WESTERN SEMINARY

Portland, Oregon 97215

PTS 747E -- Equipping for Spiritual Warfare

Gerry Breshears, Instructor

June 14-17, 2004

SYLLABUS

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Spiritual warfare is one of the hottest topics facing the church today. What is the scope of spiritual warfare? How may demons influence or attack Christians and the church today? How do demons establish spiritual strongholds in our lives? How can we free people from the trauma of spiritual bondage. Who needs to develop expertise in deliverance ministry? How will we minister to people with the remnants of occultic practices affecting their lives? How do we separate truth from deception? Knowing the types and limits of satanic stratagems against Christians and the church is essential in our increasingly pagan society. From a strong biblical and theological foundation, we will develop practical methodologies help people find freedom from spiritual bondage.

REQUIRED TEXTS

C. Arnold, Three Crucial Questions about Spiritual Warfare

C. Kraft & D. DeBord, The Rules of Engagement

C. Kraft, I Give You Authority

J. MacArthur, How to Meet the Enemy

COURSE GOALS

Upon completion of this course you will . . .

BE:

1. confident of your membership in the family of God.

2. more mature as a child of God.

3. better prepared to engage effectively in spiritual warfare.

KNOW:

1. terminology, concepts, issues and scope of spiritual warfare.

2. various methodologies in spiritual warfare through lecture and first hand reading.

3. approaches and issues in spiritual mapping and strategic warfare prayer

4. fundamental beliefs and strategies of the goddess and neo-pagan movements.

BE ABLE TO:

1. answer biblically and practically the question of demonization of a Christian.

2. develop a plan to help individuals or churches find freedom from spiritual bondage.

3. teach a unit on at least one aspect of spiritual warfare

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME

Western: 1-800-547-4546; (503) 517-1870; FAX: (503) 517-1859

Home: (503) 234-4274

Email: Gbreshears@Westernseminary.edu; Gerry@Breshears.net

RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Attendance

You should clear your schedule so you can attend all class sessions. You are invited to bring your spouse to part or all of the sessions. You may also consider bringing a lay leader in your church, another staff member or someone in your community who might be interested in enrolling in the D.Min. program in the future. It would be best to limit their attendance to one session. Please inform me ahead of time if you plan to bring a guest so extra handouts can be prepared.

B. Quality of Work

This is a postgraduate, doctoral level program. You will be expected to perform at that level in all you do. This means that I expect you to discipline yourself to do quality work and to do it on time. You will be expected to have interacted carefully with all assigned readings for the topics, using the study questions to guide your study. From this basis you will participate in the class discussions to form a learning community. Anytime you make a classroom presentation you will be expected to demonstrate expertise in both content and methodology. Anytime you hand in written material, it must reflect quality in logic, good methodology, clarity, succinctness, spelling and punctuation and grammar. It is assumed that you are able to assess the quality of your work before you hand it in or before you present it in class. You are encouraged to consult with me before you make oral or written presentations in order to make sure you understand the assignment and/or to go over the first draft of your material. Much of the value of D.Min. study flows out of the contributions the course members and instructor make to each other from their experiences in ministry and from the effort they put into the work of the course itself. Plan to give your best.

C. Pre-class Reading Assignments

Read the required texts in their entirety. For each book write a total of six pages in response. In two pages summarize the key points of the book. Then in two more pages tell me two things you really appreciated and why. Finally in two more pages tell me two significant points of disagreement and why you disagree. If you have already read one or more of the books, I encourage you to substitute another book in its place.

D. Pre-Class Preparation

1. Read one book or major article on spiritual warfare or a closely related topic which you expect will be helpful to you. The attached bibliography supplies many titles, but you need not be limited to those. Prepare a short summary (2-3 pages) of the book to be shared with the other members of the class. Write it so that the members of the class will gain maximum profit from your work.

2. Spend a total of 10 hours becoming familiar with the attached inductive study. In another 2 hours, complete the study on Ephesians 6:10-20. The goal is to be able to discuss them knowledgeably in class.

3. Choose an aspect of spiritual warfare where you are facing controversy in your ministry which you would like discussed by the members of the class. It should be problem centered and real. Protect confidentiality of individuals by modifying details or getting their permission to use their story. Write up a case study on your situation following the guidelines attached to the syllabus. It should be about five double spaced pages long, ready for duplication for the class members. Where possible, email me a copy prior to class.

D. Post Class Application Project (all due by July 30).

1. Prepare a set of lessons or sermon(s) on the topic of spiritual warfare. As a part of the project, please prepare at least three handouts. One will summarize your approach to spiritual warfare. The second will summarize the three approaches to spiritual warfare with an annotated bibliography of at least five books or articles representing at least two different positions. The third will be a scriptural worksheet. Send copies of your notes, lesson plans, handouts, etc. to me. I want written evaluations sent directly to me from at least three persons who participate in the project.

2. Identify local resources for spiritual warfare including at least one person who will be a prayer partner for you, at least one man and one woman in your area to whom you could refer someone who faces demonic issues, two licensed Christian counselors who are knowledgeable in abuse issues involving both children and adults, a Christian police officer, a trustworthy case worker with Children's Protective Services. Write out the names and qualifications of each of these persons.

FINAL GRADE

Grades for Doctor of Ministry courses are assigned on the standard A‑F system. Accompanying the letter grade will be a written evaluation of your work in this course.

You will be asked to complete an evaluation of the course. Instructions will be provided by the D.Min. Director.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A CASE STUDY

One of the most important ways in which we learn is from our personal experiences. Such learning helps to integrate head and heart, activity and reflection, the academic and the spiritual. In order to learn from our experience we must know how to observe it, analyze it and reflect on it.

