Engaging the Faith Community in a Way that Reflects Paul’s Emphasis on Unity
We live in an age where efforts at Spiritual Formation are often individual-centered. Paul’s letters, as well as Dr. Thomson’s book and video remarks, paint a picture of Paul that is one of a church planter and leader who is focused on a corporate body that is...
The GROWTH Model of Individual and Corporate Spiritual Formation
The following model was created as an assignment for the Facilitation of Spiritual Formation Course in the doctorate in Spiritual Formation Program at Liberty University Seminary. The student scored 200/200 on the paper. The full title was "Emerging Model of...
How to Create a GROWTH Strategy for Spiritual Formation
What are the ingredients that facilitate and promote Christian spiritual formation (CSF) or growth into the character of Christ? Spiritual formation is the communal process during which the Holy Spirit forms the human spirit (character/will) so that it looks and acts...
How to Handle Distant Relationships with Family and Friends
The real title for this article was too long to put in the title space. Here it is: How to handle far away relationships in an ultra-connected world in a way that doesn’t drive you crazy and burned out, but allows you to flourish in your place of calling and bloom...
The Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous
The 12 steps of Overeaters Anonymous, as well as other 12 step programs, are adaptations of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The substance that the person is addicted to is food instead of alcohol. A lot of medical research has shown significant benefit in using...
Learning from Matthew Ricci (1552 to 1610)
One of the people I studied this week was Matthew Ricci (1552 to 1610) was a Jesuit missionary who, with his Jesuit colleagues, played a crucial role in starting the evangelization of China.[1] Ricci was born in 1552 in the city of Macerata in Italy. His father was a...
How St Augustine’s Mother’s Prayers Saved His Life
Augustine’s mother’s prayers for his salvation. Book 3, chapter 11 and 12 in The Confessions of St. Augustine of Hippo record his narration of how his mother, Monica, spent years crying praying to God in tears for his salvation. She continued to pray for his soul when...
In a Church Service, Should Worship Come Before Preaching or Vice Versa?
The following article is adapted from a research paper I wrote as part of a doctorate program in Spiritual Formation at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Preaching and Spiritual Formation In both the Old and New Testaments, preaching occupies a central place...
DISC Profile
"For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those...
Determine Your BATNA
The following article has been adapted from an Open Textbook. One important part of the investigation and planning phase is to determine your BATNA, which is an acronym that stands for the “best alternative to a negotiated agreement.” Roger Fisher and William Ury...