Program Information:
Program Curriculum:
Program Description
We live in a period of history which abounds with worldviews contrary to that of the Bible. In such a world, believers who understand the biblical worldview and the competing worldviews are in a special position not only to personally avoid error and deception, but also to reach out to others more effectively with the gospel of Christ. The Worldview Program provides a framework for understanding the concept of worldview, defining the prevailing worldviews of our day and seeing how they influence lives and shape culture. Against this backdrop students will explore the biblical worldview and how to live out and articulate its principles to influence the people and culture around them for Jesus Christ.
Program Design
Participants engage with selected books, readings, brief articles (combined total of about 300 pages per month); in addition, audio and video resources, and personal exercises are utilized. These are processed in small group discussion and brief written responses. Assignments are spread out over the course of a year. Participants will also learn how to share their testimony, how to articulate and defend the faith, and how to reach out to those in need.
Thematic Overview
- Introduction to Worldview
- Where do we come from?
- What is wrong with this world and what can be done about it?
- Sin and natural Law
- Worldview in Contemporary Film
- The Authority of Scripture
- Understanding Post-modernism and its Isms that are Embedded in Our Culture
- Tactics in Defending the Faith - learning to winsomely present the Gospel
- Articulating & Defending the Truth
- Developing a Ministry of Your Own to Change Lives, Impact Culture, and be a Witness for Christ
Schedule
The program roughly follows an academic calendar (September through June), but begins with an orientation meeting in the preceding June where class members will meet each other and receive reading assignments for June through August. From September to June, participants meet as a group on the 4th Saturday morning of each month from 8:30-1:00 for instruction, followed by discussion over lunch. (On two of the Saturdays during the program, there will be an afternoon session lasting until 4.00pm.) Fellows also meet as a group once a month for fellowship over a meal to view, analyze and discuss a movie in the curriculum.
Cost
Our approach to funding this program is to let you know our expenses and ask you to contribute as much as you can toward the cost of participation. Most people will find that the program makes a substantial impact in their lives and will wish to support it because they have benefited and because it is a good investment in God's kingdom.
Admission
Several factors are considered for acceptance into the program:
- Mature Christian experience and devotional life.
- A good working knowledge of the Bible, evidenced by acceptable performance on an English Bible exam.
- A strong desire on the part of the applicant to know and love God more deeply and to live out the gospel more faithfully.
- A strong desire to engage in ministry upon completion of the program, evidenced by a commitment and tentative plan of action.
- A strong desire to share the gospel of Christ with others and to help them grow as his disciples.
- A reasonable expectation that the applicant will benefit from the program and become a stronger, more credible and effective disciple of Jesus Christ in his or her sphere of influence.
- The applicant's commitment to engage with the program in terms of attendance, reading, group participation.
- Completion of an application, an interview with Institute staff, and three recommendations, one of which must be the applicant's pastor and the other two from someone who knows you well.
- Support of applicant's spouse, if married. (Applicant is also expected to negotiate an equitable arrangement with his or her spouse to prevent the spouse from being excessively burdened from applicant's participation in the program.)
- Availability of space in the group; compatibility with the group is also taken into consideration.
- Upon acceptance, completion of a Spiritual Autobiography, Personal Spiritual Inventory, Inventory of Spiritual and Emotional Health and a "Texture of My World" paper.
TO APPLY: The application period is now closed.
C.S. Lewis Institute
8001 Braddock Road, Suite 300
Springfield, VA 22151
703.914.5602
