Japan 103 Jesus for Japan (Bridging the Cultural Gap for Christianity)

Class Summary,

Week 1 (Sept 17-23, 2018),
Week 2 (Sept 24-30, 2018)
Week 3 (Oct 1-7, 2018)
Week 4 (Oct 8-14, 2018)
Week 5 (Oct 15-21, 2018)
Week 6 (Oct 22-28, 2018)
Week 7 (Oct 29-Nov 4, 2018)
Week 8 (Nov 5-11, 2018)

Don Wright, RJC Academy Director
Naoko Brown, Assistant Director
Mariana Nesbitt, Japan 103 Instructor

Text: Jesus for Japan (Bridging the Cultural Gap for Christianity) , by Mariana Nesbitt. Copyright 2017

Week 1 Introduction to Japanese Redemptive Analogies

  • Chapter 3 Shinto
    Chapter 4 Japanese Religious Consciousness
    Chapter 5 Good (Japanese) Communication

    Interviewing:

    • Interview a Japanese
    • Discuss various topics from the book.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

    Extra Suggestions:

    Week 4 Japanese Culture and The Arts in Communication

    Reading:

  • Chapter 6 Japanese Culture and The Arts in Communication
  • Visit a Japanese Church. Observe different ways that the cultural characteristics in the book are seen at the Japanese church.

    • (If that is not possible, interview someone who has attended.)

    Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Extra Suggestions:

    Week 5 Festival Days and Ceremonies

    Reading:

  • Chapter 7 Festival Days and Ceremonies,

    Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Extra Suggestions:

    Week 6 Don’t want religion, want…, and Use Japanese writings

    Reading:

  • Chapter 8 Don’t Want Religion, Want…
  • Chapter 9 Use Japanese Writing
  • Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Extra Suggestions:

    Week 7 God and Salvation

    Reading:

  • Chapter 10, God and Salvation
  • Interview: a non-Japanese who has visited Japan. Discuss their impressions. Offer insights from your Japan 103 studies.

    • Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
      • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
      • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

      Pray:

      • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

      Extra Suggestions:


    Week 8 Objections To Christianity, Christian Identity, Conclusion

    Reading:

  • Chapter 11 Objections To Christianity
  • Chapter 12
  • Conclusion
  • Conference Call: Participate in a final conference call.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Interview: a Japanese.

  • Concentrate your interview on their religious background and perception of Christianity. Discuss problems concerning their understanding of the Bible.
  • Writing:

    • Try to use this last assignment to summarize your course experience and share your goals and desires for further study and applications.
    • Read as many of the other students’ writings as you have time and comment on at least two of them.