Spiritual Direction and Formational Practices

Spiritual direction and formational practices

A WORKSHOP for LIGHT: a staff development conference.

SIFT

My experience with Sf and sd

Revolutionary prayer (breakaway)

Welcome everyone! The LORD is with us. Let us be with Him! Can we take a minute and just push out the distractions and expectations and clutter of our minds and become present to Him? We don’t need to welcome Him because He already lives inside the temple of our bodies and is omnipresent. We need to become present to Him. So lets do just that for a couple minutes. And I want to ask you to unplug, turn off your phones, or at least alerts so our attention is solely on Him.

I’m going to say something that may sound like heresy to Chi Alpha staff.

The Ultimate Goal

Our ultimate goal is not the salvation of the world, but rather, to be like Jesus. He is our model for ministry and the author of our faith. We should pray and work towards seeing the world come to Christ, but it cannot be our chief goal.

The Westminster Confession states:

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

One of the greatest ways to glorify God is to become like Jesus in all things.

Consider these Scriptures:

1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

2. 1 John 2:6 - “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”

3. Philippians 2:5 - “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

4. Ephesians 5:1-2 - “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

5. John 13:15 - “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

6. Romans 13:14 - “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Our hope, our. desire, our mission is to make disciples that make disciples that make disciples, that the whole world has heard the gospel, but

Our ultimate goal is not the salvation of the world, but rather, to become like Jesus.

And if we do that we will do the other things much more successfully and joyfully rather than through drivenness and exhaustion, and slave-like. If Christ-likeness is secondary or worse, considered optional, we may make disciples, but who will they look like and remind people of?

I love this quote from an anonymous Hasidic rabbi quoted by Peter Scazzero that says,

When I was young, I set out to change the world. When I grew little older, I perceived that this was too ambitious, so I set out to change my state. This too, I realized as I grew older, was too ambitious, so I set out to change my town. When I realized I could not even do this, I tried to change my family. Now as an old man, I know that I should have started by changing myself. If I had started with myself, maybe then I would have succeeded in changing my family, the town, or even the state-- and who knows, maybe even the world!

Of course, we cannot change ourselves. Spiritual transformation is about bringing ourselves to the One who can.

The goal is not world domination. The goal is to look like Jesus, but we don’t. At least we don’t fully. We need to be formed, transformed, and pruned to bear much fruit.. this happens through formational practices, also known as spiritual disciplines. Disciplines, spiritual disciplines, are not meant to show you how weak-willed you are, or how strong-willed you are, or to just become more disciplined. Rather, they are meant to shape us into looking like Jesus when they fail to do so, it should give us pause.

Why do I pray, meditate, practice the presence, study, etc.?

3 Words that embody this concept of spiritual transformation:

Formed

Galatians 4:19

19 bmy little children, cfor whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ dis formed in you!

There are some things that had yet to be formed in the Galatians, and there are for us as well.

What needs to be formed in you in this season of your walk with Jesus?

What kinds of things should your soul friends be praying to be formed in you? When can you talk to them about it?

Conformed

Romans 8:29

29 For those whom he jforeknew he also kpredestined lto be conformed to the image of his Son

What needs adjusting, reshaping, conforming in your demeanor to remind others more of Jesus?

Now all of us who are followers of Christ have a destiny and that destiny is to look like, smell like, sound like, Jesus. Our demeanor should be increasingly reminding others of Him.

Transformed

Romans 12:1-2

12 zI appeal to you therefore, brothers,1 by the mercies of God, ato present your bodies bas a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2 2 cDo not be conformed to this world,3 but be transformed by dthe renewal of your mind, that by testing you may ediscern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.4

What needs totally transformed into something else? What is foreign to the character of Christ in you that needs not an overhaul, not tweaking, but transformed into something new?

Fruit

These should all culminate in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. After Paul lists the acts of the sinful nature, he shares the supernatural transformation of people who commune with and are transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ga 5:22–26). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

Formed, conformed, transformed, into someone who looks like our precious Saviour Jesus Christ. It isn’t enough to leave the pig pen. Prodigals are called to grow into the likeness of the Father, taking on His character and love. Wear the Father’s ring and robe. Many of us have come home, but perhaps have not put on the ring and robe.

Rest-notice-meditate-discern

Or rhythms of lectio

Ideas:

Ruth Haley Barton Sacred Rhythms: choosing spiritual disciplines that correspond to our needs:

Gossip/sins of speech Silence, self-examination

Anxiety and worry Breath prayer, Scripture reflection

Envy and competitiveness - Solitude, self-examination

Discontent Attending to desire

Self-reliance Silence, prayer, community

Avoidance patterns Community, spiritual friendship

Over-busyness Solitude, discernment, sabbath, rule of life

Anger and bitterness Silence, self-examination, confession

Feelings of inadequacy Examen of consciousness, self-knowledge and celebration

Guilt, shame Solitude, confession, forgiveness

Restlessness and stress Solitude, silence, breath prayer

Lethargy and/or laziness Caring for the body, exercise

Lack of faith Prayer, Scripture

Feelings of isolation Examen of consciousness, community

Selfishness and self-centeredness Prayer and worship in community

Lack of direction Discernment, listening to the body

Fosters list of Disciplines

AI

In "Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth" by Richard Foster, the disciplines are categorized into three main types: the inward disciplines, the outward disciplines, and the corporate disciplines.

