads:
“You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”
16. Management = Accountable to God / 1 min / SAY
READ / We would be tempted to think that now Adam and Eve should think of themselves as owners of the world, commissioned to do as they pleased; but that is not the case. God, the Creator, simply makes Adam and Eve His stewards who simply work on behalf of the Creator and give account to Him for everything.
"While they remained true to God, Adam and his companion were to bear rule over the earth. Unlimited control was given them over every living thing." – Patriarchs and Prophets, page 50:2.
17. Obedience: The Condition of Life / 2 min / SAY
READ
READ / This unlimited control was given in the context of their stewardship to God. They controlled things around them as servants of God. God had made it clear that there were some things that were beyond their control. Among those was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God described the penalty.
Genesis 2:16, 17. "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die [dying thou shalt die, margin].”
"God made man upright; He gave him noble traits of character, with no bias toward evil. He endowed him with high intellectual powers, and presented before him the strongest possible inducements to be true to his allegiance. Obedience, perfect and perpetual, was the condition of eternal happiness. On this condition he was to have access to the tree of life." – Patriarchs and Prophets, page 49:2.
18. Life Lost Through Disobedience / 5 min / NOTE / Compare Genesis 3:6 with Romans 5:19a and Romans 3:23.
- Adam & Eve both ate of the tree.
- By the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners.
- The wages of sin is death.
19. The Result of Sin / 5 min / SAY
NOTE
DISCUSS
READ / When we look at God’s description of the consequences of sin, we need to realize that God is not arbitrarily condemning Adam and Eve to these punishments. God is simply educating them of what they will go through as a consequence of their sin.
Comment on each as follows:
Genesis 3:16-19.
- Painful toil in childbearing—means that Eve would have pain that goes beyond what we normally think of. She would face the full pain as she holds the body of Abel after the first murder (Gen. 4:8)
- "In painful toil shalt thou eat."—It seems that all nature rebelled against Adam and Eve to the same degree that Adam and Eve rebelled against their stewardship to God.
- "Thorns also and thistles."
- "In the sweat of thy face."
- "Unto dust shalt thou return."