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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 2 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 achieve as His church. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Scripture, being led by God's Holy Spirit and united as one body of Christ.

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 3 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, today, and forever. Indeed, the Absolute truth remains in God's Word and is the starting point for every believer to embrace to allow actual 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 Word. Only through God's Holy Spirit can the believer 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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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 4 grow stronger as one whole part comprises 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 split it into billions of individuals doing their own thing. Still, on the contrary, each individual does 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 remain connected in this divine ecology and grow in maturity so that authentic leadership can be attained. Apostle Paul points out 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 with Christ.

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 5 “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. Twenty- one syn-compounds "speak of the believer's association with Christ" (Harvey, 1992, p. 143). 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 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. Sin separated God's created beings, and only through Jesus could humanity be made alive once again. A significant disruption occurred once man allowed sin to enter the perfect ecology of God's Garden of Eden. 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 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. Biblical Element of Spiritual Formation Through the Holy Spirit

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 6 The Holy Spirit 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. The presence and work of God's Holy Spirit will ensure that the believer is growing in wisdom and knowledge as Scripture comes alive in the believer's heart, mind, and body. 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. Through the Holy Spirit’s teaching of obedience, 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 is also a number one priority in ministry." As the believer grows spiritually, the sight of the goal must stay within its purpose. United with Christ and led by God's Holy Spirit, the believers move forward, building more robust pillars in the spiritual ecosystem that are necessary to the individual believer and the whole community of believers. Biblical Elements of Spiritual Formation Through the Body of Believers (Church) As stated, "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

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 7 split it into billions of individuals doing their own thing. However, on the contrary, each individual doing its part together with everyone else to make up a whole. To build a solid 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 work 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 believers' unity for the spiritual ecology's well-being. 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 individual believer must have with one another. Through this connection between one another, solid spiritual foundations remain strong and expand everywhere they go. My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Part Three

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 8 Ingredients Necessary for Spiritual Growth Whether people enjoy every meal or not, the ingredients used in the preparation and cooking make the difference. The better the ingredients' quality, the less work is needed to serve a delightful meal. The lesser the ingredients' quality, the more 'stuff' must be added to the meal. From a culinary background, this writer knows the importance of good ingredients. In the same manner, the right ingredients are essential to have the possible atmosphere to allow healthy and robust spiritual formation in the believer's life. According to our video class Reaching the Goal - Process Terms in Spiritual Formation. Proclamation of Jesus' Gospel, Regeneration, Transformation, and Confirmation are vital ingredients for the believer's spiritual growth. Proclamation of Jesus’ Gospel In Rom. 10:14 (KJV), how shall they call on him 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 individual's life 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 new identity assures the believer 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.

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 9 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 new characteristics that 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 crucial to spiritual formation because it is how the soul is cleared out of everything 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 avoid 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). The work of God's Holy Spirit 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 crucial to recognize that the interconnectedness of the body of Christ has a significant role 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, 2008). As the believer's mind, body, and heart continue to change, spiritual formation and growth are happening as the believer's transformation is more apparent than ever before.

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 10 Transformation Transformation continues as the believer allows the Holy Spirit to lead the way, and the believer intends to intertwine with those who have the same faith as he has. The Holy Spirit gives the believer clarity to keep going forward; God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind . (2 Tim. 1:7) The believer grows more assertive 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 The believer must 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 how, 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.” In addition to the believer's understanding of the main objective, it is also necessary to be more like Jesus and more like Jesus in the concept of community. Spiritual maturity is evident in how the believer encourages each other. Samra (2006) claims that Paul believed that the believer is to grow spiritually through the local community of believers who are conformed to Christ in

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 11 the community. (133). Ephesians 4:11-16 allows the believer to see the ultimate objective of confirmation: 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 the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Part Four In addition to the ingredients already mentioned, 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 the 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 solid spiritual formation, he must understand that God already has a plan 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 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 believer's lifestyle. 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, "calling is the place in life where God

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 12 has brought you, and where in your uniqueness you can love God and love others." (Pettit, 2008, p. 216). 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). 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 an apparent reference to someone who knew his identity (Who he was about Christ) and someone with a good character (core values, behaviors, and attitude). Harris (1999, p.82) says that as 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.”

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 13 Character and identity can develop under three essential resources: God's Word, Spirit, and 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 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. Only through the guidance and discernment that the Holy Spirit gives the believer can the Word of God come alive and allow spiritual formation according to God's Word to occur in the believer's life. 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 genuine 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. According to Jesus, 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 calls on the community of believers to come as one heart, mind, 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.

