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 and ways to cultivate adult
faith and equip adults in the discipleship process. It includes our changing
world, the emerging church, adults and the arts, kingdom-focused spirituality,
and encourages a corporate discipleship focus for survival.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: With few exceptions everyone experiences
adulthood. This course speaks to how adults can mature and learn and what to
expect in working and communicating with adults, teaching purposes and skills
that enable adults to become disciples of Jesus and thereby to fulfill their
calling and carry out their mission in church and world.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Cognitively: Learners will become conscious of the role of
adults in God's plan, the impact of their development, and what enables adults
to grow in faith while demonstrating it through discipleship. 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 of discipling and maturing which
incorporate learning experiences from class. Existentially: Learners will
become persons who recognize his/her mission as a Christian adult in God's
kingdom and will cultivate continued integration of concepts taught in class in
his/her life and ministry 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: