Spiritual Formation – DSMN 520

Course Description

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, B).

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).

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).

Prayer Exposition Assignment

For this assignment, students will write a 1000-1200 word exposition from a prayer in Scripture. A list of approved passages is contained in the assignment instructions. The goal of this assignment is to challenge students to learn from the prayers of Scripture (CLO: A, D). 

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).

Church Reflection Assignment

In this assignment, students will reflect on their reading of Church Membership as well as their own personal church membership (CLO: A, B).

Fluency as a Discipline Assignment

This is an applied book review (1300 words) 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).

Quiz: Whitney Reading Reflections

This quiz will follow the first four modules of reading and include one question from each of Whitney's books. Students should not take this quiz until they have completed their reading from both Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life as well as Praying the Bible that is assigned in these modules. These questions are essay questions that require students to reflect on what they have learned from an aspect of the text.

Before taking the quiz, students should also make sure they have applied the central challenge/thesis of Praying the Bible, by spending at least 30-60 minutes praying Scripture. I often recommend students pray through Ps. 23, 139, Romans 8, or Hebrews 11, but students can choose a different passage to pray through should they prefer.