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Spiritual Formation Within the Faith Community: the Beginning of a Life Journey Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2011 Spiritual Formation Within the Faith Community: the Beginning of a Life Journey Esteban Ricardo Palacios Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Recommended Citation Palacios, Esteban Ricardo, "Spiritual Formation Within the Faith Community: the Beginning of a Life Journey" (2011). Dissertation Projects DMin. 97. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/97 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT SPIRITUAL FORMATION WITHIN THE FAITH COMMUNITY: THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE JOURNEY by Esteban Ricardo Palacios Adviser: S. Joseph Kidder ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Project Report Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: SPIRITUAL FORMATION WITHIN THE FAITH COMMUNITY: THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE JOURNEY Name of researcher: Esteban Ricardo Palacios Name and degree of faculty advisor: S. Joseph Kidder, DMin, PhD Date completed: September 2011 Problem Providing effective opportunities for church members to learn how to grow spiritually is becoming increasingly important, especially since the benefits of many programs do not seem to last over the long term. This project was designed to test whether a multi-dimensional program shows promise of being more effective than a more traditional program. Method A multidimensional pilot program was designed, implemented, and evaluated. It included the social dimension by creating a community emphasis, the emotional health and maturity dimension that culminated in discovering a God-ordained life calling, and an integration of the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, worship, and transformational prayer throughout the sessions. The program, designed for a small group, consisted of 12 sessions of two hours each, with two sessions per week. Sixteen of the 21 participants attended regularly. They completed four different surveys before the program started and again after it was completed. These revealed their perceptions of their personal spiritual health, emotional health, level of maturity, and readiness for change. A participant evaluation was conducted at the end of the program. Results The program experience and self-perceptions of participants, as well as the observations of the program’s designer-facilitator-presenter, showed that a multi- dimensional program for spiritual formation holds greater promise for more effective spiritual growth over time than traditional programs that focus primarily on a spiritual dimension without a relevant and meaningful integration of the primary spiritual disciplines, and without the intentional inclusion of the dimensions of community, emotional health and maturity, and the God-given purpose elements. Conclusions Every element integrated into the multidimensional program is relevant and necessary. Providing a community context, leading participants to understand and experience greater emotional health and maturity, and guiding them to discover their God-given calling met their felt needs. The spiritual disciplines of Bible study, worship and prayer integrated these elements into a meaningful relationship with God and each other through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary SPIRITUAL FORMATION WITHIN THE FAITH COMMUNITY: THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE JOURNEY A Project Report Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Esteban Ricardo Palacios September 2011 SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY: THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE JOURNEY A project report presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Esteban Ricardo Palacios APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: _______________________________ ______________________________ Adviser, Director of DMin Program S. Joseph Kidder Skip Bell _______________________________ ______________________________ Donna M. Worley Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Denis Fortin _______________________________ ______________________________ Kathleen Beagles Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................... vii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1 The Problem ......................................................................................... 1 The Purpose ......................................................................................... 4 Project Design and Methodology......................................................... 6 Definition of Terms.............................................................................. 7 Limitations and Delimitations .............................................................. 9 Chapter Overview ................................................................................ 10 II. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION ............................................................. 12 Introduction .......................................................................................... 12 Biblical Foundation for Spiritual Formation........................................ 12 Perfect Creation ............................................................................. 13 Creation Reversed .......................................................................... 15 The Plan for Restoration ................................................................ 18 God’s Plan for Spiritual Formation...................................................... 20 Spiritual Formation is a Growth Process ....................................... 21 Jesus is the Perfect Example of Spiritual Formation ..................... 23 Spiritual Formation Transforms the Whole Person ....................... 25 The Heart ................................................................................. 26 The Mind .................................................................................. 28 The Emotions ........................................................................... 29 The Body .................................................................................. 33 The Faith Community is Important for Growing Spiritually ......... 34 The Purpose of Spiritual Formation ............................................... 36 Spiritual Disciplines Facilitate Transformation ............................. 37 Scripture Reveals God’s Plan to Equip His People ................. 37 Prayer Connects the Human Realm with the Divine ............... 38 Worship Gives God Glory ....................................................... 39 Summary .............................................................................................. 40 III. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 42 iii Introduction .......................................................................................... 42 The Concept of Spiritual Formation .................................................... 43 Definitions............................................................................................ 44 Spirituality...................................................................................... 44 Spiritual Transformation ................................................................ 45 Biblical Spiritual Formation .......................................................... 47 Elements in Spiritual Formation .......................................................... 50 The Context: A Community of Faith ............................................ 50 We Need Community for Belonging ....................................... 52 We Are Challenged and Held Accountable in Community ..... 53 Community Fosters Growth, Change, and Maturity ................ 55 The Scope: All Human Dimensions ............................................. 57 The Process: Models for Change .................................................. 66 The Purpose: Serving God and Others.......................................... 70 Experiencing God .................................................................... 70 S.H.A.P.E. ................................................................................ 71 Como Crecer en Jesús [How to Grow in Jesus] ...................... 72 The Purpose-driven Church ..................................................... 73 Focusing Leaders ..................................................................... 74 The Resources: Spiritual Disciplines ............................................ 75 The Challenge .......................................................................... 75 Bible Study............................................................................... 79 Worship ...................................................................................
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