2015 FALL SEMESTER SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE

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1 CHRISTIAN D R. C H R I S B O U N D S MAKE TODAY COUNT PRIORITIES SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE COURSE DESCRIPTION While knowledge of God and a relationship with God are not synonymous, they are intimately connected. The purpose of theology is to provide knowledge of basic Christian beliefs that leads to a greater understanding of the Christian faith and with it a greater love, worship and service of God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In this course we will explore who God is, what God has done, God s ultimate goal for our lives, and its relevance for our lives. We will probe questions you ve always had about God and questions you didn t even know you had! DATES Onsite portion is September 25-26, 2015 (10 hours at 12Stone) Online portion is September 28 - November 22, 2015 (8 weeks) OUTCOMES By the end of this course, students will be able to: Explain the core beliefs of the Christian faith. Discuss the relevance of Christian theology for discipleship. Apply Christian theology as a means of grace for personal transformation. TEXTBOOKS Keith Drury, Common Ground: What All Christians Believe and Why it Matters (Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2008). A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life (San Francisco: Harper/Collins, 1978). NOTE: Call in book orders to Wesleyan Publishing House , who mention Taking this Course through 12Stone Church will qualify for 30% off WPH published books, 20% off other books. Not valid with on-line orders, but inventory is viewable at wphonline.com. Written lectures provided for the on-line portion of the course. REQUIREMENTS 1. PRE-COURSE WORK (70/1000) 1. Read A.W. Tozer s The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life. 2. Write a word reflection on any two chapters. Be sure to (a) summarize Tozer s point in each selected chapter and (b) then connect it to your life in some way. This connection may be a list of questions that arise in reflection; the brief description of an experience or memory invoked by the chapter; an application of the chapter to life; the expression of doubt or 1

2 skepticism about Tozer s teaching; a recognition of the relationship between the chapter and some other known truth; or some other type of reflection that is personally helpful. Try to give equal attention to each selected chapter, devoting words for each selected attribute. 3. Post your essay in the Pre-Course Work Submission Folder in the Pre-Course Work Tab (on the left side of the course screen). This needs to be posted by Thursday, September 24th, 11:00 PM (EST). If you have any trouble posting, I will address during our on-site time. 2. READING THE ASSIGNED TEXTS (100/1000) At the end of the course, you will submit a reading report indicating that you have read: 1. Drury s Common Ground: What All Christians Believe and Why it Matters, 2. Tozer s The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life, and 3. The written lectures provided for the on-line portion of the course. You will be assessed on how much of the reading you completed and the quality. See reading report form at end of syllabus. 3. ON-LINE ASSIGNMENTS (480/1000) For the 8 online weeks of the class, we will have discussions over the Wrap-Up videos, assigned readings and lectures. Full participation consists of: 3. And a 2-3 paragraph response to the week s designated question that will contribute toward the final credo paper for the course. The flow of assignments online will be: 1. A response to the 30 minute Video by Monday midnight, EST; 2. An initial response to the Questions, Insights, Observations and Applications by midnight, EST, on Wednesday of the week; 3. An answer to the designated question by Sunday midnight, EST). Please Note: The minimum requirement for this part of the class is to make one post in each of the three forums. 4. A BRIEF CREDO PAPER (350/1000) By the end of our course, through each week s designated question, you will write a 8-10 page (typed, double spaced paper) credo ( I believe / We believe ) summarizing what Christians believe about God, creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. I will give more information on this assignment during our on-site time. You will work on this assignment each week in the online portion of the course, so that you will have a final copy ready to submit at the end. This is an assignment you will be gradually working on throughout the course. 1. One 2-3 sentence response post to the previous week s 30 minute video; 2. One 2-3 sentence response post to the week s Questions, Insights, Observations and Applications folder; 2

3 ONSITE SCHEDULE 1. Friday, September 25, :30-7:00pm Check-In & Hospitality 7:00-7:30 Welcome and Overview 7:30-9:00 Introduction to Theology/ The Doctrine of Revelation 2. Saturday, September 26, :30-8:00am Check-In & Hospitality 8:00-9:45 The Nature and Attributes of God 9:45-10:00 Break 10:00-11:45 The Trinity 11:45-1:15 Lunch 1:15-3:00 Creation and Fall 3:00-3:15 Break 3:15-4:30 The Person of Jesus Christ 4:30-5:00 What have we Learned? ONLINE SCHEDULE 1. Week 1 (September 28 - October 4): Reflection on On-Site Time Read Keith Drury s Common Ground: Why We Study the Apostles Creed and Chapters 1-3. Submit an initial draft of credo paper addressing God, creation and fall in the Credo Paper Folder. Watch 30 Minute Wrap-up Video for Week Week 2 (October 5 - October 11): The Work of Christ: Offices and Atonement Post a 2-3 sentence response to the Week 1 Read Keith Drury s Common Ground: Chapters 4-5. Read the written lecture The Work of Christ: Offices and Atonement. Designated Question Folder. Watch 30 Minute Wrap-up Video for Week Week 3 (October 12 - October 18): The Work of Christ: Death, Resurrection and Exaltation Post a 2-3 sentence response to the Week 2 Read Keith Drury s Common Ground: Chapters 6 and 7. Read the written lecture: The Work of Christ: Death, Resurrection and Exaltation. Post a 2-3 paragraph esponse to the Designated Question Folder. Watch 30 Minute Wrap-up Video for Week Week 4 (October 19 - October 25): The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit Post a 2-3 sentence response to the Week 3 Read Keith Drury s Common Ground: Chapter 8. Read the written lecture: The Person of the Holy Spirit. Designated Question Folder. Watch 30 Minute Wrap-up Video for Week 4. 3

