I have closed down that page since I have finishedthe class.
Here is the summary and the quotations from the books…
Spiritual formation class
Quotations from Dwight L Grubbs: Beginnings
- S/F is a journey, a pilgrimage… …into Christ and into ministry.
- Often we know (history, Theology, Bible)as people in ministry,
- Often we do (Homiletics, counseling, administration)
- but we are not being (self awareness, integrity, spirituality)
- In order to be effective ministers we need to know some things, be able to do some things, but most important of all, we need to be a certain kind of person.
- Being in Christ is the foundation, upon which knowledge and skills can be added in order to support an effective ministry.
- The most important vow we could take would be the commitment to inner transformation.
- we tend to forget about retreat, relaxing and we overwork ourselves…like we forgot about grace.
GODs best love letter to the world is a church composed of spiritual people
I. FOUNDATIONS OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION:
- Salvation: Experiential and intellectual…both needed
- Spiritual Theology: Used to be called ascetical or mystical theology, few people call it Formation theology> Intentional spiritual development. Spiritual theology has to do with Christ’s redemptive work in the individuals soul. It fits under applied or practical theology. “To be involved in the “outer world” of work and ministry without proper attention attention to the “inner world”of devotion and personal growth, is to risk a vocational disaster.”
- Mysticism and asceticism: Mysticism is the belief that one comes to know God by putting oneself before God in open receptivity to what God would do in the soul…achieved by quietly waiting. Asceticism is the belief that one comes to know God by working at it, by practicing the disciplines of self-denial and separation… achieved by human effort. THE CONTEMPORARY BELIEVER is open to the unexplainable workings of GOD, and experiences a direct communion with God… this is the modern mysticist. THE MODERN ASCETIST is one who denies self in such ways as living simply. achieved by less success orientation and more service orientation.
- Historical Foundations: Experiental (mystical) way of Salvation… Luther…
- Rationalism: many famous protestant (and not just protestant*in my opinion)theologians are denying the mystical part with rational arguments… But a personal relationship with anyone involves, emotions, desires, that often can be hardly explained with the ratio…
- Relatedness: To become involved in the practice of spiritual formation is to become involved with people. It is primarily a relationship or more accurately a combination of relationships… Or with the word from proverbs: “there is wisdom in multitudes of counsel” Looners can miss spiritual direction… The “Ideal image” is that we can be in a perfect union with GOD, we can imitate Christ, and we can he life in the Spirit. : The “Ideal practice” insists on a healthy balance between one’s experience with God and One’s service to God and the whole inhabited Earth. MARK 3:13-14 JESUS models spiritual formation. The first and the best program…”to be with Him“
- Process: it suggests that there is a beginning point, that there are goals, and there are procedures, but also that the spiritual formation is never really finished. We are becomers but we never totally become… There is always a need for more growth, insight, cultivation of gifts, development of maturity. The minister (I believe that it is true for every person) needs to decide to become formed by: -scripture, the church, and the Spirit… ( Be aware of 5 things… page 36.) Spiritual transformation is mainly God’s domain. Spiritual formation is our feeble attempts to cooperate with the gracious initiatives of a loving God, to the end that we more nearly live our lives “in Christ”.
DISCIPLINE:
1. GOD gives graceously
2. It does matter how and what we think for it influences our actions…
3. We need a game plan if we are to grow in discipline
I. GIFTS:
GODS gift is that we have the potentionals to learn, grow and change. To become.
II. THINKING:
Our mindset shapes our decisions and commitements
Holiness is a way of living in a vital relationship with the LORD, not a set of rules or etc.
Holiness is an adventure, a journey, a pilgrimage. Not a burden.
LIST OF DISCIPLINES: (are what we do in order to grow in CHRIST)
First list taken from Richard Foster:
I. Inward Disciplines:
1. Meditation
2. Prayer
3. Fasting
4. Study
II. Outward Disciplines:
5. Simplicity
6. Solitude
7. Submission
8. Service
III. Corporate Disciplines:
9. Confession
10. Worship
11. Guidance
12.Celebration
HE ADDS the 9 Gifts of the Spirit from Galatians 5:16-25
IV. Character disciplines:
Disciplines that develop a God-like character, providing evidences of the Spirit of GOD.
13. Love
14. Joy
15. Peace
16. Patience
17. Kindness
18. goodness
19. faithfulness
20.gentleness
21. Self-control
…and the last five he calls:
V. The ministry disciplines:
22. Witnessing
23. caring
24. Visioning
25.Leading
26. Equpping
Significant areas we need to pay attention to are:
1. Prioirities
We can chose a lifestyle that enhances personal and spiritual growth, or we can choosework-habits and attitudes that wear away at the soul.
Priority pie:
2. Time menagement
If we do not manage our time, others will or the circumstances will.
HINT: – make daily and weekly time schedules
- Discern: what needs to be done and what is that someone says you need to do it
- Expository teaching reduces the preparatory time(Haha, I like this one… I have never thought or learned to do any other way… )
3. Leisure
Wrong understanding is the biggest problem…
-too much pull of needs
-too much push of theology .
4.Physical fittness:
- Reduce salt and sugar
- Cut snacks and sweets
- drink a lot of water
- much fruit and veggies
- WALK
5.WRITE
it should be a daily discipline
it produces clarity, insight, growth, it is therapeutic, produces wholeness.
DIRECTION:
(Spiritual direction)
1/ a spiritual director is a person who at my invitation monitors my spiritual developement.
2/ a spiritual director is a spiritual mentor.(friend, soul friend, mentor, etc.)
WHY THE NEED for spiritual direction?
1. Words like Community, congregation, covenant, etc are all over the Bible.
Mark 3:13-14 to abode in HIM, to be with HIM
2. Socio-psichologicalreasons:
THe human race was created to live in community
two basic needs we have: – TO love and to be loved
- to speak and to be spoken to
3 . historical reasons:
History validates the use of spiritual direction.
4. Biblical reasons:
N.T.
JESUS provided us with examples
- perfect model who practiced spiritual disciplines
- the disciples learned from there mentor…
O.T.
I. Samuel 3:1-21
Eli and Samuel… Mentor and disciple. great picture
Spiritual friends are:
- mentors of the devotional life
- Fellow-pilgrims on the spiritual journey
- guides who walk with us through struggles
-teachers who listen, evaluate and study with us,
- witnesses who share what GOD is doing in their lives
- directors who guide us to resoureces, urge us, and confront patiently.
- creators who inspire us the will to go on, and the courage to wait.
SPIRITUAL SAINT ARE NOT:
- Super saints
- Persons who will do the praying for another
- givers of quick, easy answers
- dispensers of advice.
- psychotherapists or counselors,
- convenient “dumping” places,
- Managers of another’s spiritual life.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
We are free, but our freedom is not an excuse for lack of accountability…
As Christians we will give an account before GOD.
Special importance for those involved in ministry…
Models and Mentors page 98
A Mentor:
- cares about you as a person
- guides you to growth resources
- prays with and for you
- confronts you firmly but lovingly
- provides encouragement
- cultivates your creativity
- assists you in examining your motives
- demonstrates hope and optimism
PRAYER page 115
-Prayer and ministry are inseparable
- Praying and reading of the word go together
Two kinds of prayers:
-Active: I am doing the talking I am sending my requests
-Receptive: more listening, less talking
One does not need to speak in order to pray.
Models:
- Our father
- Jesus Prayer: (pg.121) “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”
Position…
Takes it from Richard Foster: Palms up and down page 128
WRITE A JOURNAL
“Our enemy majors in 3 things: Noise, hurry, crowds”
Knowing about GOD is not the goal.Meeting is. pg. 160
“God Does not ask anything of you except that you let yourself go and let GOD be GOD in you”
Meister Eckhart
Filed under: Christianity, Theology | Tagged: Spiritual formation, Spirituality
