Practicing Prayer and Other Key Spiritual Disciplines
SFS 502 – 2 credit hours
Western Seminary – Portland Campus
Bill Clem
Email:
Office phone: 206-459-1652
Syllabus – Spring 2015 Semester
When do we meet? (Course Schedule)
Every other ThursdayJan. 15 – April 16; 1:00pm – 5:00pm. (1/15, 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 4/2, 4/16)
Note: Required course online check-in between Jan 5-9. Some reading is recommended before the first class meeting on Jan. 15. See the Reading Schedule below.
What is this course about? (Course Description)
Growing more Christ-like in our attitudes and actions can be nurtured through the spiritual disciplines taught by Scripture and practiced by believers throughout the ages. You will learn, from an evangelical perspective, the contribution each activity can make to your spiritual growth and how to enhance your actual practice of these “holy habits.” Extended attention will be given to developing a biblical understanding and practice of prayer.
Why am I here? What are we trying to accomplish? (Course Objectives)
God’s desire and intention for every child of God is that we experience a closer, more intimate life with the Triune God - Father, Son and Spirit. This course is concerned with the development of godly practices and habits which cultivate a more intimate walk with God. By its nature, this course will be integrative – bringing together our understanding of biblical and theological insights with personal ways of worship and life. We will focus on both comprehension (understanding spiritual disciplines) and practice (experiencing the disciplines).
Upon completion of the course, therefore, each student should be able to:
- Articulate a biblical and theological foundation for spiritual disciplines, and describe the contributions that each discipline can make for spiritual growth;
- Identify both the diversity and commonality individuals will demonstrate in their practice of these disciplines, and describe the role of interpersonal support in the cultivation of the disciplined life;
- Enhance the practice of these disciplines in your own life, particularly with respect to prayer;
What books will we be using? (Textbooks)
The following list of readings is considered foundational. The collateral readings will be introduced with each topic during the semester. Students are urged to develop the lifelong habitsof a self-directed learner, especially regarding the spiritual disciplines.
Required reading:
D. Whitney. (2014, Rev. ed). Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. ISBN: 978-1-61521-617-8. Retail $15.99
B. Hedges. (2010). Christ Formed in You: The Power of the Gospel for Personal Change. ISBN: 978-0982438770Retail$13.63
R. Foster (1988). Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. ISBN: 978-0060628390. Retail $25.00
P. Miller. (2009). A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. ISBN: 13-978-1600063008. Retail $9.39
D. A. Carson. (1992).A Call to Spiritual Reformation – Priorities from Paul and His Prayers. 0-8010-2569-9. Retail$15.30
Supplementary reading:
D. Fuqua (2012). United and Ignited: Encountering God through Dynamic Corporate Prayer. ISBN: 10-1478177772. Retail$13.99
You are encouraged to purchase these titles through the Amazon.com Associate program. Any purchases made on Amazon.com using the WS link will mean that a minimum of 4% of the purchase price will help to underwrite seminary scholarships while saving the student money. The link is found on the WS website under “Current Students/Portland” or go directly to
Will there be an online part to the class? (Online Classroom)
This class has an online classroom. Your first assignment is to access this website during the first week of the semester and take a simple quiz confirming your participation in the course. You will use the online learning center to download instructor notes and class handouts, and to submit written assignments. The instructor will also use the online classroom to return marked and graded assignments.
To access the site, go to: Click on the link for Portland campus and semester and locate this course. If you have not registered for the classroom site before, you will also find instructions on how to do so. Click on ‘login,’ use your student ID number for your username, and the password you received via email. You will see the list of courses which have been opened by the professor.
What will we be doing? (Course Requirements)
1) Online Orientation (15 min.)
Before the end of the first Friday of the semester (Jan 9), you will need to log onto the online classroom, download the syllabus for the course, and complete the report indicating that you have read and understand the course requirements. By federal law, we need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the semester. Failure to complete the online orientationon time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility.
2) Reading (1,000 pages = 23 hours)
Read the books at the familiarity level (45 pages per hour) which should be approximately 22 hours. In reading, focus on comprehension and practical implementation (how to live these ideas in your life). For some questions and ideas, you should slow down, reflect, and seek to develop insights for application that fits your life. All three written assignments require integration with the assigned reading.The due dates for each reading are indicated on the Reading Schedule below. Each assignment should be completed before the class session so that you will be able to participate in and benefit from the class discussions.
Donald Whitney’s text introduces spiritual disciplines in the context of spiritual transformation. This is a foundational perspective that is essential if we are to recognize these holy habits as God-given patterns for abiding and growing in Christ. Brian Hedges provides the theological foundation to our spiritual transformation in Christ. All change flows from a vital life connected to Christ. Richard Fosterextends the discussion to Spirit-directed disciplines that are important in our individualistic and self-indulgent culture. Paul Miller offers a revealing look into his own journey of forming a deeper, more Christ-centered praying life. Donald Carson invites us into his study of the Apostle Paul’s prayers so that we will re-form our prayer convictions and habits in a manner guided by Paul’s prayers. Dennis Fuqua(supplemental) knows that many, if not most, prayer leaders today struggle to lead prayer groups and gatherings. He offers a wealth of insights to prepare and lead group prayer so they are dynamic, Spirit-led, and Word-fed.
For each chapter read in the Carson text, formulate one principle that will inform and guide your life of prayer in the future (samples will be provided). On Mar 11, turn in six principles (chapters 1-6); and on Apr 2turn in the remaining six principles (chapters 7-12) to your instructor via the class website. The principles, themselves, are very brief (often one sentence) that arise from your reading and reflecting on a chapter. These principles will often then work their way into your final paper.
Report the completion of the reading on the Reading Report due: Thursday, Apr 16.
3)Devotions/Personal Worship (time varies)
You are asked to initiate and/or maintain a growth-producing devotional time with the Lord. The method(s) chosen should reflect regular and significant times set aside forpersonal time with the Lord. Specifics of the method chosen (i.e., what you plan to do) should be submitted in writing byThursday, Jan 15.Your plan and the fruitfulness of your plan will be discussed with your small group. You are also welcome to discuss with me your plan or any other matter of your choosing during the semester.
4) Local Church Commitment (time varies)
By Thursday, Jan 15you will be expected to have formally committed yourself to a local church of your choice. This includes consistent participation in the worship and prayer life of the church. The church chosen will be reported in writing by that date. Note: Students in the process of relocation should consult with instructor on how to complete this assignment.
5) Small Group Spiritual Disciplines (10 hours)
Identify 1-2 other people in this class with whom you will meet for at least two hours a week during the six weeks of the course to stimulate mutual spiritual growth. Normally the other member(s) of the group will be fellow students of the same gender. A roster of each group (along with time and place of meeting) will be submitted by Thursday, Jan 29.Groups should begin meeting by the second weekof the class (Jan 26-30) and continue through the week of May 30-Apri 3. By mutual agreement, your group may continue into the week of Apr. 13-17 if needed to complete ten hours. The small group times should be devoted to approximately 50% prayer and 50% discussion/accountability on spiritual disciplines. The class times will typically include suggested discussion questions. You will twice submit brief evaluations of the progress and effectiveness of the small group; forms will be provided. Reports due: Feb 25 and Apr 15. Record your attendance for both small group meetings and class sessions on the Accountability Report due: Friday, Apr 17.
6) “Practice of the Spiritual Disciplines” Interviews (5 hours)
Conduct a brief (30-40 minute) interview with two persons whose spiritual maturity you respect to ask what role the spiritual disciplines play in their spiritual life. One of these people should be a current/former vocational minister and the other a "lay person." Be sure to ask what spiritual disciplines they maintain, how they structure their life to find time for these habits, and what suggestions they might offer to someone else seeking to develop greater fruitfulness in their spiritual disciplines. Summarize their responses and the insights you have gained into a four page, double-spaced paper. Due date: Feb.13
7) Theological Foundation and Practice of Spiritual Disciplines (12hours)
Based upon what you have learned about spiritual disciplines described in readings, class sessions, and interviews, formulate your own convictions on the biblical and theological foundations for spiritual disciplines and the benefits of developing them. Then describe and assess your own efforts to establish and maintain at least eightspiritual disciplines that are important to you. Include any frustrations you are experiencing, goals you’d like to set to improve that discipline, etc.Paper length: 8 pages (double spaced). Due: Mar.3
8) Praying Life of a Spiritual Leader (15 hours)
As you spend time in prayer (both personal and group settings), consciously seek to incorporate some of the key principles you learn from the readings, small groups and class sessions. Then, internalize course material by writing a ten-page (double-spaced) paper addressing the concept of the praying life of a spiritual leader. The paper should focus on the role of personal prayer in a Christian’s life devoted to following Christ, the role of prayer in relationships (including marriage and family), and the role of prayer in the spiritual leadership of a church or ministry. What principles and patterns will you seek to implement in prayer (personally, in relationships, in leadership)? What obstacles are you encountering and how will you respond to them? Due: Apr 15.
8) Online Evaluation (15 min.)
After the last class meeting (Apr 16) and before the end of the last Friday of the semester (Apr 24), you need to log onto the online classroom and complete the final course evaluation. The course evaluation is the last course assignment and confirms that you participated for the full length of the semester. Failure to complete the online evaluation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility.
How will my work be evaluated? (Grading)
Required Assignments / Points / Estimated Time to CompleteOnline Orientation (first week) / 2 / 15 min.
Reading & Principles / 22 / 23 hrs
Small group spiritual disciplines / 10 / 10 hrs
Small group evaluations / 2 / 30 min.
Class participation / 14 / 28 hrs
Disciplines Interviews paper / 8 / 4 hrs
Theological Foundations/Disciplines paper / 20 / 12 hrs
Praying Life of Spiritual Leader paper / 20 / 12 hrs
Online Evaluation (last week) / 2 / 15 min.
Totals / 100 / 90 hrs.
Point Allocation:
A+=100-99, A=98-95, A-=94-93; B+=92-91, B=90-88, B-=87-86; C+=85-84, C=83-81, C-=80-79; D+=78-77, D=76-74, D-=73-70; F=69-0
A+ / A / A- / B+ / B / B- / C+ / C / C- / D+ / D / D-99-100% / 95-98% / 93-94% / 91-92% / 88-90% / 86-87% / 84-85% / 81-83% / 79-80% / 77-78% / 74-76% / 70-73%
What are the expectations? (Course Policies)
Attendance and Late Assignments: Since classroom interaction is a vital part of the learning design of the course, and since the class sessions are intensive (seven class meetings), participation in the sessions are important. If you have a necessary absence (e.g., illness, job requirement), please inform the instructor in advance so that a make-up assignment can be completed before the following session. The makeup assignment will help the student stay up with classmates in the small group spiritual discipline times. Students who miss more than 20% of the seat time for the class will not pass the course without a request for and the completion of additional assignments approved by the instructor.
Assignments are due by 5:00 p.m. on the day indicated.Assignments submitted after the due date and time will result in a reduction of the student’s grade for that assignment. Due date extensions will be granted only on the basis of extenuating (non-discretionary) circumstances, and must be requested in advance of the pertinent due date. Unexcused late (or poor quality) work will result in an appropriate reduction in points earned for that assignment.
Copyright Violation and Plagiarism: Research in secondary sources for the written project is permitted and welcomed. However, any appropriation of either ideas or wording taken from other sources, whether print or electronic, must be properly footnoted. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism which can result in substantial grade reduction or failure. Any unauthorized copying or use of copyrighted materials, including downloaded files of various kinds, can result in criminal charges and fines. For a fuller explanation of these issues or WS's copyright policy, see the “Copyright Information” and “Cheating” sections of the Student Handbook:
Written Assignments: Assignments should be submitted in electronic version using a MS Word format. If you are unable to submit your assignments electronically to the online classroom, please contact the instructor for guidance.
For all assignments, please use a standard writing style acceptable to written materials at the Seminary (Turabian, MLA or APA format). Papers should reflect graduate level expectations in format and content (e.g., organization, clarity, succinctness, grammar, and spelling). For this class, please use a 10 or 12-point standard font, double spacing, indent paragraphs .5 inch, page numbers, and section headings. Ten percent (10%) of the grade on written papers will be format, that is, conformity to the above standards. Include a separate title page that includes your name, email address, course number and title, date, and title of the assignment.
For very useful help with your papers, I recommend that you make use of the Western Seminary Writing Guide found on the website. Point your browser to “ Click on “Portland Campus” and then Faculty Papers on the lower right side of the page. It will give you a menu to select from. You can find the Writing Guide as one of the first listings.
Incompletes/Extensions: The final deadline for submitting all course work is the last day of the semester as noted in the Academic Calendar and in the class schedule. In the case of serious illness, family emergency, or similar extenuating circumstances, the student may request a course extension from the instructor. A 1-3 week extension is typical in all except the most extreme cases, and some penalty for late work may apply. Under no circumstances will the student be given more than 5 weeks to complete all required coursework except by petition and approval of the Administrative Committee. (Extensions longer than 5 weeks are rare and should only be requested under extreme circumstances.)
If a student faces a personal emergency that requires requesting an extension going beyond the end of the semester, it may affect their ability to receive financial aid in the next semester, and they may face the possibility that their next semester’s course registrations will be cancelled. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.
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