LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Spiritual Formation and Discipleship Paper
Submitted to Dr. Jonathan Geukgeuzian,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500-B03
Discipleship Ministries
by
Not Me
January 23, 2022
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................1
3-Directional Love and the Whole Person ...................................................................................1
Walking In and Under the Control of the Holy Spirit ..................................................................3
Personal Growth Assessment and Reflection ...............................................................................4
Habits and Disciplines ..................................................................................................................6
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................8
Bibliography .................................................................................................................................9
ii
Introduction
This paper will examine the importance of spiritual formation and how it relates to
discipleship. Early and Dempsey point out, “The goal of spiritual formation is to help you live
the life God intended.”1 As a believer, one is called not to merely float through life, but to join in
the Kingdom Work which God has planned (Ephesians 2:10) and is enacting at this present
moment. Spiritual formation is not simply a collection of spiritual activities for the sake of
themselves. The practice of spiritual disciplines is not an end in itself. Instead, one must come to
embrace the idea that “Spiritual formation is the process of transformation that occurs as a
believer becomes more and more like Jesus.”2 This is enacted and lived out for the believer in
three specific areas; loving God, loving one another, and loving your neighbor. The next section
will examine these three areas in closer detail.
3-Directional Love and the Whole Person
Spiritual Formation is a partnership in which the believer works in tandem with the Holy
Spirit to be molded more and more into the image of Jesus. Early and Dempsey plainly state, “As
we are introduced to him [God] and as we spend time with him, we should become more like
him and become more loving.”3 This growth in love is seen happening as one interacts on three
levels of love towards a greater spiritual growth; loving God (Upward), loving one another
(Inward), and loving your neighbors (Outward).4
1 Dave Early and Rod Dempsey, Spiritual Formation Is…: How to Grow in Jesus with Passion
and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018).
https://app.logos.com/books/LLS%3A9781462776764/references/biblio.at%3DMeasured%2520by%2520Spiritual
%2520Fruit%7Cau%3DEarley%2C%2520Dave?layout=reading.
2
Early and Dempsey, Spiritual Formation Is.
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.
1
The first and greatest commandment according to Jesus is to “love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” (Matthew 22:37). This is an
all-encompassing love which holds nothing back directed towards God. It is to place Him at the
forefront above all other things one could desire or need. Next the believer is commanded to love
others. This comes in two parts; loving one another (believers) and loving your neighbors as
yourself. As one practices the act of loving one another, believers are built up in the faith, and the
church becomes a witness to the Glory of God in Jesus. This then shows to one’s neighbors,
those outside of the Body of Christ, that God is “living among us, and the visible presence of
Christ begins to be seen and felt in our community.”5 As the believer loves their neighbor by
sharing the gospel and acts of mercy, the testimony of the power of God’s presence can be
affirmed by those outside of the church and a “complete picture of what a spiritual formed
follower of Jesus”6 may be seen.
Growing in these three areas affects the whole person as one is called to “love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength,” (Mark 12:30). One’s mind is transformed and renewed as one engages with Scripture
and thinks on things that honor and glorify God (Philippians 4:8). The body of the believer,
which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), is surrendered and one is to use their
hands, feet, strength, speech, etc. to love and glorify God as they love others, serving and caring
for them. The spirit is engaged as Early and Dempsey challenge the believer to “work out our
salvation by daily investing in habits and disciplines that will feed the Spirit and starve the
flesh.” And finally, one’s soul, the seat of emotions and will, will be “renewed/restored… by
practicing good habits (rehabituation) that feed the Spirit and breaking any habits that feed the
5 Ibid.
6
Ibid.
2
flesh (dehabituation)”7 such as loving God, one another, and your neighbor. This of course
cannot be done on one’s own, and the believer must partner with the Holy Spirit to see this all
come to fruition.
Walking In and Under the Control of the Holy Spirit
Key to one’s spiritual formation is the partnership with the Holy Spirit. James Wilhoit
writes, “Christian spiritual formation refers to the intentional communal process of growing in
our relationship with God and becoming conformed to Christ through the power of the Holy
Spirit,”8 (emphasis added). As one’s spiritual development is a spiritual task (as the name
implies), one’s connectedness with the Holy Spirit is a key issue. For those who are not
connected with the Holy Spirit, such as an unbeliever, they cannot respond to the things of God,
specifically spiritual development. As Paul reminds his readers in Romans 8:7-8, “For the mind
that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it
cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”9 In order for one to grow in their spiritual
development, one must be walking in and under the control of the Holy Spirit.
As one submits themselves to the working of the Holy Spirit, one will continue to grow
in their spiritual development. Again, turning to Paul’s letter to the Romans it is revealed, “You,
however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone
who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although
the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness,” (Romans 8:9-10). It
is essential to the life of the believer that they walk in and under the control of the Holy Spirit if
7 Ibid.
8
James C. Wilhoit, Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ through Community
(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008), 23.
9
Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway, 2007).
3
they are to please God. Chan and Platt correctly note, “Unless the [Holy] Spirit gives us the
power to faithfully follow Jesus, we will follow in the footsteps of disobedient Israel.”10 Again,
one cannot develop spiritually in a healthy, God glorifying manner apart from the Holy Spirit.
One’s walking in and under the control of the Holy Spirit will produce spiritual fruit.
Early and Dempsey observe, “You can’t have spiritual formation without the high-level activity
of the Holy Spirit, including the production of spiritual fruit through us”11 while Donald Whitney
explains it simply as, “The presence of the Holy Spirit cause all those in whom he resides to have
a new holy hunger they didn’t have before.”12 This hunger will help to produce things such as
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
(Galatians 5:22-23). The believer who is partnered with the Holy Spirit will long to live in ways
that bring pleasure to God, submitting to Him, and being alive to God’s work and will. In short,
walking in and under the control of the Holy Spirit will more fully mold the believer into the
image of the Messiah Jesus Christ.
Personal Growth Assessment and Reflection
According to Early and Dempsey, “Spiritual formation is the process of becoming more
and more like Jesus in word, thought, attitude, and action. We become more like Jesus as we love
God with our whole heart, love our brothers and sisters in the faith, and sacrificially love our
neighbors.”13 Like anything one does, finding points to measure growth helps to improve in an
area one is working on. This is true as someone exercises, possibly tracking the miles ran or
weight lifted to see if there is an increase, decrease, or plateau. It is also true if one is building a
10 Francis Chan and David Platt, Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples, (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook,
2012), 285.
11
Early and Dempsey, Spiritual Formation Is.
12
Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2014), 3.
13 Early and Dempsey, Spiritual Formation Is.
4
structure, seeing first foundations go in, then framing, wiring, insulation, sheetrock, and so forth.
It is also true as it comes to spiritual growth and formation.
If one seeks to become more like Jesus in word, thought, attitude, and action, then one
needs to ask of themselves how they are doing in accomplishing those things. Like Spiritual
Disciplines, assessments for spiritual growth are tools for growth and need to be partnered with
the work of the Holy Spirit. If for no other reason than creating a baseline to begin to compare
and measure our growth, taking a step by participating in some sort of growth assessment can be
a key way to help one realize where they are. This in turn can help to point out areas that are
strong, where one more naturally gravitates toward success because of personality types, as well
as areas of weakness, where one may need to put more effort as they partner with God in their
spiritual growth.
In the process of taking the Personal Growth Assessment, this author was surprised to
discover some of the areas of both strength and weakness. Overall, the biggest strength area was
in loving others (Inward). Only once did this author score less than a five in this grouping. It was
in the area of confessing to other believers. While this author spends time daily confessing, it is
not often to other believers. While this could be excused since there was a recent change in
churches, this author has to admit he tends to feel he cannot be that authentic with others in his
life. Interestingly, this author scored highest in praying daily for other believers, so admittedly
these weak area in the Inward section is probably more related to the sin of pride than anything
else.
The area which was the weakest overall for the author of this paper was the area of loving
God (Upward). This came as a deep shock and has caused some serious wrestling over the
discovery. While some of the low scoring in the individual questions were connected to
5
organization and planning (systematically memorizing, daily prayer time and plan, dated prayer
requests), and some were connected to being one’s own worst critic (thus perhaps scoring
harsher for self than would be done for another), this author has to admit there are some serious
deficiencies which need to be addressed. But again, as stated above, finding these points to
measure can help to bring about growth. And as this author continues to partner with the Holy
Spirit in his spiritual formation, some of these areas of weakness can receive more attention.
