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