Spiritual Formation in Congregations
CS 654Houston Graduate School of Theology
Christian Spirituality
Spiritual FormationFoundations
Spiritual Formation Defined
“The basic core of spiritual formation is an
enabling relationship with God based upon
grace alone” (from The Upward Call, Tracy) “There is no possibility
of spiritual formation apart from
‘intersections’ or encounters with God”
(Tracy)
At the heart of spiritual
development is a carefully nurtured
relationship with God.
To discuss spiritual
formation as an end in
itself,
or as a prescription for reducing
stress, is to miss the primary point.
Dallas Willard says that spiritual formation is . . .
The Spirit-driven process
Of forming the self’s inner world
So that it becomes like the inner being of Christ
Spiritual formation is . . .
Focused entirely on Christ
Through obedience or conformity to
Christ
That arises from inner
transformation
As a result of purposive interaction with God’s
grace in Christ
How is spirituality distinguished from spiritual formation?
Christian spiritual formation is a God-ordained process that shapes our entire person so that we take on the character and being of Christ himself.
Spiritual formation is concerned with the hidden dimension of every human life, the space God has given us to become the person we choose to be. (Richard Foster)
Spirituality informs the choices. When we are open and responsive to the process, our outer life becomes an expression of this inner formation.
Deadening legalisms
Pointless parochialisms
Peculiar modes of dress,
behavior, and organization
Not the point of Christlikeness
External manifestations
Christian formation is real life. If we wall off our Christian formation from real life, we only pretend
Exercise
Jot down a summary of words and ideas to describe spiritual formation in your own words as a reflection on the definitions we have just discussed.
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Spiritual FormationBiblical and Theoretical Foundations
Theoretical Foundations
The difference between being “formed” and being
“transformed”• Formation happens naturally
• Transformation is the result of spiritual formation
Theoretical Foundations
Conformation
Relinquishing control to God
Being compliant and obedient
Takes place at points of “unlikeness” to Christ
Sources of “Formation”
Choices – taking responsibility for
who we have become
Family of origin
Generations
Religious experiences
Culture
Moment in history
Sources of “Transformation” and of “Being Conformed”
Choices based on Kingdom resources
Connection and/or reconnection with
family of origin through the generations
Dependence upon and
interaction with the presence of
Christ
Connection to the Community of Faith (family of God) as a
responsible participant
Renewal of the mind (thinking differently than I had thought)
Key Biblical Passages
The goal is to become fully formed (transformed, conformed) . . .• Ephesians 4:11-16• 2 Corinthians 3:15-18• Romans 12:1-2
To the image of Christ• Colossians 3:1-3• Philippians 2:1-8; 3:17-21
The dynamics of spirituality
• With God• With others• With self
Relational dynamic
(connecting)
• We are who we are but
• We change and grow as
• We are spiritually formed by God
Transformational dynamic
(becoming) • Who we are becoming on the inside naturally and inevitably finds expression in outward behavior
Vocational dynamic (doing)
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