PRAIRIE COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS ST 100 The Christian Life: Pursuing God Faithfully

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1 PRAIRIE COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS ST 100 The Christian Life: Pursuing God Faithfully 3 credit hours Instructor: Al Mertes, M.A.C.E., B.R.E. Office Phone: , ext [email protected] COURSE RATIONALE As believers in Jesus Christ, we realize we are called into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. To grow in that relationship we need to understand that God has created each of us uniquely and that He loves us deeply. He desires a life-long relationship, a journey together. COURSE DESCRIPTION You will be challenged towards intentionally deepening your walk with God. We will help you discover how uniquely you are designed by your Heavenly Father. In the content of this course, you will discover being spiritual is messy and at times, challenging. We will look at the different ways individuals draw close to God as well as discovering many of the spiritual disciplines that are found in Scripture. This course will take a minimum of 4 months to complete due to the nature of the assignments. COURSE OBJECTIVES The course is designed so that you will: 1. Develop a deeper love for God by practicing several spiritual disciplines. 2. Memorize verses in God s Word. 3. Begin to understand how God has made you unique. 4. Develop an understanding of what refreshes your soul as a believer. 5. Develop an understanding of what it means to serve God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. 6. Realize the importance of being in a small group and its benefits. 7. Develop growth goals that will help you grow in your faith journey. 8. Begin to realize all that God has done in your life. COURSE TEXTBOOKS Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline (revised edition). New York, NY: Harper Collins, c McKnight, Scot. One Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, c Thomas, Gary. Sacred Pathways. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, c Prairie College ST 100 Syllabus 1

2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Textbook Reports: A. One Life - This report needs to be 2-3 pages in length and contain reflections of how the book challenged you to live your one life for God. Cite quotes and pages that you refer to. At the end of this report, truthfully state how many pages you have actually read. Due in section 5. B. Sacred Pathways - In this report, please write 1-2 paragraphs reflecting on each chapter. Also, write one page on the pathway or pathways that best describes you. At the end of this report, truthfully state how many pages you have actually read. Due in section 11. C. Celebration of Discipline - As you read this book, please pick out 4 or 5 of the disciplines and put them into practice over a 2 month period. For example, fasting 1 day each month; spending a day in solitude (with God) to read, pray, journal, etc; commit to give to your church or an organization for 3 months. Write a reflection, of 3-5 pages, on how those times went. At the end, truthfully state how many pages you read. Due in section 22. For further explanation about the book reports, see the video in the course introduction. 2. Growth Goals Growth goals help us strive to become better followers of Jesus Christ. Your growth goals may fall under one of the following areas: - your daily walk with God - the way you treat others - your personal witness for God - Scripture memory - a book or devotional you desire to read - a habit you are trying to break - a fitness aspiration Each goal needs to be measurable and attainable. Example: I will read the Bible for 15 minutes, 3 times per week, for 3 months. See the video in section 3 of the course for further explanation. A statement of your growth goals is due in section 3 of the course. After pursuing your growth goals for 8-12 weeks, write a 1-2 page reflection on how you did and reflect on your journey. Your reflection is due in section Small Group Community Participation or Mentorship Complete one of the following two options: Option 1, Small Group Community: For the small group community assignment, you will need to be involved in a small group Bible study for 16 weeks. The leader of the small group will grade you on your participation and interaction in the group using the form provided in section 22 of the course. In the event that you are the leader, you can have someone from within the group complete the form. Scan and upload the completed form in section 22. If you cannot scan it, fax it to (403) Option 2, Mentorship: In the mentorship option, you will need to find a mentor to help you in your Prairie College ST 100 Syllabus 2

