Syllabus Personal Spiritual Life 6 (Spiritual Formation) (40 hrs.) Instructor: Dr. Larry S. Lightner August 18 Nov 17 Academic Background: D.Min. in Christian Education; MDiv in Theology; B.S. in Business; Additional PhD graduate work in Adult Education. Background; Pastor, Professor at Mid- America Baptist Theological Seminary, Hudson Valley Bible Institute, Armitage Bible Institute, Southern Ohio College, and Indiana Wesleyan University. Staff teacher at Dominion Christian Schools. ACSI/AdvancED Accreditation Review Team. Missions ministry to Orissa, India, and Kiev, Ukraine. Contact information: larry.lightner@att.net cell 404.702.3675 Course Description: The design of the course intends to provide basic concepts and principles of the spiritual life to aid the learner in their spiritual formation. God expects the believer to continually grow in their spiritual life and live a life pleasing to Him. Required Materials: Course manual: Book 6 Personal Spiritual Life The teacher of record will teach using the New American Standard Version of the Bible. Learners can choose to use their version of choice, but will learn more efficiently using the NASV. Suggested Bible memory verses based on the NASV are available as handouts on Dropbox. Course Goals To engage learners in the foundations of truths related to the spiritual life To lead learners into a deeper understanding of and appreciation for God To enrich the learner s personal relationship to God To enrich the learner s understanding of their position in Christ and to become aware of how God has provided relationship through the Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and through the truth of the Word To encourage learners to grow in their spiritual formation, apply their learning to their personal lives and engage others to understand God s desire for relationship and obedience To be aware of how spiritual formation has impacted lives through the examination of a selected devotional writer s work Course Requirements Take notes in and for your manual during class and personal study, and be prepared to join in class discussions Set aside a daily study time to carefully read and review material for the class sessions. Read the Bible passages and be prepared for the class assignments. Learners will be responsible for the material designated for each class. Attendance is required. The class is 13 weeks (39 hrs.); each class is 3 hours. A reading assignment will fulfill the balance of required class hours. Per the regulations of the
Note school, learners must attend a minimum of 75% of the classes; for this class, learners performing the work for less than 10 classes cannot receive credit for the course. Handouts and notes for of the class are available on Dropbox. Each student will need to establish an account. Dropbox is a free subscription for the students additional storage space is available to the teacher with each new signup of a learner. Joining Dropbox is a help to all students. Learners will receive a list of 12 memory verses for their own benefit. Becoming familiar with or memorizing verses will help the learner be accountable for putting God's Word in the heart, and for readiness to share Bible verses and their meaning to others. We will discuss or work through the major assignments from the textbook in the class setting. The intent is to help learners to apply their learning, benefit from their peers, and look at supplemental materials. Each learner that has not completed the Personal Evangelism Training (PET) is encouraged to contact Dr. Doug Chatham to register for the two-hour workshop (normally held on select Sunday evenings). Any member of BHBC intending to serve on mission events is required to have the PET and every Bible Institute learner is encouraged to complete the training. Learners will want to demonstrate satisfactory understanding of the content and practice the principles learned in the course. Each course is a step toward the next course offered, and all courses are fundamental to the curriculum offered. Calendar of Class Sessions Class Date Assignment Pages Memory Verse 1 Aug 18 Principles of Spiritual Life 1 15-20 2 Aug 25 Principles of Spiritual Life 1 20-26 3 Sept 1 Practice of Spiritual Life 1 27-36 4 Sept 8 Practice of Spiritual Life 2 31-38 5 Sept 15 Practice of Spiritual Life 2 38-46 Sept 22 NO CLASSES Cobb County School Break 6 Sept 29 Practice of Spiritual Life 3 46-60 7 Oct 6 Practice of Spiritual Life 3 60-74 8 Oct 13 Practice of Spiritual Life 4 74-82 9 Oct 20 Practice of Spiritual Life 4 82-89 10 Oct 27 Practice of Spiritual Life 5 89-101 11 Nov 3 Practice of Spiritual Life 5 101-110 12 Nov 10 Practice of Spiritual Life 6 13 Nov 17 Practice of Spiritual Life 6
Suggested Reading List Many devotionals are available through Amazon Kindle at no charge or at.99. An Amazon app is available at no charge for those with tablets or smart phones. The church media center has many devotionals available and the class professor will make some devotionals available on loan from his personal library. Baxter, J. Sidlow. 1974. His deeper work in us. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House. Blackby, Henry T., and Claude V. King. 1994. Experiencing God. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.. 1996. Fresh encounter. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. Bridges, Jerry. 1996. The pursuit of holiness. Colorado Springs: NavPress Publishing Group.. 1996. The practice of godliness. Colorado Springs: NavPress Publishing Group. Chafer, Lewis Sperry. 1982. He that is spiritual. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House. Chambers, Oswald. 1975. Approved unto God. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: Christian Literature. 1981. Conformed to His image. London, England: Oswald Chambers Publications Association.. 1975. God s workmanship. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: Christian Literature. 1975. Shade of His hand. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: Christian Literature. 1975. He shall glorify me. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: Christian Literature. 1976. The highest good. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: Christian Literature. 1976. The place of help. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: Christian Literature Drummond, Lewis A. 1982. The revived life. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press. Elliot, Elizabeth, ed. 1978. The journals of Jim Elliot. Grand Rapids: Fleming H. Revell.
