Chapter 10 Flashcards
The ability to focus upon the receptive interaction of listening and gaining direction for our lives.
Discernment
What is the primary reason that discerning God’s way is more difficult than discerning what you want?
Being selfish comes easy – it’s a natural state of mind. Whereas learning about God’s way is more difficult because the following process takes time and effort:
a. Choosing to not be selfish
b. Choosing to study/learn about God
c. Choosing to remain disciplined in the learning process
d. Choosing to live by faith and apply what has been learned
Spending time by yourself so you can listen to God’s voice in your spirit.
Meditational solitude
Joining with other people in small groups and large gatherings to pursue spiritual growth.
Fellowship
Reducing distractions in your life that keep you from hearing God.
Simplicity
allows you to discern what is morally right and wrong in situations.
Proclaiming
allows you to discern the emotional needs of others.
Comforting
allows you to discern the organizational needs others have when working collectively together.
Managing
allows you to discern encouragement and practical solutions needed for life’s problems.
Exhorting
allows you to discern the legitimate needs or tasks others have.
Helping
allows you to discern the truth through careful research.
Teaching
allows you to discern the financial needs others have in their life or efforts.
Giving
by providing mercy to those in emotional distress.
Comforting
by finding practical ways to provide physical assistance to fulfill needs and tasks.
Helping
by publicly speaking out from internal convictions.
Proclaiming
by presenting truth to others in such a way that it is easy to learn.
Teaching
by organizing, coordinating, and guiding activities and setting goals for projects.
Managing
by financially investing in others.
Giving
by outlining practical steps of action to assist in overcoming problems.
Exhorting
What professor stated that “a society that focuses on the physical attributes of humans cannot nurture their mind and soul”?
Allan Bloom, in book “Closing of the American Mind”
What is the primary reason people focus upon their physical attributes?
Because it appeals to instant gratification
What type of ethics do people use in order to justify being self-centered?
Statistical and Situational ethics
What is the primary reason people desire to remain self-centered?
Because they want to remain comfortable
What is the primary cause of someone complaining?
Because they are uncomfortable because selfish desires are not being fulfilled
When living by faith, what is the three-step process we use in living out the life God has called us to?
Identify – What is God’s call for your life and what are the spiritual gifts he’s given you
Sharpening – Developing your gifts & call through study, work, effort
Applying – Using your gifts & call in the service of the needs of society
At which step does spiritual discernment develop?
Sharpening
the nine virtues Paul called the “fruit of the spirit” in his letter to the Galatians
Love, Joy, Peace, Goodness, Patience, Kindness,
Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control
List the eight steps of spiritual development IN ORDER that is taken from 2 Peter 1:5-7
Faith, Goodness, Knowledge, Self-Control, Perseverance, Godliness, Kindness, Love
At which of the eight steps do the majority of the virtues showing the “fruit of the spirit” occur?
Godliness
- Holds everything together 2. All other pieces build off of this foundation
Belt of truth
protects our emotional state (irrational fears, manic depression, etc)
Breastplate of righteousness
directs us toward righteous places
Shoes of peace
protects us from outward temptations / situations
Shield of faith
protects us from the negative thoughts & fears within our own mind
Helmet of salvation
Gives us the weapon we need to attack the evil forces that come upon us
Sword of the word
The activity that roots us and gives the reason why
Prayer in the spirit
What is the primary danger when taking a Spiritual Wellness Test like the one given at the end of chapter 10?
That if we score low, we become depressed thinking that the score shows that we are not good enough to be loved by God and that we have failed in our lives. Or If we score high, we become manic thinking that the score shows that we are better are following God than others, that God approves us more than others, and that we are a success in our lives.
Why is it tempting to believe that using one’s spiritual gifts in the service of God will be easy?
Since our spiritual gifts are irrevocable they can be easily used for selfish gain, therefore we think applying them with God will be just as easy.
List the three elements of spiritual strength
Spiritual gifts, spiritual habits, spiritual truth
Why is it tempting for individuals to believe they can bypass the eight steps of spiritual development and simply act in the manner God calls them to?
Because acting selfish comes so natural, they become fooled into believing that anything one “wants” will become reality.
The capacity in our lives that enable us to discern and respond in service to transcendental influences that are encountered above or beyond that which is explainable by natural law or phenomena.
Spiritual strengths domain