3 spiritual journey. Fill out the mentoring contract in section 2 and submit it at the beginning of your time together. After you have met weekly for 16 weeks, fill out the mentor/mentoree appraisal form in section 22, scan and submit it (or fax to (403) ). You will also need to write and submit a 1-2 page reflection on your mentoree experience. In addition, I would like a 1-2 page reflection from your mentor covering the following areas: How often you met and for how long. What the benefits were of your meetings. How successful or not successful your times together were. His or her overall impressions of your meetings. A list of topics you covered and anything else they think would be helpful. Please ask your mentor to their reflection to [email protected]. 4. Soul Project This assignment is to help you stop and reflect on your spiritual journey up to this point. On a time line, note the times in your life when you felt close to God and when you felt farthest from God. For more details on this assignment, watch the video in section 1 of the course. Your project should include your timeline as well as a 1-2 page explanation of your journey. It is due in section 5 of the course. 5. Scripture Memory The following verses are to be memorized and then typed out online under test conditions with the supervision of a proctor (see details under Course Protocols ). Please identify which translation you used. Each set of verses will be worth 5%. - Ephesians 1: Due in section 3 - Ephesians 3: Due in section 9 - Matthew 6: 5-8 Due in section 14 - Romans 10: 8-11 Due in section Exam on Textbook, Sacred Pathways This exam is multiple choice and must will be written under the supervision of a proctor. See details under Course Protocols. COURSE EVALUATION Textbook Reports A. Report on One Life 10% B. Report on Sacred Pathways 10% C. Report on Celebration of Discipline 15% Growth Goals 10% Small Group Community/Mentorship 15% Soul Project 10% Memory Verses (5% per passage) 20% Exam on Sacred Pathways 10% Prairie College ST 100 Syllabus 3

4 COURSE PROTOCOLS Assignment Format 1. Include a cover page with assignment name, course title and number, student ID number, assignment due date and date submitted. 2. Please place your name at the end of the assignment. 3. All assignments are to be typed in 12-point readable font (e.g. Times New Roman or its equivalent). Please do not use script or artistic fonts. 4. Paragraphs should be double-spaced and margins should be set to 1 inch on all sides. Average word count would be approximately words per page. 5. Pages should be numbered, beginning with the first page of text. 6. Use correct spelling and grammar. 7. Proper quotation of sources must be utilized where appropriate. (I prefer footnotes over endnotes.) 8. Please adhere to the recommended length of assignments; marks will be deducted if assignments are exceedingly longer or shorter than the suggested length. 9. All assignments should be submitted in MS Word, Rich Text or PDF file format (.doc,.docx,.rtf, or.pdf). Proctor The memory verses and the exam must be completed in the presence of a proctor, i.e. an exam supervisor. The proctor must be a responsible adult with a position such as a pastor, chaplain, church leader, administrator, school teacher, or college professor. The proctor cannot be another student, the spouse of a student or related to you. Send the name, position, and address of your proposed proctor to the Distance Education office (distance.ed@ prairie.edu) one week before you wish to write your verses or exam. After your proctor is approved, he or she will be sent instructions and the exam password. Graded exams are not available for review; only exam grades will be available to students. If you have specific questions about this grade you are welcome to contact the course instructor or the Distance Education office. Academic Dishonesty Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. In college courses, we are continually engaged with other people s ideas: we read them in texts, hear them in lecture, discuss them in class, and incorporate them into our own writing. As a result, it is very important that we give credit where it is due. Plagiarism includes turning in as your own work any drafts, papers, or homework that incorporates any ideas or actual writing done by others (or from the Internet) without acknowledging the source you used. A student found guilty of academic misconduct may lose part or all of the term marks for the course. Please see the current College Academic Guide at for more details. Prairie College ST 100 Syllabus 4

