PM101 SPIRITUAL LIFE SYLLABUS

Transcription

1 PM101A Spiritual Life Dallas Theological Seminary Instructor: Dr. Barry D. Jones Spring T/TH 7:45-9:00 Appointments: I. COURSE DESCRIPTION PM101 SPIRITUAL LIFE SYLLABUS A study of the biblical principles that govern true Christian character and service, with emphasis on the sufficiency of the divine provisions and the heart condition necessary for holy living and spiritual power in ministry. 2 hours credit. Required of all students. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES Rationale: The course is designed so that each student will grow in an understanding and practice of the principles of the spiritual life with the result that each will pursue spiritual power and productivity for the glory of God throughout a lifetime of effective Christian ministry. A. Cognitive Objectives. As a result of taking this course, the student will be able to articulate: 1. The nature and necessity of grace for the Christian Life. 2. The believer s new identity and security in Christ. 3. The role of the Holy Spirit in the restraint of the Flesh and His provisions for Christian living. 4. How to live responsibly in Christian community, including issues of prayer, worship, forgiveness, and the spiritual disciplines. 5. The threats to a lifestyle of grace, specifically the abuse of grace and the source/nature of legalism. B. Affective Objective. As a result of taking this course, the student will be able to defend a comprehensive biblical-theological understanding of spirituality as the basis for a healthy perspective on the spiritual life. C. Behavioral Objectives. As a result of taking this course, the student will be able to: 1. Address and defend the unique experience of the Flesh in the student s own life. 2. Appropriate personally the resources of the Holy Spirit in order to overcome the influence of the Flesh and to engage in effective ministry within the Christian community. 3. Explain and practice personal disciplines that support/encourage the spiritual life; 4. Recognize and avoid personal factors that are debilitating to the development of the spiritual life III. COURSE TEXTBOOKS A. Required Jones, Barry D. Dwell: Life with God for the World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press pp.

2 PM101A Spiritual Life 2 Mangis, Michael. Signature Sins: Taming Our Wayward Hearts. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Smith, James K.A. Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview and Cultural Formation. Grand Rapids: Baker, pp. B. Suggested Moreland, J. P. and Klaus Issler. In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, pp. Webber, Robert E. The Divine Embrace: Recovering the Passionate Spiritual Life. Grand Rapids: Baker, pp. Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines. New York: Harper San Francisco, pp. C. Supplementary Bibliography A bibliography of other pertinent works on spirituality will be provided with the class notes. IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS A. Reading Assignments. B. Written Assignments (papers, journals, study exercises, etc.) 1. Course Integration Paper: Each student will write a typed, five-page, doublespaced paper that integrates the major concepts of the course (as presented in class sessions) with all readings done for the course. One way to organize this paper is to describe the quest for spiritual life and provide ongoing references to readings as support material. 2. Contract Papers: Each student may write up to three additional papers (typed, double-spaced) on various subjects to be assigned during the. Each paper will conform to the specific guidelines and due dates provided for each at the time they are assigned. Each of the assigned papers is designed to show that the student understands the specific issue studied and can apply the material within the contexts of life and ministry. D. Memory Work. Each student will memorize Romans 6:1-14 in the translation of the student s choice (including a foreign language). If the student has memorized this passage in other memory programs, one of similar length and subject matter must be substituted with the professor's approval. To evaluate this assignment, each student must write out the selected passage, 1/2 point from a possible 100 deducted for each error (excluding punctuation errors) to determine the assignment grade. When a memory assignment is due, a class roster will be distributed and each student will indicate in the appropriate box the memory work grade. E. Spiritual Discipline. Each student will submit a single report of his/her personal practice of a spiritual discipline. Choose one of the following 3 report options (according to the contract system below):

3 PM101A Spiritual Life 3 (1) A 2-Sentence Completion Report - Practice a spiritual discipline for a single week and simply report when and how the discipline was completed. (2) A 1-week Discipline Reflection Practice a spiritual discipline for seven days, keeping a daily reflection journal on the benefits and/or detriments of the experience. (3) A 2-week Discipline Reflection - Practice a single spiritual discipline for fourteen days or practice two different disciplines for 1 week each (completed consecutively). Submit a report of a daily reflection journal on the benefits and/or detriments of the experience. V. COURSE POLICIES This course is graded as a contract course. Each student will choose the final course grade desired according to the amount and quality of work performed. To receive an "A": do all the assigned reading and memory work on time achieve an "A" in the memory work submit an "A" quality integration paper complete a 2-week Discipline Reflection submit three (3) "A" quality contract papers as assigned during the To receive a "B": do all the assigned reading and memory work on time achieve a "B" in the memory work submit a "B" quality integration paper complete a 1-week Discipline Reflection submit two (2) "B" quality contract papers as assigned during the To receive a "C": A. Class Participation do all the assigned reading and memory work on time achieve a "C" in the memory work submit a "C" quality integration paper submit a 2-sentence discipline completion report submit one (1) "C" quality contract paper as assigned during the Regular class attendance promotes interactive learning between the professor and students, helps the professor to monitor student progress with pastoral concern, and develops the necessary spiritual discipline of living under the authority of another as unto Christ Himself. Therefore, every student is expected to attend and participate in each class period (as appropriate). B. Late Assignments In a learning environment it is far better to do work late rather than not at all. Late assignments, however, will be subject to a grade penalty. (In cases of personal emergency, the student should contact the professor for arrangements to fulfill the requirement as soon as possible. The professor may choose to waive the penalty in

