Change By Grace 
Course Syllabus

For use with Change By Grace, a course in Christian Formation by David Takle, M.Div.

Summary of Course Requirements
1. Read all required materials.
2. Participate in all class sessions and exercises.
3. Participate in small group exercises outside of class.
4. Keep a personal spiritual reflections journal for the duration of the course (see below) 
5. Write a short reaction (at least 2-3 paragraphs) to each class session in your reflections journal. Note any new ideas encountered or areas of interest that were presented, any positive or negative reactions to the material, any concepts you intend to research further.
6. Write a review of Forming: A Work of Grace (3-4 pages).
7. (Undergraduate) Read Mulholland, Shaped by the Word and write a 6-8 page review.
(Graduate) Read Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy and write an 8-10 page review.
	Paper is due at the beginning of Class Session 9.
Paper should provide a synopsis of the author's main thesis and primary supporting ideas. Identify at least two areas of particular interest to you, either because of how you have been impacted by the ideas or possibly in ways you would challenge the author. (the syllabus does not suggest any time frame for reading these books).
8. Write a final impact paper (6-8 pages) on ways the course altered or clarified your theology and/or practice. Include thoughts about how this will impact your spiritual life and relationships from this point forward.

All papers (except journal) should reflect student's ability to think theologically, discussing concepts with depth and clarity. All written materials should also demonstrate how the topic impact the student's personal life experience and spiritual journey.
Weekly Requirements
The following weekly schedule is intended to help you pace yourself as you meet all of the above requirements and prepare for each class session. In addition to the details provided below, there are four more areas that you will want to pay attention to each week.
1. Read the Mulholland or Willard text and write your review by Session 9.
2. Journal several times a week about your personal life (see the end of the syllabus for more info).
3. Practice focusing on the goodness of God each morning and night (“Bookends”) following Class Session 2 through the end of the course.
4. Practice “Listening to the Word” (John 14-15) following Class Session 3 through the end of the course.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 1 (week 2 of course)
1. Read the Preface to Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Read The Trouble With Obedience in the Appendix of Forming: A Work of Grace.
3. Read all of the introductory material in the Student Guide, up to and including the two introductory pages for Capter 1.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 1
1. Read Rowing or Sailing in Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Read Chapter 1 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
3. Do the Sailing Practice. 
4. Read the Ship's Log.
5. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 2 (week 3 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 2
1. Read Why Appreciation Matters in the Appendix of the Student Guide.
2. Read Chapter 2 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
3. Read What About Sin? near the end of Forming: A Work of Grace.
4. Do the Sailing Practice. 
5. Read the Ship's Log.
6. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 3 (week 4 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 3
1. Read Is It Alright for Christians to Visualize God? in the Appendix of the Student Guide.
2. Read Chapter 3 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
3. Do the Sailing Practice. 
4. Read the Ship's Log.
5. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 4 (week 5 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 4
1. Read The Importance of Conversational Prayer in the Appendix of the Student Guide.
2. Read Chapter 4 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
3. Read What If I Hear Something Wrong? in the Appendix of the Student Guide.
4. Do the Sailing Practice. 
5. Read the Ship's Log.
6. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 5 (week 6 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 5
1. Read Why is Legalism so Common? In the Appendix of the Student Guide.
2. Read Chapter 5 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
3. Do the Sailing Practice. 
4. Read the Ship's Log.
5. Journal about this chapter.
6. Gather with your small group and do the exercise, Listening to the Word Together.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 6 (week 7 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 6
1. Read Chapter 6 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Read the following sections from the Interlude in Forming: A Work of Grace:
a) Everything up to and including the section on Relational Quiet.
b) Private Worship; Fasting; Abstaining or Extending.
3. Do both Sailing Practices. 
4. Read the Ship's Log.
5. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 7 (week 8 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 7
1. Read Chapter 7 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Read the following sections from the Interlude in Forming: A Work of Grace:
Spiritual Reflection; Dialogue With God; Listening to the Word.
Confession; Encouragement; Forgiveness; Repentance.
3. Do one of the three Sailing Practices. 
4. Read the Ship's Log.
5. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 8 (week 9 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 8
1. Read Chapter 8 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Read the following sections from the Interlude in Forming: A Work of Grace:
Service to Others; Telling Our Stories; Recovery Support; Inner Healing Prayer;  Intercession.
3. Do one of the two Sailing Practices. 
4. Read the Ship's Log.
5. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 9 (week 10 of course)
1. Finish writing book review on either Mulholland or Willard. Due at the beginning of class.
2. Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 9
1. Read Chapter 9 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Do the Sailing Practice. 
3. Read the Ship's Log.
4. Journal about this chapter and class session.
5. Gather with your small group and do the exercise, Listening to the Word Together.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 10 (week 11 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 10
1. Re-read A Model for Inner Healing at the end of Chapter 9 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Read Chapter 10 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
3. Read the Prayer for Healing Our Identity from the Student Guide. Consider writing your own.
3. Do the Sailing Practice. 
5. Read the Ship's Log.
6. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 11 (week 12 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 11
1. Read Chapter 11 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Do the Sailing Practice. 
3. Read the Ship's Log.
4. Journal about this chapter and class session.

Preparation for Change by Grace Session 12 (week 13 of course)
Read the two introductory pages for the chapter in the Student Guide.
Be sure to bring Forming: A Work of Grace to class. You will need to reference it during an exercise.
Followup after Change by Grace Session 12
1. Read Chapter 12 in Forming: A Work of Grace.
2. Read the Sailing Practice.  Consider this for a future time (not required during course).
3. Read the Ship's Log.
4. Journal about this chapter and class session.
5. Gather with your small group and do the exercise, Listening to the Word Together.

Due Next Week (14)
Personal Reflections Journal.

Due Last Week of Class (15)
Review of Forming: A Work of Grace.
Final impact paper. 

Keeping a Personal Reflections Journal
In addition to the regular course requirements, each student is expected to pursue a devotional life with God. This will include, but not be limited to, reflecting on Scripture passages and life experiences while seeking insight and help from the Holy Spirit. The student will record these thoughts in a journal in whatever manner is helpful for his or her personal reflective style (notes; bullet points; drawings; complete sentences; etc.). The amount of time spent on this is up to the student, but the journal entries should consist of the equivalent of at least 4 pages per week.
This journal will be turned in to the professor at the end of the course for the purpose of ascertaining the student's effort on this project, but no evaluation will be made of the content. The journals will be returned to the students before the end of the semester.