1 2PT704 A Life and Ministry of Prayer - 2014 Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando Dr. Don Sweeting Elective, 1hr dsweeting@rts.edu Aug. 27 th -Dec. 3 rd Phone: 407-366-9493 Wed., 4-5 pm Fall 2014 Office Hours: Make an Appointment Classroom: TBD My assistant: Cheryl Foca cfoca@rts.edu Teaching Assistant: Andrew Lightner (717) 683-6089 Andrew.k.lightner@gmail.com Course Description One of the glaring weaknesses of the Western church is its prayerlessness and powerlessness. At the same time, survey after survey shows that people in the pews are interested in prayer but lack practical instruction. This one-hour class will focus on the basics of developing a life and ministry of prayer. It will not only focus on the importance of prayer, but on prayer related topics, readings, and exercises/disciplines. There will be no tests in this class. The class grade will be based on attendance, class participation, doing the required readings and completing the prayer exercises. Course Instructor Currently, I serve as the president of Reformed Theological Seminary s Orlando campus, and as the James Woodrow Hassell Professor of Church History. Prior to that I served as a pastor of a EPC church for 12 years in Denver, and before that, planted a non-denominational church in Northern Illinois for 10 years. I am an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Prior to coming to Orlando, I taught church history at Denver Seminary as an adjunct professor. I also serve and have served on the boards of various national and international ministries. I first discovered the importance of prayer as a teenager while unwittingly starting a prayer movement in my public high school. Since then, in each church I have pastored or ministry team I have led, I have realized the vital part that prayer plays in any Christian endeavor. Nevertheless, I am still one of those who cries out and says Lord, teach me to pray. Topics We Hope to Cover in this Class What prayer is all about and why it matters, patterns of praying, the Lord s Prayer, the Jesus Prayer, the divine office idea/morning and evening prayers, Jesus high priestly prayer, the Psalms as prayers, Paul s prayers, a theology of prayer, leading and growing a prayer ministry in your local church, teaching others to pray, conversational prayer, prayer ministries on Sunday in and surrounding corporate worship, basic disciplines of prayer, building a prayer team for your ministry, teaching/preaching/bible study and prayer, spiritual warfare and prayer, a pastor s prayer life, intercession, fasting and prayer, revival and prayer, prayer leader training, family prayer, teaching children to pray, praying scripture, prayer busters, unanswered prayer, the sovereignty of God and prayer, praying for those in trouble, praying for our nation, and praying for the nations, etc..
2 Tentative Class Schedule for 15 Weeks 1 Aug 27 Class Introduction Lord, Teach Us to Pray 2 Sept 3 Prayer Patterns Basics from The Jesus Prayer to The Disciples Prayer (Mtt. 6) 3 Sept 10 Prayer as Communion (Also Theological Study and Prayer) 4 Sept 17 A Theology of Prayer, (Common Questions & Prayer Busters) 5 Sept 24 Prayer as Intercession, (Strategic praying and the problem of unanswered prayer) 6 Oct 1 Set Prayers, The Daily Office & The Book of Common Prayer Reggie Kidd 7 Oct 8 Prayer and Spiritual Warfare Extra Praying for Your Family, Extra Praying for Your Nation Extra Prayer for the Global Church 8 Oct 15 Reading Week No class 9 Oct 22 Prayer and Ministry/Team Leadership (and praying for your people) 10 Oct 29 Clearing the Temple: Surrounding Sunday With Prayer 11 Nov 5 Building a House of Prayer: What A Vibrant Church Prayer Ministry Might Look Like 12 Nov 12 Prayer and the Teaching and Preaching the Word 13 Nov 19 Intensive Prayer, Seasons of Prayer, Revival, and Prayer Breakthroughs Prayer Without Ceasing, Living Coram Deo,& Practicing the Presence of God 14 Nov 26 THANKSGIVING WEEKEND No class 15 Dec 3 The Real Lord s Prayer (John 17) and Scriptural Prayers for the Church We may meet outside of class a time or two as well. Each class will include a presentation with notes and a key Scripture focus and will commend a prayer exercise for the week which will be the homework. Classes will be informed by various prayer disciplines used in the history of the church. There will also be extra prayer handouts on some aspects of prayer we do not have time to cover in class. The wild card factor because this is a class on prayer, allow room for God to work, and do new things in your life. This is a mustard seed class. It is a little one hour elective that looks easy. But it may grow into something really big in your life. So pray about this before you sign up! If you sign up, start praying now and ask God to work through this class in your life. Approach each class session and reading prayerfully. Ask God for a holy flexibility, because, as we yield to his control, we ultimately do not know where this will lead! Course Assignments and Grading The grade in the class will be based on class attendance, reading and prayer exercises. There will be no exams or quizzes. A. Each student is required to attend all classes. Attendance will be recorded and absences must be cleared with the TA. 33% B. Each student is required to complete all readings with no exams, there is more reading. Due on December 19 th, 11. AM 33% C. Students will also be required to practice a weekly prayer exercise 34% Tentative List of 20 Prayer Exercises To get started 1 Attend the beginning of the semester Concert of Prayer at RTS on Aug. 25th @ 9:00 a.m. 2 Prayer survey: Each student will complete a prayer survey (given out on 1st day of class) 3 Each student will find a prayer partner at seminary and to pray with them weekly,
