Continuing Education News

Discipleship: A New Testament Examination of the Inner and Outer Life of Faith

A Spiritual Formation Elective

 

Instructor

Tucker Ferda, Visiting Assistant Professor in New Testament, PTS

Date

March 11, 2018, 7:00 p.m. - March 14, 2018, 12:15 p.m

Overview

In American Christianity, we too often hear descriptions of discipleship that are really Christianized forms of the American Dream. The sentiment is this: "follow your heart and dreams, but make Jesus a part of that." In the Gospels, however, it is clear that Jesus' call to discipleship was precisely a call to sacrifice heart and dreams, "to hate one's life," and to join him on a journey to Golgotha. How can we do that today? We will explore together how we might conceive discipleship as a holistic, formative process that leaves no part of us untouched. We will plumb the deep wisdom of Christian Scripture and tradition as we seek to give God our minds, hearts, and hands, trusting that God can make us participants in the cross-shaped Kingdom.

This class is open to all regardless of their participation in the Spiritual Formation Certificate Program. 

Registration / Lodging / Schedule

Fee: $375 and includes refreshment breaks, Monday lunch and dinner, and Tuesday lunch. All other meals and lodging are the student's responsibility.

Lodging: Limited lodging is available on campus. Reservations can be made by contacting our Reception Office at reception@pts.edu or 412-924-1397. Get directions to PTS.

Schedule: Download the general schedule for this class.

 

 

Readings

Please do your best to read the required books before your arrival. If you wish to be in the Spiritual Formation Certificate program, you should prepare a one-page reflection paper for each required book; these will be collected the first evening of class. If you do not plan to seek the certificate but are taking the class for personal enrichment, the reflection papers are not required but we strongly encourage you to read the texts to get as much as possible from the class time. Recommendations for additional reading will be provided for those who wish to go deeper.

Required Reading

  • Hill, C.C. Servant of All: Status, Ambition, and the Way of Jesus. Eerdmans, 2016.  NOTE: Please purchase this book directly from Eerdmans to ensure getting a complete copy (www.eerdmans.com / 800-253-7521). We have not received full text copies from other vendors.
  • Boyd, G.A. Present Perfect: Finding God in the Now. Zondervan, 2010.
  • King, Jr., M.L. Chapters 1, 5, and 14 from Strength to Love. Fortress Press, 2010.
  • St. Clair, R.A. Introduction and Chapter 1 from Call and Consequences: A Womanist Reading of Mark. Fortress Press, 2008.

Questions

Call 412-924-1345 or e-mail .

Discipleship: A New Testament Examination of the Inner and Outer Life of Faith

A Spiritual Formation Elective

 

Instructor

Tucker Ferda, Visiting Assistant Professor in New Testament, PTS

Date

March 11, 2018, 7:00 p.m. - March 14, 2018, 12:15 p.m

Overview

In American Christianity, we too often hear descriptions of discipleship that are really Christianized forms of the American Dream. The sentiment is this: "follow your heart and dreams, but make Jesus a part of that." In the Gospels, however, it is clear that Jesus' call to discipleship was precisely a call to sacrifice heart and dreams, "to hate one's life," and to join him on a journey to Golgotha. How can we do that today? We will explore together how we might conceive discipleship as a holistic, formative process that leaves no part of us untouched. We will plumb the deep wisdom of Christian Scripture and tradition as we seek to give God our minds, hearts, and hands, trusting that God can make us participants in the cross-shaped Kingdom.

This class is open to all regardless of their participation in the Spiritual Formation Certificate Program. 

Registration / Lodging / Schedule

Fee: $375 and includes refreshment breaks, Monday lunch and dinner, and Tuesday lunch. All other meals and lodging are the student's responsibility.

Lodging: Limited lodging is available on campus. Reservations can be made by contacting our Reception Office at or 412-924-1397. Get directions to PTS.

Schedule: Download the general schedule for this class.

 

 

Readings

Please do your best to read the required books before your arrival. If you wish to be in the Spiritual Formation Certificate program, you should prepare a one-page reflection paper for each required book; these will be collected the first evening of class. If you do not plan to seek the certificate but are taking the class for personal enrichment, the reflection papers are not required but we strongly encourage you to read the texts to get as much as possible from the class time. Recommendations for additional reading will be provided for those who wish to go deeper.

Required Reading

  • Hill, C.C. Servant of All: Status, Ambition, and the Way of Jesus. Eerdmans, 2016.  NOTE: Please purchase this book directly from Eerdmans to ensure getting a complete copy (www.eerdmans.com / 800-253-7521). We have not received full text copies from other vendors.
  • Boyd, G.A. Present Perfect: Finding God in the Now. Zondervan, 2010.
  • King, Jr., M.L. Chapters 1, 5, and 14 from Strength to Love. Fortress Press, 2010.
  • St. Clair, R.A. Introduction and Chapter 1 from Call and Consequences: A Womanist Reading of Mark. Fortress Press, 2008.

Questions

Call 412-924-1345 or e-mail .