Course outline

COS 213

Formation for Discipleship

Summer 2010 
 

I. COURSE PURPOSE

      This course will present historical, philosophical and theological

      foundations of Christian Spiritual Formation with attention given to the ways

      people develop and learn and on how teaching and learning happens

      in a local congregation. It is designed to equip students with the

      practical skills of education. 

II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

      A. Full time attendance at the class sessions. 

B. Selected readings and one reading report 

C. Four quizzes on reading and class material 

D. Two short papers: one on educational philosophy and one

lesson plan of your choosing 
 

III. TEXT BOOKS

      A. Required:

            Jack Seymour, et.al., Educating Christians, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1993

            Tye, Karen B.- Basis of Christian Education (Chalice Press, 2000)

Larsen, Jerry, Religious Education and The Brain, Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ, 2000 

B. Recommended:

      Foundations, Discipleship Resources, United Methodist Church  

IV. OUTLINE 

A. Day One: What is the work of Spiritual Formation and where did it come from?

1. Defining Christian Religious Education for spiritual formation and growth

2. The pastor as educator and mentor

3. A Short History of Christian Education and the work of spiritual formation

                               Reading: (If time permits, read the books before the course begins)

Seymour Part 1

Foundations, the whole thing

      B.  Day Two: Directions

1. Current trends in Spiritual Formation.

2. Theological Clues to the task of Christian spiritual formation

Reading: Seymour, Part 2 
 
 
 
 

                 C.  Day Three: How do people grow in faith?

      1. Development vs Behaviorism

      2. Erikson

      3. Sherrill and Snyder

      Reading: Larsen Chapter 10 

             D.  Day Four: How do people develop beliefs and grow spiritually?

      1. Piaget/Kohlberg

      2. Fowler

      Reading: Seymour Part 3 

             E.  Day Five:  How do people learn?

      1. Personality types and learning

      2. Culture and learning

      3. Motivation and learning

      4. Principles of cognition

      Reading: Larsen Chapter 2 

            F.  Day Six: The Pastor as educator

1. Six ways of thinking about your educational/pastoral ministry

      2. Rabbi: Teaching the Scriptures

      3. Prophet: Teaching in a mixed culture

      4. Librarian: Choosing curriculum resources 

           G.  Day Seven: Basic Teaching Skills I

      1. Listening skills

      2. Communication skills

      3. Thinking skills

      4. Loving skills 

           H.  Day Eight: Basic Teaching Skills II

      1. Setting purpose and goals

      2. Considering the learner

      3. Orchestrating an event

      4. Evaluation 

           I.  Day Nine: Resourcing the Local Congregation

      1. Basic church library

      2. Basic instructional equipment

      3. Developing a resource system

      4. Developing a team

      5. Education in a small membership congregation

      6. Developing a curriculum 
 
 
 

Jerry Larsen 11/2009