DESCRIPTION:

The image of the Christian Life as a goal-oriented pilgrimage is used to explore the nature of wholeness in six areas: the cognitive, the affective, the behavioral, the relational, the physical, and the spiritual. The two-fold emphasis will be on personal experience of growth in each area and on the process of structuring growth-oriented experiences in a church context that will produce growth in others. In addition to the various ways of growth discussed in class, special attention will be given to the art of spiritual journaling and the process of spiritual autobiography.

Nurturing Christian growth is a central task of ministry. However, at times our view of growth is too constricted. The kind of growth envisioned in the Bible is wholistic in nature, impacting all of one's life. It is important, therefore, that we have a clear understanding of how growth is understood in the Bible and how it takes place, and that we have the skills needed to guide others in their growth. The aim of this course is to help students learn how to develop effective growth-producing programs that reflect a biblical understanding of the dynamics of growth.

A mixture of lecture, interactive discussion, reflective exercises, in-depth small group exercises, and journal exercises.

Ackerman, John. Spiritual Awakening. Alban Institute, 1994.

Hart, Arch. Adrenaline and Stress. Word, 1986.

Nouwen, Henri. The Genesee Diary. Image Books, 1976.

Peace, Richard. Pilgrimage. Baker, 1976.

__________. Addictive Lifestyles. Serendipity, 1990.

__________. 12 Steps. Serendipity, 1990.

__________. Spiritual Journaling. NavPress, 1995.

__________. Spiritual Storytelling. NavPress, 1996.

Smedes, Lewis B. Love Within Limits. Eerdmans, 1978.

Zimbardo, Philip. Shyness. Addison-Wesley, 1978.

1. Regular attendance and participation in all aspects of the course.

2. Completion of the assigned exercises (journaling, spiritual autobiography, genogram, stress log).

3. Various reflection papers (15 pages total).

None.

Meets the M.A.T. core requirement in Spirituality (SPIR).

None.