Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4
Overview and Sequencing .................................................................................................. 4
Pre-Formation ........................................................................................................................... 4
Chart: Sequence of Community Courses .................................................................................. 6
Formation (Initiations) .............................................................................................................. 7
The Discipleship and Community Series ........................................................................... 7
The Stages and States of Life Series .................................................................................. 8
Personal Relationship Courses ........................................................................................... 9
Christian Doctrine Courses ................................................................................................ 9
The List of Courses and Their Individual Talks ............................................................... 11
Pre-Formation Courses ........................................................................................................... 11
Life in the Spirit Seminars (LSS) ...................................................................................... 11
Finding New Life in the Spirit (FNL) ......................................................................... 11
Life in Christ (LIC) ........................................................................................................... 12
Christian Sexuality Seminar (CSS) ................................................................................... 12
Christian Personal Relationships (CPR) ........................................................................... 12
Two Kingdoms (TK) (Worldview course) ........................................................................ 12
Essentials of the Pre-Formation Period ............................................................................ 12
Discipleship and Community Courses .................................................................................... 14
Foundations Course 1 – Christian Maturity (FC1) ........................................................... 14
For Foundations Course 2, see Stages and States of Life Series ..................................... 14
Foundations Course 3 – Sword of the Spirit Community ................................................ 14
Foundations Course 3, Our Call (3OC) .................................................................... 14
Foundations Course 3, Church and Ecumenical Relations (3CER) .......................... 14
Foundations Course 3, Our Way of Life (3OWL) ...................................................... 15
Foundations Course 3, Completing Formation (optional) (3CF) ............................. 15
Foundations Course 4, Living in Christian Community (4LCC) ..................................... 15
Stages and States of Life Courses ........................................................................................... 16
Foundations Course 2, Community and Family (2CF) .................................................... 16
Foundations Course 2 Entering Your State of Life (2ESL) ............................................. 16
Foundations Course 2 for Single Men (2SM) .................................................................. 16
Foundations Course 2 for Single Women (2SW) ............................................................. 17
Personal Relationship Courses ................................................................................................ 18
Christian Personal Relationships (CPR) ........................................................................... 18
Emotions in the Christian Life (ECL) .............................................................................. 18
Fruit of the Holy Spirit (FS) ............................................................................................. 18
2

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Doctrine Courses ..................................................................................................................... 19
Christian Doctrine, Ecumenical Version (CD-E) ............................................................. 19
Christian Doctrine, Catholic Version (CD-C) .................................................................. 19
Doctrine and Ecumenism, Ecumenical Version (DE-E) .................................................. 20
Doctrine and Ecumenism, Catholic Version (DE-C) ....................................................... 20
Doctrine and Ecumenism, Orthodox Version (DE-O) ..................................................... 20
Doctrine and Ecumenism, Protestant Version (DE-P) ..................................................... 20
© 2011 by The Sword of the Spirit
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form for use outside Sword of the Spirit communities without written permission from the Sword of the Spirit, 4828 S. Hagadorn, E. Lansing, MI 48823, USA.
3

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
This write-up gives an overview of the courses that are required for initiations in the
Sword of the Spirit and of the material that needs to be given before the initiations process begins. The course outlines are given separately. This write-up contains
1. A description of the courses and their sequencing
2. A list of the courses and the talks.
The courses are designed to follow an order, although the order is somewhat flexible.
Many courses build on other courses, and so should be given after the course they presuppose. Also, people are in the initiations process over a period of 4 to 5 years. Some material is important in the earlier stages of that process, while other material is not helpful until near the end. This section on sequencing gives an overview of the courses and how they fit into the overall scheme.
Most new people are with us for a period of time before they are ready to begin formation. We speak of this as the evangelism stage, as distinguished from the formation and initiations stage. Many of the people are being evangelized to a commitment to
Christ. Many have some level of commitment to Christ but are being won to enter the formation process so that they can come to complete conversion and mature Christian living.
We have two courses that contain the required material for this stage. They do not have to be given as courses. Some of the material may be given, for instance, in evangelistic gatherings or in conferences. This material, however, should be given to all new people before they enter formation, because it contains the basic orientation to our spirituality – a charismatic, discipleship, communitarian spirituality. The following are the courses:
Life in the Spirit Seminars: This is our beginning course that presents conversion to
Christ and the charismatic aspect of the Christian life. It leads to a personal commitment to Christ and being baptized in the Spirit. Its companion booklet for participants, Finding New Life in the Spirit, should be considered an important ingredient in the course. Available at www.sos-nar.com/tabor.htm
4

