Development of Faith (Stages)

Breadth of Spiritual Formation

There are a number of conversions - every few years something new happens.

There is no need to be ‘breaking’ - rather, there is a continual “glory to glory”

Beginning to not feel at home in places (Not-at-home-ness)

This is Ok…our real home is bigger, wider, broader, and fuller

Because you don’t feel at home anywhere (singular) you can be at home everywhere (plural)

Depth and Breadth

"If you go for breadth, you will miss depth…if you go for depth, you will get both.”

Ref to the cone of experience from Howard

Howard, Evan B.. A Guide to Christian Spiritual Formation: How Scripture, Spirit, Community, and Mission Shape Our Souls (p. 53). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Stages of Faith (Sweeney)

There are some inherent dangers in the model - like, trying to rush people through stages or, of course, getting stuck “outside of the model”

- Tom’s issue with Stage Theory - there is only one wall! Reality is that there are many walls, and these repeat at many stages.

Again, consider music theory (song structure)

NOTE: Erik Erikson’s Stage Theory (and worship music)

Consider how music flows along with music

Look for developmentally appropriate formation/growth for those who are growing

honour the journey

Consider generation theory! First, second, third wave because you get the thing without the why!

The sacramental nature of the Church (i.e the embodied storytelling, reenactment, etc.) causes people to ask “Why?”

What do we do when a group stops asking "Why?" and instead camps out on "How?"

Paying Attention to the Group

What do we have for people of all stages?

Foster the question “Why?”

Put ‘Stage 4’ on the table…let people know it’s there.

((What would it look like to consider key questions for people in different ages/stages that will help them to hear from God? Discernment etc.))

>>Eugene Peterson “Playing the Angles”