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 like 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 Spring 2012
CT 102 Foundations of the Church with Scott Jones
Tue/Thurs 11-11:50 am; 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 with Jonathan Doran and 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 with 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 with Jason Glen
Thurs 11-11:30 am
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 with Ben Norquist
Tue 6-7:30 pm 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 with 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 with Bruce Morgan and Danielle Rebman
Tue 11-11:50 am; $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 with Sam Youngs
Tue 6:30-8:00 pm 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 with Paul Boling
Tue/Thurs 11 – 11:50 am; ends March 1
CT 402R Worldview and Life with Paul Boling & 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).
