Spiritual Formation – DSMN 520

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course focuses on the development of the believer's spiritual life. Attention is given to the spiritual disciplines, prayer, and the biblical nature of calling, ministry, character, and the relation of spiritual formation to the doctrine of sanctification. (Formerly PLED 520)

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The Spiritual Formation course facilitates the junction of the spiritual with the physical in human existence and integrates the theoretical with the practical in academic pursuits. The exploration of spiritual formation provides the scholar with data for study and the minister with directive for service. Both dimensions are critical and facilitate the renewing of the mind and the discipline of the body.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 2 Discussions in this course. Each thread must be 350-400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to your initial post, you are required to reply to three other classmates' posts in a manner that encourages further discussion. Each reply must be 200–250 words in length (CLO: A).

Gospel Reflection Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to prepare you for the course and your readings in the assigned texts, especially your reading of Gospel Fluency. This assignment should not be more than 500 words. For this assignment, you will answer the question: “Why is the gospel good news to you?” This question is simple and easy, but it is also an incredibly profound (CLO: B).

Journal Portfolio Assignments (2)

Each week students must write a journal entry. The entry will be in reply to a provided prompt. These prompts require that students read, reflect on, and apply course material, theological reflection, and/or spiritual disciplines. Students will not submit these journals weekly. Instead, they will submit the journals for Modules: Weeks 1-4 in Journal Portfolio: Christian Postures Assignment in Module 4: Week 4 and they will submit journals for Modules: Weeks 5-8 in Journal Portfolio: Christian Telos Assignment in Module 8: Week 8. The portfolio is simply a collection of these journal entries into a submitted Word document (CLO: A, B, C, D, E).

Spiritual Assessment Assignment

The student will complete a 3-section Spiritual Assessment of 1,000–1,250 words. Each section will direct the student toward an assessment of his/her spiritual life in its current form. The student will use the results of this assignment as a basis for the Spiritual Growth Plan Assignment. (CLO: B)

Spiritual Growth Plan Assignment

The student will create a Spiritual Growth Plan which will focus on specific and measurable steps the student will take over the coming weeks to implement/practice chosen spiritual disciplines. The disciplines chosen must purposefully address areas the student has identified as a need based on his/her Spiritual Assessment Assignment. (CLO: B, C)

Fluency as a Discipline Assignment

This is an applied book review over the book Gospel Fluency. The review is more concerned with how the student will apply the lessons learned in the book than it is with a critical evaluation of the book (CLO: C, E).