Spirituality of Ministry Class

On Sunday night, I began my next big sabbatical adventure: a two week class at Fuller Seminary called the "Spirituality of Ministry." The class is taught by Dallas Willard and Keith Matthews; there are about 25 doctor of ministry students in the class. I'm enjoying taking the class as a auditor! I have met at least four others who are also taking this class during a sabbatical season in their ministries.

Dallas Willard is a philosophy professor at USC and a long-time author on Christian Spirituality themes. My favorite of his books is "The Divine Conspiracy," which is his study of the Sermon on the Mount. Some of our in-class assignments include:
* Getting 10 hours of sleep for the first 3 nights
* Read Matthew 5-7 & 2 Corinthians 2-6 daily
* Memorize Colossians 3:1-17

Some favorite quotes so far:
* "The saint burns more grace than the sinner." [We all live by God's grace and are utterly dependent upon it]
* "Thank God you don't have to be right about everything."
* "People will forget everything you say but they will remember who you are."
* "What passes for fellowship in many churches is actually carefully calibrated distance."
* "Grace receives people."
* "If you want to get to heaven, go now! Why wait?" [God's kingdom reign is presently available to all, though there are some rival kingdoms still about vying for power.]
* "The gospel is about life, not just sin."
* "The kingdom Jesus brought is one that does not rest on the ability to kill but the ability to give life."

With professor Dallas Willard

















With members of the class