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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
1
My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation
Mauricio Guerra
School of Divinity, Liberty University
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation
Part One
Introduction
According to Biological, social, and physical scientists, we live “in a universe more akin
to a spider’s web or power grid than to telephone lines strung between poles.” (Lowe & Lowe,
2018, p. 11). An ecology in which people live together and “are connected in one form or another
and therefore mutually influence each other to varying degrees.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 22).
This environment helps the individual to grow together with believers for the benefit of the
ecosystem as a whole.
God intends to have His children become connected so that there could be "harmony of
this divinely created, cosmic ecology…" (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 22).
Overview
In this environment of mutual influence, spiritual formation has a better opportunity to
grow and expand in the person and throughout the body of Christ. In this ecology of Christian
formation, one must understand the importance of adhering to the steps needed to ensure a
desirable outcome.
Pettit calls these steps “preconditions for doing distinctively evangelical spiritual
formation” (Pettit, 2008, p. 33). From these preconditions, a high
view of Scripture, through the
Holy Spirit and the Christian community
we learn the importance of unity and working for one
common outcome: have a strong, clear, and sound spiritual formation to be able to accomplish
what God is calling us to accomplish as His church. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ according to
Scripture, being led by God’s Holy Spirit and in unity as one body of Christ.
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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High View of Scripture
Pettit begins with the first precondition of having a high view of Scripture so that the
believer can understand that in the middle of everything that is being said and done in today’s
world, the Word of God has not changed. God has not changed. For I, the Lord, do not change;
therefore you, the sons of Jacob have not come to an end. Malachi 3:6 (NASB) in Hebrew 13:8
(NASB) says Jesus Christ
is
the same yesterday and today, and forever. Indeed, the Absolute
truth remains in God’s Word and is the starting point for every believer to embrace to allow real
spiritual formation to develop. It is the responsibility of every believer to affirm that objective
truth is possible to see, know, and share because it is found in the very Word of God. (Pettit,
2008).
Holy Spirit
Pettit’s second precondition is through the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ said in John 16:33
(NIV) When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak
on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. From this
Scripture, it is safe to believe that one clear objective of God's Holy Spirit is to lead the believer
into a clear understanding of God's very own Word. It is only through God's Holy Spirit that the
believer can understand what God is saying through His Word. The revelation of God's message
to His people comes through the fellowship the individual has with the Holy Spirit.
Christian Community.
The third precondition has to do with the importance of the Christian Community. As the
vertical relationship with God is being built stronger through God’s Word and the individual’s
fellowship with God’s Holy Spirit, the horizontal relationship must be nurtured and allowed to
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grow stronger as one whole part made up of multiple individual parts. "The dynamic ecology of
the body of Christ creates the perfect environment for spiritual growth.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2008, p.
62). God’s purpose for
His ecology was not to have it be split into billions of individuals doing
their own thing, but on the contrary, each individual doing its part together with everyone else to
make up a whole. Jesus said in John 17:22-23 (NIV) I have given them the glory that you gave
me, that they may be one as we are one I in them and you in me so that they may be brought to
complete unity.
The objective of this paper will be to demonstrate that if the believer desires to grow in
his spiritual formation, he must be willing to let the Word of God be the road ahead as God’s
Holy Spirit gives the clarity and wisdom to be able to grow individually and as a whole body of
Christ.
My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation
Part Two
Biblical Element of Spiritual Formation Through the Word
As stated in part one of this paper, God intends to have His children become connected so
that there could be "harmony of this divinely created, cosmic ecology…" (Lowe & Lowe, 2018,
p. 22). The believer can develop a strong leadership foundation if the foundation flows from a
high view of Scripture. In this part of the paper, the writer will dive into what is needed to not
only remain connected in this divine ecology but also grow in maturity so that true leadership
can be attained.
Apostle Paul makes his point on the importance of keeping the unity of the believer and
Christ. In Scripture, we find multiple verses in which Paul teaches the believer that the harmony
and unity that is needed for the believer to live life as God has intended begins by being
united
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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with Christ.
“Paul’s instruction and insight are intriguing in how compatible they are with the
ecological model of spiritual formation we have pursued.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 22).
Spiritual formation will develop as the believer understands how important it is to be connected
with Jesus. There are twenty-one syn-compounds that “speak of the believer’s association with
Christ.” (Harvey, 1992). One reads in Ephesians 2:5-6 (NIV) " Made us alive
with Christ
even
when we were dead in transgression-it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us
with
Christ
and seated us
with him
in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Here is Scripture teaching
the believer how it is that believers are with Christ through the complete work of Christ. “We
were first made alive together with Christ and then we were raised with Him from death.” (Lowe
& Lowe, 2018, p. 144).
It is also critical to understand that the believer’s need to be united with Christ comes
from the very need of the individual to come back to God’s original plan. It was sin that
separated God’s created beings and it was only through Jesus that humanity could be made alive
once again. Once man allowed sin to enter into the perfect ecology of God’s Garden of Eden a
major disruption occurred. The “perfect fellowship with God in the garden, all harmony, peace,
and wholeness no longer existed, and in its place, we find spiritual alienation, divine hostility,
and social fragmentation.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 139). Indeed, the believer needs to have a
high view of Scripture so that the believer can allow himself to be united with Christ and remain
in the spiritual ecosystem created by God since the beginning. Romans 8:17 (NIV) Now if we
are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his
suffering so that we may also share in his glory.
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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Biblical Element of Spiritual Formation Through the Holy Spirit
It is the Holy Spirit who gives the wisdom, clear understanding, and knowledge of what
Scripture says. No believer can grow spiritually without the presence and work of God's Holy
Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:13 (NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you
into all the truth.
It is the presence and work of God’s Holy Spirit that will ensure that the believer is
growing in wisdom, and knowledge, as Scripture comes alive in the heart, mind, and body of the
believer. This requires the believer to come into “obedience of faith” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p.
147). The Holy Spirit’s work is to lead the believer to become obedient to God’s Word, and this
will always bring growth in every area of life, including growing as a mature leader in the
family, home, and church. It is through the Holy Spirit’s teaching of obedience that one can
grow, be renewed, put on the new self, be kind, and forgive each other. All this can be a reality
only “through the power provided by the work of the Holy Spirit.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p.
148).
Another work of the Holy Spirit is to keep the believer on target. Writing under the
anointing of God’s Holy Spirit, Paul said, I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being
called to heaven. Philippians 3:14 (NIV).
In his presentation
“The Targeted Outcome of
Spiritual Formation”
Lowe says “Target acquisition is the number one priority in any shooting
competition. It’s also a number one priority in ministry.” As the believer grows in his spiritual
formation, the sight of the goal at hand mustn't deviate from its purpose. United with Christ, and
led by God’s Holy Spirit the believers move forward building stronger pillars in the spiritual
ecosystem that are not only necessary to the individual believer but to the whole community of
believers.
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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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Biblical Elements of Spiritual Formation Through the Body of Believers (Church)
As stated before, "The dynamic ecology of the body of Christ creates the perfect
environment for spiritual growth.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2008, p. 62). God’s purpose for
His ecology
was not to have it be split into billions of individuals doing their own thing, but on the contrary,
each individual doing its part together with everyone else to make up a whole.
To build a strong spiritual foundation, the believer must become one with the whole
community of believers so that the ecology of the body of Christ can expand to the ends of the
world and accomplish God's appointed purpose. "Paul thinks of each local church as a
Collaboratory of relationships, worship, and ministry where God's people visibly live out their
identities as God's spiritually networked ecology." (Lowe & Lowe, 2008, p. 169).
Once the individuals are working together in the ecology of the Body of Christ, the
automatic result will be to have a spiritual epidemic spread everywhere the Body of Christ goes
and everyone around will be positively affected.
The Reciprocal Contagious Effect of Spiritual Formation
Apostle Paul spent enough ink writing about the importance of the “relationship between
individual members and the whole body of Christ must profoundly inform our perceptions.”
(Lowe & Lowe, 2008, p. 199). Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV). For as the body is one
and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is
with Christ. Here we have a clear indication of the importance of the unity of believers for the
wellbeing of the spiritual ecology.
In addition, Paul’s usage of the word
allēlōn
100 times over in the New Testament
teaches the believers to be there for one another. It signifies the reciprocal relationship the
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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individual believer must have with one another. By this connection between one another strong
spiritual foundations remain strong and expand everywhere it goes.
My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation
Part Three
Ingredients Necessary for Spiritual Growth
In every meal people enjoy it or not, what makes the difference are the ingredients used
in the preparation and the cooking. The better quality the ingredients are the less work is needed
to serve a truly enjoyable meal. The lesser quality the ingredients are, the more ‘stuff’ must be
added to the meal. Coming from a culinary background, this writer knows the importance of
good ingredients. In the same manner, in order to have the possible atmosphere to allow healthy
and strong spiritual formation in the life of the believer, the right ingredients are essential.
According to our video class
Reaching the Goal - Process Terms in Spiritual Formation.
Proclamation of Jesus’ Gospel, Regeneration, Transformation, and Confirmation are key
ingredients for the believer’s ability to grow spiritually.
Proclamation of Jesus’ Gospel
In Rom. 10:14 (KJV) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
without a preacher? The proclamation of the Jesus gospel is the beginning of Spiritual
Formation. Some preachers or Christian believers came and shared the good news of Salvation,
and it was taken to heart and the life of the individual began to change instantly. A new identity
emerged, and a new character began to form.
