Today, I spent some extensive time writing on the Vital Faith Discipleship Curriculum. The first chapter is almost completed. Chapter 1 of Vital Faith is an introduction to Christian faith and belief. Using the Nicene Creed as an outline or summary of Christian teaching, this chapter of Vital Faith is sub-divided into 12 parts, each 2-4 pages in length (on standard letter paper with default margins). Each part is sub-divided into 3-5 sections for even easier digestibility. The curriculum is framed so that parts and sections can be mixed and matched, extended or shortened, depending on the particular situation.
My natural writing style is at the collegiate level, so I will need to find persons willing to test and edit my writing for other audiences. The Nicene Creed is used in an attempt to create continuity with the Church throughout time and place, rather than creating an outline so contemporary that it must be changed frequently to keep it fresh. In other words, it takes Webber’s Ancient-Future approach to discipleship. In the use of the Creed, I have deliberately avoided entering into the conflicts and discussions of the fourth century and after. This should be particularly obvious in the notorious filioque clause: “We believe in the Holy Spirit… who proceeds from the Father and the son (i.e., filioque).” Because I am using it as an outline to teach basic Christianity, sometimes I downplay the main sense of the phrase of the Creed in favor of a greater didactic purpose. Moreover, this means that I use the analogies handed to us by the Creed - those of begetting and proceeding, in particular. For instance, I use the post-Nicene analogy of the Father speaking the Word by means of the breath of the Spirit as a means of describing the one ousia in three hypostases without using the Greek. It is by no means an appeal to modalism.
This chapter is intended to be used in the context of reading the Bible together - disciple(s) and mentor. Whether this reading is working through one of the Gospels, as I recommend in my introduction, or focusing on some other reading rubric, it is intended to run inside a greater ecclesial setting. The sections may be read by the disciples/students and then discussed, may be read together with the mentor/discipler, or may be used as notes from which the mentor can place the faith in the context of the disciple’s life.
In reflecting upon the the use of this chapter, it seems best to be a part of the process of discipleship in which people decide to be baptized. Then, as that decision is made, it is possible to begin to teach the Christian Discipleship lifestyle in depth. That is the content of chapter 2, which is now in outline form.
I intend to complete the draft of chapter 1 tomorrow and release it to those willing to edit and test it. Stay tuned.