3 4 Each student who is married to make a habit of praying daily with your spouse or family 5 Each student will start a Prayer Card system (Miller) or prayer notebook/journal. 6 Complete a one page prayer audit of your local church (interview your pastor on all the prayer ministries/activities in your church; list and hand in by Class 4) Week long focus 7 A week to focus on the Lord s Prayer focus: pray it, memorize, pray off of 8 A week to focus on The Jesus Prayer 9 A week to focus on different Scriptural metaphors used of God for prayer 10 A week to focus on praying selected psalms 11 A week to read selected Puritan prayers from the Valley of Vision 12 A week to practice a kind of Puritan meditation in writing 12 A week to focus on The Book of Common Prayer (online or book form) 13 A week to pray the scriptures using Lectio Divina 14 A week of using Operation World and praying for the nations 15 A week to focus on prayer and fasting (which includes a fast sometime in the week) 16 Being part of a prayer walk at your church or on our campus 17 Attend a prayer meeting at church or a Monday morning RTS staff and faculty prayer gathering (9.00 AM outside my office) 18 A week to engage in prayer ministry with the people around you (instructions in class) 19 To be announced 20 Reflection and Final Report: two pages reporting on what were the most meaningful exercises, also listing the work you completed for the class (reading, exercises) Due on December 19 th, 11 AM Required Readings A Praying Life: Connecting With God in a Distracting World, Paul Miller, 288pp Power Through Prayer, E. M. Bounds, 112pp Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer, Joel Beeke, 267pp Practicing the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence, 112pp The Prayer-Saturated Church, Cheryl Sacks, 248pp Recommended Readings A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities From Paul and His Prayers, D.A. Carson Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala, The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, BUY THIS BOOK! The Book of Common Prayer A Way to Pray, Matthew Henry A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories, Collin Hansen and John Woodbridge Kneeling With Giants: Learning to Pray With History s Best Teachers, Gary Neal Hansen, Grading and Due Dates: Attendance 33% Reading Report (Due Dec. 31 st, 11PM) 33% Prayer Exercises Report (Due Dec. 31 st, 11 AM) 34%
4 Course Objectives Related to MDiv* Student Learning Outcomes Course: A Life and Ministry of Prayer Professor: Dr. Don Sweeting Campus: Orlando Date: Fall 2014 MDiv* Student Learning Outcomes In order to measure the success of the MDiv curriculum, RTS has defined the following as the intended outcomes of the student learning process. Each course contributes to these overall outcomes. This rubric shows the contribution of this course to the MDiv outcomes. *As the MDiv is the core degree at RTS, the MDiv rubric will be used in this syllabus. Articulation (oral & written) Scripture Reformed Theology Sanctification Desire for Worldview Winsomely Reformed Preach Broadly understands and articulates knowledge, both oral and written, of essential biblical, theological, historical, and cultural/global information, including details, concepts, and frameworks. Significant knowledge of the original meaning of Scripture. Also, the concepts for and skill to research further into the original meaning of Scripture and to apply Scripture to a variety of modern circumstances. (Includes appropriate use of original languages and hermeneutics; and integrates theological, historical, and cultural/global perspectives.) Significant knowledge of Reformed theology and practice, with emphasis on the Westminster Standards. Demonstrates a love for the Triune God that aids the student s sanctification. Rubric Stro ng Mod erat e Mini mal Non e Mini-Justification Class time will revolve around lectures, discussion, and prayer. Students will articulate their reflections in prayer journals. Scripture will be a key focus of the class, focusing on Psalms, the Lord s prayer, and John 17, as well as practices of praying scripture. While other traditions will be included and learned from, the readings and classes teach and assume a Reformed understanding of prayer. Class material and readings and prayer exercises will promote a lifestyle of prayer and dependence on God. Burning desire to conform all of life to the Word of God. This course will present the challenge of viewing the Christian life and ministry as one bathed in prayer. Embraces a winsomely Reformed ethos. (Includes an appropriate ecumenical spirit with other Christians, especially Evangelicals; a concern to present the Gospel in a God-honoring manner to non-christians; and a truth-inlove attitude in disagreements.) Ability to preach and teach the meaning of Scripture to both heart and mind with clarity and enthusiasm. Moderate A lifestyle of prayer promotes humility, dependence, and repentance in all of life. The class will emphasize the integral connection between reading, teaching, preaching and
5 Worship Shepherd Church/World Knowledgeable of historic and modern Christian-worship forms; and ability to construct and skill to lead a worship service. Ability to shepherd the local congregation: aiding in spiritual maturity; promoting use of gifts and callings; and encouraging a concern for non-christians, both in America and worldwide. Ability to interact within a denominational context, within the broader worldwide church, and with significant public issues. Moderate prayer. While the theme of the whole class centers around personal worship and prayer, an entire class will also center on prayer in the corporate worship experience. Students will learn how to better shepherd their brothers and sisters through prayer. Prayer for the global Church, as well as a breadth of prayer traditions will be emphasized.