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Life in Christ : This contains part of what formerly was in Foundations Course 1.
It should be given before the formation process begins and should be approached as an evangelistic course.
We have in addition two courses that are recommended: Christian Sexuality Seminar and
Two Kingdoms.
5

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Life in the Spirit Seminar
Life in Christ
[Others]
Personal Relationship
Courses
Discipleship and
Community Series
INITIAL COMMITMENT
Foundations Course 1
Stages and States of Life
Series
Christian Personal
Relationships
→ FC2 Community and
Family
↕ ↕
Emotions in the Christian Life
FC2 Couples /
FC2 Single People
↓ ↓
Fruit of the Spirit
UNDERWAY COMMITMENT
↕ ↕↕ ↕
FC3 Our Call
1 FC3 Church and
Ecumenical Relations
FC3 Our Way of Life
FC4 Living in Christian
Community
FULL COVENANT / PUBLIC COMMITMENT
1. Formerly called FC3 Vision for Christian Community
6

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
When people are ready to receive formation in Christian discipleship – a discipleship to be expressed in daily Christian living – they may enter the formation process. During this time, they will receive three series of courses in a four- to five-year period: The
Discipleship and Community Series, the Stages and States of Life Series, and the
Personal Relationship Courses. In addition, they will receive a course in Christian
Doctrine, although this may be given before they begin formation or after they complete it, or at any time during it.
The Discipleship and Community Series – Foundations Courses 1, 2, 3, and 4 is intended to be the master sequence or core curriculum for the formation process. Each year that someone is in process towards joining the community, they should normally be taking one of these courses. Each course contains some of the content they need for living a Christian life with a discipleship commitment and for being involved in Christian community. Each course will also instruct people about the sequence of courses of the formation process and the internal orientation needed to make the best use of the material. The four courses build on one another, each adding another piece to the foundation of Christian discipleship in a person’s life. The courses are as follows:
Foundations Course 1 – Christian Maturity: This is the course for the first year of formation. It treats important elements that allow people to live as disciples in the modern world. It has four units.
1. Talks 1-3, the Entering Formation Seminar: This unit helps people move into the formation process well and shows them how to make best use of it.
2.
Talks 4-6, Dealing with Obstacles: This material treats the main obstacles to the life of discipleship and leads toward prayer for healing and deliverance at the end of the unit.
3.
Talks 7-9, Christian Community: This unit presents the importance of
Christian community and the basics of a communitarian approach to
Christianity.
4. Talks 10-12, Faithfulness and Order: This material treats personal order and personal priorities for those who are in earnest about living the Christian life.
For Foundations Course 2 , see the Stages and States of Life Series.
Foundations Course 3 – Sword of the Spirit Community : This series of three courses treats the life of our community and membership in it.
1. Foundations Course 3, Our Call: This course treats our call as a community of communities – the call to be communities of disciples on mission.
7

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
2. Foundations Course 3, Church and Ecumenical Relations:
2
This course treats the nature of covenant community and how it relates to the churches.
3. Foundations Course 3, Our Way of Life: This course covers the “Elements of
Good Membership,” the membership requirements for being in our communities.
Foundations 3 also contains an optional course:

