Discipleship Across the Lifespan Trinity International University Class #3b

Moral Development

Definition of Terms Faith Morals Values

A Great Gulf Knowing what is right Doing what is right Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) Knowing what is right Doing what is right A Great Gulf

A Great Gulf Knowing what is right Doing what is right For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. (Romans 7:18-19) Knowing what is right Doing what is right A Great Gulf

A Great Gulf Knowing what is right Doing what is right How do we bridge the gap?

What approaches have you seen to be less than adequate? Knowing what is right Doing what is right A Great Gulf What approaches have you seen to be less than adequate?

Center for Moral Development Harvard Lawrence Kohlberg 1927-1987 Center for Moral Development Harvard

Stages of Moral Development Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles Stage 5: Social Contract & Individual Rights: Greatest good Stage 4: Social Systems & Conscience Law & Order Morality Stage 3: Mutual Interpersonal Expectations Good boy / nice girl Stage 2: Self-Interest Orientation What’s in it for me? Stage 1: Heteronomous Morality – External only How can I avoid punishment?

Stages of Moral Development Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles Focus upon Individuals (Post conventional) Stage 5: Social Contract & Individual Rights: Greatest good Stage 4: Social Systems & Conscience Law & Order Morality Focus upon Society (Conventional) Stage 3: Mutual Interpersonal Expectations Good boy / nice girl Stage 2: Self-Interest Orientation What’s in it for me? Ego-centric (Pre-conventional) Stage 1: Heteronomous Morality – External only How can I avoid punishment?

Stages of Moral Development Love the Lord Focus upon Individuals (Post conventional) Love your neighbor as yourself Because God said so & He is to be obeyed Focus upon Society (Conventional) Christians are called to be a holy people Health, Wealth, & Prosperity preaching Ego-centric (Pre-conventional) Hell, fire, & damnation preaching Repent or else!

Stages of Moral Development Love Love the Lord Focus upon Individuals (Post conventional) Love your neighbor as yourself Gratitude & Obligation Because God said so & He is to be obeyed Focus upon Society (Conventional) Christians are called to be a holy people Fear Health, Wealth, & Prosperity preaching Ego-centric (Pre-conventional) Hell, fire, & damnation preaching Repent or else!

Focus upon Individuals (Post conventional) Christian groups that have numerous rules and regulations will actually hinder the liberation of their people into postconventional thinking. ― Perry Downs, Pg 106. Focus upon Society (Conventional) Ego-centric (Pre-conventional)

Faith Development

James W. Fowler Six Stages of Faith Director of the Center for Research in Faith & Moral Development, Emory University Six Stages of Faith

Stages of Faith Development Stage 6: Universalizing Faith Transforming process Stage 5: Conjunctive Faith Awareness of perspective Stage 4: Individual/Reflective Faith Focus upon personal faith Stage 3: Synthetic/Conventional Faith Commitment to church & leaders Stage 2: Mythic/Literal Faith: Childhood Limited to concrete thinking Stage 1: Intuitive/Projective Faith: Early Childhood Images & Stories

What is the place of the Holy Spirit in this process? Stage 6: Universalizing Faith Transforming process Stage 5: Conjunctive Faith Awareness of perspective Stage 4: Individual/Reflective Faith Focus upon personal faith Stage 3: Synthetic/Conventional Faith Commitment to church & leaders Stage 2: Mythic/Literal Faith: Childhood Limited to concrete thinking Stage 1: Intuitive/Projective Faith: Early Childhood Images & Stories

How have you seen aspects of these stages in your own life? Stage 6: Universalizing Faith Transforming process Stage 5: Conjunctive Faith Awareness of perspective Stage 4: Individual/Reflective Faith Focus upon personal faith Stage 3: Synthetic/Conventional Faith Commitment to church & leaders Stage 2: Mythic/Literal Faith: Childhood Limited to concrete thinking Stage 1: Intuitive/Projective Faith: Early Childhood Images & Stories

Components in Growth

The Role of the Teacher

The primary role of the teacher is to serve the needs of this student Agree or Disagree? The primary role of the teacher is to serve the needs of this student

When God wanted to communicate with us, He wrapped His message in a person. We are called to do the same thing.

Your teaching will always have one of two results in the lives of your students… Contamination Innoculation

The goal of the teacher is to make the student self-sustaining. You want to bring your students to the place where you are unnecessary to the process of their spiritual growth.

The Role of the Curriculum

A planned strategy designed to produce… The Lesson Plan A planned strategy designed to produce… Exposure Encounter Application

Exposure Encounter Experience Gives knowledge Gives insight & conviction Facilitates decision & behavior What does the Bible say? How will I convey it to my students? How will it change their lives? Biblical Principles The Event People & where they live

Teaching Methods Role Playing Questions & Answers Audio-Visual Story telling Lecture Drama

Point of Contact Entice the attention of your students They do not come ready to learn Your job is to stimulate the desire to learn

If the Scriptures are central, then make them central

The purpose of your teaching is more that the mere impartation of trivia

The Role of the Student

People learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process

Teaching is to be defined, not as what the teacher does, but by what the student learns.

I am primarily and continually a student You may stop taking classes, but you will never stop learning.

Seven Laws of Learning Law of previous experience: New learning should be linked to (and build upon) the experiences of the learner. Law of relevance: Effective learning is relevant to the live of the learner. Law of expectations: A learner’s ability to learn will be affected by his expectations. Law of active learning: Active responding produces more effective learning than passive listening or reading.

Seven Laws of Learning Law of practice and feedback: Learners cannot master skills without repeated practice and relevant feedback. Law of individual differences: Different people learn in different ways. Law of emotional learning: Events that are accompanied by intense emotions result in long-lasting learning.

The problem of motivation involves overcoming initial inertia It is always easier to steer a moving object

The Role of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?