DESCRIPTION: The future belongs to adults! We pass on who we are to the next
generation. How is the current decline in Western Christianity a wakeup call
for Adult Formation? What is our response to "Jesus, yes. Church, no?" What
does it mean to be adult and Christian in today's world? How does our
theological thinking energize our response to culture and determine the way we
are prepared to deal with the world of un-Christians? What dilemmas and
questions are present in being adult, living in continuous change? How do
today's adults learn? Having a birthday? What makes aging God's intentional
plan? This class looks at the role adults play in the church and the world and
ways to cultivate adult faith in the process. It includes our changing world,
the emerging church, adults and the arts, kingdom-focused spirituality, and
encourages a corporate discipleship focus for survival.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Cognitively: Learners will become conscious of the role of
adults in God's plan, the impact of their development, and what enables adult
faith to grow. Affectively: Learners will learn to value how God designed
adults to actively participate in their own growth and will be motivated to
help them discern and design transforming experiences. Behaviorally: Learners
will participate in discovering their own images of adulthood and learning
styles and will be involved in actively creatively new paradigms which
incorporate learning experiences from class. Existentially: Learners will
become persons who recognize his/her mission as an adult in God's kingdom and
will cultivate continued integration of concepts taught in class in his/her
ministry in church and world.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: With few exceptions everyone experiences adulthood.
This course speaks to how adults can grow and learn and what to expect in
working and communicating with adults., teaching skills to enable adults to
participate in mission and maturity, enabling them to be fulfilled in carrying
out their calling in church and world.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice a week for two-hour sessions. Methods
of instruction will include lecture, interaction, small groups, video viewing,
surveying, gaming, and skills work in class.
REQUIRED READING: