Spiritual Formation

Friday, November 18, 2011 3:50 PM

1. Formation through the Ordinary a. Spiritual Formation is certainly a multifacotrial process that requires us to constantly ask God what we should be doing, rather than relying on our power and skill b. Corollary 1 - Community Spirtual Fomration i. All persons are formed spiritually. It may be in either a positive or negative direction. This formation may involve the cultivation of virtues that promote trust in God and foster social compassion or may leave personas wary, self-protective, and unable to promote the welfare of society. c. Spiritual Life i. Nurture 1) Like a plant. Symmetry between us, agriculture and God and His people 2) Take works, care, and pruning cultivating the ground ii. The journey 1) Training Discipline and rigor: a) Adopt singular focus on Christ b) Importance of Training c) Endurance d) Following the rules to not be disqualified e) Winning an imperishable crown 2) Corpororate and Personal struggle 3) Don't let the armor get dusty (Eph 6:13) - use all of it! iii. Death and resurrection 1) Noah planted a garden and a vineyard after the flood 2) From death to resurrection 3) I have been crucified. But Christ lives in me. d. "Christian spiritual formation refers to the intentional communal process of growing in our relationship with God and becoming conformed to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. e. Corollary 2 - Community Spiritual Formation i. Christian spiritual formation: 1) Intentional 2) Communal 3) Requires our engagement 4) Is accomplished by the Holy Spirit 5) Is for the glory of God and the service of others and 6) Has as its means and end the imitation of Christ f. Corollary 3 - The gospel should be part of every step of Christianity, while non-believer, pre disciple, discipler, etc. i. Returning to the cross in awareness of our sin, rebellion, and brokenness is the bedrock of spiritual formation 2. Curriculum for Christ-likeness a. Spiritual formation does not take place primarily in small groups and Sunday School classes; instead, it mostly takes place in the well-lived and everyday events of life p 38. b. There's no formula. c. The heart of spiritual formation is to teach and train people to imitate Christ d. Christianity is not an abstract way of life, Christ presented tangible applications of living a life worthy of the Gospel e. Samuel, the foil to the priest's sons, is an imitator of Christ. f. We need to be careful not to make imitating Christ out to be just carrying out our Spiritual disciplines. g. Remember the Spirit's role. It brings about imitation. h. Corollary 4 - Christina Spiritual formation seeks to foster a joyful apprenticeship in which we learn
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h. Corollary 4 - Christina Spiritual formation seeks to foster a joyful apprenticeship in which we learn to live out the great invitations of Jesus, especially those concerning the life of prayer an love. i. "The Christian stands, not under the dictatorship of a legalistic "You ought," but in the magnetic field of Christian freedom, under the empowering of the "You may." - Helmut Thielicke i. The freedom of forgiveness j. Christ tells us several ways to imitate: i. Love God & Others ii. Steward the Gospel iii. Extend His compassion iv. Worship v. Think rightly about God k. Receiving, Remembering, Responding, Relating - > Community Formation l. 6 myths about spiritual formation i. Mountain-top experience Can't work just as a filling station for the next season. 3. Foundations of Receiving a. We must have an openness/brokenness in order to be filled and continually trained in imitating Christ b. Three lived perspectives are necessary for the kind of spiritual openness that promotes true receiving: i. A deep sense of our private and corporate sin. ii. An awareness of the reality of our yearnings and how the embrace of God helps us live with these. iii. A deep-seated conviction that all growth comes from grace. c. Formative work of teaching the word, etc. other side is creating a receptive spirit on the part of the people. View of yearnings v. view of sin plot. d. Sin management e. Thoughtful self-discipline f. Realistically trying g. Optimistic brokenness - ideal for formation h. Corollary 5 - the fertile field for formation is a community genuinely aware of the depth of their sin and the reality of their spiritual thirst. True formation requires that the community deeply understand that they cannot cure the sickness of their souls through willpower alone. i. [[ Quotes from p. 64 ]] j. Exiled from Eden. k. Brokenness eliminates the need for a self-preserving agenda - Julie A. Gorman l. " A Deep Longing for Purity" unfortunately very true. m. We have a thirst, a vat to be filled . n. We use idols as a means to be filled, to find relief, and ultimately cheat Christ of being our source. o. Corollary 6 - Our soul-thirst is powerful, and it makes all of us idolaters. The Bible sees idolatry as a universal problem. Communities have a unique way of embodying a corporate pride that blinds us to forms of idolatry. Also, faith communities can challenge idolatrous practices like racism in ways an isolated Christian seldom will. p. "We must stop using the face that we cannot earn grace (whether for justification or for sanctification) as an excuse for not energetically seeking to receive grace. - Dallas Willard q. Sun-born healing. Sometimes we only let small bits of our body exposed to the sun, when really for the healing to occur you need all of it displayed in the light. ->Jaundice 4. To Foster Receiving in a Community a. The older brother. Don't become him b. Offer hope c. Corollary 7 - Worship with prayer and praise and opportunities for confession, repentance, receiving the sacraments, hearing and giving testimonies of God's activity, and learning/challenge is the most important context of community formation. d. If you want brokenness, you must be broken. Can't be a lifesaver You DONT have it all together. i. 2 Cor 12:10 e. Not about looking good, but seeking help and restoration
