Spring Seminar 2022
The Inner Journey
Exploring the Depths of Christian Spirituality and Discipleship
This course is an introduction to the theory and practices of contemplative Christian spirituality as rooted in biblical theology, biblical philosophy and Christian history. As such, it is ideal for those whose priority in life is to nurture their relationship with God through the internal presence of the Holy Spirit and the practice of the traditional spiritual disciplines that broaden and deepen our understanding of what it means to be a conscientious and committed Christian in today’s society and culture.
Course Synopsis
“The Inner Journey: Exploring the Depths of Christian Spirituality and Wholistic Discipleship” can be considered the capstone of our entire Areopagus seminar catalogue of courses.
Christians have no higher calling than to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love others as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39). This kind of personal and intimate relationship with God transforms our thinking, our values and our priorities in life in keeping with the tenets and practices of wholistic Christian discipleship. As I wrote in my book, American Crisis:
Christians cannot afford to continue on as in the past, functioning under the naive assumption that we live in a Christ-friendly or even a neutral society and culture. If we value our spiritual lives, we cannot continue to mindlessly consume and absorb the dominant values of this world. More than at any time since the first few centuries of church history, committed Christians must understand that our calling is to think and live as a radical countercultural community that offers spiritual Light, Love, Hope and Truth in the midst of an increasingly dark, degenerate and dysfunctional society and culture.
To that end, each of us is called to make our own “Inner Journey” – the cultivation of our soul through the development of an intimate relationship with God – our preeminent priority in life.
Handouts
- The Inner Journey Cover
- The Inner Journey — Syllabus
- Readings for Discussion
- The Inner Journey Glossary
- Christian Religion and Christian Spirituality
- Article — Lillian Daniel, “Spiritual But Not Religious Is Not Enough”
- Songs for Reflection
- Article — Jefrey Breshears, “The Salvation Process”
- Article — Jefrey Breshears, “Christian and Eastern Spirituality”
- Article — “Kingdom of Noise — A Screwtape Letter”
- Pamphlet –“Spiritual Disciplines” (Rose Publications)
- Article — Breshears, “Is the Doctrine of the Trinity Irrational”
- Article — William Lane Craig, “The Dual Nature of Jesus”
- Blaise Pascal on Terminal Avoidance
- Book Outline — Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines
- Article — Rick Clough, “Thoughts on the Sanctification Process”
- Article — John Durham, “Are You Infected?”
- Book Outline –Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
- Article — Philip Hoffman, “Flesh & Spirit”
- Article — Johann Hari, “Are Screens Robbing Us of Our Capacity For Deep Reading?”
- “Confession of Sins”
- Article — Jai Kyung, “O Hallesby on Prayer”
- Book Outline — Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart
- Book Outline — Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
- Book Outline — Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Supplemental Readings
-
- available for Amazon Kindle (eBook) $3.99 at Amazon https://amazon.com/dp/B09NRWC7FN
- $2.99 + shipping at https://christianbook.com/9781596363540/pd/363540
- from the publisher $7.35 including shipping https://hendricksonrose.com/p/9781596363540
Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. Twentieth Anniversary Edition (HarperSanFrancisco, 1998).
Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives (HarperOne, 1988).
Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart (Ballantine Books, 1981).
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (Image Books/Doubleday, 1977).
Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning (Touchstone Books, 1958, 1984).
Paul C. Vitz, Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship. Second Edition (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994, 2002).
Details & Registration
Instructor:
Dr. Jefrey Breshears
Dates and Time:
Wednesdays, January 12 – April 20. 2022
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Registration:
$60 or $100 per couple
Location:
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church
The Pinnacle (Third Floor)
(Note: This course is available in-person and/or via Zoom.)