International Graduate School of Leadership Second Semester, SY 2024-2025

ICS 520 Contextualization Faculty: Dr. Ron Barber

Course Credit: 3 [email protected]

Syllabus: Contextualization

COURSE RATIONALE:
Students will learn how to become contextually reflexive practitioners. Students working in their own culture as
well as those working cross-culturally will be able to exegete their culture in order to be more effective in
ministry. Students will identify how their cultural contexts affect their Christian life and ministry. Starting from
a belief, value or practice in their context, the learner will be able to evaluate these in light of scriptural
teaching, and address them in a Biblical manner. Starting from a teaching or practice in the Scripture, the
student will be able to develop a culturally relevant and Biblically faithful approach to applying those scriptures
in their ministry context. These skills also contribute to IGP goals of becoming Biblically Rooted Christian
Thinkers, Healthy Relaters, and Maturing Disciple-Makers.

Integration
This course builds upon good practices in biblical exegesis and theological thinking that was introduced in term
one. It will integrate assessments with the biblical and theology courses being taught during term two.

Learning Objectives (Knowledge, Values, Skills) at the end of the class the learner will have:

Knowledge/Understanding
Explained how cultures relate form and meaning
Recognized the various ways authentic Christianity is expressed
Identified the key models of evangelical contextualization

Values/Character
Appreciated the people, practices and perspectives of other cultures
Grown in their awareness of the impact of their culture on understanding and applying the Bible

Skills
Learned to identify and evaluate cultural beliefs, values and practices in light of scriptural teaching and
to modify them in a Biblical faithful manner
Developed a Biblically faithful approach to applying scripture in their ministry context in a culturally
relevant manner

REQUIRED TEXTS
DeNeui, Paul. 2017. Family and Faith in Asia (SEANET Book 7). Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
Pennington, J. Paul. 2017. Christian Barriers to Jesus: Conversations and Questions from the Indian Context.
Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
Reference Texts
Moreau, A. Scott. 2012. Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models.
Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic & Professional
Flemming, Dean. Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission. Downers Grove
IL: IVP Academic. 2005
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 Wu, Jackson. One Gospel for All Nations: A Practical Approach to Biblical Contextualization. Pasadena, CA:
William Carey Library.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. Reading Assignments (36 hrs.)
The assigned reading is listed in the assignment schedule that follows. For each week’s assignment,
copy 5 quotations from the readings due that week (5 per week, not per chapter or article). The
quotations should reflect a significant point from the text for the student and should be at least one
sentence in length but can be much more. In addition, you should pick one of the five quotations and
briefly comment on why you chose it. Cite the quotation by ebook location or chapter. There is no need
for full bibliographic information. Please see the sample posted on the Home Page.
If you are unable to finish the reading before the due date you can still gain partial credit for completing
the reading before the end of the term.
Additional sources are on available through the library’s great Internet resources. Also see the link on
the home page to my Google Drive. Please take advantage of these for your research!

2. Biblical Exegesis Paper (1000-1200 words; writing = 10 hrs)

Write a 1000-1200 word research paper on 1 Cor 9:22 answering the question: What does Paul mean
when he says he becomes “all things to all men”? Please refer to the guidelines on the home page.

3. Contextualization Paper: Chinese Rites Controversy (1200-1400 words; writing = 6 hrs)

Chinese Rites Controversy: Compare the approach of Jesuit Matteo Ricci to that of the Dominicans and
Franciscans regarding the following: Determination of the Chinese word for "God"; Prohibition of
Christians from participating in the seasonal rites for Confucius; Prohibition of Christians from
following the Chinese rites for the ancestor worship.
Briefly describe what each side argued about each issue and why they did so. Explain your own
approach to these issues based on Biblical teaching. Choose a similar issue in your context and describe
how you would contextualize this belief/practice for the church without jeopardizing the integrity of the
gospel.

4. Contextualization Paper: Evaluating Our Methods (1200-1400 words; writing = 6 hrs)

Choose an evangelistic tool, discipleship program, leadership development curriculum, Bible study
method, or similar “approach” currently used by your church/ministry. Evaluate the cultural
appropriateness of the tool for your context and suggest ways it could be made more effective. You can
evaluate a tool you have not used but be sure to include what other people think about it.
Please refer to the guidelines on the home page.

5. Applying to My Context: (1200-1500 words; writing = 6 hrs)

Write a 1200-1500 word paper describing your plan to apply one principle or idea that you learned
during this course. Please refer to the guidelines on the home page.

Late Assignments
Students should do all work by the dates stated in the course syllabus and school calendars. Exceptions can be
made in case of illness or other unforeseeable circumstances. Please note that excuses such as busyness in
ministry, lack of interest, participation in Basketball games, are not valid reasons for not submitting your

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 assignment. Please refer to the student handbook for more information and the relevant penalties. If you have
problems, communicate with the teacher as soon as possible.

