Final Project for Christian Values and Biblical Faith
This final exercise is intended to be a personal learning experience and calls for deeper personal reflection in order for it to be meaningful and beneficial. Please allow sufficient time to go through these steps.
- Provide a summary of the biblical metanarrative (75 words for each “Act” in the Story of God and His World.” Be sure to highlight the main idea(s) of each Act and what that act contributes to the “Story of God and His world.” (Note: A helpful review summary of this metanarrative can be found here: Story-Line of the Bible - Bartholomew) (Gen Ed 6; ePortfolio 20.2, standard 1)
- What is the source of Christian character, values, and ethics? Identify the source of Christian character, values, and ethics. Argue your case by using text from Scripture that identify and illustrate this. (See “Story of God and His World, Act 1, part 1”) (Gen Ed 6; ePortfolio 20.2, standard 2)
- What are the core character traits that flow out of the Biblical Metanarrative? (Gen Ed 6)As you reflect on the entire biblical metanarrative, what do you identify as the core character traits and values – both of God as well as of authentic followers of God – that you see embodied in this Story of God and His World? (For this, you will need to reflect on our entire journey through this story. Of special significance is the discussion of the Sermon on the Mount.)
Identify 5-10 character qualities and values, and provide a 1-2 sentence description and indicate how they are connected to/flow from the Story of God and His World. (1-2 sentences) (Gen Ed 6; ePortfolio 20.2, standard 3)
- When you stand before God at the end of life, what would you wish for him to say to you about how you lived your life?
Reflect back over the course of your life. Are there any quotations, sayings, or verses of Scripture that have been especially significant for you in your life? If so, list them here. Indicate underneath each quotation why it is significant for you. Indicate also if/how you see how these verses or sayings connect to/tie in to the character/values embodied in the Story of God and His World.
In your mind’s eye, review your life from your earliest memories to the present. What were significant events that made a significant impression or were turning points for you on how you view yourself, others, God, your career, etc.? Or what were significant periods of life for you? Briefly describe these and indicate in what way they were significant for you. Then describe the significance it had for you (how it made an impact on you, either positive or negative).
Note: If there is a personal incident that was significant for you that you feel uncomfortable explaining, then simply write “personal incident” and mark the type of impact it had on you in the appropriate right column on the right.
Note: If you want to add another line, simply put your curser in right bottom-most box of the table and press the "Tab" key.
Based on your reflection on your life experiences, what do you discover about how this has influenced your choice of vocation?
In this step, review your reflections above (points 1-3). What core values do you discover? Write down the values that you hold to be the most significant for you. Identify at least six things that you value most in life.
Note: If you have already described these in sufficient detail above, then simply list the core conviction and copy/paste from the section above into the brief explanation. (1-2 sentence explanations)
Below are some questions that will get you to think about your strengths and gifts, which should be key factors in your choice of profession. Personally, I think it is more helpful to think not in terms of “profession” but in terms of “vocation.” The word “vocation” comes from the Latin root, vocare, which means “to call” or “to summon.” This understanding indicates that your “job” is not something that you simply choose for your own personal desires. Rather, it indicates that you sense that you have been called by God to serve humanity with the gifts, strengths, and skill that you have been given by Him.
What are your strengths? That is a challenging question. To answer it thoroughly would take us far beyond the parameters of this class and this assignment. You may have taken some strengths tests that help you discern them, like Strengthsfinders. You may have a sense of what comes naturally for you, what you gravitate toward, and what you find joy and fulfillment in doing. These are indications of strengths and abilities. If you are still unsure, it is extremely helpful to ask people who know you well. Simply ask them, “What do you think I am good at? What do you think are my strengths?” Then answer the following questions.
- What do I think are my greatest strengths and abilities?
- What vocation do you sense you are being drawn toward—even “called” to do? Why do you feel drawn toward this?
Do you have any personal role models in this profession? If so, describe these individuals. If you do not have a role model in this profession, then reflect on other role models you have had in your life – or reflect on someone you admire: What character traits or accomplishments (or . . . ) made them role models for you? What values guided them that stand out to you as significant?
Now we come to the point where we tie all of these previous points together into a summary statement of your own personal mission. Selecting from the above questions, draft your own personal mission statement.
Remember, this is a personal statement. It does not have to include all of the elements above. Write it in a way that it inspires and motivates you. I hesitate to require a certain length for this assignment, since this is such a personal exercise. Some like it short; some prefer detail. In any case, write it in a way that inspires you—and you alone. (In other words, you are not writing to impress me; you are writing to inspire yourself and to keep in focus that which really matters to you.)
Note 1: Some people in previous classes have used the link following link to the “Personal Mission Statement builder” to guide them in writing their own mission statement: http://www.franklincovey.com/msb/. Feel free to use that, if you like.
Note 2: For samples of mission statements from others that might help and inspire you, navigate to the following link and click on the pictures of the individuals [http://www.franklincovey.com/msb/inspired/mission_statement_examples]
Note: In order to give traction to this personal mission statement, it would be important to ask yourself: “How can I live this out in my every-day life?” We don’t have time to work on this in this class. However, if you want to pursue this, one of the best tools I know of for this is Stephen Covey’s book, Seven Habits, that I mention above. This can guide you step-by-step from writing your mission statement to living it out in your daily life.
Speak with one person of faith whom you know that is (or has been) engaged in the vocation that you are anticipating to enter after you graduate. (Note: If you have not chosen a career yet, then interview one person, whom you look up to, who is working in the area of your major, and interview them, using the two questions below.)
- Indicate below:
Ask him or her the following questions:
- What are ethical challenges (top 3 or more) that are inherent in your vocation? (Gen Ed 6; ePortfolio 20.1, standard 1)
- How did you deal with those challenges as a person of faith?
- If you had to do it all over again, what you do? In other words, what advice would you give someone going into this field?
- What advice would you give for how a person should prepare themselves for going into this field?
- What should a person avoid as they prepare themselves for going into this field?
Reflect on the answers that the person you interviewed gave.
- Identify at least two other ethical challenges that are inherent in your future vocation, beyond what the person you interviewed identified.
- How do you think you would deal with the ethical challenges that the person you interviewed identified and the other ethical challenges you also see? Would you respond in the same way as the person you interviewed did, or would you respond differently? Explain your response. (Gen Ed 5b; ePortfolio 20.1, standard 1)
- Reflect on your Workship experience at PBAU: In what ways did you personally benefit from your involvement in workship? What did you learn through your workship involvement and how did this involvement change you?
- What have you learned about servanthood through your Workship/Community Service experience?
- Briefly describe (1-3 sentences) the relationship you see between servanthood and Christian values?
- What place do you hope to give to volunteerism in your lifestyle after you leave PBA? (1-3 sentences)
- Are there particular organizations or community roles that interest you? (1-3 sentences)
- Do you have any suggestions on how to improve the Workship program?
SCALE: 1=lowest rating; 10=highest rating
- SECTION I: Biblical Narrative: How would you rate the value of this part of the Final Project assignment?
(Place an “x” under the number you would rate this.)
- SECTION II: Writing Your Personal Mission Statement: How would you rate the value of this part of the Final Project assignment?
- SECTION III: Your Personal Faith Values and your Future Vocation: How would you rate the value of this part of the Final Project assignment?
- SECTION IV: Giving Back to Society (“Workship” and Beyond): How would you rate the value of this part of the Final Project assignment?
- What parts of this Final Project were especially helpful:
- If you found parts of this Integration Project less helpful or did not connect with you, how would you change it? (If you have not indicated this above)
- Anything else you want to tell me?
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback!!
