EL 3531-F6 THE GRAMMAR OF DISCIPLESHIP

SPRING SEMESTER 2006-2007 (First Six Weeks)

Pastor Patricia Lull

Office: 651-641-3229 NW 120A

Thursdays 1:10 – 4:00 p.m.

NW 231

This course is designed as an overview of Christian discipleship in the context of North America in the twenty-first century. It is intended to give students confidence in designing and leading small group experiences with an emphasis on the use of specific discipleship practices with young adults. Special attention will be given to the theology represented in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Discipleship.

COURSE GOALS:

1. Introduce foundational concepts, Biblical sources, and theology related to Christian discipleship.

2. Establish basic skills for designing and leading small group experiences with young adults (or other distinctive groups) incorporating discipleship practices.

3. Encourage personal articulation of an understanding of discipleship in the 21^st century.

4. Collaborate on a model for discipleship that integrates the experiences of the class members, the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and contemporary faith practices.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: (and % of grade)

1. Basic: do the assigned reading, attend class, participate in discussions and practicum experiences; Class attendance and active participation is expected for all six weeks of the course. Since much learning happens in this group context, students are asked to confer with the instructor if absence from class is necessary. (30%)

2. There are five brief writing assignments that are designed to enrich the weekly class gatherings. Writing assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date indicated on the syllabus. (20%)

3. A final writing project is due on March 21, 2007 at noon. It may take one of the following forms:

a. A project design for implementing a discipleship group in a specific context for ministry. This may be set in a face-to-face or virtual context. The project design needs to include an introduction to the ministry context and the anticipated participants, an outline for an 8-10 week experience, and two detailed examples of your leadership plans for specific sessions or experiences; 8-10 pages or the equivalent if presented in web-based format; [A successful project will incorporate learnings from the weekly writing assignments.]

b. Two take-home essays, 4-5 pages each, double spaced with endnotes on a critical question concerning Bonhoeffer’s theology.

c. Students may negotiate for an alternative final writing project in order to meet other graduation or ministry requirements.

(50%)

COURSE RESOURCES:

Required Texts:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship (Fortress Press, 2001), paper

Stanley H. Skreslet, Picturing Christian Witness: New Testament Images of Disciples in Mission (Eerdmans, 2006), paper

Bible (any English translation)

To Be Distributed in Class:

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Circular Letters to the Finkenwalde Clergy

Suggested Reading:

Dorothy Bass, editor, Practicing Our Faith (Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1997), paper

Dorothy Bass and Donald Richter, editors, Way To Live: Christian Practices for Teens (Upper Room Books, 2002), paper

Eberhard Bethge, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

David Stark et al, The Small Church Small Group Guide (Church Innovations Publishing, Inc., 1998), paper

Martha Stortz, A World According to God: Practices for Putting Faith at the Center of Your Life (Jossey-Bass, 2004)

Suggested Viewing:

PBS video, “Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace”, sponsored by AAL; published by Fortress Press;

“Bonhoeffer”, Journey Films

Detailed Outline:

February 8: The Grammar of Discipleship: introduction to the course; sharing of expectations; in-class exercise in documenting personal spiritual geography; presentation on the “grammar” of discipleship; introduction to the role of visual images and imagination in discipleship training;

February 15: Biblical Models of Discipleship: summary discussion of “quick reads” of Gospel accounts of discipleship; in-class exercise on using biblical texts as the core of a discipleship group; overview of young adult life questions;

Read: Quick Read of the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John

[Consider these questions:

1. Who appears as a disciple?

2. How are disciples recruited?

3. What does discipleship entail?

4. How are disciples distinguished from others who are not yet disciples?

5. How does one cease to be a disciple?]

First writing assignment due: a list of 10 Bible passages from the “quick read” that can be used to structure a discipleship group experience. (1 page)

February 22: From Scripture to Practice: overview of contemporary models for discipleship groups -- faith practices, monastic rules, and covenant group dynamics; initial discussion of “picturing Christian discipleship” as a foundation for discipleship groups; introduction to the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer;

Read: Picturing Christian Witness, pp. 1-117 (chapters 1 & 3)

Visit: www.waytolive.org (companion website for Way To Live) and www.kansasmonks.org (Rule of St. Benedict)

Second writing assignment due: bring to class a visual image that expresses your personal understanding of contemporary discipleship and a brief introduction to this image as a biblical and cultural icon. (1 page)

March 1: Bonhoeffer: A Model for Contemporary Discipleship: presentation on Bonhoeffer’s theology of discipleship; discussion of assigned reading in Discipleship;

Read: Discipleship, pp. 37-99 (Preface – chapter 5)

Visit: www.dbonhoeffer.org (website of the International Bonhoeffer Society)

Third writing assignment due: select three quotes from the assigned Discipleship reading and provide questions you would use to prompt discussion (1 page)

March 8: The Practice of Discipleship: presentation on Bonhoeffer’s move from text to practice (Sermon on the Mount); discussion of assigned reading in Discipleship; second discussion of “picturing Christian discipleship”;

Read: Discipleship, pp. 100-198 (chapters 6-7)

Picturing Christian Witness, pp. 119-241 (chapters 4-7)

Fourth writing assignment due: bring your visual illustration of discipleship (or a revised image) back to class along with questions designed to prompt discussion in a small group (1-2 pages)

Fifth writing project due by Monday, March 12 (submitted electronically to plull@luthersem.edu ): a concise definition of discipleship (1-4 sentences)

March 15: Discipleship and Hope: discussion of submitted definitions of discipleship; presentation on Bonhoeffer’s hopefulness and his attempts to sustain community ; discussion of assigned reading from the Finkenwalde circular letters; presentation to the class on individual final projects;

Read: Discipleship, pp. 201-288 (chapters 8-13)

Finkenwalde Circular Letters

Final writing projects are due March 21, 2007 at noon.