INTRODUCTION

It may surprise the reader, but there has never been an example in history where simply a large number of Christians, megachurches, and so-called “revivals” have completely transformed a nation.

A comprehensive study of countries around the world throughout the two millennia of Christianity confirms that only when that growth also includes an intentional strategy to train and place teams of networked leaders in the most influential institutions of culture does Christianity produce significant change in nations.

There are many books and courses available that explain very well the importance of prayer, evangelism, and church planting. To achieve complete transformation and reform in a nation, we must first transform the beliefs of the people of a nation. This will happen as we preach the gospel, as Jesus commanded, and then teach believers how to live out the truth of the Bible in their daily lives. 2 Chronicles 7:14 reveals to us the importance of repentance and prayer for the transformation of nations. Obviously, this is where all change according to God must begin.

No permanent positive change will occur without first a change of heart in the citizens of a nation. But what happens after God changes the hearts of men? When men change, their families, their businesses, their schools, their churches, their neighborhoods, their towns, their cities, their states, and their nations must also change. But this does not always happen today. True revival and awakening will have an impact on these areas of culture and its institutions. In 2 Corinthians 3:17 it says that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” This is true for both men and nations. When the gospel enters a man’s heart, he changes. He is not perfect, but a new source of authority is established to determine decisions and values for the future. In the same way, when the gospel infuses the life of a nation, the potential for change arises. But for that to really happen, a strategy must be established.

I, Mark, have traveled to more than 70 countries and worked with leaders since the 1980s, and I have seen the truth of these observations. This course will build on them and focus on those other tasks that the modern church often ignores and downplays, but which the historical church faithfully carries out. We will analyze the fundamental best practices that the historical church followed to significantly transform culture. In the Great Commission found at the end of the Gospels, Jesus made it clear that evangelism and the church had a purpose: “Go… and make disciples of all nations,” teaching them “to observe all that [He] commanded” (Matthew 28:19). To disciple a nation, it is best to break it down to its most essential parts. In addition to the church, there are at least six other important areas of influence in culture:

• – Family.
• – Education.
• – Health.
• – Business.
• – Government.
• – Arts/media/entertainment.

Earlier writers and thinkers, such as the Dutchman Abraham Kuyper more than a century ago, spoke of these “domains” or “spheres” of authority and jurisdiction (and Francis Schaeffer, Loren Cunningham, Bill Bright, and others used similar terms and lists in the 1980s). Mark Beliles, Stephen McDowell, and I began teaching about these seven areas and were the first in recent times to publish books on reforming all of them (with a brief description of many nations in history where Christianity did produce significant changes). Since their books came out around 1990 and beyond, many people today teach in this way. Popular speakers and books in recent years (such as C. Peter Wagner, Lance Wallnau, and Johnny Enlow) have called them the seven “spheres” of culture (or they call them ‘gates’ or “pillars”).