Floyd, Ronnie. 2005. Finding the favor of God: A discovery that will change your life. Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press. Gushee, David P. and Walter C. Jackson, ed. 1996. Preparing for Christian ministry. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. Havner, Vance. 1967. Living in kingdom come. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming J. Revell Company.. 1951. Road to revival. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company.. 1983. Why not just be Christians. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company. Hazard, David. 1991. Early will I seek you. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers. Hocking, David L. 1975. Pleasing God. San Bernardino, California: Here s Life Publishers Inc. Hughes, R. Kent. 1993. Disciplines of grace. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.. 1991. Disciplines of a godly man. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. Jeremiah, David. 1998. God in you: Releasing the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Press. Knierim, Neil and Yvonne Burrage. 1997. God s Call: The cornerstone of effective ministry. Nashville: Convention Press. MacArthur, John, Jr. 1983. The ultimate priority. Chicago: Moody Press.. 2006. Standing strong: How to resist the enemy of your soul. Colorado Springs, CO: David Cook. Marsh, F. E. 1924. Fully furnished. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications. Martin, Glen, and Dian Ginter.1995. Drawing closer: A step-by-step guide to intimacy with God. Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman Publishers. McConkey, James H. 1897. The threefold secret of the Holy Spirit. Chicago: Moody Press. McMinn, Don. 1993. A heart aflame. Oklahoma City: NCM Press. Mathis, Don R. 1997. Surviving and thriving in today s ministry. Nashville: Convention Press. Miller, Michael D. 1996. Kingdom leadership: A call to Christ-centered leadership. Nashville: Convention Press. Mostrom, Donald G. 1983. The dynamics of intimacy with God. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House.
Murray, Andrew. 1977. The Master s indwelling. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Dimension Books.. 2012 reprint. Humility. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company.. 1997 update. The true vine. Chicago: Moody Press.. 2002. With Christ in the school of prayer. Belfast, North Ireland: Ambassador. Nee, Watchman. 1977. The normal Christian life. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers. Olford, Stephen F. 1998. The way of holiness. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.. 1995. Not I, but Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. Packer, J. I. 1973. Knowing God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.. 1990. A quest for Godliness. Wheaton, IL. Crossway Books.. 1997. A godward life. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Books.. 1991. The pleasures of God. Portland: Multnomah Press.. 1995. Future grace. Sisters, OR: Questar Publishers, Inc. Palms, Roger C. 1982. The pleasure of His company. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House. Pentecost, J. Dwight. 1977. Designed for discipleship. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.. 1966. Designed to be like Him. Chicago: Moody Press. Rogers, Adrian. 1982. The secret of supernatural living. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc. Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. 1972. Balancing the Christian life. Chicago: Moody Press. Sanders, J. Oswald. 1962. Spiritual maturity. Chicago: Moody Press.. 1972. The pursuit of the holy. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House. Sheldon, Charles M. 1967. In His steps. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. Taylor, Jack. 1971. The key to triumphant living. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press. Tozer, A. W. 1966. Man: The dwelling place of God. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Christian Publications.
. 1982. That incredible Christian. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House.. 1982. The pursuit of God. Camphill, Pennsylvania: Christian Publications.. 1978. The knowledge of the holy. New York, NY: Harper and Row Publishers. Vines, Jerry. 1998. Spirit life. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. White, John. 1978. The fight. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Woodbridge, John D. 1985. Renewing your mind in a secular world. Chicago: Moody Press. Yessick, Tommy. 1997. Building blocks for longer life and ministry. Nashville: Convention Press.