1. **Inward Disciplines:**

- **Meditation:** Reflective thinking and contemplation, focusing on God.

- **Prayer:** Communicating with God, seeking His presence and guidance.

- **Fasting:** Voluntarily abstaining from food or other pleasures to focus on spiritual growth.

- **Study:** Engaging deeply with the Bible and other spiritual texts.

2. **Outward Disciplines:**

- **Simplicity:** Living a life free from the clutter of unnecessary possessions and desires.

- **Solitude:** Taking time away from others to be alone with God.

- **Submission:** Yielding to the authority and will of God, and to others in service.

- **Service:** Helping others and serving their needs selflessly.

3. **Corporate Disciplines:**

- **Confession:** Admitting sins to God and to one another for healing and forgiveness.

- **Worship:** Celebrating and honoring God collectively with others.

- **Guidance:** Seeking and giving direction within the community of believers.

- **Celebration:** Rejoicing together in the goodness and grace of God.

Adele Calhunes list book 61!

PART 1: WORSHIP

Celebration

Gratitude

Holy Communion

Rule for Life

Sabbath

Worship

PART 2: OPEN MYSELF TO GOD

Contemplation

Examen

Journaling

Practicing the Presence

Rest Retreat

Self-Care

Simplicity

Slowing

Teachability

Unplugging

PART 3: RELINQUISH THE FALSE SELF

Confession and Self-Examination

Detachment

Discernment

Secrecy

Silence

Solitude

Spiritual Direction

Submission

PART 4: SHARE MY LIFE WITH OTHERS

Accountability Partner

Chastity

Community

Covenant Group

Discipling

Hospitality

Mentoring

Service

Small Group

Spiritual Friendship

Unity

Witness

PART 5: HEAR GOD'S WORD

Bible Study

Devotional Reading

Meditation

Memorization

PART 6: INCARNATE THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Care of the Earth

Compassion

Control of the Tongue

Humility

Justice

Stewardship

Truth Telling

PART 7: PRAY

Breath Prayer

Centering Prayer

Contemplative Prayer

Conversational Prayer

Fasting

Fixed-Hour Prayer

Inner-Healing Prayer

Intercessory Prayer

Labyrinth Prayer

Liturgical Prayer

Prayer Partners

Praying Scripture

Prayer of Recollection

Prayer Walking

Share LTi’s Silencio groupings of spiritual disciplines they offer 63 articles.

In Silencio reflective practices for nurturing your soul they have a list of 15 practices

Lectio Divina

Listening Prayer

Reflection

Journaling

Examen

Confession

Fasting

Holy Eating

Sabbath

Rest

Gratitude

Rule of Life

Re-ordering loves

Personal Retreat

Praying the Psalms

It then shares a series of postures

Silence in solitude

Humility

Detachment

Attentiveness

Simplicity

Dying to Self

Watching and waiting

Holy Restraint

Self knowledge

Contentment

Embracing

Seasons of the soul

Then there are spiritual disciplines of companionship

Spiritual friendship

Spiritual direction

How

Communion

Compassion

Listening

Withholding judgment

Broken and Whole

Conflict

Forgiveness is a choice

There are the Spiritual Disciplines of creativity

Creativity

Creation

Creative, artistic expression

Spaciousness

Play

Self-care

Celebration

Art and soul

Body and soul

There are spiritual disciplines of service

Reformation of the soul

Vocation

Persecution

Receptivity

A life of worship

They then go into historical seasonal practices that have helped believers for centuries, cultivate rhythms throughout the year for their formation.

The church year

Advent longing

A child like advent

Incarnation

Christmas presents

Epiphany

Lent as a season of preparation

Lent as a trail of tears

Easter

Ascension

Pentecost: waiting attentively

Ordinary time

an overview of spiritual direction

Illustration: a lot of people don’t know what’s happening in their soul. They have a surface level understanding of their identity in Christ and perhaps they’re calling to some degree. For instance, I asked what was going on in one of our staffs soul, and she said “I don’t know. I know who I am, and what I do, but I don’t know that“

GRAPL

The goals, roles, agenda, process, and level of authority of the facilitator are radically different from that of coaching, mentoring, discipling, pastoring and counseling.

Metaphors of SD

Sherpa, midwife,

Types of listening:

Listening: pg 280 of journal

How we listen can be as important as what or who we listen to.

There is listening to:

Regurgitate, analyze, argue/debate, understand, connect, gain favor/trust, entrap, incriminate, betray, find fodder for comedy (where is the joke), past time, love ( what do they need?), Listening to impress, notice/discern spiritual direction, fix, to verify disciple/mentor)

Prayer idea:

Emmaus imaginative. Also, as a metaphor. Having people on our journey. To help us notice where Jesus has been people who may also have had their hearts burning within them. A spiritual Director and partners information are just that.

Also considering the washing of the disciples feet.