Positive psy-2

2.2Discussion.SpiritualFormation.docx

2.2 Discussion.Spiritual Formation

Getting Started

Think of the person you feel closest to in this life. As important as that relationship is to you, it can’t be healthy if you put it on auto-pilot. Healthy relationships need regular nourishment in order to grow and thrive. If you don’t spend time with that person, listen attentively to them, share your feelings, show humility, and sincerely work to repair ruptures that occur, that relationship will eventually stagnate and possibly even die. Relationships are dynamic entities; they are always in the process of growing or floundering depending on how well they are maintained.

The same is true for your relationship with God. He created us in His image as relational beings. We are first to be in a meaningful relationship with Him and then with each other. Yet, in our busy lives, it’s easy to make time and energy for the myriad tasks that beg for our attention every day while giving little to no energy or attention to nurturing our relationship with God. Without even realizing it, we find ourselves falling well short of the joy, power, and peace that should characterize a spiritually vital life in Christ.

Spiritual formation is an ongoing journey taken by those who faithfully follow God. Working from the perspective of spiritual formation, we do not just believe certain things about Jesus—we strive to regularly practice them. The apostle Paul instructs the church in Philippi to do more than learn, receive, and listen. Paul writes, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me— practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9). How do we do that? What are some ways that we can step off the ever-moving conveyor belt of life and give ourselves the margin we need to grow in our relationship with God?

Here are four suggestions for practicing spiritual formation:

1. Communicate with God through prayer. The process of prayer increases our awareness of God, His character, and His work in our lives and the larger world.

2. Grow in wisdom. Learning as a Christian practice is not only about acquiring more knowledge but also growing in wisdom.

3. Make time for reflection. Be intentional to reflect on what you are experiencing and learning. Make mental notes of how you are being challenged and how you are changing. Learn from your mistakes.

4. Act on what you know. Following Jesus doesn’t become a living journey until we become “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). This action flows from hearts that have been changed.

These ideas on spiritual formation will hopefully jumpstart some of your own thoughts for this discussion. You’ll have the opportunity to come up with your own definition of spiritual formation and why it’s important for growth. You’ll also explore the relationship between spiritual formation and “the good life,” which was introduced in Workshop One. Plus, you’ll be able to weigh in on how the practice of spiritual disciplines, such as meditation, fasting, worship, and service, among others, can be incorporated into the process of spiritual formation.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Examine different concepts of spiritual formation.

Background Information

To prepare for this discussion, you will first read a chapter from the textbook, watch two videos on spiritual formation, and then read a brief article on the spiritual disciplines. This should give you the exposure to spiritual formation you need to facilitate a discussion that is thoughtful and reflective.

Instructions

1. Read Chapter 2, “Forgiveness,” in your textbook The Science of Virtue: Why Positive Psychology Matters to the Church.

2. Read the article “ What Are Spiritual Disciplines? (new tab) ”

3. Watch the following videos (for transcripts, please see Overview of Spiritual Formation Transcript (Word document) and/or Two Chairs: The Process of Spiritual Formation Transcript (Word document) ):

4. YouTube Videos: Soul Care: Overview of Spiritual Formation and Two Chairs: The Process of Spiritual Formation

5. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion questions:

a. In your own words, how would you describe what spiritual formation is? Be specific.

b. Why is spiritual formation thought of as an ongoing process that needs to be deliberately pursued? What value does this have in a person’s life?

c. What is the relationship between spiritual formation and “the good life”? Go back and read the “good life” discussion and what you wrote about it in the prior discussion. Try to integrate the two in a way that seems compatible.

d. What role, if any, do the spiritual disciplines have in nurturing a person’s spiritual formation?

e. Can you share a Bible passage that you see as encouraging ongoing spiritual formation? Explain how this speaks to spiritual formation.

6. Your post should be between 400 and 500 words long.

a. If you use outside sources in your discussion comments, but sure to include APA-formatted in-text citations to support your post. You may use your readings for this assignment for your citations.

7. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking, supported by at least two academic sources.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

2.1Discussion.RichinDeed.docx

2.1 Discussion. Rich in Deed

Getting Started

There once was a wealthy woman who loved to carry her most precious jewels with her in a velvet bag. One day, a young boy happened upon the woman and asked her to show him her precious stones. She took them out one by one, telling the boy what type of stone each was and how much it was worth. The boy’s eyes were wide with wonder. He began to think about all of the things he could have if he only had just one of those precious stones. He asked the woman for the smallest one. He prayed fervently that she would give it to him. Much to his surprise, she did give it to him!

He went directly into town and quickly sold the stone for a fraction of its worth. He did not want to take the time to find the right buyer for the stone. Even with the small fraction of a sum, he knew he could buy all he wanted. He would want for nothing.

A few months passed and the boy discovered other things he wanted. He went back to the woman and asked her for another stone. She gave it to him willingly. He went into town again and sold this stone for a fraction of the cost. Again, he bought all the new things he wanted.

This practice went on and on, again and again until the woman had no stones left in her velvet bag. The boy went to her one last time. This time, he had a different question for the woman: “Why did you give me all of your stones? Now you have nothing left!”

The woman responded with a dazzling smile, “Oh, dear one, that is not at all true. I have what it takes to give.”

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Discuss what it means to be rich in deed.

· Experience doing good and counting it as “riches.”

· Share the experience of becoming “rich in deed.”

Background Information

Consider this brief passage from 1 Timothy 6:18 (NIV): “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Very rarely, if ever, do we want to become rich in deeds! We strive with all we are to make money, count our money, save our money, and spend our money. When do we ever stop to take stock of our deeds? When was the last time spent our time doing good things for others and we counted our good deeds as riches? Do we have what the rich woman has? Do we have what it takes to give?

In this experiential exercise, take one morning or afternoon to make yourself rich in deed. Do as many things as you can that are good for others. Take stock of what you are doing; count your deeds as you would count your money. List them. Put them into a physical or mental ledger and deduct the “bad deeds” from the good ones. How much would you have left? Are you “rich in deeds”?

Instructions

1. Experiential Devotional: Experience doing good and counting it as “riches.”

2. Respond to the following:

a. Discuss what it means to be rich in deed.

b. Share your experience of becoming “rich in deed.”

3. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.