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In a world obsessed with material success, have you ever felt a disconnection between societal expectations and the teachings of Jesus? You're not alone, and we understand the questions weighing heavy on your heart. With faith as its foundation, examine what it means to truly live like Jesus in a world often at odds with his message.
The struggle between traditional definitions of "a good life" and Jesus' teachings can be overwhelming. Following Jesus to Purpose and Meaning tackles head-on the clash between conventional standards of success and the timeless wisdom of Jesus and offers practical tools to navigate this tension with grace and wisdom.
More than mere theory, this course presents a practical approach to living out the teachings of Jesus in your daily life and urges you to uncover the meaning behind your efforts in ministry and personal faith journey and align them with the teachings that truly matter.
Get oriented to the course, meet your instructor, download the interactive handbook, and more.
In this module, you will:
In this module, you will:
In this module, you will:
In this module, you will:
In this module, you will:
In this module, you will:
Find out your next steps as you complete the course. You'll also be encouraged to submit feedback about your course.
$55
$0*
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month
8 Modules
Self-Paced, On-Demand
Rev. Dr. Angela Williams Gorrell is the author of Always On: Practicing Faith in a New Media Landscape and The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found. She speaks and writes about joy, meaning, finding the life worth living, and the intersection of spiritual and mental health. Media sources such as the New York Times, NPR, and Christianity Today have highlighted her research. She has taught at several schools including Yale University, Baylor University, and Fuller and McCormick Seminary. Angela is a consultant and thought leader for numerous organizations. She utilizes her expertise to help create collaborative communities of prevention specifically working to lower suicide and addiction rates. You can find her on Instagram @angelagorrell. Angela and her sister, Stef, co-host The Grief Sisters podcast and The Grief Sisters book club & support group on Facebook.
Enroll in this on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all Faith+Lead’s on-demand courses, plus more with a Faith+Lead Membership.
$55
One-time purchase
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.99 per month
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You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
Don’t see your question addressed?
Email us at faithlead@luthersem.edu for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!
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$55
$0*
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month
8 Modules
Self-Paced, On-Demand