Syllabus and Assignments
COS 123 Formation and Discipleship
Upper Midwest Course of Study School
Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa
Spring 2017 – March 3-4 and April 28-29
Dr. Duane M .Gebhard, instructor
218 732 5908
This course examines the ministry of the church as a means of nurturing faith. The student will be grounded in the theology and core practices of personal and
Congregational faith formation and discipleship.
Students will be able to:
1. Articulate a theological basis for the Wesleyan emphasis on spiritual disciplines
and practice them as means of grace.
2. Explain and implement the General Rules and the practices of small groups in a
congregation.
3. Experience personally the disciplines of Christian formation, and learn to educate and resource a congregation in these disciplines.
4. Organize congregations to help people discern their callings and gifts for
ministry.
- I. Books and resources:
Sondra Higgins Matthaei. Formation in Faith: The Congregational Ministry of Making Disciples Abingdon Press 2008 ISBN 978-0-687-64973-0.
Duane M. Gebhard.The Growing Points Star: A Tool for Disciple Formation. Discipleship Resources. 2000. ISBN 0-88177-302-6. (Out of print, but available from Duane M. Gebhard; for $7, shipping included).
Carol F. Krau. Keeping in touch: Christian Formation and Teaching. Revised Edition. . Discipleship Resources. 2014. ISBN 9780881776881
Marjorie J. Thompson. Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life. Newly Revised Edition. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Ky. 2014. ISBN 9780664239244.
The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2012. The United Methodist Publishing House. 2012. Specifically, Paragraph 104, pp 75-78 “The Nature Design, and General Rules of our United Societies.” Note: This same section should be in the 2016 edition of the UM Discipline, which will be available January 1, 2017
Internet at “umdiscipleship.org”
- II. Instructions: Format for assignments
Read the pages assigned, take notes, and answer the questions in your own words, using complete sentences (unless otherwise noted). Do not quote extensively from the texts you read. Digest the ideas and information, and then put them in your own words. If a question has more than one part, be sure to answer all parts.
Follow approximate length given for each item of written work. Your written work should be double-spaced, with a one-inch margin. Please use 12-point font. Do not use script, condensed, or all caps.
On each page of your work, include a header with your name, the class number, and the page number. Begin each new question on a new page, writing the number of that question at the beginning of your answer.
If you quote from a printed text, you must use quotation marks and note the source (including pages) in parentheses at the end of each usage. Quotations should never be more than a sentence or two long. Ideas and information should be stated in your own words, not in the words of the authors you have read. For assigned texts, you may abbreviate the titles by using the first letter of each word in the title. For example, if the source is Harper’s Bible Dictionary, then use (HBD, pp. 34-35). If you refer to books that are not listed on the class reading list, then you must give full bibliographic information.
Add a title page to each course of each module that includes a) the name and number of the course, and b) your name.
Submit your written work no later than February 10. Assignments may be sent electronically. You may want to make a copy of your work and bring it with you for your own use in class.
- III.Course Of Study POLICY NOTE:
Using other people’s materials without documentation, whether from a book, journal, teacher, another student, sermon service, or lectionary aid, is unacceptable behavior. Such activity, otherwise known as plagiarism, usually means failure for the course with notification sent to the Conference Course of Study Registrar and the Division of Ordained Ministry. Professors will report all instances of plagiarism to the Director of the Course of Study. The Director will arrange for a meeting with the professor and the student, and the student will be given opportunity to explain the situation. The Director, in consultation with the professor, will make a decision about what action is appropriate for a first instance of plagiarism. Such action could include, rewriting the material, or failure of the course. A brief summary of the meeting will be prepared by the Director, and placed in the student’s file in the Course of Study Office and kept there until the student completes the Course of Study Curriculum. If a second instance of plagiarism is documented, the student will fail the course and the Director will determine what other consequences may apply.
- IV.Assignments for Formation and Discipleship 123
General note: In the exercises which follow, many times there are references to “your church” or “your setting”. As best you can, in each case, identify your setting. It may be one or more of the churches you serve. If you are not currently serving a church, you could choose to discuss your home church or the one you relate to primarily. Don’t let this designation hinder you, but rather be creative with it. The page length is only a suggestion, but please limit the total document for this to no more than 35 pages.
Books One and Two –The Growing Points Star by D.M. GebhardandKeeping in
Touch: Christian Formation and Teaching 2nd Edition by Carol F. Krau. Note: These books should be studied in connection with each other.
1. Read Chapters 1 & 2 of Growing Points. Think carefully and write about the times in your life when you grew quickly in your faith and understanding of Christ. What conditions contributed to your growth? What role did other people play? (1 page)
2. Read Chapter 3 in Growing Points. Respond to questions 1-4 on p. 24. Be sure to
respond from the viewpoint of your own experiences. (1 page)
3. In Chapter One of Keeping in Touch, Carol Krau implies that for the most part, traditional Sunday Schools and settings for learning in our churches are no longer effectively teaching the faith, yet people long for spiritual connections with God and one another. Based on Krau’s insights in this chapter, reflect on your own impressions of educational ministry in the church (churches) in which you are active. (1 ½ - 2 pages)
4. Study Chapter 4 in Keeping in Touch and Chapter 4 in Growing Points.
Discuss the importance of the Wesleyan understanding of scripture, tradition,
experience and reason in terms of forming faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. (2 pages).
5. Read Chapter 3 in Keeping in Touch and Chapter 5 in Growing Points. List your gifts for ministry, and describe how you use your gifts to relate to people and do ministry in the name of Christ. (1 ½ page).
6. Study Chapter 5 in Keeping in Touch and Chapter 6 in Growing Points. Describe
three possible scenarios of how you might help provide supportive community for the
leaders and teachers in your congregations (1 page)
7. After reading Chapter 2 in Keeping in Touch and Chapter 7 of Growing Points,
discuss how you can help persons learn and observe the means of grace of prayer,
personal devotion and Bible Study, worship, and Christian conferencing. (1 page)
8. After reading Chapter 8 in Growing Points, describe how you can be a more effective spiritual leader by being aware of how people meet Christ and grow in their faith in the ways suggested by Growing Points. Discuss at least two ways that you could use some of these concepts to assist your congregation more effectively raise up faithful disciples. (1 page)
Book Three – Formation in Faith by Sondra Matthaei.
1. Study Chapter 1, and then discuss the importance of what Matthaei calls “authentic
community” as it relates to the making of meaning and Christian faith formation. How do you see yourself engaged in this process? (1 ½ page)
2. After studying Matthaei’s presentation about how one grows in faith in Chapter 2,
reflect on your own faith journey. How has the concept of “growing in communion with God,” as described by Matthaei apply to your own faith journey?. In your story, what role has been played by what Matthaei calls the “communion of grace”? (1 ½
page)
3. Study Chapter 3. Discuss Matthaei’s understanding of Christian faith formation as
It applies to the making of disciples. Reflect on the concept of working toward a “communion of servant leaders” (p. 50). How do you see this happening in your setting? Why or why not? (1 page).
4. Study Chapter 4. Also, study the section in The Book of Discipline covered in Paragraph 104, pp 75-78 “The Nature Design, and General Rules of our United Societies.” Draw a comparison between the General Rules that stem from John Wesley and Matthaei’s presentation of “a ministry of forming faith” on pages 69-75. (Up to 2 pages).
5. Study Chapter 5. With Matthaei’s help, share your vision for your setting that will move you toward creating a congregation that encourages the formation of disciples of Jesus Christ. (1 page).
Book Four – Soul Feast by Marjorie Thompson
Note: This book is about developing a spiritual center in your life. Please allow adequate time to digest and work with the material. Read and study each chapter as you work with the related question. Be sure to begin by reading the forwards and the Introduction.
1. Chapter 1. Reflect on the understanding of spirituality as the “Christ within” to which Thompson refers. Write your own definition of “spirituality,” and be prepared to share your definition with the class. What is the importance of practicing regular spiritual disciplines? Which disciplines have been most helpful in your spiritual journey? Explain. (1 page)
2. In Chapter 2, Thompson suggests that God’s Word “reads us.” With the help of the dance steps in LectioDivina, discuss ways in which you “read” God’s Word, and ways you are “read” by God’s Word. (1 page)
3. Chapter 3 discusses many aspects of prayer. Relate your experience of intercessory prayer during worship (usually thought of as “prayers of the people”) to the various aspects Thompson shares. Discuss at least three ways you, as spiritual leader, can teach prayer to your congregation. (1 ½ page)
4. In Chapter 4, Thompson says “Worship ushers us into the presence of the living God, and demands the attention, receptivity,, and response of our whole being.” (p. 54). With the help of the discussion on p. 57-59, analyze one of your worship settings, and then based on the material in pp. 59-67, suggest at least four steps you can take to improve your worship experience. (up to 2 pages)
5. Chapter 5. Discuss the recommendations Thompson makes about creating sabbath time in your life. Which ones do you find applicable to your life style? (1 ½ page)
6. Read chapter 6. Thompson says: “. . .fasting reveals our excessive attachments and the assumptions that lie behind them.” (p. 83). She also asks the question “What does God want to accomplish in me through this practice [of fasting]?” With the help of Thompson’s input, discuss your own experience of fasting as a spiritual discipline. (1 page)
7. Chapter 7. Rather than asking you to discuss or write about your experience of self-examination, the intent of this question is to encourage you to first study this chapter, and then spend some time in your own thoughts, meditation, journaling, and prayer in relation to what is presented. Spend several weeks at this, coming back to your experience daily if possible. Finally, you may share in writing how well this worked for you, or why it may not work for you at this time. Be prepared to talk about the process (but not your personal content) in class. (½ page).
8. After reading Chapters 8 & 9, discuss hospitality in relation to God, community, home, neighborhood, and church. (1 ½ pages)
9. Take Chapter 10 with you. As pastors, we are busy people. “Swamped” may be a better description. Nonetheless, take Thompson’s suggestions to heart. Follow the suggestions on page 160, and bring your notes to class. They will inform our discussion there.
Resource 5
Go to the Internet Homepage for “umdiscipleship.org” Click on “Leadership Resources” and then on “Educational Ministry.”
A. Scroll down to the link to the article titled “2016 Christian Education Week.” Download this article. You may print it out, or work from the online article. Study the entire document, which is about supporting Christian Education Ministry in the local church. Discuss at least two ways you could use ideas from this article in your church or churches. (1 page).
B. Find one additional article of your choosing under “Educational Ministry,” and after reading the article, discuss how it can help you plan stronger educational ministry in your church. Please name the article you are writing about. (1 page)
V. Grading System
Homework Due Date: February 10.
The instructor will grade your material on an ABC scale, with ample comments and
responses. Papers will be graded electronically and returned to the students the first week of class. Material turned in after February 10 will result in lowering the grade by one/half point (for example, from B to B-) for each week that material is late. If you are asked by the instructor to re-write part of your material, it must be turned in no later than April 21 (one week before the last two days of classes).