This new identity in Christ gives the believer a new position, “seated with Christ in
heaven, which is part of what makes us heavenly citizens.” (Pettit, 2008, p. 111). This gives the
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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believer the assurance that spiritual maturity is happening already as all the elements for success
have already been provided by the complete work of Jesus already done for every believer.
The new character in Christ moves the believer away from what is corrupt and evil. New
core values and behaviors help the believer to grow in his spiritual formation. Humility, love,
justice, and self-control are some of the new characteristics that begin to form the new life in
Christ, therefore, it is safe to say that the ingredient of the proclamation of the gospel is moving
the individual forward toward the Regeneration ingredient.
Regeneration
After accepting the proclamation of Jesus' gospel, the next step is the Regeneration
(renewal) of the individual’s mind. Rom. 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God. This ingredient is very important to add to the spiritual
formation because it is the means by which the soul is cleared out of all the things that once
enslaved the individual to the desires of the flesh. 1 Thess. 5:23 (KJV) And the very God of
peace sanctify you wholly… As believers who long to grow spiritually, we are encouraged to
stay away from evil thoughts and desires of the flesh. In God’s ecology, we are encouraged to
open ourselves to the “Spirit’s transforming work” (Issler, 2008, p. 138). It is the work of God’s
Holy Spirit that brings conviction and discernment to the believer’s mind and heart that the
regeneration process begins to lead the believer from victory to victory. However, it is important
to recognize that the interconnectedness of the body of Christ has a very important role to play in
this spiritual growth. If the believer desires to grow in his spiritual formation, he must be part of
the community of believers. There must be an interactive relationship with those people who are
committed to each other and share the same faith in Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. (Lowe,
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2008). As the mind, body, and heart of the believer continue to change spiritual formation and
growth are happening as the transformation of the believer is more apparent than ever before.
Transformation
Transformation continues as the believer allows the Holy Spirit to lead the way and the
intention of the believer is to intertwine with those who have the same faith as he has. As the
Holy Spirit gives the believer clarity to keep going forward; For God has not given us a spirit of
fear, but of power and of love and of a
sound mind
. (2 Tim. 1:7) The believer grows stronger in
his relationship with his Christian community of believers (ecosystem) and therefore the
transformation allows the spiritual formation to make the believer look more and more like
Christ and less like himself.
As the believer moves from the Proclamation of Jesus’ Gospel to Regeneration, and
Transformation, the next ingredient necessary for spiritual growth is Confirmation.
Confirmation
It is necessary for the believer to have a clear understanding that the objective goal is to
become more like Christ as the regeneration and transformation ingredients remain active in
everyday life matters. “to claim that Christ is the paradigm for believers is to claim that he is the
standard by which maturity is defined.” (Samra, 2006, p. 73). This ingredient (Confirmation) has
to do with the way that as a community of believers immersed in the teachings of Jesus, they
continue to build on the foundations of spiritual growth. Lowe (2018) suggests in his video
Whole Person Transformation
that “the goal of developing whole persons is a biblical one that
finds its origin in the Old Testament but achieves its fullest revelation in the person of Jesus in
the New Testament.”
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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In addition to the believer’s understanding of the main objective, it is also necessary to
not only be more like Jesus but to be more like Jesus in the concept of community. Spiritual
maturity is evident in the way in which the believer encourages each other. Samra (2006) claims
that it was Paul’s belief that the believer is to grow spiritually by way of the local community of
believers who are conformed to Christ in community. (133). Ephesians 4:11-16 allows the
believer to see the ultimate objective of confirmation, that is that the individual is not to grow
alone but to grow in the community of believers in the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:13 (NIV) Until
we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation
Part Four
In addition to the ingredients already mentioned, in order to expand addressing the
importance of spiritual formation that will manifest the presence of God’s Holy Spirit guidance
in the life of the believer and demonstrate that Proclamation of Jesus’ Gospel, Regeneration,
Transformation, and Confirmation are allowing the believer to grow spiritually some additional
ingredients must be added. This paper will add the importance of God’s
calling,
the
Character
and identity
of the individual, and the need to belong to a
community.
Calling
If the believer longs to have a strong spiritual formation, he must understand that God has
a plan already set for him. The believer must grasp the need for him to understand that the truth
that matters is that “God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we do, and everything
we have is invested” (Guinness, 1998, 3-4,29) to his service. As we have come from the
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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proclamation of Jesus as Lord, and the regeneration and transformation ingredients are doing
their part of allowing spiritual growth, the calling begins to shape the lifestyle of the believer.
The most important calling in the believer’s walk in life is to love God above all (Matt
22:37) and to love others (Matt. 22:39). God’s calling does not have to do much with the future
wife, or what career to job to choose, Pettit puts this way, (2008,
p. 216) “calling is the place in
life where God has brought you, and where in your uniqueness you can love God and love
others.”
