Here's my course syllabus.
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CM 150 Spiritual Formation
July 2011 Intensive
SYLLABUS
Class meets each day from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
Professor: John Piippo, Ph.D. Office Hours: By Appointment
johnpiippo.com (my website)
PAYNE MISSION STATEMENT:
Payne Theological Seminary, a free standing graduate school mandated by the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) in 1844, is dedicated to the preparation of men and women for leadership in local, national and global ministries. Payne Theological Seminary offers an Afrocentric theological education focusing on teaching and research that emphasizes salvation which finds expression in liberation, reconciliation, social justice, and the dignity of all humankind. The seminary values African American history, the African American experience, and the biblical tradition.
INSTITUTIONAL GOALS
Students should demonstrate:
1. Servant leadership in local, national or global ministries as responsible stewards who serve with care, humility, strength of character and boldness as they articulate a vision, and inspire and guide others towards embracing higher ideals as articulated in Payne’s mission.
2. Tolerance expressed as unreserved acceptance of the universal concepts of love, justice and forgiveness that finds expression in the capacity to be inclusive and open to difference;
3. Spiritual formation, growth and transformation.
PROGRAM GOALS
Students will:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of their religious heritage.
2. Utilize their cultural context in applying Biblical Studies, Historical
Studies, Theology and Ethics and Practical Ministry.
3. Develop personal and spiritual formation as they progress through the program.
4. Enlarge their capacity for ministerial and public leadership.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to engage participants in an exploration and expansion of their inner spiritual life utilizing the spiritual disciplines. Personal transformation is an internal process that occurs as the individual allows God access to the whole of one’s being and life. The course combines:
1. Personal encounter with God
2. Keeping a spiritual journal as a record of the activity of God in one’s life
3. Corporate sharing of one’s experience with God
4. Biblical and theological reflection on key issues that arise in the life of one who seriously engages in the spiritual disciplines
COURSE GOALS:
1. To encounter and experience God
2. To experience personal transformation
3. To deepen one’s prayer life
4. To discuss issues of personal transformation with colleagues in ministry
5. To reflect biblically and theologically on this experience
6. To understand personal spiritual transformation as the necessary foundation for all relevant church, urban, and global transformation
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Attend and participate in class sessions
2. Keep daily, structured devotional times with God for 6 weeks, 5 days per week, one hour per day, beginning the week of August 1, 2011.
3. Keep a Spiritual Journal that records what God is saying to you during these times.
4. Type out your journal and e-mail it to me using Microsoft Word. This document should be sent to me no later than October 1, 2011.
5. Read the three books that are required reading. Write a 5-page paper summarizing the required reading. Submit this paper no later than October 1, 2011.
EVALUATION:
1. This is a pass/fail course.
2. Class attendance is required.
3. Keep the required prayer times.
4. Keep a spiritual journal.
5. Submit your journal to me no later than October 1, 2011.
6. 5-page summary papers on the three books that are required reading should be submitted to me no later than October 1, 2011.
The following is an outline of topics to be covered in the course:
DAY ONE
Spiritual assessment form
Explanation of Syllabus
One hour of prayer and listening to God
Corporate sharing & response
Teaching
• Intro to Spiritual Formation
• Keeping a Spiritual Journal
• Restoration, Renewal, Formation, Transformation
• One’s need for renewal and transformation
• Formation into Christlikeness
DAY TWO
One hour of prayer and listening to God
Corporate sharing & response
Teaching
• Review
• Recognition of the gap
• Realization that only God can form us
• Abiding in the presence of God
• How to hear the voice of God
• Spirituality of Howard Thurman
DAY THREE
One hour of prayer and listening to God
Corporate sharing & response
Teaching
• Review
• Metaphors of the spirit
• Removing the false self
• Ontological dualities (the “from-to” nature of spiritual transformation)
• Spirituality of Martin Luther King, Jr.
DAY FOUR
One hour of prayer and listening to God
Corporate sharing & response
Teaching
• Review
• Humility
• Spiritual discernment
• Practicing the presence of God – abiding in Christ
• Spiritual disciplines
• Spirituality of Howard Thurman
TEXTS
Required Reading:
1) Howard Thurman, Essential Writings
2) Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
3) Lewis Baldwin, Never to Leave Us Alone: The Prayer Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Suggested Readings:
Arnold, Eberhard. Inner Land: A Guide Into the Heart and Soul of the Bible (Rifton, N.Y: Plough Publishing House, 1976). A classic in Anabaptist spirituality.
Baldwin, Lewis. Never to Leave us Alone: The Prayer Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Fortress Press: 2010)
Blackaby, Henry T., and King, Claude V. Experiencing God. An excellent, clearly written text that is especially good for church study.
Boyd, Greg. Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy
(IVP: 2001). An excellent study on the kingdom of God, esp. on spiritual battle and the kingdom of Satan. A coherent Christian response to the philosophical problem of evil.
Boyd. Present Perfect: Finding God In the Now. (Zondervan: 2010) This is an excellent, clearly written little book that contains some deep spiritual insights that are not found in other spirituality texts. Greg’s meditation on “death” is worth the price of the book.
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. The Practice of the Presence of God (Garden City: Image, 1977). A spiritual classic by a 17th-century monk that is still relevant today, and is especially good at knowing God in the everyday, mundane tasks of life.
Buechner, Frederick. Godric (New York: Harper and Row, 1980). A beautiful novel, spiritually deep and uplifting. The character of Godric reminds me of Thomas Merton.
Campolo, Tony, and Darling, Mary Albert. The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice. Nicely puts together the spiritual disciplines and social activism.
Collins, Kenneth J. Exploring Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader (Baker Book House: 2000). An excellent one-volume text.
Costen, Melva Wilson. African American Christian Worship.
Dawn, Marva. Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living In An Affluent Society (Presbyterian Publishing Corporation: 2003). This is a deep, profound study allowing us to see our materialistic world and our spiritual place in it through God’s eyes.
Deere, Jack. Surprised By the Voice of God: How God Speaks Today Through Prophecies, Dreams, and Visions (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996). A very good, clearly written biblical and historical presentation of how one hears God speaking to them.
Dillard, Annie. Pilgrim At Tinker Creek (Harper and Row). This makes my personal top ten ever-read list. A beautiful meditation of the creation, especially its microscopic aspects.
Fee, Gordon. God’s Empowering Presence (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1994). This massive text is, arguably, the definitive statement of the apostle Paul’s spirituality. A detailed study of every Pauline reference to the Holy Spirit.
Fee. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987). Superb, meditative, scholarly commentary on what it means to be pneumatikos (“spiritual”).
Felder, Cain Hope. Stony the Road We Trod: African American Biblical Interpretation. (Augsburg: 1991) This edited collection does an excellent job distinguishing the Eurocentric bias in biblical hermeneutics from an African American perspective which gives place to the now-experiential reality of God’s Spirit speaking to us through the written text.
Foster, Richard. A Celebration of Discipline (San Francisco: Harper and Row). The modern classic on the spiritual disciplines. If you have not yet read this it should be one of your choices.
Foster. Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (Harper and Row: 1992). Examines several different types of prayer that are both biblically and historically Christian.
Foster. Life With God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation. (HarperOne: 2010)
Foster. Longing for God: Seven Paths of Spiritual Devotion. (Intervarsity Press: 2009)
Foster, and Griffin, Emilie. Spiritual Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups on the Twelve Spiritual Disciplines (Harper and Row: Feb. 2000). A very good collection representing the great Christian types of spirituality.
Foster. Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith (Harper and Row: 1998). On the following traditions: contemplative, holiness, charismatic, social justice, evangelical, and incarnational.
Gutierrez, Gustavo. We Drink From Our Own Wells: The Spiritual Journey of a People (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1988). Excellent, especially in its emphasis on corporate spirituality.
Holmes, Urban T. Spirituality for Ministry. Still one of the best books on this subject.
Jones, Cheslyn, et. al., eds. The Study of Spirituality (New York: Oxford, 1986). A very good one-volume source on the history of Christian spirituality.
Kelleman, Robert, and Edwards, Karole A. Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. (Baker: 2007)
Kelly, Thomas. A Testament Of Devotion (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1941). This brilliant, provocative little text makes my top ten ever-read books on Christian spirituality. A modern classic.
Kraft, Charles. Christianity With Power: Your Worldview and Understanding of the Supernatural (Ann Arbor, Mi.: Servant, 1989). A brilliant study in paradigm theology by an anthropologist and missiologist at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Ladd, George. The Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God (Eerdmans: 1959). A classic, still-used examination of the kingdom of God as both present and future. Schoalrly, but it often reads devotionally.
Leech, Kenneth. Experiencing God: Theology As Spirituality (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1985). An excellent historical study, from biblical times to the present, of the experience of God.
Leech. Soul Friend: The Practice of Christian Spirituality (New York: Harper and Row, 1980). The best book available on spiritual direction.
Leech. True Prayer: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1980).
Lovelace, Richard. Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1979).
Lovelace. Renewal As a Way of Life: A Guidebook for Spiritual Growth (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1985).
Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel. A beautiful, very thoughtful meditation on the grace of God.
Manning, Abba’s Child. This book spoke deeply to me about my need for experiential knowledge of the love of God.
Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think Like Jesus. Very good as it gets at the real Jesus.
May, Gerald. Addiction and Grace (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1991). An excellent, clearly written book with an especially helpful section on addiction to control.
May. Care of Mind, Care of Spirit: A Psychiatrist Explores Spiritual Direction (New York: Harper and Row, 1992). A very good text on the nature of spiritual direction.
May. Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology (Harper and Row: 1987). An excellent text.
Merton, Thomas. The Inner Experience: Notes On Contemplation (Harper: 2003). This is Merton’s final book. Few write about contemplation as well as he does.
Merton. New Seeds of Contemplation (New York: New Directions, 1961). Merton at his best.
Merton. No Man Is an Island (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983). Contains the classic chapter, “Being and Doing.”
Merton. Seeds (Shambala: 2002). A killer collection of Merton quotes. A tremendous introduction to the depth, wisdom, and discernment of Thomas Merton. Prophetic.
Merton. The Sign of Jonas (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981). One of Merton’s journals, containing many spiritual gems,
Miller, J. Keith. A Hunger for Healing: The Twelve Steps as a Classic Model for Christian Spiritual Growth (New York: Harper and Row, 1991).
Miller. Hope In the Fast Lane: A New Look at Faith in a Compulsive World (New York: Harper and Row, 1987). An excellent text on overcoming sin in one’s life. Especially good on identifying the deep source of stress and overcoming stress.
Miller. The Secret Life of the Soul (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1997). About the vulnerability needed for the transformation of the soul.
Muse, J. Stephen, ed. Beside Still Waters: Resources for Shepherds in the Marketplace (Smyth and Helwys: 2000). An excellent text that uses Psalm 23 to speak to Christian leaders regarding spiritual issues. Very good on our need to care for ourselves physically.
Mulholland, Robert. Shaped By the Word: The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation (Nashville: Upper Room Press, 1985). An excellent book on how the Bible interprets us.
Nelson, Alan. Broken In the Right Place: How God Tames the Soul (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1994). A very good book on how spiritual brokenness effects personal transformation.
Nouwen, Henri. A Cry for Mercy: Prayers From the Genesee (Garden City, New York: Image, 1981). A beautiful book of prayers expressing our heart’s fears, struggles, and longings.
Nouwen. Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 1987).
Nouwen. Gracias! A Latin American Journal (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1983). One of Nouwen’s spiritual journals.
Nouwen. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (Harper and Row). A brilliant little book, among the best I have ever read on pastoral leadership.
Nouwen. Lifesigns: Intimacy, Fecundity, and Ecstasy in Christian Perspective (New York: Image, 1986).
Nouwen. Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life (New York: Harper and Row, 1981).
Nouwen. Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Spiritual Life (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 1980).
Nouwen. Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life (Garden City, New York: Image, 1976). An excellent text; a modern classic. On solitude, hospitality, and prayer.
Nouwen. The Genesee Diary: Report From A Trappist Monastery (Garden City, New York: Image, 1976). This book makes my top ten ever-read list in terms of spiritual impact. An excellent example of journaling that is of spiritual value.
Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love (Image Books: 1999). I find it hard to express how much God used a slow, meditative reading of this book to effect changes in my life.
Nouwen. The Living Reminder: Service and Prayer in Memory of Jesus Christ (New York: Harper and Row). A tremendous book for pastors and Christian leaders.
Nouwen. The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming (New York: Image, 1992). Simply put, one of Nouwen’s best and one of my very favorites.
Nouwen. The Way of the Heart (New York: Ballantine, 1981). A beautiful, meditative little book on solitude, silence, and prayer.
Paris, Peter. The Spirituality of African Peoples. (Fortress Press: 1994)
Payne, Leanne. Listening Prayer: Learning to Hear God’s Voice and Keep a Prayer Journal (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991). A very good, well-written text on what it means to hear God’s voice.
Peterson, Eugene. The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (Dallas: Word, 1989). I have read this book two or three times. It always reminds me of my priorities in pastoral ministry.
Peterson. Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology. The first of five books in Peterson’s summary of his spiritual theology.
Quinn, Robert. Deep Change (Jossey-Bass: 1996). A very good book, written from a leadership-business perspective, on the inner transformation required to lead effectively.
Senn, Frank, ed. Protestant Spiritual Traditions (New York: Paulist, 1986). Various authors writing from the following perspectives: Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, Puritan, Pietist, and Methodist.
Smedes, Lewis. Shame and Grace. (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1994). For me, a beautiful book on overcoming self-condemnation by a deeper understanding and experience of the grace of God.
Smith, James K.A. Thinking in Tongues: Pentecostal Contributions to Christian Philosophy. One of the best books I have ever read; on a Pentecostal epistemology and worldview.
St. Teresa of Avila. Interior Castle. (Image Books: 1972) A spiritual classic.
Thomas, Gary. Sacred Pathways (Zondervan: 2000). Very good on showing different spiritual styles and various ways persons experience God (the naturalist, sensate, traditionalist, ascetic, activist, caregiver, enthusiast, contemplative, and intellectual).
Thurman, Howard. For the Inward Journey: The Writings of Howard Thurman (Harcourt Brace: 1984). An excellent anthology of Thurman’s spiritual writings.
Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (Beacon: 1996). If you’re going to read one book by Thurman this is the one to read. He is brilliant, insightful, and extremely relevant for even today. There s a timelessness about Thurman’s writings.
Thurman. Howard Thurman: Essential Writings. (Orbis: 2006) Edited by Luther Smith. Smith is one of our great, if not our greatest, Thurman scholars. His introduction to Thurman’s writing is very helpful.
Thurman. Meditations of the Heart. (Beacon: 1999)
Weems, Renita. Listening for God: A Minister’s Journey Through Silence and Doubt (Simon and Schuster: 1999). An excellent reflection of the silence of God and intimacy with God.
West, Cornel, and Glaube Jr., Eddie S. African American Religious Thought: An Anthology. (Westminster John Knox: 2003)
Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (Harper Collins: 1998). What a deep, beautiful book on the kingdom of God.
Willard. Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God (IVP: 1999)
Willard. Knowing Christ Today.
Willard. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ (Navpress:2002). This excellent book is all about spiritual transformation and is especially helpful in defining biblical terms like “soul,” “heart,” “spirit,” and “body.”
Willard. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives (Harper and Row: 1988). A great book, profound, clearly written. Richard Foster called it “the book of the decade.”
Wimber, John. Power Healing (Harper and Row). An excellent, encouraging text filled with realism and hope.
Wright, N.T. After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters. Wright says a lot of things about spiritual formation, to include recent neurophysiological studies on how repeated behaviors become neural habits.