The process you will use to identify and learn from experience involves the preparation of a case study. A case study, as we will use it, is a description of an act or event in which you have been involved and for which you have some responsibility for the outcome.

The process we will utilize in case study will include:

" Identifying and describing a specific experience

" Analyzing the experience (what were the factors‑‑cause, background, underlying issues, etc. Why did it happen as it did?)

" Generalizing from the experience to insight (what can be learned from the experience and applied elsewhere?)

" Reflecting theologically (what is a Christian and biblical understanding of this event and the principles derived from it?)

In preparing your case study focus on a situation or event in which you were a participant which involved a quandary because of theological differences, one where there was a breakdown in relationships such that the dynamics, attitudes and behaviors of those involved led to counterproductive actions or conditions in a sphere of ministry.

In writing the case study, include enough detail to give the reader a clear sense of what happened but avoid wordiness. Strive to condense and utilize only the most salient information.

Touch on the following five parts of a good case study:

1. Background. Provide sufficient information to place the experience in its context, especially the background of the persons or institutions involved. Point out those ideas, events, traditions, opinions, etc., that determine or affect the case.

2. Description. What happened? How? When? Include as many important details as necessary, using direct quotation or conversations or dialogue when helpful.

3. Analysis. Identify the important factors that intervene. Take into account doctrinal commitments, interpersonal styles, apparent attitudes, motives, impact of words exchanged, feelings expressed, etc. Add the implications of the event and the situation that resulted as a consequence of what happened.

4. Resolution. How did the situation resolve itself? Was the outcome positive or negative? Why? What attempts were made to bring about a positive resolution? Was leadership strengthened or weakened?

5. Evaluation. If you desire you can include an evaluation of your own action, indicating how you believe you affected or were affected by the experience.

Adapted from Mullholland and Lores, "Case Study Methodology"

INDUCTIVE STUDY ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Gerry Breshears, PhD

Western Seminary, Portland

The purpose of this assignment is first to see what the Bible has to say about the strategies and tactics of the forces of darkness and second, to see what the principles and tactics of Christian confrontation are. As you review each of the following passages, look for what Satan is doing and how Christians are to respond. Write down your observations and conclusions. Be sure to differentiate ABible says@ from AI think.@ Note that this is not an exhaustive list. Even so we will not get to all of them in the class discussions.

Deut. 18:9-14

Judges 9:23

1 Sam. 16:14-16

2 Sam. 24:1 -- 1 Chron. 21:1

Job 1-2

Jer. 14:13-15; 27:8-11; 29:8-9

Ezek. 13:17-23

Dan. 10:13-21

Matt. 4:1-11

Matt. 12:22-45

Matt. 16:21-28

Mark 5:1-9 (Matt. 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-37)

Mark 9:17-29

Luke 10:17-19

Luke 22:3; 31

Acts 5:3

Acts 5:16; 8:7; 10:38

Acts 16:16-19

Acts 19:8-20

Rom. 8:38-39

1 Cor. 2:6-8

1 Cor. 5:5

1 Cor. 10:20-21

1 Cor. 12:10

2 Cor. 2:11

2 Cor. 10:3-5

2 Cor. 11:2-4

Gal. 5:19-21

Eph. 1:17-23

Eph. 4:27

Eph. 6:10-20

Col. 1:12-17

Col. 2:8-15

1 Tim. 4:1

2 Tim. 2:22-26

James 4:7

1 Pet. 5:8-9

1 John 4:1-4

1 John 5:18-19

FROM WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED:

1. Is there any difference between dealing with a believer and a non-believer regarding spiritual warfare?

2. Are believers immune to demonic assault? Manipulation? Why?

3. Is there any point where a person could correctly say, "The devil made me do it?"

4. Do demons cause or incite specific sins? Is there a "demon of lust?"

5. How important is it to know a demon's name? To bind the demon in the name of Jesus? To send it to the pit? What is the NT pattern for exorcism?

6. Which passages speak of demons or evil spirits in relation to believers? What are believers to do?

7. What does "resist" mean in relation to evil spirits?

EPHESIANS 6:10-20

Gerry Breshears, PhD

Western Seminary, Portland

I want you to focus on Ephesians 6:10-20. This is a key teaching passage on spiritual warfare. I am sure that all of you have given time to the passage, but if you are typical of most students of the passage you have not looked at spiritual warfare from the perspective of the context of the passage. Usually it is studied in the context of deliverance from demonic forces. I think spiritual warfare is a much larger battle than this. Let's see what you find.

1. What happened in Ephesus when Paul founded the church there? Research Acts 19. What is the nature of warfare there? With whom did he fight? What tactics did they use against Paul? What weapons did he use against them?

2. Next put the passage in the context of Ephesians. Write a two (or three or four) point outline of the major elements of the letter. What does this teach us about the scope of 6:10-20?

3. As you know, Colossians has an almost identical outline as Ephesians. This gives us good insight into what Paul is saying by giving us the same point in different words. Study the parallel passage in Colossians 4:2-6. What does that passage say about spiritual warfare?

4. Paul uses both the warfare and armor analogies in other places. Study of these will give us insight into their use in Ephesians 6.

a. How does Paul use the warfare analogy in other passages? Study 1 Tim. 1:18-19; 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:3-4; 4:7-8.

b. How does Paul use the armor analogy in 1 Thess. 5:8?

5. What are the weapons listed in Ephesians 6:10-20? Are these esoteric weapons restricted to a few elite soldiers or are they ordinarily a part of all believers' lives?

a. Which of the weapons are offensive? Which are defensive? Are any both offensive and defensive?

b. Are the weapons the sort which are given once for all or the sort which we must develop as a part of our Christian growth? For example, is "truth" the truth or it is a truthful character?