Tag: Spiritual Formation

Evaluating “Spiritual Formation”: Is it a better term than “Making Disciples?”

December 4, 2011

Musing on Saturday.  (3 minute read) Why Spiritual Formation is a Bad Substitute for Discipleship Here’s my take on why the substitution of the term “spiritual formation” for “discipleship,” is not an improvement and actually exacerbates a problem the Church in America already has with the term discipleship. If we were to survey most American … More Evaluating “Spiritual Formation”: Is it a better term than “Making Disciples?”

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Sojourners Change the World, So Let’s Not be Settlers

December 2, 2011

Weekend Musings Conclusion:  Sojourners Change the World (Part 6) One result of living like sojourners, knowing we are bathed in the blood of the cross, and identified with the sacrifice of our Savior and desiring to emulate Him as close as possible, will be a powerful stimulus to less homogeneity in our congregations and fewer … More Sojourners Change the World, So Let’s Not be Settlers

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A Cross-shaped People: The Goal of Christian Discipleship

December 1, 2011

Continued from Yesterday “What is a Christian: How Should He View himself and His Mission? (part 4) Today: (Part 5) We are a “cross-bought and cross-shaped people.” Let me start by citing a number of Scriptures. First, on the “cross-bought” nature of our existence, Paul speaking to the Ephesian elders says this: Acts 20:28 “Be … More A Cross-shaped People: The Goal of Christian Discipleship

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When a Christian understands the cross-shapedness of his calling, what happens?

November 29, 2011

Continued from Yesterday “What is a Christian: How Should He View Himself and His Mission? (part 3) To be a sojourner, to be a fisher of men, is to understand the cross-shapedness of our calling. We must train our people to be driven by a vision of the cross. Believers in Christ who know, who … More When a Christian understands the cross-shapedness of his calling, what happens?

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The Difference Between a Sojourner and a Settler

November 28, 2011

Continued from Monday (What is a Christian? How should he view himself and his mission? Part 1) “What is a Christian: How Should He View himself and His Mission? (Part 2)     A settler, like a sojourner, is a person who is on a journey.  My image, as a white-middle class 49 years old,* who grew … More The Difference Between a Sojourner and a Settler

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What is a Christian? How Should He View Himself and His Mission?

November 27, 2011

Monday Discussion How do you think about yourself and your life as a Christian? Who are you in Christ? What is a biblical way of thinking about the answer to those questions that can transform your spiritual life? Some more questions What is the self identity of the Christian? How is the believer to view … More What is a Christian? How Should He View Himself and His Mission?

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Is Meditation a Key to Spiritual Formation?

November 24, 2011

Thursday is for Discipleship “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:3, ESV) Meditation on the life of Christ, specifically on the suffering of Christ seems to be a key ingredient to the writer of Hebrews’ disciple-growing strategy. Do you know what … More Is Meditation a Key to Spiritual Formation?

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How Quickly Should Those Who Follow Learn to Fish?

November 16, 2011

Thursday is for Discipleship How quickly did Jesus expect those who believed in him or those whom he touched to begin to tell others about him to others?   One of my former students (Matt) put it this way: “’Follow me’ – that’s discipleship. ‘and I will make you fishers of men’ – that’s the … More How Quickly Should Those Who Follow Learn to Fish?

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