Christian Life Formation courses are one-credit explorations in Bible, theology, ancient and contemporary Christianity, relationships, spiritual disciplines and contemporary culture. With instructors from diverse disciplines and flexible formats such as reading groups, weekend retreats and field trips, each course is creative space where mentoring relationships form and where students have powerful experiences that affect their lives for decades to come.
CLF Courses Fall 2012
CT 201 Spiritual Disciplines | Mr. Jonathan Doran
Thursdays, 11:00 a.m.
What does prayer, study, fasting, solitude, worship, mediation, and other disciplines have to do with the Christian faith? This course will give practical instruction and application of the spiritual disciplines as a mark and tool of spiritual growth. Emphasis will be given to the role of the Holy Spirit in discipleship and God’s gift of spiritual practices as means of grace for the Church.
CT 204 Spirituality in Film | Mr. Ben Norquist
Thursdays, 6 - 9 p.m.
Is it possible for a movie to change a life? What are the films that speak most clearly about the human condition? Does the medium of film have the capacity to give glimpses of what is good, true and beautiful? This CLF will enter the world of film in search of God, reality, and redemption, and will do so through film screenings and discussions. Students must be available to meet off campus on Thursday nights from 6:00 – 9:30. This class will consist of snacks, comedies, dramas, and discussions.
CT 292 Biblical Imagination and the Book of Mark | Mr. Michael Card and Dr. Peter Held
Retreat dates: Sunday, October 28 through Tuesday, October 30; Course fee: $125
Michael Card and Dr. Held invite you to join them to seek to be reacquainted, inspired and shaped by the life of Jesus imaginatively seen through the Scriptures. There is a bridge between the heart and mind—the imagination. When we allow our imaginations to be recaptured by the Holy Spirit, the facts we know in our heads come to life in our hearts. But what does biblical imagination look like and ask? How do we apply facts in our heads to aches in our hearts? What is missing in our understanding that leads to a more biblical response to the Spirit of God? The Biblical Imagination Series is a decades-long convergence of Michael’s music, writing, and teaching ministry. Students who sign up for this study must attend the three-day retreat in its entirety (Sunday –Tuesday, October 28-30).
CT 392 The Earth is the Lord's and Everything in it: Reflections on God and the Created World | Dr. Briain Eisenback
Juniors and Seniors only; Thursdays at 11 a.m. until Fall Break and two required Saturday morning hikes
Most of us spend our days and nights indoors, immersed in technology, and disconnected from the outside world. Seeking to link the physical environment with God as creator of all things, this class will explore Biblical, theological, philosophical, scientific and experiential perspectives of the natural world. Students will also experience creation through several outdoor solo and group activities. Excerpts from Annie Dillard, Francis Schaeffer, Douglas Moo, Henry Thoreau and others will be read and discussed. We will explore how to learn about the Creator by examining his created world. Students must be physically able to hike.
CT 391 Life Together: Reflections on Community and The Rule of St. Benedict | Dr. Salvatore Musumeci
Course fee: $40; Tuesday evenings off campus beginning at 4 p.m. throughout September
Does the experience of community happen in our minds, or lie more in the people we surround ourselves with? Does the elaborate, and often lofty, language we use to describe community mean anything? Women and men of faith around the globe and over the years have used religious standards – especially that of St. Benedict, food, and drink in extraordinarily different ways, developing extensively diverse practices that cultivated, fortified, and spread their community values and religious beliefs. Utilizing a series of readings that center on the Rule of St. Benedict, issues of community, and what it means to “do life together,” this CLF will explore issues related to charity, generosity, and a need for community worship. This course will meet every Tuesday, at various locations, during the month of September. It will include cups of coffee, home cooked meals, and a good amount of laughter and honesty.
CT 401 Contemporary Issues | Mr. Ben Norquist
Juniors and Seniors only; Thursdays, 11 a.m.
An exploration of various contemporary socio-cultural issues in which there exists a divergence in the Christian community. Special emphasis will be given to analyzing differing theological approaches to contemporary issues as an introduction to hermeneutical communities. This course is designed to help students engage deeply with the pressing issues and conversations of their community. As such, the life of the Bryan College community will serve as the context and “lab” for this class. Five contemporary issues that have surfaced or will surface at Bryan have been identified below. For this course, you will complete a series of assignments for each issue that will include attendance at corporate events, participating in public dialogue (letter to the editor, engagement in online forums, etc.), readings, one-on-one conversations, Bible study, and classroom conversation.
CLF Courses Spring 2012
CT 102 Foundations of the Church | Dr. Scott Jones
Tue/Thurs 11-11:50 a.m.; ends March 1
What is the Church? Is it relevant for today? Do I have to be part of a local Church to be a Christian? My friends pray together, eat together and live together – does this count as Church? This course is a biblical and historical examination of the purpose of the Church as the Body of Christ in God’s plan for the world. Student will explore the mission of the local Church, the place of the Christian within the Church, and its relevance for today.