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 14 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 is about a community of different kinds of people coming as one to represent the One and only Jesus Christ. If that were the case, Jesus Christ would have come as man and done it all without calling out twelve men. Jesus Christ called out twelve men to establish a community of believers... the Christian church. Christian community is significant 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 benefit him and those around him, as the Holy Spirit will lead in every situation. My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Part Five This paper hopes to develop a clear and precise road map to lead the believer to spiritual maturity through spiritual formation. This formation must lead the believer to a targeted outcome

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 15 that will benefit the believer as an individual and help the body of Christ as a whole. The presentation of the gospel (Salvation), along with the sanctification process, allows the believer to live out Scripture in their walk as in their walk as a member of the community of believers. This process must lead the believer to what this paper section will present—a Targeted Outcome of the Spiritual Process. Apostle Paul understood the importance of the work that walks hand in hand between the process of sanctification and the outcome that must be present in the spiritual process. Hebrews 6:1 (ESV) Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity… Maturity is one clear outcome that the believer is expected to show in his walk with Jesus Christ. Maturity One primary outcome the believer is expected to demonstrate as proof of spiritual maturity is patience and prayerfulness. “Be patient, then brothers and sisters, until the Lord comes.” James 5:7 (NIV) Apostle encourages the believer to patiently bring all kinds of needs in prayer before God (Phil. 4:6). Samra (2006, p. 82) writes that Paul’s “be/already” stative language describes the condition of the believer, that is their spiritual condition, the way they live, must demonstrate spiritual growth; therefore, maturity is the outcome. The “becoming” process emphasizes the actions of every believer. Believers are expected to walk in the walk continually by the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Samra, 2006, p. 82). Paul exhorts the true believers to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Gal. 5:16 (NIV). If the believer expects to form a solid spiritual foundation, maturity must be present, and by walking by the Spirit, the proper outcome will be present. Being Conformed to Christ Brings Maturity

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 16 Being conformed to Christ is one of Paul's concepts for maturity, as he makes it an important spiritual issue throughout his writings. Paul writes in Romans 8, 12; 1 Corinthians 15, and Galatians 3-4 the connections with his main point on the importance of the believer to be conformed to Christ. (Samra, 2006, p. 110). In Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV), Paul writes, "Therefore, as you receive Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted, and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." As the believer is rooted in Christ, the believer begins to look more like Jesus and less like himself; therefore, the outcome will be maturity in the believer's lifestyle. Samra writes, “God has justified sinners because he wishes them to be conformed to the image of his Son – not the other way around.” (Samra, 2006, p. 110). Samra also writes that the primary responsibility is to understand that the ministry's main objective is to "accomplish the mission of delivering mature believers on the day of Christ." (102). The outcome hoped for is to be transformed and conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, which will bring spiritual maturity to the believer's life. The Role of the Local Community A third targeted objective of Spiritual maturity is to have a community of believers in one spirit, one mind, and one calling to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul makes the best case for this belief as he “expected the maturational aspect of his apostolic commission to be carried out in and by the local church.” (Samra, 2006, p. 133). Paul worked hard to instruct the church community to grow in maturity with the intention that the work of the local community of believers would accomplish the targeted objective. Paul says in Phil. 2:2 (ESV) “Complete my joy by agreeing, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." In verse five, he says, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." Paul

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 17 intends to have the community of believers become one mind to be more like Christ and less like any individual. Samra states that Paul intends not to have his readers "think of themselves as Christ, but to be unable or unwilling to conceive of themselves without also thinking of Christ and their relationship to Christ and other believers." For spiritual maturity to grow, many individuals' communities must conform to Christ's image. Wisdom and knowledge make the community able to communicate and share what the gospel is all about. Prov. 11:14 (ESV) states that where there is no guidance, people will fall, but where there is a community of believers, there will be safety. It is in the midst of the Christian community that the proper attitudes can be shared to uplift the spirits of those suffering; it is through the Christian community that good advice can be given to each other to keep walking on the straight and narrow path. Lowe writes that everyone is connected, and no one will “exist as an isolated unit” (2008). To hit the targeted objective of spiritual maturity, the community of believers must play a vital role in this spiritual growth. Spiritual maturity is seen as the individual becomes more like Christ, and his character reflects the attitude and teachings of Jesus Christ. As stated before, John the Baptist's declaration to become more like Christ and less like himself is an explicit instruction for every believer to embrace and live out. As Samra says in his conclusion, Paul describes a mature believer whose "attitude and actions correspond to their status in Christ" (167). As maturity forms in the individual, he can participate in the local community of believers and “be beneficial to them about the process of maturation.” (Samra, 2006, p. 169). The expected Outcome of the Spiritual Process becomes evident as the individual does not fall into the trap of thinking that he does not need to be part of the community of believers. Spiritual growth happens as the individual becomes, in essence, part of a group of believers who

