Spiritual Formation

Professor Duke Jones

Repetition, Concentration, Comprehension, Reflection

The steps of “Foster’s Four Steps” of Spiritual Study

Comprehension

Understanding Scripture when you study it

Reflection

The significance of what we are studying

Normal Fast

Give up food for a period of time, but not water

Absolute Fast

No water and food

Intermittent Fasting

Limited Fast (giving up red meat)

Literal Meaning of Scripture

Journalistic questions; who, what, when, why, and how

Meditation of Scripture

Centers on internalizing and personalizing the passage

Recollection

“centering down”; Becoming still, to enter into recreating silence

Meditation of Creation

Where the God shows us something of his glory through his creation

Pneumatikoi

Spiritual Gifts and Works of the Spirit

Lectio

Reading

Silencio

Silence

Incarnatio

Action

God’s Kingdom

God’s Will; Yearning to know God’s Will

Provision

“Give us this day our Daily Bread”

Forgiveness

“Forgive us, as we have also forgiven them”

Read, Understand, Action, Change

Steps of Inductive Bible Study

Privacy, Relationship, Immanence/Transcendence, Seeking God’s Kingdom, God’s provision, Forgiveness

Jesus’ Model Prayer

Focus on God, Big Decisions, Crisis, Restore Relationships, Restore Balance in Life

Reasons/Benefits for Fasting

Purifies, Strengthens relationship with God, Clarifies understanding of God’s Will

Results of Christian Meditation

Inner Peace, Confirmation by Others, Effectiveness in Ministry, Joy in Ministry

Four Factors to Discern God’s Call

Service, Leadership, Specific Ministry

Understanding of individual calling and participation in the church, Body of Christ

Call to Follow Christ, contribute Christ’s mission, ministry role, family, church, and community

What do all God’s people have a calling to?