Spiritual Formation Midterm

What is spiritual formation? What is its goal?

the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself

What are some metaphors to describe spiritual formation?

• clay + potter

• gardener + branches

• good shepherd + sheep

What does the Bible say about spiritual formation?

• God desires for us to have life and have it to the fullest

What are some reasons why people don’t grow spiritually?

• they havent witnessed authentic transformation

• they are stuck in sin

• they lack the intention to be transformed

What are Willard’s six aspects of human life?

1) Thought (images, concepts, judgements, inferences)

2) Feeling (sensations, emotions)

3) Choice (will, decisions, character)

4) Body (actions, interactions with the physical world)

5) Social Context (personal and structural relations to others)

6) Soul (the factor that integrates all of the other aspects to form one life)

What does it mean to see ourselves as ruined?

“We must see the soul and the person in its ruined condition, with its malformed and dysfunctional mind, feelings, body, and social relations, before we can understand that it must be delivered and reformed and how that can be done”

How does sin affect humanity? Does it affect value

“even in its ruined condition, a human being is regarded by God as

something immensely worth saving. Sin does not make it worthless, but only

lost.”

• An offense/action against God

• wrongdoing

• “Choice is where sin dwells.”

What is self-rejection vs. self-denial

self-denial is the denial of what I want, while self-rejection is the denial of who I am

What does Willard think are misguided approaches to spiritual formation?

• We can change without “inner transformation”

• We will always be rotten sinners. There is no hope or expectation of change.

• We can save ourselves by our own merit