Summer Quarter Syllabus
Summer Quarter — June , July, August 2010
Christian Commitment in Today's World
The study this quarter is a focus on Christian commitment. Its three units are explorations of the nature, foundation, and marks of commitment as they apply to Christians in today's world.
Unit I, The Nature of Christian Commitment, has four lessons. The first is an affirmation that genuine commitment is visable to others. Lesson 2 sets Christian commitment within the context of the desire to please God. Lesson 3 is an exploration of how believers sustain one another in their commitment. Lesson 4 is a look at the way in which Christian commitment is both reinforced and strengthened by concrete actions that grow out of a desire to please God.
Unit II, The Foundation of Christian Commitment, includes lessons 5-8. Lesson 5 sets Christian commitment within the cosmic context of God's plan for all creation. Lesson 6 is a description of the aim of commitment as giving glory to to Christ. Lesson 7 is an affirmation that Christian commitment grows from a response to being chosen by God and sanctified by the Spirit. Lesson 8 is an exploration of how the ability to stay committed is grounded in God's faithfulness.
Unit III, The Marks of Christian Commitment, embraces lessons 9-13. Lessons 9 and 10 are explorations of how God sustains the faithfull in all circumstances and calls, through Jesus' example, to claim life through serving others. Lesson 11 is a look at how Christian commitment draws believers into the future, preoccupied with God's mission in Christ. Lesson 12 is a description of the joy and peace of commitment, and lesson 13 is a focus on how human commitment is upheld by God's commitment and faithfulness.
*The lessons for the children flesh out the concepts from the books of Thessalonians, Philipians, and Jude, with stories from the book of Acts about Paul's later journeys.