5 GRADING SCALE Letter Percent Description Point Grade Value Value A Outstanding; demonstrating complete 4.0 and comprehensive understanding of subject matter; exceptional work A Excellent; indicating superior grasp of 4.0 subject matter; a high level of interpretive skills and performance A Very good to excellent 3.7 B Good to very good 3.3 B Good or above average under- 3.0 standing of subject matter and concepts B Average to good 2.7 C Satisfactory to average 2.3 C Acceptable performance; indicating 2.0 basic understanding of subject matter and concepts; of fair but not good quality C Weak to marginally satisfactory quality 1.7 D Weak performance; demonstrates 1.3 some understanding of basic subject matter and concepts D Minimal pass; achievement of a 1.0 marginal level of performance F 0-49 Unsatisfactory performance; 0.0 demonstrates an inadequate understanding of basic concepts P 50 or above Pass AU --- Audit I --- Incomplete Partial grades (e.g. 0.5) are rounded up to the nearest whole number. Prairie College ST 100 Syllabus 5

6 COURSE OUTLINE Section Reading Assignments/Quiz Due 1. The Kingdom Life One Life - ch Imagined - Love - Life One Life - ch. 3-4 Statement of Intent: Group or Mentorship Mentoring Contract (if applicable) 3. Justice - Peace - Life One Life - ch. 5-6 Growth Goals Statement Quiz: Scripture Memory, Eph. 1: Wisdom - Church - Committed Life One Life - ch Sex - Life - Vocation One Life - ch Book Report: One.Life Soul Project 6. Loving God is a Journey Sacred Pathways - ch. 1-2 DISC survey 7. Naturalist / Sensates Sacred Pathways - ch Traditionalist / Ascetics Sacred Pathways - ch Activists / Caregivers Sacred Pathways - ch. 7-8 Quiz: Scripture Memory, Eph. 3: Enthusiasts / Contemplatives Sacred Pathways - ch Intellectuals Sacred Pathways - ch. 11 Textbook Quiz: Sacred Pathways Book Report: Sacred Pathways 12 Spiritual Disciplines / Meditation Celebration of Discipline - ch Prayer Celebration of Discipline - ch Fasting Celebration of Discipline - ch. 3 Quiz: Scripture Memory, Matt. 6: Study Celebration of Discipline - ch Simplicity Celebration of Discipline - ch Solitude Celebration of Discipline - ch Submission Celebration of Discipline - ch Service Celebration of Discipline - ch. 8 Quiz: Scripture Memory, Rom. 10: Confession Celebration of Discipline - ch Worship / Celebration Celebration of Discipline - ch. 10 & 12 Growth Goals Reflection 22. Guidance / Giving Celebration of Discipline - ch. 11 Book Report: Celebration of Discipline Small Group Participation Evaluation (if applicable) Mentoring Appraisal (if applicable) Mentoring Reflections (if appl.) Course Evaluation Prairie College ST 100 Syllabus 6

7 BIBLIOGRAPHY Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. (Revised Edition) New York, NY: MacMillan Publishing, c Dean, Kendra Creasy & Ron Foster. The Godbearing Life. Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, c Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline. (Revised Edition) New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, c Gushee, David P. & Walter C. Jackson (editors). Preparing for Christian Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, c Halter, Hugh & Matt Smay. The Tangible Kingdom. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, c Huebert, Brad. Take the Plunge; Journey into Prayer. Winnipeg, MB: Kindred Productions, c Hybels, Bill. The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, c Kise, Jane A. G., David Stark & Sandra Krebs Hirsh. Discover Who You Are. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, c Lucado, Max. Out Live Your Life. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, c Ortberg, John. The Life You ve Always Wanted. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, c Ortberg, John. The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God s Best Version of You. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, c Stone, J. David. Spiritual Growth in Youth Ministry. Loveland, CO: Group Books, c Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ (youth edition). Grand Rapids, MN: Zondervan, c Towns, Elmer L. Fasting for Spiritual Break Through. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, c Wallis, Arthur. God s Chosen Fast. Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, c Wigglesworth, Smith. Experiencing God s Power Today. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, c Yaconelli, Mark. Growing Souls: Experiments in Contemplative Youth Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, c Prairie College ST 100 Syllabus 7