4 5. Week 5 (October 26 - November 1): The Nature and Mission of the Church Post a 2-3 sentence response to the Week 4 Read Keith Drury s Common Ground: Chapter 9 Read the written lecture: The Nature and Mission of the Church. Designated Question Folder. Watch 30 Minute Wrap-up Video for Week Week 8 (November 16 - November 22): Last Things/ Life Everlasting Post a 2-3 sentence response to the Week 7 Read Keith Drury s Common Ground: Chapters Read written lecture: The Consummation of Creation. Finish and turn in final Credo Paper with sections on Salvation and Everlasting life added. 6. Week 6 (November 2 - November 8): Reflection on Weeks 2-5 Post a 2-3 sentence response to the Week 5 No assigned reading. Post a 3-4 paragraph response to the Designation Question. Watch 30 Minute Wrap-up Video for Week Week 7 (November 9 - November 15): Salvation Post a 2-3 sentence response to the Week 6 Read Keith Drury s Common Ground: Chapter 10 Read written lecture: Spiritual Transformation. Designated Question Folder. Watch 30 Minute Wrap-up Video for Week 7. COURSE GRADE 70 points Pre-Course Work 100 points Assigned Reading 480 points Weekly Class Written Assignments 350 points Credo Paper SCALE A C A C B D B D B- 599 or below F C+ CLASS ATTENDANCE On-Site: Because the onsite time is a compressed experience, it is important to be there for the entire 10 hours at 12Stone. A person loses 50 points from the final grade for any hour absent from the onsite time. On-Line: For the online portion, a person loses 100 points from the final grade for any online week absence (meaning no participation in discussion during the week). 4

5 12Stone Church and other lay leader enrollees who are absent from online participation 4 weeks or more will be automatically withdrawn from the course. District Extension Course enrollees who are absent from online participation 2 weeks or more will be automatically withdrawn from the course. GRADING RUBRICS 1. READING REPORT FORM READING REPORT FORM FOR CHRISTIAN NAME LATE POLICY For pre-course work, the student will lose 50 points if the assignment is not done by the beginning of class. Answers to the initial questions each online week are due on Wednesday nights at midnight EST (10 points off if late) and then the minimum 4 additional comments should be done by Sunday night at midnight EST (10 points off for each late comment). WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSE Automatic Withdrawal: 12Stone Church or other lay leader enrollees who are absent from online participation 4 total weeks or more will be automatically withdrawn from the course. District Extension Course enrollees who are absent from online participation 2 weeks or more will be automatically withdrawn. Voluntary Withdrawal: Students may also voluntarily ask to be withdrawn from the class at any time, as long as they do so before the final online week. Check one of the following options: 1. I have read all of the assigned readings for the course in the timeframe given. 2. I have read none of the assigned texts. 3. I have read part of the assigned pages in the timeframe given. If you check this option, write a percentage indicating approximately how much of the assignment you have read: (e. g. 30 %, 75%, 90%) If you checked the first or third option, describe the quality of your reading below: Thorough reading I read practically every word and every page. Casual reading I skimmed each paragraph looking for key sentences and concepts. Intermittent reading I skipped over paragraphs and pages trying to find key ideas in each chapter. I understand the flow, but not the details of the reading. Hurried reading O.K., I completed the assignment, but I made no serious endeavor to learn from my reading. 5

6 2. WEEKLY CLASS ASSIGNMENTS EVALUATION RUBRIC Week Number 3. CREDO PAPER GRADING RUBRIC CREDO PAPER GRADING RUBRIC NAME Fully answers questions and fulfills requirements for interaction with other students in time specified. (50-60 points depending on quality of work) Fully answers questions, but does not fulfill all the requirements for interaction with other students or fails to do so in time specified. (40-49 points depending on quality of work) Fully answers questions, but does not fulfill any of the requirements for interaction with other students or fails to do so in time specified. (30-39 points depending on quality of work) Does not fully answer questions, but does fulfill all the requirements for interaction with other students in time specified. (40-49 points depending on quality of work) NAME Completeness (100 POINTS) Credo covers all the major points assigned and followed directions. Depth of Insight and Understanding (100 POINTS) Credo demonstrates the student understands well the doctrines covered. Correctness (100 POINTS) Credo correctly articulates the major doctrines of the Church. Presentation (50 POINTS) Paper is presented in correct style/grammar/spelling/syntax, points are clearly made and easy to read, appearance and presentation of paper is professional. Credo Grade (350 Points) Does not fully answer the questions, but does fulfill some of the requirements for interaction with other students. (30-39 points depending on quality of work) Did not answer questions or interact with other students. (0 points) Other (Work does not meet any of the preceding evaluations; points assigned according to judgment of professor) Brief Comment: 6