Going Home:Personal and Corporate
Renewal through Spiritual Formation Practices
Dwight JudyGarrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Aim of Christian LifeImitation of Christ
Fullness of lifeCapacity for suffering in Christ’s name
Hesychasm/ShalomEastern OrthodoxHebrew Tradition
Sanctification/Divinization
Being made perfect in love in this lifeWesleyan aim
Perfection of love
The Holy Spirit comes upon us bit by bit . . . So that were we to live a thousand years, we
could still grow in love.-- Meister Eckhart
Love God with all of you heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Love your
neighbor as yourself. Spiritual formation is the
process of becoming more like Jesus Christ for the sake of others.
-- Robert Mulholland
Big RuleBeatitudes
Benedictine Rule Opus Dei/Daily Office Lectio Divina/Study of Divine Word Opus Manuum/Manual labor, social justice, administration
Rule of Methodist Societies
Order of St. Luke
The Lord’s Prayer
The Ten Commandments
Ordination Vows
Disciplines of Holy LivingWesleyan Heritage
Being made perfect in love in this life
Rules of the SocietiesDo no evilDo goodAttend upon the Ordinances of the Church
Sacraments (particularly Holy Communion)Searching the ScripturesPublic and Private PrayerFasting or AbstinenceHoly Conferencing
Be a Society“Such a society is no other than ‘a
company of [people] having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation.’”
Bernard of Clairvaux – 12th Century
If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than a canal. For a canal spreads abroad its water as it receives it, but a
reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and then communicates, without loss to itself, its
superabundant water.
In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few reservoirs.
Bernard of Clairvaux
So urgent is the love of those through whom the streams of heavenly teaching flow to us, that they wish to pour it forth before they have been filled.
They are more ready to speak than to listen, impatient to teach what they have not grasped
and full of the presumption to govern others while they know not how to govern themselves.
Bernard of Clairvaux
Give then to me out of your surplus – if not, then spare me.
Introduction to Daily Meditation
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Introduction to Daily Meditation, from The Way to Freedom
“Help against the unseamly haste and disquiet that endanger my work as pastor.”
Being a ReservoireOne practice that you need on a
regular basis
Who are accountability partner(s) for you?
How will you know if you are growing in perfection of love?
DifficultiesIs there childcare in the desert?
Ernest Boyer, Jr., A Way in the World: Family Life as Spiritual Discipline (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1984)
Need for Balance Life at the CenterLife at the EdgeNeed for Balance
Setting priorities based on pastoral responsibilitiesPhilip Tousley, Grace in Heavy Traffic: Avoiding a Partial
Pattern of the Means of Grace through the Implementation of Ordered Ministry
Practicing SabbathKeeping the Sabbath Wholly
Marva Dawn
Ceasing
Resting
Embracing
Feasting
Parker Palmer, Flora Wuellner, and Teresa of Avila
Shadow of the LeaderNeed for Self-AwarenessNeed for intentional spiritual life
“Leading from Within”Let your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of VocationDistinguishing “soul” from “role”
Flora Wuellner, Feed my Shepherds
Prayer and Self-Reflection
John Wesley“The Means of Grace”
How do we “wait upon the Lord?”
By “marching forward with all our might.”
Ordinary Means of GracePublic and Private PrayerAttending upon Sacraments of the ChurchScripture readingHoly ConferencingFasting or Abstinence
ExamenMarjorie Thompson
When have I been aware of your (God’s) presence, guidance, or grace (this week)? How did I respond?
When have I been especially unaware of your presence, guidance, or grace (this week)? Why?
What habit of the heart do I need to acquire in order to live more faithfully?
Questions for Choosing our Disciplines
Marjorie ThompsonWhat [of the disciplines] am I deeply attracted to, and why?
Where do I feel God is calling me to stretch and grow?
What kind of balance do I need in my life?
Be a Society“Such a society is no other than ‘a
company of [people] having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to
receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to
work out their salvation.’”
Outwardly obey the Rules
Inwardly practice the Means of Grace
Live in love
Leaders chosen
from Select Societies
Tom AlbinThe Upper Room
Ideal Ministry of Spiritual Formation
Drop In – short-term events
Contemplative study groups – all ages!
Retreats
Teaching all lay leadership spiritual disciplines
Guiding discernment processes for mission/outreach
Healing Prayer
Reaching out as “spiritual life center” for community
Spiritual Life Center Committee Structure
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana
Development of the Inner Soul Committee
External Connections Committee
Infrastructure Committee
Galatians 5:18-26By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
Act 3:1-8
But Peter said,
“I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you;
in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
stand up and walk.”
Act 3:1-8
What do you have to give
In the name of Jesus Christ?
How will you sustain this ministry?
John 20
Peace be with you
As the Father has sent me, so I send you
Receive the Holy Spirit