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 18 are becoming like Christ and are seen as one whole unit and not as individuals. Hence, there is a need to have the individuals connected. Lowe writes that connections form the "cornerstone of any ecosystem linking together the individual living entities in a unified whole." (Lowe, 2008, p. 216). This objective is only accomplished by the instructions and work of God's Holy Spirit in the church body. John 16:13 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his authority but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Part Six The Community’s Role in Spiritual Formation Jesus Christ's last instructions were to have the whole body of believers go out into all the nation and duplicate themselves into more disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). Spiritual growth and formation depend on this calling to never stop until Christ returns for His community of believers. The enemy's goal is to devour the unity, love, compassion, and dedication that the community of believers have for one another. John 10:10 (NIV) says, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy…" On the other hand, the community of believers has Christ's promise that He has come to not only give the community life but to give them abundantly. (John 10:10b). For comprehensive spiritual formation in the body of Christ to happen, the body must ensure that it is not wasting time on matters of this world but keeps its sight on matters of eternal consequence. (Col. 3:2 NIV). Dealing with matters of divine consequence includes but is not limited to the Church and Identifying with Christ, the Church, and Experiencing God’s Presence, and the Church and Enduring Suffering.

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 19 Church and identifying with Christ. Paul makes his case to teach the church the importance of understanding the oneness expected in Christ's body. He refers to Christ as the Head and the church being the rest of the body. Col. 1:18 (NIV). This gives the church a clear identity in Christ Jesus. Samra (2008) writes that Paul was able to describe in different ways the connectivity between Christ and the church, but the closeness of the relationship between Jesus and the church was by using the “body of Christ.” (p. 152). As the individual becomes an active part of the body of Christ, the abundance of life that Christ has already given begins to motivate others to want to be part of this ecosystem. As the syn Christō connection moves the church forward, the community of believers is responsible for expressing the "fundamental truth about the relationship between the Christian and Christ." (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 141). Paul knew exactly what Jesus meant by being one with Him and what the church meant to Jesus. On his way to Damascus, Paul heard Jesus ask, "Why are you persecuting Me?" (141). A clear indication of the love and care Jesus had for His church. Similarly, if the body of Christ is to grow into spiritual maturity and experience spiritual formation, the church must identify with Christ, His Lord, and His Redeemer. Church and Experiencing God’s Presence If the church expects God’s presence to come into its midst, then Holiness is required in the community of believers. Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) says, "Without holiness, no one will see the Lord." The body of Christ must be careful not to let mere emotions appear in God's presence. On the contrary, the body of Christ must do its best to come to the Temple and seek God's presence to bring conviction to repentance and humble oneself as God's presence will come and change attitudes and characters and remove everything unholy before a Holy God. James 4:8 (NIV)

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 20 states, "Come near to God, and he will come near you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts…" Indeed, the church will experience God’s presence as spiritual growth is evident in every ministry and everything the church does for the benefit of the whole body of Christ. Spiritual formation in the community of believers has to become the center where “growth, life, and transformation” (Samra, 2008, p. 159) are happening among each community member. The Holy Spirit provides new life to the believer, leading the way in the transformation that the believer experiences as he grows in his faith. Also, the Holy Spirit helps the individual and the whole body of Christ to grow and mature in their spiritual formation. The Holy Spirit gives every community believer different gifts (1 Cor. 12:7) to give the body of Christ the ability to grow and have a solid spiritual formation. Church and Enduring Everyone wants to be part of something that is going great and feels good. However, Scripture is evident regarding the cost of genuine spiritual formation. It hurts! Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of having a conduct worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul calls the believers to stand firm in one faith by "striving together in one Spirit" (Samra, 2008, p. 154). Opposition to God's people and God's purpose for His people has always been active. From Adam and Eve to today, opposition, trials, and temptation have always been trying to stop the community of believers from being obedient and faithful to God. Paul's instructions for the church to strive together in one Spirit is so that it may stand firm against all the suffering it must endure until Jesus comes back for his bride. The community of believers must walk and work together to protect, edify, and grow spiritually and in every other area. It is unity in the body that can overcome all adversity and