Foundations Course 3, Completing Formation, which would come after
Foundations 3, Our Way of Life.
Foundations Course 4, Living in Christian Community: This course is our “good citizenship” course, describing how to participate as a covenant member in our corporate community life.
One of the most important areas of Christians’ lives is their getting established well in their state of life (living a married life or a single life). We should also take a disciple’s approach to our lives as we go through the various stages of life (childhood, adolescence, adulthood, senior life). For people coming into the community, we need to provide instruction in Christian sexuality, marriage and family life, and choice of a state of life.
The instruction needed varies according to the state of life (single or married) of those who enter and their current stage of life (childhood, adolescence, adulthood, senior life).
The courses for single people in this sequence are part of the Discipleship and
Community Series and are essential for bringing the single people who are in the formation process to full-life discipleship and community membership. The track for married couples (not included in the listing of courses with talks, below) has the same two goals for its married participants. Single people, once they get married, will also be required to take the Course for Married Couples , but for many this will be after they make the public commitment. The Discipleship and Community Series continues with
Foundations Courses 3 and 4 . There are further courses in The Stages and States of Life
Series, but they are not part of the initiations process.
Foundations 2 is divided into two tracks – one for married people and one for single people. Some of it is also divided into tracks for men and for women. Members of the community will need more instruction as they go on, but Foundations 2 provides the basics. The following are the tracks for Foundations 2 . They need to be taken in sequence.
For All
Foundations 2, Community and Family: This is an introductory course giving our vision for and approach to this area as a whole. Everyone coming into the community, married or single, young or old, will begin Foundations 2 with this course.
2. Formerly called Foundations Course 3, Vision for Christian Community
8

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
The Married Couples’ Track (not included in the listing of courses with talks, below)
1. Foundations Course 2 for Married Couples: This course follows on from
Foundations 2 Community and Family.
It treats the relationship between husband and wife.
2. Foundations Course 2, Christian Parenting: This course treats the way parents raise children.
3a. Foundations Course 2 for Married Men: This course covers how men live in regard to sex and family.
3b. Foundations Course 2 for Married Women: This course covers how women live in regard to sex and family.
The Single People’s Track
1.
Foundations Course 2, Entering Your State of Life: This course follows on from Foundations 2, Community and Family . It is given to all the young single people together. The goal is to give the men and women together a common understanding of how the process of entering a state of life should work. Care should be taken to direct older single people to the courses in
Foundations 2 that best suit their needs at this time in their lives.
2a. Foundations Course 2 for Single Men: This course covers how single men live in regard to sex and personal relationships.
2b. Foundations Course 2 for Single Women: This course covers how single women live in regard to sex and personal relationships.
The heart of Christian community is the way we relate to one another. The Personal
Relationship Courses teach us how to treat one another well and how to become the kind of people who can relate well – that is, how to be people of good Christian character. The following courses do not have to be given in the following order, but this order is recommended. The courses can be given at any point in the initiations process, but it is helpful for people to hear them presented as early as possible.
Christian Personal Relationships: This course covers basic truths about how we should relate to one another in daily life.
Emotions in the Christian Life: This course treats how we should relate to our emotions in order to handle our personal relationships in a good way.
Fruit of the Spirit: This course treats the basic character traits that allow us to handle the various situations in our lives in a good way.
The Christian Doctrine courses lay an important foundation for Christian living. They are different in character from the other courses, because they do not need to be given in
9

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020 a process in conjunction with formative pastoral care, but they do present essential understanding for being a Christian. They can be given before, during, or after the main formation courses, but they need to be completed before full covenant / public commitment. Two of the courses need to be given in order:
First, Christian Doctrine: This course presents the basics of Christian belief (the creed), Christian morality (the commandments), and Christian worship.
Then, Doctrine and Ecumenism: This course presents not only the most important differences among orthodox Christians, but also the convergent approaches to understanding those differences.
10

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
The abbreviations in parentheses are provided because the courses are sometimes referred to in this way.
These are officially recommended courses that can be given before people start the process of joining community. They are the courses we present for initial conversion leading to an initial commitment. They do not have to be given as courses, but those who begin formation should have heard the content. Much of this material can be given in retreats, special conferences, or talks at community meetings. This is our basic evangelistic teaching. Those who enter the initiations process need to have already heard and personally accepted the material because it gives them our fundamental orientation.
Seminar 0 Explanation Session (The Christian Message)
Seminar 1 God’s Love
Seminar 2 Salvation
Seminar 3 The New Life
Seminar 4 Receiving God’s Gift
Seminar 5 Praying for Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Seminar 6 Growth
Seminar 7 Transformation in Christ
(Companion Booklet for LSS)
11

