Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction helps position people for insight and receptivity to the process which God is using to make them more like Christ. Utilizing Scripture, and the faith resources developed throughout the church’s history, those under Direction experience real transformation through the presence and power of the Triune God. They are encouraged to see both their strengths and weaknesses in light of God’s ability to use all things (Romans 8:28).

Definition: In Invitation to A Journey: A Roadmap for Spiritual Formation, Dr. Robert Mulholland, former provost and professor of New Testament at Asbury Seminary, defines spiritual formation as, “the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.”

This definition is developed and explained as follows:

1. A process:

• gradual, life-long movement, not just a single, momentous conversion

• goes against the grain of our “quick-fix, instant results, ‘Five Easy Steps’” culture

• draws us by God’s magnetic attraction, awakening our desire for God

2. of being conformed to the image of Christ:

• Christ is the image of God made visible to us (Colossians 1:15)

• the image of Christ is the pattern of human wholeness -- we share God’s image (Genesis 1:26)

• God’s likeness feels strange since we are misshapen by images of worldly culture

• the Christ image heals, renews, restores us

• moves us from being centered in self to being centered in God

3. by the gracious working of God's spirit:

• we want to make things happen in our self-reliant culture but cannot conform ourselves to Christ by own will power

• we can open ourselves to gracious working of God’s spirit

• the Spirit enables us to choose way of Christ over self-interest

• grace helps us give reins of control to God and to cooperate with Spirit

• we resist Spirit’s work because change in ideas/habits/behaviors is scary

• spiritual disciplines (holy practices) are ways of opening ourselves to God’s grace

4. for the transformation of the world:

• being like Christ means living in self-giving love

• spiritual life not about “me” but about the world God loves

• as we are conformed to Christ we embody more of God’s love for others

• fruits of spiritual formation are compassion, patience, truthfulness, reconciliation

• transformed persons are leaven for transforming the world

The strength of this definition rests in its emphasis on process. We cannot take a class to learn to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. We cannot go on a weekend retreat and expect to be a fully mature follower of Jesus Christ. Spiritual Formation is a reforming, re-engineering, realignment, and repositioning of the core values which shape our lives as disciples and allow us to live into the call of God to be completely devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Payment Options: See Ways to Pay for Coaching/Spiritual Direction