How to Use This Study Guide

This Study Guide is designed as a companion to the book Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader. Even though the Reader is the larger book, don’t be fooled. The articles in the Reader were selected and edited carefully to fit together as a course. In a real sense, the Study Guide constitutes the course. You can compare the Study Guide to an interpretive guide in a museum who helps you to understand and thereby appreciate and remember what you are seeing. We call them “integrative outlines” because they are designed to show you how to read different authors and articles in a way that helps you evaluate and integrate what they are saying. The outline summarizes and organizes the main points. In some cases, the Study Guide adds material and short paragraphs of reading that complement what you’ll find in the Reader.

Two Parts to Every Lesson

We’ve organized each lesson into two sections or modules: Certificate Readings and Credit Readings. The Credit Readings build on the essential material found in the Certificate Readings. There are about 15–17 pages of readings assigned in each of these modules. The Credit Readings go further to explore the ramifications and add detail with fascinating case studies. The end of the key readings is marked by this bar:

Conclusion of Certificate Readings for this lesson.

Don’t let the markers stop you from going on to study every part. Many of the most fascinating highlights are in the material beyond the assigned readings. We encourage you to skim every article for highlights as you are able. Don’t be surprised to find that the readings are engaging and meaningful. We’ve not only gathered material from some of the best authors and leaders; we’ve sifted and edited their writing. Every page contains valuable vision and practical insight.

Study the Readings

The Study Guide will cue you to read selections from the Perspectives Reader. Sometimes you’ll read full articles, but often you will just read portions of articles. Each reading assignment will tell you exactly where to start and stop by giving both the page number and, when helpful, headings. Most of the time, these points line up with natural breaks in the text, such as right before a subheading. If no starting or stopping point is listed, read the entire page.

Focus on the Objectives

Each lesson opens with important introductory paragraphs and a list of objectives. This list should help focus your attention on the basic ideas.

Take in the Key Word

The key word at the beginning of each lesson is designed to stimulate interest and signal what may be of primary value to you. It is not intended to be a one-word summary of the content of the lesson.

Reflect on the Thought Blocks

Sometimes we invite you to stop and reflect on an idea, look elsewhere in the study guide for an illustrating story from another article, or examine some scripture that will deepen your grasp of the topic: