GB 5553 Spiritual Formation and Guidance Spring 2010 Gary Holloway Ezell 214, (615)

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1 GB 5553 Spiritual Formation and Guidance Spring 2010 Gary Holloway Ezell 214, (615) Course Description This course explores how God works in us through his Holy Spirit to conform us to the image of Christ and to empower us for ministry. In the course students will experience spiritual disciplines for themselves, develop a rule of life, and be invited into the ministry of spiritual guidance. Course Objectives 1. Students will examine biblical teachings on spiritual growth. 2. Students will develop more awareness of the work of God in their own lives. 3. Students will experience regular spiritual practices that form disciples. 4. Students will become familiar with the heritage of Christian spiritual formation. Measurement Read Living God s Love or Soul Feast. Write a 3-5 page reflection paper on the reading. (20% of grade) Write a 5-7 page spiritual autobiography. Keep a daily spiritual journal. (20% of grade) Write and follow a personal Rule of Life. Take a one-day personal spiritual retreat, and then write a reflection paper on the experience. (20% of grade) Read Thirsty for God. Prepare to lead a Retreat based on the work and thought of a particular historical spiritual writer. (20% of grade) 5. Students will investigate and engage in one-on-one spiritual guidance and group spiritual direction. Read Holy Invitations. Facilitate one session of group spiritual direction. 6. Students will develop a plan to promote spiritual growth in congregations. 7. Students will gain experience in planning and leading spiritual retreats, small groups, and other spiritual formation groups. Write a brief (3-5 page) summary of the plan. (20% of grade) Write and present a plan for a Retreat with a particular spiritual writer. 1

2 The above is there because Lipscomb requires its teachers to list objectives and measurement for each course. This quotation expresses my view of that requirement: I feel sorry for teachers who are required to spell out precise learning objectives long before a class begins so that they can measure their own effectiveness. I feel sorry for their students, too. Education dominated by preconceived images of what must be learned can hardly be educational. Authentic teaching and learning requires a live encounter with the unexpected, an element of suspense and surprise, an evocation of that which we did not know until it happened. If these elements are not present, we may be training or indoctrinating students, but we are not educating them. Parker J. Palmer, The Active Life, Texts: Pre-course Reading. This course assumes some familiarity with and practice of the spiritual disciplines. If you have done little reading or practice in this area, you should read Holloway and Lavender, Living God s Love: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality. Leafwood, ( ) If you have done more reading, you can substitute Thompson, Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life. Westminster/John ( ) Knox, On January 22, you should come to class with a 3-5 page typed response to one of these books, telling how the book has shaped your practice of the disciplines (see guidelines on page 5). Course Reading. Holt, Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality. Fortress Press, ( ) Bakke, Holy Invitations: Exploring Spiritual Direction. Baker, ( ) Course Schedule [NOTE: Dates subject to change. Check closer to start of course for correct dates] Week 1 (January 14) Introduction to course. Definitions. Biblical teaching. Week 2 (January 21) Listening and discernment. Assignment due: Turn in reflection papers on pre-course reading. Assignment due: Write a 5-7 page spiritual biography (see guidelines on p 5). Week 3 (January 28) 2

3 Ways to pray. Assignment due: begin spiritual journal Week 4 (February 4) Other disciplines. Developing a rule of life. Group spiritual direction. Assignment due: Read Holt, pp. vii-78. Week 5 (February 11) Mini-retreat. Disciplines. Assignment due: Write a personal Rule of Life. Week Six (February 18) Christian Spirituality in the West Assignment due: Read Holt, pp Week Seven (February 25) Christian Spirituality in the East; Protestant Spirituality Assignment due: Read Holt, pp Week Eight (March 4) Special presentation Week Nine (March 11) Mini-Retreat with Historic Spiritual Leaders. Assignment due: Write a 3-page summary of your plans for a retreat based on the work of a particular spiritual writer (see list at end of syllabus). Week Ten (April 1) Spiritual guidance and direction. Assignment due: Read Bakke, pp Week Eleven (April 8) Mini-Retreat on Spiritual Guidance Assignment: Lead a session of group direction. Week Twelve (April 15) Spiritual formation in congregations worship (baptism, Lord s Supper), preaching, teaching, educational program, youth work, children s ministry. Assignment: Submit your reflection on a one-day personal retreat (see instructions on p. 5). Week Thirteen (April 22) Spiritual formation in congregations pastoral care, evangelism, service, administration (church committees), small groups, retreats, other groups. Assignment: Write a brief (3-5 page) summary of a plan for promoting spiritual growth in your congregation. Guidelines for 3-5 page reflection papers on reading (due January 14) 3

4 1. Set aside specific time in a comfortable place for reading. 2. Begin with a prayer for guidance and understanding. 3. Read not just for information, but transformation. 4. When God works through his Spirit to give you an insight (an ah-ha moment), pause in your reading, meditate on that insight, and write it in a notebook or journal. 5. End your reading time with a prayer of gratitude. 6. When you finish reading the book, look over your notes on the insights God has given you. 7. From those notes, write your response with three sections: A brief summary of the book and its sections. A summary of one or two of the insights you received in your reading. A few questions this reading prompts that you would like to discuss during the class. Guidelines for writing the 5-7 page spiritual autobiography (due January 14) 1. This is a reflection on how God has guided you in your life. 2. It should tell a few (but not all) of the stories of your life where you particularly saw God at work. Those stories may be recent or in the past. 3. It is not intended to be a report of your spiritual practices or devotional life. 4. You can arrange your paper chronologically, around important events or places in your life, or center on people who brought God to you. Type, double-space, have one copy to turn in to your professor, but keep one for yourself. Guidelines on 2-3 page reflection paper on one-day personal retreat (due April 15) 1. Take a day alone to be with God. This can be alone or at a retreat center. Be aware of what God is doing in you that day prayer, listening, rest, reflection. 2. In the reflection paper you do afterward (not on the retreat day), place the day in context what was going on in your life right before the retreat. 3. Describe where you went and how you spent your time. 4. What came to you as you prayed, read, meditated, and were silent? 5. How did this day affect your reentry into life and ministry? Guidelines for 3-5 page summary of a plan for revisioning your ministry as spiritual formation and for promoting spiritual growth in your ministry. 1. Choose an area of ministry that you are currently involved in or feel called to (leadership, preaching, evangelism, pastoral care, worship, youth, college, children, aging, men s, women s, recovery, or another.) 2. In a page or two, briefly summarize what it would mean for you to see your primary ministry as spiritual formation. For example, in preaching, how could sermon preparation become a spiritual exercise? 3. In another page or two, outline an action plan for your ministry that would focus on spiritual formation. What kind of activities (classes, retreats, service, etc.) would promote the spiritual growth of those to whom you minister? 4. Type, double space, have one copy to turn in and one copy to keep. 5. Be prepared on the last day of class to summarize your plan orally for the class in ten minutes or less. SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Dictionaries and Bibliographies 4

5 Beasley-Topliffe, Keith (ed.). The Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation. Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, [note the list of spiritual classics on page ] Peterson, Eugene. Take and Read Spiritual Reading: An Annotated List. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Sheldrake, Philip (ed.). The New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality. Philadelphia, PA:Westminster John Knox Press, General Introductions to Spirituality and the Disciplines Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline. San Francisco: Harper & Row, Mulholland, M. Robert. Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Willard, Dallas. Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins, Historical Sources and Studies Foster, Richard, Griffin, Emilie, (eds.). Spiritual Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups on the Twelve Spiritual Disciplines. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, Foster, Richard. Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins, Holmes, Urban T. A History of Christian Spirituality. New York: Seabury, Holt, Bradley P. Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, Jones, Cheslyn, Geoffrey Wainwright, and Edward Yarnold, eds. The Study of Spirituality. New York: Oxford University Press, Mursell, Gordon, ed. The Story of Christian Spirituality. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, Specific Disciplines: Spiritual Bible Reading Blackaby, Henry and Richard. Hearing God s Voice. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2003 Casey, Michael, Sacred Reading. Liguori, Missouri: Liguori/Triumph, Mulholland, Jr. M. Robert, Shaped by the Word, Nashville, TN: Upper Room, Pennington, Basil, Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures, New York: Crossroads Press, Vest, Norvene, Gathered in the Word, Praying the Scripture in Small Groups, Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, Willard, Dallas. Hearing God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Contemplative Prayer Keating, Thomas. Open Mind, Open Heart. New York: Continuum, Pennington, Basil. Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form. New York: Doubleday,

6 Thibodeaux, Mark. Armchair Mystic. Cincinnati: St Anthony Messenger Press, Sabbath Baab, Lynne. Sabbath Keeping: Finding Freedom In The Rhythms Of Rest. InterVarsity Press, Dawn, Marva. Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting. Eerdmans, Edwards, Tilden. Sabbath Time: Understanding and Practice for Contemporary Christians. Upper Room, Heschel, Abraham. The Sabbath. Farrar Straus Giroux, Muller, Wayne. Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives. Bantam, Wirzba, Norman. Living the Sabbath: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight. Brazos Press, Simplicity Foster, Richard J. Freedom of Simplicity. San Francisco, Harper, Kelly, Thomas R. A Testament of Devotion. San Francisco, Harper, 1941 Rohr, Richard. Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go. New York: Crossroad, Whitmire, Catherine. Plain Living: A Quaker Path to Simplicity. Notre Dame: Sorin Books, Service Kelly, Thomas R. The Eternal Promise. Richmond, Indiana: Friends United Press, 1966 Lupton, Robert D. Compassion, Justice, and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor. Ventura, CA: Gospel Light, 2007 Nouwen, Henri. The Selfless Way of Christ: Downward Mobility and the Spiritual Life. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis, 2007 Palmer, Parker J. The Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring. San Francisco: Jossey- Bass, 1999 Tan, Siang-Yang. Full Service: Moving from Self-Serve Christianity to Total Servanthood. Grand Rapids, Baker, 2006 Daily Devotional Guides Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. Grand Rapids: Discovery House, Nouwen, Henri J.M. Bread for the Journey. San Francisco: HarperCollins, Shorter Christian Prayer. New York: Catholic Book Publishing, Webber, Robert. The Book of Daily Prayer. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Spiritual Direction Bakke, Jeannette A. Holy Invitations: Exploring Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, Barry, William. Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with God. New York: Paulist, Barry, William and William Connolly. The Practice of Spiritual Direction. New York, NY: Seabury Press,

7 Dougherty, Rose Mary. Group Spiritual Direction. New York: Paulist Press, Dougherty, Rose Mary, ed. The Lived Experience of. Group Spiritual Direction. New York: Paulist Press, Edwards, Tilden. Spiritual Director: Spiritual Companion. New York: Paulist Press, Edwards, Tilden. Spiritual Friend: Reclaiming the Gift of Spiritual Direction. New York, NY: Paulist Press, Gratton, Carolyn. The Art of Spiritual Guidance. New York, NY: Crossroads, Guenther, Margaret. Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction. Boston, MA: Cowley Press, Hart, Thomas. The Art of Christian Listening. Ramsey, NJ: Paulist Press, Jones, Alan. Exploring Spiritual Direction. New York, NY: Seabury Press, May, Gerald. Care of Mind, Care of Spirit: Psychiatric Dimensions of Spiritual Direction. San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row, Merton, Thomas. Spiritual Direction and Meditation. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, Palmer, Parker. In the Company of Strangers. New York, NY: Crossroads, Stone-Campbell Allen, Leonard, ed. The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer. West Monroe: Howard, Garrison, J.H.. Alone with God. Abilene: Leafwood Publishers, Harris, Randy. The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on the Holy Spirit.. West Monroe: Howard, Holloway, Gary. Daily Disciple. Abilene: Leafwood Publishers, Holloway, Gary and Lavender, Earl. Living God s Love: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality. Abilene: Leafwood Publishers, Holloway, Gary and Lavender, Earl. Meditative Commentary on the New Testament. Abilene: Leafwood Publishers, Paulsell, William O. Disciples at Prayer. St. Louis: Chalice Press, Tippens, Darryl, Pilgrim Heart. Abilene: Leafwood Publishers, Helpful Websites BIBLIOGRAPHY: REVISIONING MINISTRY AS SPIRITUAL FORMATION Ashcroft, Mary Ellen. Balancing Act: How Women Can Lose Their Roles and Find Their Calling. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, ISBN-13: Barton, Ruth. Equal to the Task: Men and Women in Partnership. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, ISBN-13:

8 Chittister, Joan D. Heart of Flesh: A Feminist Spirituality for Women and Men. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, ISBN-13: Dean, Kendra Creasy, Foster, Ron. The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry. Upper Room, ISBN-13: Dunn, Richard R. Shaping the Spiritual Life of Students: A Guide for Youth Workers, Pastors, Teachers & Campus Ministers. InterVarsity, ISBN-13: Guenther, Margaret Toward Holy Ground: Spiritual Directions for the Second Half of Life. Boston: Cowley Publications, ISBN-13: Hunsinger, Deborah Van Deusen. Pray without Ceasing: Revitalizing Pastoral Care. Eerdmans, ISBN-13: Hunter, George G. III, The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West...Again. Abingdon, ISBN-13: Johnson, Ben Campbell, Pastoral Spirituality: A Focus for Ministry. Westminster/John Knox, ISBN-13: Johnson, Ben Campbell. Speaking of God: Evangelism As Initial Spiritual Guidance. Westminster John Knox Press, ISBN-13: Killen, Patricia O'Connell. Finding Our Voices: Women, Wisdom, and Faith. New York: Crossroad, ISBN-13: Moberg, David O. editor, Aging and Spirituality: Spiritual Dimensions of Aging Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Haworth Pastoral Press, ISBN-13: Nelson, Harold R. Senior Spirituality. St. Louis: Chalice Press, ISBN-13: Olsen, Charles M. Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leader. Alban Institute, ISBN-13: Pagitt, Doug, Preaching Re-Imagined. Zondervan, ISBN-13: Pagitt, Doug, Reimagining Spiritual Formation: A Week in the Life of an Experimental Church. Zondervan, ISBN-13: Ratcliff, Donald. Children's Spirituality: Christian Perspectives, Spirituality And Applications. Cascade Books, ISBN-13: Rendle, Gill, and Mann, Alice. Holy Conversations: Strategic Planning as a Spiritual Practice for Congregations. Alban Institute, ISBN-13: Renovare. Prayer and Worship: A Spiritual Formation Guide. HarperSanFrancisco, ISBN-13: Richardson, Rick. Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey. InterVarsity, ISBN-13: Sacks, Cheryl. The Prayer Saturated Church: A Comprehensive Handbook for Prayer Leaders. NavPress, ISBN-13: Stairs, Jean. Listening for the Soul: Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction (Integrating Spirituality Into Pastoral Counseling). Augsburg Fortress, ISBN-13: Stonehouse, Catherine. Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey: Nurturing a Life of Faith. Baker, ISBN-13: Swears, Thomas. Preaching to Head and Heart. Abingdon, ISBN-13: Vennard, Jane E. A Praying Congregation: The Art of Teaching Spiritual Practice. Alban Institute, ISBN-13:

9 Westerhoff, John H. Spiritual Life: The Foundation for Preaching and Teaching. Westminster/John Knox, ISBN-13: Willimon, William H. editor, Pastor's Guide To Personal Spiritual Formation. Beacon Hill Press, ISBN-13: Willows, David, Swinton, John. Spiritual Dimension of Pastoral Care. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, ISBN-13: Wuellner, Flora Slosson. Feed My Shepherds: Spiritual Healing and Renewal for Those in Christian Leadership. Upper Room, ISBN-13: Yust, Karen Marie. Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children's Spiritual Lives. Josey-Bass, ISBN-13:

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