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e. Not about looking good, but seeking help and restoration f. Corollary 8 - "Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ" Submission, restorative discipline, and accountable spiritual leadership are ancient formative practices that mark healthy formative churches. 5. Foundations of Remembering a. It is crucial to remember what Christ has done in our lives. b. Remember what happened to the Israelites because the forgot c. Rock Altar's purpose d. Never forget the mighty acts God did. e. p106 f. Spiritual formation includes increasing our awareness of our need for grace. g. We must resist our "natural" inclination to think that we can handle our sin. h. In pursuit of God's grace because you can never have enough. Am I in pursuit of this? i. Sam - his cross was becoming smaller and smaller j. Marias perfectionism & confrontation k. Susan quits sorority and goes pro-bono work, but no grace. 6. To Foster Remembering in a Community a. Paul's priority example of remembering what God did for His people b. Isaiah 42:16 c. Benefits of spiral curriculum, going further in and deeper still in revisited areas. d. Willingness to be guided by others Jn 21:18 e. Leaders must make themselves available for relationship. f. Gaurding against bitterness g. Types of Remembering in a Community : i. Small Groups ii. Annoited leadership iii. Spirit within, Spirit Among h. Bottom paragraph on pg 126 i. Pg133 testimony guidelines j. "A disciple of Christ is one who: i. Believes the doctrine ii. Rests on his sarcifice iii. Imbibes his spirit iv. Imitates his example" - MG Easton k. Careful with Catechesis l. Corollary 9 - Christian spiritual formation should always be more than the teaching ministry of the church, but never less. True formational teaching is compressive, deeply orthodox, healthy, and anointed by the Spirit of God. m. Centering praying -realignment of the will with is through prayer during anxious, worrisome moments. i. Learned in a group setting - retreats, to help grasp concept and the counter-cultural aspect n. Necessity of Scripture in our lives. o. Memorization can be very helpful p. Remembering through different methods can infuse Christ in every moment of our lives, thus increasing our awareness of needing His Grace. 7. Foundation of Responding a. Responding to the Commission b. 148 bottom paragraph - our purpose challenged c. The importance of learning from experience d. Luther's Catechism was to help instruct and prevent ignorance e. We are all called to serve and worship f. Go beyond the instruction - Spener's Pia Desideria i. Study Scripture ii. Instruct others Heb 5:12 iii. Serve one another
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iii. Serve one another g. Corollary 10 - True Christian spiritual formation forms Christians with a deep identity and engagement with the church worldwide h. Consumerism doesn't work in the Reformation concept of the believer-priest. Pg 157 i. Remember our Core. Christ. His Power. His Grace. 8. To Foster Responding in Community a. "A spiritual community, a church, is full of broken people who turn their chairs toward each other because they know they cannot make it alone." b. Holiness & Power does not reflect mere sin management c. See 163 d. Rooted. e. Don't use your will to say "no." f. Key properties of teaching: i. Biblical Focus ii. It is not all about me. iii. Grace-based responding iv. Empathy v. Evangelism g. Corollary 11 - Evangelism is an essential part of spiritual formation. Evangelism, as people are called to faith in Christ, is the initial act of Christian formation. The act of evangelism is a powerful means of formation for the believer who reaches out in love to share the good news. h. Discernment. i. See 169 for iffy subject j. Encourage reflection, but not over-analyzing. k. 173 iffy spot l. Corollary 12 - Conflict has a unique way of forming us. In conflict our natural patterns of defensiveness arise, and in this vulnerable place we can experience much growth as we learn that Jesus' teachings are so sensible. 9. Foundations of Relating a. Intentional placement b. Do not isolate for extended duration c. We need the church far more than it needs us d. Confession of Jesus is Lord does not result in inaction e. See 179 f. Church i. Meaningful worship ii. Compassionate service iii. Public witness to the Lord iv. Discipleship g. See 182/183 h. It's more than just showing up for group. "We need to be aware that no single program or spiritual activity will be a means of healing grace for everyone." i. There needs to be a willing to engage - a willing ness and desire to love - that makes grace available in tehse settings. 10. To Foster Relating in a Community a. Key is availability & openness to being used by God for His Method. b. The unknown influence of Authors, mentors, etc. i. Seasonal c. Spiritual friendships i. Sharing and support ii. Continuing d. Those used to large impersonal settings where only knowledge and surface level howdy-dos go on will never experience the deeper challenge to grow and intimately know fellowship. e. Careful about gossip. f. Secrecy in your acts - against boasting
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f. Secrecy in your acts - against boasting g. Importance of community to promote and ensure growth

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