CF554
Jensen

CF554: SPIRITUALITY & DISCIPLESHIP IN COLLEGE & YOUNG ADULT SETTINGS. Paul Jensen.


DESCRIPTION:

What are the important discipleship and leadership issues for ministries that serve students/ young adults as they approach and pass through the critical college years? How can spiritual formation and servanthood become foundational for leaders of these ministries? Proven approaches to spiritual formation and discipleship/leadership will be applied to the leader's life and ministry.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
The primary purpose is to develop the skills and processes for discipling college students and young adults. The goals of the course are:
  1. Formulate a biblical philosophy of discipleship; survey the history and theology of Christian spirituality and spiritual awakenings; learn a model of leadership development and deepen one's awareness of current student culture and the ministries to it.

  2. Deepen intimacy with God and strengthen the desire to serve/lead the members of one's family and ministry.

  3. Practice the disciplines of the spiritual life in both daily and extended times of fellowship with the Lord.

  4. Be a non-compulsive servant leader whose service to others is derived increasingly from love for the Lord and himself/herself.

COURSE FORMAT:
The class will meet seven times on Thursdays for four hours; participate in two one-day retreats (October 4 and 25) for two times of extended personal communion with God (4 to 8 hours each); and a two day workshop, November 8-9, for The Discipling Ministry Seminar. It is anticipated that the retreat and workshop will involve no additional charge to students. Instruction methods include lecture, discussion, experiential learning, and small groups.

REQUIRED READING:
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together; HarperSanFrancisco, 1992. Or
Bernardi, Janet and Mahedy, William. A Generation Alone. InterVarsity, 1994.
Clinton, J. R. The Making of a Leader. NavPress, 1988.

Lovelace, Richard. The Dynamics of Spiritual Life. InterVarsity, 1979.

Miller, Chuck. Discipling Ministry Seminar Syllabus.

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

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

Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines. Harper & Row, 1988.

A syllabus/packet of articles and notes.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Parks, Sharon. The Critical Years or a book on the Baby Busters selected from a course bibliography.

Trueblood, Elton. The Company of the Committed.

ASSIGNMENTS:
A one-page reflection paper on each of the three periods of extended personal communion with God; four weeks of journaling (four days/week); a reading log; visit a student group involved in a ministry of compassion; a fifteen to eighteen-page essay on an issue addressed in the course or a two-day spiritual retreat with an eight-page paper.

PREREQUISITES:
None. It will be helpful, however, for the student to have taken CF510: Ecology of Faith Development.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Spirituality core for M.A. programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.