Thankfully as Putman, Harrington and Coleman remind, “being a disciple is a learning process
that never ends.”14
Habits and Disciplines
In order to address and promote growth as a disciple through spiritual formation, this
author needs to implement some habits and disciplines. Practicing these habits and disciplines is
not done for its own sake. Instead, it is done to help to be molded more into the image of Jesus.
Early and Dempsey warn, “The point of practicing a spiritual discipline is to position yourself so
the Holy Spirit can transform you. Practicing the disciplines is not an end it itself. The goal is
Christlikeness. The disciplines are merely a means to the end.”15 Whitney agrees as he observes,
“So while we cannot be godly without the practice of the Disciplines, we can practice the
Disciplines without being godly if we see them as ends and not means.”16 This author desperately
desires to avoid this, and so with careful consideration of the previous section what is to follow is
disciplines to help stimulate growth in the three areas of Upward, Inward, and Outward - with the
purpose of being formed more into the image of Jesus.
14 Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church
to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013). https://app.logos.com/books/LLS
%3A9780310492634/offsets/76763.
15
Early and Dempsey, Spiritual Formation Is.
16 Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, 9.
6
First, in light of the Personal Growth Assessment in the area of love for God (Upward),
this author will seek to regularly (once per month for 12 hours) disconnect from the world in
order to connect with Jesus by practicing silence and solitude. According to Whitney, “culture
conditions us to be comfortable with noise and crowds, not with silence and solitude, and to feel
more at home in a mall than at a park.”17 This author recognizes the pace of life in which he lives
is hectic and noisy. And he has been conditioned to not just survive but thrive in it. Yet, it is often
hard to hear the still small voice of the Lord. But, “in solitude the heart waits for God, and God
alone. Here the soul opens wide to listen and receive.”18
Second, to address a struggle within the area of love for others (Inward) this author will
seek out one person to confess his faults, sins, and shortcoming to. Admittedly there is a fear as
this author has been burned before when he practiced this discipline. But as Wilhoit rightly
describes, “Confession is a basic discipline in the spiritual life, not for us to dread but for us to
accept as a good gift. The old maxim that tells us, ‘There is no stronger sin than the sin that
remains hidden,’ is indeed true.”19
Third, while the area of love for neighbors (Outward) scored high in some parts, the act
of evangelizing consistently scored low. Though this author prays often and specific for people
who do not know Christ, he seldom prays for opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel
himself. The last disciple that will be pursued for the Glory of God and in seeking to be molded
more into the image of Jesus will be praying for opportunities to show and share the good news
of the gospel. This is commanded by Christ to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 when He
states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
17
Ibid., 225.
18
Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005), 112.
19
Wilhoit, Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered, 193.
7
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” As Putman, Harrington, and Coleman
passionately remind their readers, “The world is hurting and lost. People are dying and going to
hell. We can give no greater gift of love than to share the good news that brings people into a
relationship with God through Jesus.”20 This author is included in that calling.
Conclusion
Spiritual Formation is essential for a believer as it helps one to live a life that is pleasing to God.
It is lived out in a 3-directional way of loving God (Upward) loving one another (Inward), and
loving your neighbor (Outward). It affects the whole person as one partners with the Holy Spirit
to grow more and more into the image of Jesus in “an ongoing process of moving from one
degree of glory to another.”21
Bibliography
Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 2005.
Chan, Francis and David Platt. Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples. Colorado Springs, CO:
David C. Cook, 2012.
Early, Dave and Rod Dempsey. Spiritual Formation Is…: How to Grow in Jesus with Passion
and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018.
https://app.logos.com/books/LLS%3A9781462776764/references/biblio.at%3DMeasured
%2520by%2520Spiritual%2520Fruit%7Cau%3DEarley%2C%2520Dave?layout=reading
20 Putman, Harrington and Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples
Who Make Disciples.
21
Early and Dempsey, Spiritual Formation Is.
8
Putman, Jim, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman. DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help
Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan,
2013. https://app.logos.com/books/LLS%3A9780310492634/offsets/76763.
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO:
NavPress, 2014.
Wilhoit, James C. Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ through
Community. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008.
9
