DESCRIPTION: This course helps seminarians to deepen their intimacy with God and to disciple students and young adults in the spiritual life. It addresses how students and young adults are formed into the image of Christ for the sake of others as they approach and pass through the critical college years. Theological, historical, developmental, generational, and cultural perspectives are considered.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE & MINISTRY: Proven approaches to spiritual formation for the sake of others will be applied to the seminarian's life and current or future ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of taking this course, students will: (1) Cognitive: Understand a biblical philosophy of discipleship rooted in spiritual formation; learn a historical overview of spiritual disciplines and spiritual awakenings especially among students and young adults; and understand generational, developmental, and cultural issues related to the spiritual formation of college students and young adults. (2) Affective: Desire to be spiritual guides for and serve their families, the postmodern generations, and those who have suffered abuse, oppression or who are caught in addictions. (3) Behavioral: Practice graced rhythms of spiritual discipline in both daily and extended times of fellowship with Jesus Christ. (4) Existential: Be non-compulsive servant leaders whose service to others increasingly derives from love for God, for others, and for themselves.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet nine times on Thursdays for three hours and will also participate as a class in two Friday prayer retreats on October 9, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., and October 30, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., at Immaculate Heart Retreat House in Los Angeles) for two times of extended personal communion with God. (Class will not meet on Thursday, October 8 but will meet on Thursday, October 29.) A $30 fee covers the retreat costs including use of the retreat house and refreshments (no lunches). Instruction methods include lecture, media, discussion, experiential learning, and small groups.

REQUIRED READING:

Carroll, Colleen. The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy. Loyola Press, 2002.

Lovelace, Richard. Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal. IVP, 1979.

Jensen, Paul. Subversive Spirituality: Transforming Mission through the Collapse of Space and Time. Pickwick Publishers, 2009.

Nouwen, Henri. The Way of the Heart. Ballantine, 1975.

Parks, Sharon. Big Questions, Worthy Dreams. Jossey-Bass, 2000.

Syllabus, notes, and course reader, which includes Dallas Willard's chapter on spiritual disciplines from The Spirit of the Disciplines (1988), articles on spiritual formation in college and young adult settings, and links to Internet resources on college ministry.

Each small group chooses one (at first class session):

Beaudoin, T. Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X. Jossey-Bass, 1998.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. HarperSanFrancisco, 1992.

Pagitt, Doug. Reimagining Spiritual Formation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.

Smith, Christian, and Melinda Denton. Soul Searching. Oxford University Press, 2005.

Each student chooses either:

Clinton, J. R. The Making of a Leader. NavPress, 1988.

Miller, Keith. Hunger for Healing. HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.