Students in the English Assistance Program (and EIT)

Students who are currently in the English Assistance Program (EAP) are required to get all their assignments
which are in “paragraph form” to be checked by their tutor before submission. This will require EAP students to
get their assignments to their tutor well before the submission deadline in order to give the tutor sufficient time
to examine the assignment and recommend any corrections. Students who are currently in the English Intensive
Training (EIT) can audit a course, but may not take it for credit and homework should not be submitted or
graded.

Plagiarism
The work submitted must be the product of one’s original efforts. When works, words, pictures, or even ideas of
others are incorporated into the work, they must be cited accordingly. Regarding any questions about
appropriate methods of citation, a style manual or the instructor must be consulted. Cases of suspected copying,
cheating, or plagiarism will be acted upon following the process indicated in the Student Handbook.

Electronic Devices
In-class use of a computer, phone, or other electronic devices must be related to the course (not facebook, email,
or other unrelated projects).

COURSE GRADING

Assignment Hours Percent of Grade Due Date

Needed
Readings & Quotations 36 hours 30% See Class Schedule

Bible Research (1000-1200 words) 10 hours 20% Feb 28, 11:00PM

Evaluating Our Methods (1200-1400 words) 6 hours 20% Mar 28, 11:00PM

Rites Controversy (1200-1400 words) 6 hours 20% April 25, 11:00PM

Applying to My Context (1200-1400 words) 3 hours 10% May 23, 11:00PM

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 CLASS SCHEDULE
Assignment Date Reading Due Class Topic
Jan 31 One God - Many Cultures
Feb 5 Pennington - 1 Separation “We hear the mighty works of God in our own dialect!”
7 Pennington - 2 Christian Understanding Culture
12 Cultural Dimensions
19 Pennington - 3 Church Religion, Culture, and Worldview
21 “Not of this world”: Bible and Culture
26 Pennington - 5 Conversion Christian Barriers - Pennington
1 Cor. 28 Definitions of Contextualization
Carson - That by all means I Removing the “Foreign Air”
Mar 5 may win some (download)
7 Form and Meaning
Lapiz - Pagpapahiyang “Think Globally, Act Locally” - McDonald’s Application
12 (download)
“Is this blessing only for the circumcised…?”: Bible and
14 Contextualization
19 DeNuei - 3 Family “…That by all means I might save some.”: Bible and Contextualization
26 Introduction to Critical Contextualization
Rites 28 DeNuei - 7 Ancestor Practice of Critical Contextualization

Apr 2 C-Spectrum & Insider Movements

4 5 Approaches
Saiyasak - Leadership Church and Culture - leadership, discipleship, worship
11 (download)
16 Dean - Leadership (download) Church and Culture - leadership, discipleship, worship
DeNuei - 5 Ritual of Theology and Culture
23 Reconciliation

Evaluation 25 Theology and Culture

30 Koyama (download) Evangelism and Culture

May 2 Exegeting Culture
Bean - Virtuous Quechua Spiritual Growth and Culture - Morality, Conscience, and Adiaphora
7 Woman (download)
9 Spiritual Growth and Culture - Morality, Conscience, and Adiaphora
Song - Discipleship Discipleship and Culture
14 (download)

16 Failures of Contextualization

21 DeNuei - 6 Buddhist Life Objections

Application 23 What we Learned

28 What Next?

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 Bibliography

* Refer to the files in the Google Drive link on the homepage and at the end of the Bibliography for hundreds of
articles on relevant topics.

Bevans, Stephen. 2011. An Introduction to Theology in Global Perspective, Theology in Global Perspective Series, ed.
Peter C. Phan. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.
Cook, Matthew, Rob Haskell, Ruth Julian, and Nathee Tanchanapongs, eds. 2010. Local Theology for the Global Church:
Principles for an Evangelical Approach to Contextualization. Globalization of Mission Series.
Dowsett, Rose, ed. 2011. Global Mission: Reflections and Case Studies in Contextualization for the Whole Church,
Globalization of Mission Series. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
Fleming, Dean. 2005. Contextualization in the New Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission. Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press.
Greenman, Jeffrey P., and Gene L. Green, eds. 2011. Global Theology in Evangelical Perspective: Exploring the
Contextual Nature of Theology and Mission. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.
Hibbert, Evelyn, and Richard Hibbert. 2014. Leading Multicultural Teams. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
_________. 2018. Walking Together on the Jesus Road: Intercultural Discipling. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
_________. 2023. Multiplying Leaders in Intercultural Contexts: Recognizing and Developing Grassroots Potential.
Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
Hiebert, Paul G. 2008. Transforming Worldviews: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
_________2009. The gospel in human Contexts: anthropological explorations for contemporary missions. Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Academic.
Hesselgrave, David & Edward Rommen. 2000. Contextualization: Meanings, Methods, and Models. Pasadena, CA:
William Carey Library.
Hwang, Wonjoo. 2019. Toward a Healthier Contextualization among Muslims: A Biblical Theological Evaluation of the
Insider Movement and Its Lessons. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.
Keller, Timothy. 2012. Center Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Kraft, Charles. 2005. Appropriate Christianity. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
Lingenfelter, Sherwood. 2008. Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for Effective Christian Leadership.
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Lingenfelter, Judith E. and Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. 2003. Teaching Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for
Learning and Teaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic .
Lingenfelter, Sherwood G.and Marvin K. Mayers. 2003. Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for
Personal Relationships. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Loewen, Jacob. 2000. The Bible in Cross Cultural Perspective. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
Maggay, Melba. 2016. The Gospel in Culture: Contextualization Issues through Asian Eyes. OMF Literature.
Moreau, A. Scott. 2012. Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models. Grand Rapids,
MI: Kregel Academic & Professional.
Ott, Craig & Harold A. Netland, eds. 2006. Globalizing Theology: Belief and Practice in an Era of World Christianity.
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Pardue, Stephen T. 2023. Why Evangelical Theology Needs the Global Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Plueddmann, James E. 2009. Leading across Cultures: Effective Ministry and Mission in the Global Church. Downers
Grove, IL: IVP Academic.
Prior, Randall G. 2019. Contextualizing Theology in the South Pacific: The Shape of Theology in Oral Cultures (American
Society of Missiology Monograph Book 41). Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.
Richard, H. L. 2020. Cultural Gaps: Benjamin Robinson’s Experience with Hindu Traditions. Pasadena, CA: William
Carey Library.
Seckler, Thomas W. 2020. Experiencing the Gospel: An Examination of Muslim Conversion to Christianity in Cambodia
(Evangelical Missiological Society Monograph Series Book 5). Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.
Tan, Hann Tzuu Joey. 2020. The Beasts, the Graves, and the Ghosts: A Study of Contextualized Preaching during Chinese
Festivals. London: Langham Monographs.
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 Tennent, Timothy C. 2007. Theology in the Context of World Christianity: How the Global Church Is Influencing the Way
We Think About and Discuss Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Van Rheenan, Gailyn, ed. 2006. Contextualization and Syncretism: Navigating Cultural Currents, EMS Series. Pasadena,
CA: William Carey Library.
Wu, Jackson. 2015. One Gospel for All Nations: A Practical Approach to Biblical Contextualization. Pasadena, CA:
William Carey Library.

Important Writings Pre-2000:

Adeney, B 1995. Strange Virtues: Ethics in a Multicultural World. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press.
Allen, Roland. Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? Eerdmans, 1962.
Bevans, Stephen. 1992. Models of Contextual Theology. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Book.
Conn, Harvie M. 1984. Eternal Word and Changing Worlds: Theology, Anthropology, and Mission in Trialogue. Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing.
Dyrness, William. 1990. Learning About Theology From the Third World. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Dryness, William A. 1992. Invitation to Cross-Cultural Theology: Case Studies In Vernacular Theologies. Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Fleming, Bruce. 1980. Contextualization of Theology. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.
Gilliland, Dean, ed. 1989. The Word Among Us: Contextualizing Theology for Mission Today. Dallas, TX: Word
Publishing.
Gutierrez, Gustavo. 1988. A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, and Salvation. rev. ed. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis
Books.
Hesselgrave, David J. and Edward Romen. Contextualization: Meanings, Methods, and Models. Baker Publishing Group,
1989.
Hesselgrave, David J. Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally. Zondervan, 1991.
Hiebert, Paul G. 1994. "Metatheology: The Step beyond Contextualization." In Anthropological Reflections on
Missiological Issues, 93-103. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
Hiebert, Paul G. and Eloises Meneses. Incarnational Ministry: Planting Churches in Band, Tribal, Peasant, and Urban
Societies. Baker, 1995.
Kraft, Charles H, 1978. The contextualization of Theology. Evangelical Missions Quarterly. Jan 1978.
––––––––––. 2005. Christianity in culture: A Study in Dynamic Biblical Theologizing in Cross–cultural Perspective. 25th
Anniversary Edition. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis
Nichols, Bruce J. 1979. Contextualization: A Theology of Gospel and Culture. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Newbigin, Lesslie 1989. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.
Niebuhr, H. R 1951. Christ and Culture. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Sanneh, Lamin. 1989. Translating the Message. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Schreiter, R. J. 1985. Constructing Local Theologies. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
Taber, Charles R. 1978. "Is There More Than One Way to Do Theology? Anthropological Comments on the Doing of
Theology." Gospel in Context l:4-10.
Tienou, Tite. 1990. The Theological Task of the Church in Africa. 2nd ed. Achimota, Ghana: Africa Christian Press.
Vanhoozer, KJ 1998. Is there a meaning in this text? The Bible, the reader, and the morality of literary knowledge. Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
––––––––––. 2007. Everyday Theology: How to read cultural text and interpret trends. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
Walls, Andrew F 1996a. Introduction in The missionary movement in Christian history : studies in the transmission of
faith. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, xiii-xix.
––––––––––. 1996b. The Gospel as Prisoner and Liberator of Culture in The missionary movement in Christian history :
studies in the transmission of faith. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 3-15.
––––––––––. 1996c. The Translation Principle in Christian History in The missionary movement in Christian history :
studies in the transmission of faith. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 26-42.

Google Drive link

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FLgxAAfDM4lad4cGvAdG4gqv8-Wa4jSb?usp=sharing

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