DESCRIPTION: The focus of the course will be the drama of God's action in the
world, at the center of which is the in-breaking Reign of God through Jesus
Christ. We will seek to understand our own participation in this story as it
relates to issues of violence and peacemaking, sanctity of life, other faiths,
sexual faithfulness, justice (economic, racial, and ecological), and witness to
the world. We will also identify and compare fundamental assumptions that shape
how Christians practice discipleship, seeking a method that aids repentance and
correction, and growth in wholeness and commitment to serve Jesus Christ as
Lord in all of life and ministry.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: God is shaping communities who faithfully
follow Jesus as a witness to the Reign of God. Christian ministers teach
Christians to be disciples and to make disciples, equipping persons to be
followers of Christ rather than unaware captives of competing stories. This
means seeing all of our lives as participation in God's action in the world,
which requires constant transformation by the Holy Spirit as Christian
communities and individuals.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) be able to identify and relate their
understanding of the Christian narrative, as well as the variables shaping
their understanding, to that of various ethicists (tested by regular Moodle
postings); (2) demonstrate an understanding of how to relate Scripture to
ethical problems, the importance of practices within the church, and the
practical meaning of the Sermon on the Mount according to course readings
(tested by three in-class essays); (3) articulate a Christian response to Islam
and other faiths that incorporates insights from the course (tested by a short
paper); and (4) relate the Christian narrative to practices of following Jesus
within their congregations (tested by a final paper).
COURSE FORMAT: Lectures, discussion, and online responses. Class will meet
twice a week for two-hour sessions.
REQUIRED READING: