SPIRITUAL FORMATION 2016 (Spring Courses)
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Is this your first time taking a Spiritual Formation class? If Yes, please enroll in Bible Basics.
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February
Bible Basics (CLOSED) (Mondays, 2/1 - 2/8; 6-9 p.m.; Min. Aquarius Gilmer and Aretha Flucker, facilitators) This two-session course introduces participants to the creation of the Bible, its components, and authorship. The facilitators will explore the societal context in which the Bible was created and the political climate that birthed the Bible. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation that engages questions about discrepancies in the Bible and more. The class will be presented in three parts: What is the Bible, What is the Old Testament, and What is the New Testament. This course is a prerequisite for The History of the Church: The Untold Stories, Women in the Bible: There are Two Sides to Every Story, and An Introduction to the Apostle Paul and his Letter to Rome.
Temptations of Jesus (CLOSED) (Thursdays, 2/11 - 3/3; 7-9 p.m.; Pastor Michael A. Walrond, Jr., facilitator) In Temptations of Jesus, Howard Thurman takes us to the wilderness. With Jesus, we face the Tempter's challenges. We rejoice in the choices Jesus makes and in his insistence on doing God's will. We pray for his guidance as we face the dilemmas of our own lives. The required reading for this course is Temptations of Jesus by Howard Thurman.
March
Messy Spirituality (CLOSED) (Mondays, 3/7 - 3/28; 7-9 p.m.; Deacon Charles Powell, facilitator) This course explores the bold, yet liberating assertion of the author Michael Yaconelli that spirituality is not a perfect process but a rather complex and complicated human journey of authentic faith that is anything but tidy, neat, balanced, and orderly. In Messy Spirituality, participants will witness a realistic celebration of a discipleship that is ever evolving and always under change and construction. Participants will find that contrary to popular church or religious dogma and/or belief, none of us are complete or have it all together in our faith journey as Christians. God honors our earnest connection with God in our messiness over our pretense of some form of religion or human perfection. It is our Messy Spirituality that as followers and disciples of Jesus, we meet God. Through God’s grace and mercy loves us right into God’s arms and honors our heartfelt efforts to love God back. The required text for this course is Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli.
April
An Introduction to the Apostle Paul and his Letters to Rome (CLOSED) (Mondays, 4/4 - 4/25; 7-9 p.m.; Karim Hutson, facilitator) This course will be composed of discussions and teaching focused on the Apostle Paul and how we should understand his letter to Rome in its historical context. We will answers questions such as: Who is Paul and what was his significance? Why is his letter to Rome worth studying? What were Paul’s goals for his ministry and what were his motivations for writing this letter? What is the significance of this ancient letter for our Christian journey? What are responsible ways to approach this ancient letter? The course’s goal is to empower participants in their spiritual journey by helping them develop key study skills that will allow them to approach the texts of the New Testament with the primary intent to study, comprehend, interpret, and apply their newly acquired knowledge. Active participation and a NRSV study Bible will be required for the course.
Black Spirituality and Black Consciousness (CLOSED) (Thursdays, 4/7 - 4/28; 7-9 p.m.; Min. Aquarius Gilmer, facilitator) This course will explore the spiritual, social, and political underpinnings of black spirituality from slave religion to the religion in hip hop. Class participants will be invited to unpack the significance of black theology and its impact on American culture. Throughout the course of this class, we will examine the ethics and politics of black churches and their role in advancing freedom and liberation in the 21st century. Participants will engage culture, current events, and politics while juxtaposing biblical teachings, history, and imagination to create and reimagine the tools, language, and spiritual practices that can be used to empower socially marginalized people.
May
Bible Basics (CLOSED) (Mondays, 5/2 - 5/9; 6-9 p.m.; Min. Aquarius Gilmer and Rev. Leslie Segars, facilitators) This two-session course introduces participants to the creation of the Bible, its components, and authorship. The facilitator will explore the societal context in which the Bible was created and the political climate that birthed the Bible. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation that engages questions about discrepancies in the Bible and more. The class will be presented in three parts: What is the Bible, What is the Old Testament, and What is the New Testament. This course is a prerequisite for The History of the Church: The Untold Stories and Women in the Bible: There are Two Sides to Every Story.
After the Cross: The Post Resurrection Appearances of Jesus (Thursdays, 5/5 - 5/26; 7-9 p.m.; Pastor Desiree Allen, facilitator) This class will focus on the appearances Jesus made in the forty days after resurrection, but prior to his ascension. We would look at both bible and non-canonical texts. If as disciples we are to be followers of Jesus why do we spend barely any attention seeing what we can glean from him after he resurrected. Did something change in Jesus’ ministry after resurrection? Had he changed? What can we glean from the appearances in those 40 days?
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