Spirituality and Spiritual Formation Flashcards
Define “spiritual” with biblical support.
Greek word: pneumatikos w/ 4 meanings
1) human spirit/soul - immaterial, nonphysical idea of world 1 Cor 15:46
2) Being higher than human, below God Eph 2: 1-2 (prince of air)
3) Something belonging to the Holy Spirit Eph 1:3 (spiritual blessing)
4) One governed by the Holy Spirit, the one Paul focuses on - 1 Cor 2:14-16 (spiritual & carnal persons contrasted)
Gal 6:1 spiritual person restores one to sin
-one governed by spirit is the one who restores fallen believer
Define “formation” with biblical support.
In the Bible: conform transform
Gal 4:19 - process of labor and birth: Christ formed in us: a life structured by God
Rom 12:2 - X conformed world, transformed by renewing mind - God trying to do
Rom 8:29 - He foreknew, predestines 2 be conformed to image of Son
- God changes us, gives us family resemblance
2 Cor 3:18 we transformed to image of Lord’s glory by Spirit
Col 1:28 Paul’s goal present ppl formed (complete) in Christ
What is spiritual formation from a biblical perspective?
It is the Christian life. It is the time period between salvation–new birth–and glorification.
As we allow Christ to be formed in us, as we are transformed by the renewing of our mind, as we are conformed to the image of Jesus, the glory of His image through the empowering of the Spirit to become one wholly governed by the spirit that we may be presented to Christ formed: complete
What is the pantheistic notion of spirituality most readily accepted by our culture?
The ultimate reality is spirit, the immaterial. Spirituality is connecting with the higher power/reality to find personal identity and meaning. Since we are extensions of the cosmic spirit, being spiritual means promoting oneness, harmony, tolerance and rejecting dissonance that causes fragmentation. We do this by relying on our experiences.
What is biblical spirituality?
Being governed by the Spirit of God. Fourth meaning of Greek term pneumatikos
What is biblical spirituality not?
Immaterial state separated from the body, depreciation of the value of the body and material life- no sacred/secular dichotomy, a subjective mystical experience, a charismatic experience, in contrast to the work of the mind, the same as religious activity, a program of discipleship, or a legalistic adherence to a list of does and don’ts.
What are the three senses of biblical spirituality?
Potential, positional, and perfected
What is the potential sense of biblical spirituality?
ALL humans are spiritual in the sense that we were created four fellowship with God. (allows for secular understanding that we are all spirit)
What is the positional sense of biblical spirituality?
The humans who are Christians that is they are in relationship with God and indwelled with His Spirit. The Spirit takes up residence in a Christian regardless of the Christian’s growth.
What is the perfected sense of biblical spirituality?
This is the sense in which Paul says “you who are spiritual” in Galatians 6:1. The Christian who maintains a right relationship with God long enough to become mature.
What is the complete sense of biblical spirituality?
It is living as a human being in a personal intimate fellowship with God over an extended time leading to maturity.
How does biblical spirituality effect all aspects of our personality?
Cognitive: we can know what Biblical Spirituality is and accept God’s word as truth- think
Affective: joyfully accepting God’s word- feel
Volitional: Choosing to love God by obedience to Him as is revealed in His word- do
What were the aspects of us Before Conversion?
Sinful Nature, sinful nurture, and sinful choices
What are the aspects of Sinful Nature?
things that we did not choose- physical characteristics & abilities, intelligence, DNA, made in the image of God, sin nature
What are the aspects of sinful nurture?
External factors that effect us, positively and negatively: toward God or sinful nurtures
Family, environment (social & regional), economic (affluence, opportunities), history (current events effect us), divorce/death/bankruptcy
-deceit, selfishness
What are the aspects of sinful choices:
What we have most control over- reflecting our rebellion against God
Friends, love, school, profession, spouse, use of time/money, moral boundaries, entertainment/reading, priorities
How is our character Before Conversion?
Formed by our given nature and nurture and by the choices we make.
-It is who we are and determines what we do
-Crisis reveals character- stripping image to show reality
-God wants to transform character not image
Vice: Disposition to act in a bad way in a given situation: pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony lust
The deeds of the flesh: Galatians 5:19-21
What are the aspects of us After Death?
New birth, New influences, New habits
What are the aspects of our new nature?
New birth gives us a new nature allowing us to grow in Christ: salvation, our starting point
What are the aspects of our new influences?
New influences give us a new nurture though the word, spirit, family, and adversity
- encouraged to grow in Christ’s likeness
What are the aspects of our new habits?
New habits bring us to new choices. The spiritual disciplines bring us toward holiness, as we surrender to Christ’s authority in all aspects of life and we workout in fear and trembling as God gives us the ability.