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 21 suffering. “Bing unified in one Spirit and contending as one person – the church can strive together so that they might endure this opposition” (Samra, 2008, p. 154). The body of Christ is sure to create a sound spiritual formation as it strives to encourage one another, to comfort one another, to love one another, and to be compassionate to one another. Paul reminds the community of believers that they should reject selfishness and division. Instead, “embrace unity and care for and love others. (Phil. 2:2-4) As adversity grows more potent against the body of Christ, the fellowship of the Spirit must also grow in the heart of the community of believers. The whole body of Christ is made of multiple individuals, but if everyone walks together, there will be "internal connectedness as a group of believers." (Lowe & Lowe, 2018). Solidarity in one mind, body, and spirit will ensure that no matter how strong opposition and adversity may be, the whole body will be able to remain connected to Christ, and spiritual formation can continue to grow and prepare the believers to fulfill God's calling to share the gospel of Jesus Christ into all the Nations. My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Part Seven Technology and Spiritual Formation Lowe has written on the importance of the believer's spiritual formation according to God's will in these ecological connections needed in spiritual formation. As stated, the biblical foundation and a strong sense of community interaction ensure spiritual formation in every believer. In the following pages, technology as a foundation to allow spiritual formation will be built up. In today's world, technology plays a part in everything people do. Some of the concepts

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 22 this part of this paper will deal with are the Influence of Social Networks, Online Communities, and Carrying God’s Image Online. Social Networks Unlike social media, Social Networks have a much deeper meaning than any other social media outlet. M. Lowe says in her video class that Social Networks have more to do with people's relationships. Lowe also says that people are linked with one another through Social Networks as most people belong to a church, a neighborhood, a school, or a family structure. (Liberty University, 2017). Indeed, Social Networks allow believers to grow spiritually as the believer interacts with one another and share common goals and mutual beliefs. Online communities are seen as loose social networks where members meet and share mutual interests. As believers share their faith and mutual interests, spiritual formation can grow and allow the believer to become a good servant in God's kingdom. Lowe (2018) argues that as intentional social connections interact, there is an inescapable reciprocity between each person involved. This connection ensures spiritual growth within the community of believers. Online Community Campbell and Gardner (2016) say that unlike traditional communities that are confined by social structures cared for by family and institutional ties, online communities or networked communities are networks formed through active participation in group activities done online rather than membership rituals. (p.65). One sure way in which the believer can grow spiritually is in the ability that online community can interact and exchange ideas with different people from different parts of the world but with mutual shared-faith perspectives. Even if some church leaders have come against the effectiveness of online communities as they claimed that people could "plug in, log on, and drop out" of offline communities, studies

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 23 have given a positive note on the effectiveness of online communities. Studies have "found that while online communities encourage new ways of gathering and new social behaviors, they generally serve as a supplement, not a substitute, for offline church involvement." (Campbell. 2005, pp. 176-78). Philip Meadows (2012) gives a good description of Online Community. He says that “digital disciples” can take the “form of both digital and physical realities.” (p.163). Meadows claims that digital disciples become telepresent "through virtual relationships, and telepresence is made flesh through face-to-face meetings." (p. 175). Carrying God’s Image Online. When Jesus started His ministry, he radically changed how people carried God's message, God's image. He used fisher's boats and a hillside to share the Father's image, message, and will. At the beginning of the church, there were no buildings assigned to be places of worship, but they would meet in homes and 'clandestine' places to meet and share God's message. However, time has changed, and whatever has come and gone, the fact remains that God's image will be shared and be known in any way God would want His image and message to be shared. Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) says, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. God's image can be shared with others through an online community that sees the ability this technology provides to the Christian community. S. White (1994, p. 16) claims that the believer is connected to and embedded within the “human culture and values” through the online connection; a cultural structure motivates to lead to pragmatic ends. This ultimate end the believer seeks is to sensible and realistically share God's image of love, forgiveness, patience, and mercy, which is communicated through online connectivity.

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 24 Monsma (1986) asserts that "God calls his children as his image bearers to be formers of culture." (13). As such, the believer has a purpose in life to take what God has been given to represent God's image in every possible manner. Art, language, laws, social mores, societal institutions, technological tools, and products. (p. 19). It is God's will for these technological tools to be used for His honor and glory. It is the believer's responsibility to do something good with it. Monsma says that online technology is a human activity that is "Provided by God for human beings to exercise their creativity and agency." (19). In this online technology, God's image is being carried from one believer to another in the way that it shapes humans worldwide. Different cultures, activities, and elements all come together to give God all the honor and glory and, in the process, strengthen spiritual formation all over the world at once. My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Part Eight Applications of the Ecological Model of Spiritual Formation God is the Creator of all beings and things. Throughout time, God has made Himself known by different means. Nature constantly declares His glory, and the firmament attests to His power. Even in the digital realm, one can see the presence of God teaching and leading the way to grow in every way, especially regarding Spiritual Formation. Psalm 19:1 (NIV): The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Today, the believer has many more tools than ever before to set himself up to grow and set up a solid Spiritual Formation. Unlike the past, today, the neighbor is not only the person who lives next door but can be someone who lives on the other side of America. One crucial tool the believer has is Networked theology, in which the individual and community build their

