SYLLABUS: 2025-2027

Written By Ashley Herr

DESCRIPTION:

The Way is a three-year journey of spiritual growth and formation as we seek to more faithfully follow the way of Jesus together. Together we will explore various topics that will develop greater emotional health and spiritual maturity, drawing us closer to Jesus. We will also incorporate various spiritual practices that become regular rhythms in our life, forming us into the image of Christ. If you desire greater faith in Jesus, deeper intimacy with Jesus, and to more faithfully follow the way of Jesus, then consider joining us on The Way.


OBJECTIVE:

The destination is deeper intimacy with Jesus. The way is faithful obedience to the words and the way of Jesus. The journey will lead us to grow in loving God, with our whole heart, mind, and soul, and in loving one another, our neighbor, and our enemy.


ENVIRONMENT:

We will meet as a large group every other month (odd numbered months) over the course of three years to discuss a specifc area of growth that we will have read and reflected on over the past two months. We will also introduce a new spiritual discipline during each large group session that will be incorporated over the next two months. We will be able to share our growth and our challenges with each other at the next large group session in hopes of learning from each other as we grow together.

Each participant will also meet as part of a formation group with 2-4 other participants every other month (even numbered months) following an established liturgy to discuss how the readings and reflections have impacted you, how you are growing, what has been challenging for you, and how you hope to continue growing as we seek to help each other more faithfully follow the way of Jesus.


COMMITMENT:

PRIORITIZE

  • You will get out of The Way what you put into it. The more you prioritize your spiritual growth and formation, the more you will pursue it, and the more natural your pursuit will become.

  • This is a 3-year commitment to participate in large group sessions once every other month (18 sessions) and in formation groups in-between each large group session (18 sessions).

  • Each participant has 1 unexcused absence each year (excluding illness or emergency). This applies to both the large group and formation groups.

  • If a significant portion of the group has a conflict, efforts will be made to try and reschedule the session.

  • Arrive on time. If you will be late to a group session, communicate to the group that you will be late and with an estimated arrival time.

PREPARE

  • Come to each large group and formation group prepared to discuss.

  • Complete the reading at least one week prior to the large group session so that at a minimum the last week can be spent reflecting and journaling. You can expect up to 200 pages of reading for each session (over a 2-month period).

  • Journal consistently throughout the two month period, revisiting reflection questions multiple times.

  • Read ACTIVELY: underline, highlight, dog tag, and write in the margins of your books and journal as you read.

PARTICIPATE

  • Take an active part in the large group and table discussion at each session. Our sharing will be increasingly personal and vulnerable.

  • As a result, our conversations should be treated with the proper confidentiality, keeping what is shared in group only amongst group members and during group sessions (ie, no discussing another’s personal disclosures with other group members outside of sessions without that member present).

  • We are not only participating by sharing, but also by actively listening to one another.

PRACTICE

  • Incorporate the new spiritual practice over the two-month period in addition to the prior practices we have established.

  • Every participant is asked to make weekly worship a priority, to actively participate in community with other followers of Jesus (such as in a small group at Redemption), and to actively serve on a missional team at Redemption.


SCHEDULE:

YEAR 1: 2025

  • SESSION 1: Embarking on the Journey Together (March 2025)

  • SESSION 2: Being With God (May 2025)

  • SESSION 3: Incorporating Spiritual Practices (July 2025)

  • SESSION 4: Following the Crucified Jesus (September 2025)

  • SESSION 5: Embracing God’s Gifts of Limits (November 2025)

YEAR 2: 2026

  • SESSION 7: Anticipating What’s To Come (January 2026) - session out of order to fit with Advent

  • SESSION 6: Loving One Another (March 2025)

  • SESSION 12: Learning to Lament (May 2026) - session out of order to fit with Lent

  • SESSION 10: Seeking God’s Presence in Silence and Solitude (July 2026) - retreat at University of St Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL

  • SESSION 8: Identifying the False Self (September 2026)

  • SESSION 9: Breaking the Power of the Past (November 2026)

YEAR 3: 2027

  • SESSION 13: Remaining a Calm Presence in an Anxious World (January 2027) - session out of order to fit with holiday season

  • SESSION 11: Putting on Our New Nature (March 2027)

  • SESSION 14: Living Out of Weakness and Vulnerability (May 2027)

  • SESSION 15: Balancing Work and Rest (July 2027)

  • SESSION 16: Appreciating Beauty in God’s Creation (September 2027)

  • SESSION 17: Pursuing Justice in an Unjust World (November 2027)

  • SESSION 18: Creating a Rule of Life (January 2028)

Note: The order of sessions has been modified given the late start in order to keep certain sessions in certain times of the year

SESSION GUIDES:

Featured
SESSION 2 (2025)
SESSION 2 (2025)
SESSION 1 (2025)
SESSION 1 (2025)



PUBLISHED: Tuesday, November 12th, 2024, at 3:50PM

UPDATED: Tuesday, March 11th, 2025, at 1:30PM - updated order and timing of sessions

Ashley Herr
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