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Talk 1 Sons and Daughters of God
Talk 2 Loving God
Talk 3 Christian Love
Talk 4 Faith
Talk 5 Guidance
Talk 6

Love of All
Growing in a Relationship with God
Talk 1
Overview: God’s Plan/The Warfare
Talk 2 Christian Sexual Morality
Talk 3 The Danger Areas
Talk 4 Relating to Brothers and Sisters
This course may be given during the year prior to when people enter into the initiations process, if the course is given in a formation situation, i.e., a summer household, in which the participants will be expected to implement the material. (See page 17 for a list of the talks.)
(Worldview course)
As yet there is no single recommended set of talks for this course.
Total required: 0 talks
• Initial conversion, including repentance from serious sin (for students, especially serious sin in the sexual area)
• Being baptized in the Spirit

Where there is only one number for two talks, the talks would be more effective if given as two, but may be condensed into one.
12

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
• Initial Christian growth, especially including daily personal prayer, regular reading of scripture, Christian service, and frequent, regular contact with the Christian people
• Community, both some understanding of a communitarian approach to Christianity and the importance of regular fellowship and brotherly love
• Charismatic prayer and exercise of the gifts of the Spirit
13

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
This is the series of courses that should be given as people move through the stages of entering the community. These need to be given in a fixed sequence because they are helping people to take new (sequential) steps, although many of the talks could be positioned differently. The courses are focused not just on community but also on personal formation – the personal formation needed to become a Christian disciple and community member.
Talk 1 A Formation Program
Talk 2 The Lord’s Formation
Talk 3 The Elements of the Program
Talk 4 The World and the Flesh
Talk 5 Freedom from Evil Spirits
Talk 6 Repairing Wrongdoing
Talk 7 Community as Relationship
Talk 8 Community and Way of Life
Talk 9 Community and Commitment (Covenant)
Talk 10 Faithfulness: Managing Our Time
Talk 11 Media and Entertainment
Talk 12 Family and State of Life ( young single people )
Faithfulness: Managing Our Finances ( married couples )
Final Session: Re-ordering Our Lives ( optional )
(Preferably to be given as a conference.)
Talk 1 A Vision Given by God
Talk 2 A Community ( optional )
Talk 3 On Mission
Talk 4 Disciples
Talk 1 Community and Church
3. Formerly called Foundations Course 3, Vision for Christian Community
14

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Talk 2 The Call to Christian Unity
Talk 3 Ecumenical Courtesy
Talk 1 Honoring the Lord
Talk 2 Honoring the Lord Throughout the Year
Talk 3 Giving to the Lord and His Work
Talk 4 Fraternal and Pastoral Care
Talk 5 Living Our Life
Talk 6 Community, Family, and Church
Talk 7 A Communal Spirit
Talk 8 Entering Underway Membership (optional)
(To be given halfway through the underway period, before the “solo flight.”)
Talk 1 Becoming a Community Member
Talk 2 Integrating Yourself into the Community
Talk 3 A Disciple on Mission
Talk 1 Membership and Commitment
Talk 2 Functioning As a Body
Talk 3 Peace and Discipline
Talk 4 Unity and Disagreement
Talk 5 Members and Community Leadership
Talk 6 The Community of Communities
15

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
This is the sequence of talks that should be given as people move through their personal stages of life. These courses need to be given in a fixed sequence because they are helping people to take new (sequential) steps. They do not all have to be taken before people make a full covenant / public commitment to the community.
(To be given to single people and married couples together)
Talk 1
Community and Family in God’s Plan ( optional )
Talk 2 Families, Children, Christian Community
Talk 3 Men and Women in Christian Community
Talk 4 The Christian Marriage Relationship
Talk 5 Christian Single Life
Talk 6 Christian Community and State of Life
4
Talk 1 State of Life
Talk 2 Choosing a Life of Discipleship
Talk 3 Romantic (Erotic) Attraction
Talk 4 The Choices
Talk 5 Getting Established in Life ( single men )
Finding the Lord’s Place for You ( single women )
Talk 1 Manly Christian Character
Talk 2 A Man’s Relationships
Talk 3 Getting Established in Life
4. Care should be taken to direct older single people to the courses in Foundations 2 that best suit their needs at this time in their lives.
16

