The Journey -- Weeks 2 & 3

The Journey

Invitation to a Journey ~ A Road Map to Spiritual Formation
M. Robert Mulholland & Ruth Haley Barton
plus
Notes and writings on Spiritual Formation from the
Institute for Spiritual Formation, Biola University


WEEKS 2 ~ 4
Opening Prayer—Chapter 1—The Process, p. 24-27

1.  Thoughts from last week?
  • ·      How did you relate to Mulholland’s definition of Spiritual Formation?
  • ·      Spiritual Formation is a process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.
  • ·      How did you relate to the discussion about Worldview?
  • ·      Has the Holy Spirit been the agent of change in your life?


2.  C. S. Lewis—Thoughts on a faraway country…
When I attempted . . .  to describe our spiritual longings, I was omitting one of their most curious characteristics. We usually notice it just as the moment of vision dies away, as the music ends, or as the land- scape loses the celestial light. . . . . For a few minutes we have had the illusion of belonging to that world. Now we wake to find that it is no such thing. We have been mere spectators. Beauty has smiled, but not to welcome us; her face was turned in our direction, but not to see us. We have not been accepted, welcomed, or taken into the dance. We may go when we please, we may stay if we can: “Nobody marks us.” A scientist may reply that since most of the things we call beautiful are inanimate, it is not very surprising that they take no notice of us. That, of course, is true. It is not the physical objects that I am speaking of, but that indescribable something of which they become for a moment the messengers. And part of the bitterness which mixes with the sweetness of that message is due to the fact that it so seldom seems to be a message intended for us, but rather something we have overheard. By bitterness I mean pain, not resentment. We should hardly dare to ask that any notice be taken of ourselves. But we pine. The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality, is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely, from this point of view, the promise of glory, in the sense described, becomes highly relevant to our deep desire. For glory means good report with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgement, and welcome into the heart of things. The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last.
From The Weight of Glory
Compiled in A Year with C.S. Lewis 

3.   The Process of Transformation
  • ·      Process vs. Instant Gratification
  • ·      The relationship between effort and reward—cultural expectations
  • ·      The Right Technique, the Perfect Program vs. “Hours in the Saddle”
  • ·      Creating the Right Atmosphere/Trick/Sermon/Book/Preacher
  • ·      The Tortoise and the Hare—Proverbs 9: 10


4.  Spiritual Disciplines
  • ·      Intentional practices with God—I Timothy 4:7b-8
  • ·      A “vehicle” whereby we “show up” so that God can change us—Ephesians 4:22-24 NASB
  • ·      God does the work—it’s not just a technique—I Thessalonians 5: 23-24
  • ·      True transformation happens in God’s time.—Ecclesiastes 3:11


5.  Spiritual Growth is patterned on Physical Growth
  • ·      The nature of the Soul—visible and invisible--Psalm 139:13-16
  • ·      How does the body prepare for growth spurts?
  • ·      How does the soul prepare for growth spurts?
  • ·      Spurts are not the only growth—either physically or spiritually.
  • ·      Spiritual wholeness is a life long quest—I John 2: 12-14


6.  Consolation—Delighted by God
  • ·      Think back to when you first met Jesus. 
  • ·      How did you feel? 
  • ·      What did you experience?
  • ·      How did it come about?  Who was responsible for making it happen?


7.  Desolation--Subconscious Expectations
  • ·      Have you had a “dry” period in your spiritual life when it seemed God was far away?  How long did it last?  
  • ·      What preceded it?
  • ·      What was your response?
  • ·      “If I try harder--say the right things--recreate a circumstance that worked before…”
  • ·      “If God met me before, then it must be that I am doing something wrong now.”
  • ·      Did you ever take a side trip in search of a god you could control?


8.  Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

Words: Ad­e­laide A. Poll­ard, 1907
Music: Adelaide, George C. Steb­bins, 1907
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You can share our lessons with others who can’t be here in person by referring them to http://christian-transformationblog.blogspot.com



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