4 PM101A Spiritual Life 4 such cases at his discretion.) No credit will be received for reading completed more than two weeks after the due date. C. Absences Each student is permitted to miss three class sessions without penalty. (There is no discrimination between excused and unexcused absences. D. Language and Style All written submissions should be carefully proof-read and should consistently follow Turabian style where appropriate. All written submissions should strive to use gender-inclusive language. While this has become standard academic practice, this request is not merely an attempt at political correctness. As a gospel-shaped, gospel-centered community of learning, we have compelling reasons to think, write, and speak in such a way as to ensure that none are either intentionally or inadvertently excluded by our use of language. Consider using humans, persons, humanity, or humankind rather than man or men when referring to human beings in general. Consider alternating between the use of he and she as generic pronouns or substituting the use of the plural ( they, them, their ) when appropriate. E. Letter/Numerical Grade Scale A B C D F 0-69 A B C D A B C D VI. COURSE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 1. All written submissions must be submitted according to directions given in class. Electronic submissions must have course name (PM101) in the SUBJECT line. 2. Please Note the administration of the contract grading system. a. This course is designed to assist the student with the internalization of the biblical theology of the spiritual life. Therefore, the assignments and their grading are designed to enhance one s experience of the issues in biblical spirituality. b. The student s final grade is not calculated as the average of the average of the student s work, but as the minimum grade received on assignments submitted to fulfill the contract. To receive the contracted grade each assignment submitted must be consistent with the contracted course grade. c. Any assignment may be resubmitted with additions, corrections, etc., for reconsideration and an appropriate increase in grade in order to maintain the level for which the student originally desired to contract. Comments on the papers will offer suggestions for reworking the material. Therefore, just because one paper received a slightly lower grade than originally desired is no reason to "give up" and

5 PM101A Spiritual Life 5 accept a lesser overall grade. Any paper may be rewritten and resubmitted until the end of the course. This represents the tempering of an absolute ("holy") standard with mercy a maybe a little grace. Any resubmission must be made within 1 week of date when the student received feedback from the original submission. 3. DTS does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the operation of any of its programs and activities. To avoid discrimination the student is responsible for informing the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities and the course instructor of any disabling condition that will require modifications. VII. COURSE DISCUSSIONS AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE No. Date Subject Assignments Due 1 1/17 Syllabus & Course Preview 2 1/19 Life with God: The Quest for Life that is Spiritual Jones: Intro, Chapter 1 3 1/24 The Quest to Be Like God: Imaging His Glory and Holiness in Ruling the Earth 4 1/26 The Quest to Be Like God: Imaging His Glory and Holiness in Ruling the Earth, Part 2 5 1/31 The Failure of the Quest: Humanity in Adam Jones: Chapter 2 6 2/2 The Failure of the Quest: Humanity in Adam, Part 2 Contract paper #1 7 2/7 Grace & the Work of Christ as Essentials to Accomplishing the Quest Smith: Chapter /9 The Quest Begins in Faith, Continues in Faith, and Ends in Sight 9 2/14 The Sin-Breaking Process (Romans 6) Memory Work 10 2/16 Deliverance from Law (Romans 7) Mangis: Chapter /21 The Sinfulness of Sin & The Problem of the Flesh 12 2/23 Unmasking the Flesh: Our Signature Sins Contract Paper #2; Mangis: Chapter /28 The Ministry of the Spirit, Part 1 Jones: Chapter /2 The Ministry of the Spirit, Part /21 Discovering the Disciplines, Part 1: Prayer, Scripture, and Worship Jones: Chapter /23 Discovering the Disciplines, Part 2: Fasting, Contract Paper #3; Jones: Solitude, and Sabbath Rest Chapter /28 Discovering the Disciplines, Part 3: Bearing Witness Jones: Chapter 10; Smith: Chapter /30 Pain, Crises, & Longing for Our Future Home 4/4 Discipline Report; Smith: 19 Summary and Review Chapter /7 NO CLASS Course Integration paper