BIBLICAL AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Transcription

1 BIBLICAL AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL FORMATION Dr. Kenneth Boa LECTURE 1 An Overview of Spiritual Formation (Conformed to His Image = C, 18-24) The growth in interest in spirituality, and an overview of the eight facets of spiritual formation. Relational Spirituality: The Vertical, Internal, and Horizontal Dimensions (C, 25-53) From a Christian metaphysical position, God is a relational being, a communion of three Persons. God is creator and sustainer of all that exists, and is the originator of a personal relationship with human beings. Our high and holy calling as humans is, therefore, to respond to God s loving initiatives. Christian theology asserts that by loving God completely, humans discover who and whose they are as they come to see themselves as the Trinitarian God sees them. In this way, humans become secure enough to become other-centered rather than selfcentered, and this enables them to become compassionate givers rather than selfish grabbers. The Vertical: Loving God Completely The Internal: Loving Ourselves Correctly The Horizontal: Loving Others Compassionately LECTURE 2 Paradigm Spirituality: Cultivating an Eternal Vs. a Temporal Perspective (C, 55-71) This lecture contrasts any temporal value system with Christian value systems based on eternal values. This suggests that there is a need for a paradigm shift from a merely cultural to a biblically-inspired and transformed cultural way of seeing life. The experience of human mortality can help humans transfer their hopes from the seen to the unseen, and realize the eternal preciousness of present

2 2 opportunities. These presuppositions shape Christian perspectives; these perspective shape Christian priorities, and these priorities shape Christian practice. Life Is a Journey, But Where Are We Going? Can We Trust God? What it Takes to Live Well and Finish Well (C, ) LECTURE 3 Disciplined Spirituality: Engaging in the Historical Disciplines (C, 73-97) There has been a resurgence of interest in Protestant Christianity internationally with the classical disciplines of the spiritual life, so this lecture looks at the reasons for this recent trend and the benefits of the various disciplines. It also focuses on the needed balance as presented in biblically-inspired wisdom between radical dependence on God and these personal and corporate disciplines, discussing the dynamics of obedience and the application of these disciplines in the midst of contemporary life. Dependence and Discipline What Are the Spiritual Disciplines? LECTURE 4 Motivated Spirituality: A Set of Biblical Incentives (C, ) Most people are regularly motivated to satisfy their needs for security, significance, and fulfillment, but they may turn to what Christian teachings consider to be the wrong places to get their needs met. This lecture presents the Christian option of looking to Christ rather than to factors related only to a secularized world in this age to meet these needs. A study of the Christian Scriptures reveals a number of biblical motivators: these include reverential fear and awe, love and gratitude, rewards, identity, purpose and hope, and longing for reconciliation with God. From this Christian perspective, the human task is to be more motivated by the things God declares to be important than by the things the contemporary secularized dimension of the world in this age says are important. Why Do We Do What We Do?

3 3 Love, Gratitude, and Rewards Identity, Purpose, Hope, and Longing for God LECTURE 5 Holistic Spirituality: Every Component of Life under the Lordship of Christ (C, ) There is a general tendency among many contemporary persons in various cultures to treat Christianity as a component of life along with other components such as family, work, and finances. This compartmentalization fosters a dichotomy between the secular and the spiritual. Christian interpretations of biblical alternatives are to understand the implications of Christ s lordship over every aspect of life in such a way that even the most mundane components of life can become expressions of the life of Christ in us. The Centrality of Christ An Integrated Life Relationships, Work, and Society Stewardship and Purpose LECTURE 6 Process Spirituality: Process versus Product, Being versus Doing (C, ) In our materially advancing and information-seeking contemporary cultures, we increasingly tend to be human doings (that is, humans pursuing many activities that fill up our daily schedules) rather than human beings. The secularized dimension of the world in this age tells us that what we achieve and accomplish determines who we are, but the Christian Scriptures teach that who humans can be in Christ should be the basis for what humans do. The dynamics of Christian spiritual growth are inside-out rather than outside-in. This lecture talks about becoming faithful to the process of life rather than living from one product to the next. It also focuses on what it means to abide in Christ and to practice Christ s presence. Process versus Product

4 4 Being versus Doing Trust, Gratitude, and Contentment LECTURE 7 Spirit-filled Spirituality: Walking in the Power of the Spirit (C, ) Although there are divergent views among Christian theologians about the nature and functions of spiritual gifts, Spirit-centered and biblically-informed contemporary Christian intellectuals in many cultures agree that until recently, the role of the Holy Spirit has been somewhat neglected as a central dynamic of the Christian spiritual life. This lecture considers how Christians seek to appropriate the love, wisdom, and power of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, and stresses the biblical implications of the Holy Spirit as a personal presence rather than a mere force. Walking in the Power of the Spirit The Gifts of the Spirit Openness and Discernment: A Balance LECTURE 8 Corporate Spirituality: Encouragement, Accountability, and Worship (C, ) Christians come to a vital faith as individual persons, but grow through their disciplined engagement with local Christian communities. This lecture discusses the need for community, the challenges faced by Christian in contemporary cultures and the Christian impulse for creating and preserving community. It will elaborate the basic nature and major purposes of Christian churches, including soul care, servant leadership, interpersonal accountability, and corporate renewal. The Need for Community The Nature and Purpose of the Church Soul Care, Leadership, Accountability, and Renewal

5 5 LECTURE 9 The Richness of the Christian Heritage: Overview and Personal Reflections (C, ) This lecture outlines a brief history of spirituality by tracing prominent approaches to the spiritual life through the ancient, medieval, and modern churches. Twelve recurring issues and extremes emerge from this overview. We will conclude with some personal reflections about the variety of approaches that have illuminated my own spiritual journey.