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Talk 4 Growth in Manly Christian Character
Talk 5 Christian Sexual Morality
Talk 6 Male Sexuality and Sexual Desire
Talk 7 Faithfulness: Managing Our Finances
Talk 8 Work and Career
Talk 1 Womanly Christian Character
Talk 2 Relationships in the Body of Christ
Talk 3 Overcoming Obstacles to Christian Womanhood
Talk 4 Christian Sexual Morality
Talk 5 Female Sexuality and Desires
A Woman’s Body ( optional )
Talk 6 Caring for Our Finances
Talk 7 Christian Women in Today’s World
17

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
These are “way of life” courses. They do not need to be given in a fixed sequence, but they should not be given to people until they are ready to change how they relate to others as disciples of the Lord
Talk 1 Learning to Love One Another
Talk 2
“Outdo One Another in Showing Honor”
Talk 3 Speech That Builds Up
Talk 4 Keeping the Peace
Talk 5 Encouragement and Correction ( optional )
Talk 6 Relationships Outside the Community
Talk 7 Relationships and Emotions ( optional )
5
Talk 1 Christians and Their Emotions
Talk 2 Christian Love and Human Desires
Talk 3 True and False Humility
Talk 4 Guilt and Repentance
Talk 5 Righteous and Unrighteous Anger
Talk 6 Fear, Faith, and Fight
Talk 1 The Image of God
Talk 2 Love and Discipline
Talk 3 Meekness and Zeal
Talk 4 Joy (and Sorrow)
Talk 5 Faithfulness and Self-Control
Talk 6 Patience and Perseverance
5. If the course Emotions in the Christian Life is given late in the initiations process (Year 3), the talk
“Relationships and Emotions” should be given in Christian Personal Relationships as outlined above. Then the talk “Encouragement and Correction” could be omitted or the course extended to seven sessions. If
Emotions in the Christian Life is given early in the initiations process, “Relationships and Emotions” in
Emotions in the Christian Life should be omitted.
18

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Talk 1 Where Do We Find Christian Truth?
Talk 2 The Trinity: Scriptural Basis
Talk 3 The Fatherhood of God
Talk 4 The Incarnation: The Testimony of Scripture and Tradition
Talk 5 Redemption in Christ
Talk 6 The Holy Spirit and the Church
Talk 7 The Church: Its Nature and Mission
Talk 8 Ecumenical Differences with Regard to the Church
Talk 9 The Ten Commandments
Talk 10 Loving God
Talk 11 Loving Our Neighbor
Talk 12
The Lord’s Prayer
Talk 13 Ecumenical Differences with Regard to the Sacraments
Talk 14 Christian Spirituality
Talk 1 Where Do We Find Catholic Truth?
Talk 2 The Trinity: Scriptural Basis
Talk 3 The Fatherhood of God
Talk 4 The Incarnation: The Testimony of Scripture and Tradition
Talk 5 Redemption in Christ
Talk 6 The Holy Spirit and the Church
Talk 7 The Church: Its Nature and Mission
Talk 8 The Ministry of the Church
Talk 9 The Ten Commandments
Talk 10 Loving God
Talk 11 Loving Our Neighbor
Talk 12
The Lord’s Prayer
Talk 13 Sacraments in the Life of the Church
Talk 14 Liturgical Spirituality
19

Official Courses: Young Single People March 2020
Talk 1 Scripture, Tradition, and Church Authority
Talk 2 The Nature and Ministry of the Church
Talk 3 Sacraments in the Life of the Church
Talk 4 Liturgical Spirituality
Talk 1 Scripture, Tradition, and Church Authority
Talk 2 Ecumenical Differences with Regard to the Church
Talk 3 Ecumenical Differences with Regard to the Sacraments
Talk 4 Christian Spirituality
Talk 1 Scripture, Tradition, and Church Authority
Talk 2 The Nature and Ministry of the Church
Talk 3 Sacraments in the Life of the Church
Talk 4 Liturgical Spirituality
Talk 1 Faith Alone, Scripture Alone
Talk 2 The Church
Talk 3 The Sacraments
Talk 4 Spirituality
20