CT 290 Passion in the Pursuit of God | Mr. Jonathan Doran and Mr. Kelly O’Rear
March 16-18; $125
Do you want to fall more in love with God? Are you hungry for a more authentic faith that addresses the problems in your world? Are you tired of the status quo with your Christian faith? Do you believe in God, but act like He doesn't exist? These questions and more will be addressed in this retreat-style course which will be led by Kelly O'Rear. Readings from David Platt (Radical), Craig Groeschel (Christian Atheist), Frances Chan (Crazy Love), and A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God) will be explored and discussed.
CT 291 The Power and the Beauty of the Gospel | Mr. Jon Slater
April 10-12; $185
While many view the Good News of Jesus as foolishness, the Gospel scriptures themselves and the lives of Christians throughout history tell the story of its great power and attractive beauty. This course will explore the centrality of the Gospel message to life, in confrontation to both an apathetic culture and the doubts and weaknesses present in our own lives. This retreat format course will meet on April 10-12 for the Together for the Gospel Conference.
CT 302 Readings in Contemporary Christian Spirituality | Mr. Jason Glen
Thurs 11-11:30 a.m.
A reading group for those who want to delve into the writings of C. S. Lewis. Students in this small group format course will read the The Four Loves ( and The Screwtape Letters. Students will discuss C. S. Lewis’ understanding of the different types of love found in The Four Loves and his portrayal of the complexities of those loves in one of his narrative works, The Screwtape Letters. The popular understanding of love in 21st Century America has been abused and twisted in many ways that Lewis eloquently addressed in these two famous works of literature. The format of this course will be in small group reading circles and occasional lectures.
CT 306 Social Justice and the Gospel | Mr. Ben Norquist
Tue 6-7:30 p.m. and conference on April 12-15; $185
Students will explore the intersection between social justice and faithful belief and action by considering the unique Christian calling to "care for the least of these." They will deepen their understanding of poverty and injustice, while beginning to construct a personal approach to addressing these wrongs. This is a weekend format class (we will also meet occasionally on Tuesday evenings during the semester), held at IJM’s Global Prayer Gathering in Washington D.C. on April 12-15.
CLF 390 Heaven, Hell, and the Afterlife | Dr. Scott Jones
April 12-15; Instructor approval required; $185
Is this life all there really is to human existence? Or is the issue of the life after death a reality? While Jesus did emphasize “life” or “living” or “being alive” in His teaching (around some 150 references in the Gospels), He also did emphasize the reality of death and life after death (around some 100 references in the Gospels). So, is heaven a real place where followers of Christ will spend an eternity? Would God really allow individuals to suffer the torment of hell for an eternity? How does the prospect of the afterlife affect life in the here and now? These and other related questions will be examined as part of the Greer-Heard Conference at New Orleans Seminary and in a few classroom sessions and assignments outside of the forum.
CT 391 Ethnicity, Diversity and the Cross | Mr. Bruce Morgan and Ms. Danielle Rebman
Tue 11-11:50 a.m.; $75
What does it mean to be a member of the dominant ethnic group in a multi-ethnic society? Is life lived differently if you are a member of a sub-dominant ethnic group? How are followers of Christ to obey His command to love neighbors with very different backgrounds? And what does the life and death of Christ have to do with diversity? This class will explore the glories and obstacles within multi-ethnic communities, push us to understand how cultural roots affect all of us, and introduce us to local people who are living and thriving in diverse communities. Includes Saturday field trips to Chattanooga and the Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham.
CT 401 Contemporary Issues: Christians and Muslims | Mr. Sam Youngs
Tue 6:30-8 p.m. and conference on January 27-28; $185
Is the Muslim world the enemy or the prize? What are effective strategies for building relationships and even friendships with Muslims? Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? What are the cultural factors we need to be aware of in approaching the Islamic worldview? These are some of the difficult and important questions this class will explore. This course will meet weekly and includes a weekend conference on Friday through Sunday, January 27-29.
CT 402A Worldview and Life | Dr. Paul Boling
Tue/Thurs 11 – 11:50 a.m.; ends March 1
CT 402R Worldview and Life | Dr. Paul Boling & Mr. John Stonestreet
Feb 3-5; $125
What do you believe, why do you believe it, and what difference does that make to fields of study, future life and vocations? This course seeks to integrate worldview principles and life issues. The retreat course has Paul Boling and John Stonestreet joining us for a weekend retreat.
Prerequisite: BIB101 and two other CLF courses. Open only to seniors (or juniors with special permission).
