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NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy available. ® UMI Copyright © 2006 Travis Dean Fleming All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. AN ANALYSIS OF BILL BRIGHT'S THEOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY OF EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Travis Dean Fleming May 2006 UMI Number: 3209895 Copyright 2006 by Fleming, Travis Dean All rights reserved. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ® UMI UMI Microform 3209895 Copyright 2006 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, M148106-1346 APPROVAL SHEET AN ANALYSIS OF BILL BRIGHT'S THEOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY OF EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP Travis Dean Fleming Read and Approved, by: Ch {~ THESES ph.D .. F629a 0199702002197 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES .................................................... Vll PREFACE .................................... .. VIll Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Statement of the Research Problem " ............................ 3 Analysis of the Criticisms ...................................... 9 Background of the Proposal ..... .. 10 Definitions and Limitations ..................................... 13 Methodology of the Study ...................................... 17 Conclusion .................................................. 19 2. A BIOGRAPHY OF BRIGHT'S LIFE .............................. 20 Bright's Early Life ............................................ 20 Pre-Conversion Years . .. 25 Lifetime Partner-Marriage ..... .. 30 Contract with God . .. 32 A Vision for Campus Crusade for Christ ........................... 34 The Molding of Bright's Theology ................................ 40 The Road Horne .............................................. 43 Conclusion .................................................. 46 3. BRIGHT'S THEOLOGy ......................................... 47 Building a Theology of Evangelism .. .. 50 Bright's Views on Scripture. .. 52 IV Chapter Page Key Components of the Gospel Unveiled. .. 58 God-The Holy and Loving Creator. .. 59 Holy Spirit .. .. 77 Man-The Sinful Creature ..................................... 83 Christ-The Merciful Redeemer . .. 90 Our Necessary Response . .. 98 Analysis of Bright's Theology. .. 102 Conclusion . .. 107 4. BRIGHT'S WITNESSING STRATEGY. .. 109 Bright's Witnessing Strategy. .. 110 Lifestyle or Confrontational? Bright's Evangelistic Style Exposed ...... 112 Personal Evangelism with Evangelistic Tools ....................... 116 Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery ofthe Spirit-Filled Life? . .. 142 Mass Evangelism . .. 151 Analysis of Bright's Strategy. .. 159 Bright's Apologetic Method ..................................... 160 Conclusion .................................................. 172 5. BRIGHT'S DISCIPLESHIP METHODOLOGY ...................... 173 Bright's Discipleship Methodology. .. 173 An Analysis of Bright's Discipleship .............................. 195 Discipleship and Fasting ....... .. 198 Analysis of Bright's Beliefs on Fasting and Revival .................. 201 Conclusion .................................................. 205 6. CONCLUSION ................................................ 206 Conclusion .................................................. 212 v ~pmfu P~ CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST: STATEMENT OF FAITH ........... 214 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..... .. 216 VI LIST OF FIGURES Page 1. Diagram-Law Three 124 2. Diagram-Law Four ................................................ 127 3. Diagram-Holy God/Sinful Man . .. 130 4. Diagram-Holy God/Sinful Man (original version) . .. 130 5. Diagram-Law Three ................................. .. 131 6. Diagram-Law Three (original) .. .. 132 7. Diagram-The Three Circles of Spiritual Life ............................ 143 8. Diagram-The Spirit Filled Life ....................................... 144 Vll PREFACE My journey in theological education began over a decade ago at North Greenville University in South Carolina. Dr. Walter Johnson first introduced me to systematic theology, and he challenged me to let the Bible be my guide for determining my beliefs. Moreover, I can vividly recall sitting in Dr. George Martin's classes at North Greenville as he challenged his students to be passionate about the Great Commission. I also remember his challenge to become a better student. After receiving a paper from him, I still can recall his comments: "Travis, you can do better, and you will do better." Thank you, Drs. Johnson and Martin, for your encouragement to do my best. I must also say a special thank you to my supervisor and dean, Dr. Chuck Lawless. I still remember walking down the stairwell with Dr. Lawless, in front of the campus bookstore, my last semester of the M.Div. program, when he said, "You have the potential to do the Ph.D. program." Although throughout this arduous process I may have doubted those words, you have been both gracious and firm in offering constant help in the writing process. Thank you for not allowing me to settle for mediocrity. I will always be grateful to you for allowing me to be your grader and student associate for Professional Doctoral Studies, and for your pastoral advice regarding relationships. I consider you a true friend. Unfortunately, Dr. Bill Bright passed away before I was able to choose a topic for my dissertation. His passion for the lost and commitment to the Great Commission, however, is still obvious today. Moreover, Dr. Bright has challenged me to "share the good news of Christ and leave the results to God." Campus Crusade has gone out of their way to help me in my research. My visit to the Crusade headquarters in Orlando proved to be invaluable for my research due to the help of Sid Wright, Judy Nelson, Angie Vlll Bring, and numerous other persons who gave of their time. Angie answered frequent emailsaftermyvisit.respondingtofurtherquestionslkeptsendingherway.Keith Davy, Vonette Bright, John Nyquist, and Ted Martin also were gracious in allowing me to interview them. This dissertation would not have been possible without your help. I would be remiss if I did not say a personal thank you to my first pastorate, Concord Baptist Church in Dry Ridge, Kentucky. You all were more than accommodating to me during my seminar stage, and you allowed me to gain a love for shepherding people. You truly exude the compassion of Christ. Friends and family are indeed a gift from the Lord, and I want to thank "Big Larry" for your interest and encouragement during the dissertation stage. Thank you, Melanie, for not allowing me to be a procrastinator during the final editing stages. Mom and Dad, thank you for "raising me up in the ways of the Lord" and for your prayers and encouragement. I love you both, and I could not ask for better parents. Guy Fredrick also helped me to be a better writer, and I could not have done this without you. Thank you. To my little sister, Joy, who has Down's syndrome, this dissertation is for you. To my brothers Mark and Jeffrey, I am proud of you and thank you for being my friends. Granny and Papa Coker, and to my late grandfather, Donald Fleming, I could not have asked for better grandparents to love me and model life for me. Finally, all of this schooling would be in vain ifit were not for my Lord, Jesus. Thank you for giving me life both physically and spiritually. May "Your Kingdom come; Your will be done; On earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:10 NAS). Travis Dean Fleming Louisville, Kentucky May 2006 IX CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The passing of one of America's evangelists made the headlines on July 19, 2003. At the age of81, in his home in Orlando, Florida, Bill Bright died following an extended battle with tenninal pulmonary fibrosis. 1 Right before his death, Bright still was able to demonstrate his passion for lost persons through the use of his "Four Spiritual Laws." He declared: For you not yet believers: Seriously look at the magnificent offer oflove and forgiveness that God extends to you. Before this day is over, receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Consider that God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. Take seriously that because each of us is sinful and separated from God, we cannot know and experience God's love and plan. Know that Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for you. Finally, you must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then you can know and experience God's love and plan. Those four points are the heart of God's good news to humanity. If you do not yet know Jesus Christ personally, please consider those points.2 The ministry which he
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