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 25 relationship with God and Christ "as integral to how we live and treat others in a world where digital and physical overlap each day." (Campbell & Gardner, 2016, p. 96). As many religious communities deal with their decisions to use or not use this technology because it changes the way of doing ministry, the reality is that this tool brings new opportunities to share the gospel as never before. This new media in many Christian groups is welcome as it brings a broader way to let many people worldwide know who Jesus Christ is. In addition, this digital media helps the community share who Jesus Christ is across the world and helps the immediate community know "who are we called to be in contemporary culture." (p. 114). Digital Ecologies No matter what decision any given religious community chooses to embrace or deny this digital technology, the fact remains that everyone is now "seamlessly woven together" (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 104). Nobody can deny that everyone lives in a "web of life" (105). This makes the digital ecology valuable; it binds various parts of the system to help them "interact with one another to contribute to a larger whole." (106). Just as God has shown Himself to His humanity in multiple manners, such as the Ark, the cloud of glory the Tabernacle, the Temple, every single one of His signs and wonders, His prophets and apostles, His Living Word, and His Son Jesus Christ (Lowe, & Lowe, 2018) God can indeed "accommodate His revelation to human capacity by its progressive and developmental character." (Lowe, & Lowe, 2018, 112). Lowe claims that if Paul managed to spread the Good News by writing his letters to the churches and making himself present in the spirit as the church read his letters, then his use of the written technology of his time made him

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 26 known to the people. More critically, God can then be made known through this digital ecology through the Holy Spirit's work. Our Spiritual Network The connection between one another, interactions, and mutual encouragement helps the individual and the community spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in that environment of togetherness that a spiritual network builds up. Lowe (2018) says that the spiritual network produces mutual spiritual influence as mutual spiritual growth happens. In this atmosphere of togetherness, the body of Christ can grow in their faith as they strengthen their "common connection to Christ and subsequent connection with one another." (Lowe & Love, 2018, p. 131). One significant core value in our spiritual network must be Holiness. Just as there is a great way to grow and build strong spiritual formation, a wide road opens up and leads in the wrong way when using this digital ecology. "Core values derived from a historically grounded tradition must always be contextualized and applied anew to the social, cultural, and historical context in which a given community exists" (Campbell & Gardner, 2016, p. 108). Holiness is a core value that will always lead to solid spiritual formation. My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Conclusion Living in this universe that is "more akin to a spider's web" (Lowe, 2018, p. 11), one must ensure that the best possible tools are used to grow and build a solid spiritual formation. Indeed, it all begins with a clear understanding of Biblical Scripture and accepting the guidance, discernment, and clarity that God's Holy Spirit gives every believer. In addition, the believer must understand that he is not called on to be a lonely servant but a servant in a community of believers. Apostle Paul gives the individual a picture of the importance of participating in the

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 27 whole Body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12:12 (ESV) The body is one and has many members… The model of spiritual formation begins with obedience to Scripture through the anointing of God's Holy Spirit and learning how to become one united member of the whole body. God created humankind in His image. God created humanity, intending to have them be one with each other and develop strong ties of spiritual formation. References Campbell, H. (2005). Exploring religious community online: We are one in the network. Peter Lang. Campbell, H. & Garner, S. (2016). Networked theology. Baker Publishing Group. Guinness, O. (1998). The call: Finding and fulfilling the central purpose of your life. W. Publishing Group. Harvey, J. D. (1992). "The 'with Christ' motif in Paul's thought," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 35, no. 3 Issler, K. (2008). The soul and spiritual formation. In foundations of spiritual formation. Kregel Academic. Liberty University. (2017). Social networks and spiritual formation part I [Video Presentation]. Retrieve from https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/video presentation. Lowe, M. (2018). Social networks and spiritual formation, Part I . [video file]. Retrieved

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 28 from https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_ id=_424467_1&content_id=_23868528_1 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, S. 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 Meadows, P. (2012). "Mission and discipleship in a digital culture," Mission Studies 29. Monsma, S. V. Responsible Technology: A Christian perspective. Eerdmans. 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 the community. Clark Publishing. Wise, S. (1994). Christian worship and technological change. Abingdon Press.

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