Calling can be described in two terms; one is the primary calling, and the second would
be the functional calling. This is a way to facilitate the believer’s understanding of the
theological concept of calling. The primary calling deals with the acceptance of God’s calling his
children back to Himself. In this concept, God’s people are called to live a life separated from the
customs of this world, to live a life seeking to please God. Pettit says, “Our primary calling is the
umbrella under which we function as believers.” (2018). The second part is the functional call
which is “how we live out our primary calling.” (Pettit, 2018, p. 1998) Living every day seeking
to please God is to live every day loving, caring, and serving people. To love God is to love our
neighbor, Matt. 22:37;39 (NIV) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind… love your neighbor as yourself.”
Character and Identity
John the Baptist told his followers, “He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become
less.” The believer must have this attitude. His character must demonstrate the fruit of the Holy
Spirit, and his identity must reflect Jesus Christ. The believer has John the Baptist as a clear
reference to someone who knew his identity (Who he was in relation to Christ) and someone
with a good character (core values, behaviors, and attitude). Harris (1999, p.82) says that as
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believers there must be a difference between who man was before Christ and who man is now in
Christ. Harris writes that the believer now in Christ must become “obedient to the pattern of
teaching to which they were entrusted, and to offer their bodily member as slaves to
righteousness that leads to holiness.”
Character and identity can develop under three essential resources: God’s Word, God’s
Spirit, and God’s People. As stated at the beginning of this paper, the Word of God is the main
objective “source of truth about Christ” (Pettit, 2008, p. 45). Spiritual formation cannot happen if
it is not aligned with God’s Word. The second essential resource is the guidance of God’s Holy
Spirit. Jesus promised that He would send another helper, the Holy Spirit. It is only through the
guidance and discernment that the Holy Spirit gives the believer that the Word of God can come
alive and allow spiritual formation according to God’s Word can occur in the life of the believer.
Gordon Fee has said, The Spirit is the empowering presence of God for living the life of God in
the present.” (Fee, p. 183). The third resource comes by way of community. If the believer
intends to grow spiritually, there must be an effort to become a slave to Jesus Christ’s
righteousness and to make an honest effort to lead his life in holiness. This new life must be led
by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and a true connection between the believer and the community
of believers.
Community
The Word of God and the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit are only as powerful as the
community in which it rests. A Community that is voided of God’s Word and does not do as the
Holy Spirit leads is only a group of people doing what they please and far away from God’s
desired plan.
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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Community according to Jesus is a community that loves God, is obedient to God, and
does as Scripture says with the understanding of what the Holy Spirit is instructing them to do. In
Luke 12:30 (NIV) Jesus says, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and with all your strength. Jesus is calling on the community of believers
to come as one heart, one mind, one body, and love God the Father. In Matt 19:17 (NIV) Jesus
says, “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” A clear calling for the believers to
obey God’s Word.
Community is an essential part of every believer’s spiritual formation. It is through
community life that Christian formation can be seen in the world. Christianity is not about an
individual, it’s about the community of different kinds of people coming as one to represent the
One and only Jesus Christ. If that was the case, Jesus Christ would have come in the form of man
and done it all without the need to call out twelve men. Jesus Christ called out twelve men to
establish what would become a community of believers... the Christian church.
Christian community is very important for spiritual formation because within the
community the believer can receive wisdom. Prov. 13:20 (NIV) Walk with the wise and become
wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. As long as the believer fellowships with those of the
same faith, he can rest assured that spiritual formation will grow and not only benefit him but
those around him will also benefit as the Holy Spirit will lead in every situation at hand.
MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION
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References
Guinness, Os. (1998).
The call: Finding and fulfilling the central purpose of your life.
W.
Publishing Group.
Issler, Klauss. (2008).
The soul and spiritual formation. In foundations of spiritual formation.
Kregel Academic.
Lowe, S. D., & Lowe, M. E. (2018). Reaching the goal - process terms in spiritual formation.
[video file]. Retrieved from
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/525491/pages/watch-
reaching-the-goal-
process-terms-in-spiritual-formation?module_item_id=55129780
Lowe, S. D., & Lowe, M. E. (2018).
Ecologies of faith in a digital age: Spiritual growth through
online education
. Downers Grove, IL, IVP Academic.
Lowe, Steven D. (2018). The targeted outcome of spiritual formation.
[video file]. Retrieved
from
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/525491/pages/watch-the-targeted-outcome-of-
spiritual-formation?module_item_id=55129743
Harvey, John D.. (1992). “The ‘with Christ’ motif in Paul’s thought,”
Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society
35, no. 3
Petit, P. (2008).
Foundations of spiritual formation: A community approach to becoming like
Christ.
Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.
Samra, James G. (2006).
Being conformed to Christ in community.
Clark Publishing.