View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Liberty University Digital Commons LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AN INTRODUCTION TO A MODEL FOR TEACHING SPIRITUAL FORMATION TO STUDENT-ATHLETES IN A CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL SETTING A Thesis Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Edmund J. Gomes Lynchburg, Virginia April 2007 Copyright 2007 Edmund J. Gomes All Rights Reserved ii LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET ______________________________ GRADE ______________________________ Mentor, Dr. Frank J. Schmitt Director, Doctorate of Ministry Program Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary ______________________________ Reader, Dr. Ergun Caner President Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary iii ABSTRACT SPIRITUAL FORMATION: AN INTRODUCTION TO A MODEL FOR TEACHING SPIRITUAL FORMATION TO STUDENT-ATHLETES IN A CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL SETTING Edmund J. Gomes Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007 Mentor: Dr. Frank J. Schmitt This project is an attempt to provide a biblical foundation for teaching spiritual formation to student-athletes. A brief history of Liberty University and its athletic achievements are presented in this paper; also included are some of the people and circumstances God is using to teach athletes about spiritual formation, character development and whole-person development. The process God uses for teaching those things is interwoven throughout the paper. Practical problems that are associated with spiritual formation are addressed, and the final chapter of the paper places special emphasis on some of the outcomes of the thesis. Abstract includes 131 words iv CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................1 Personal Testimony .................................................................................................2 Introduction .................................................................................................9 New Position Created ................................................................................10 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................................13 A Good Question .......................................................................................13 The Intent of the Project ...........................................................................14 Statement of Limitations .......................................................................................15 Theoretical Basis ...................................................................................................15 Statement of the Methodology...............................................................................16 The Review of Literature.......................................................................................18 Summary................................................................................................................25 CHAPTER TWO ………………………………………………………………………...26 HISTORY AND HIGHTLIGHTS OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL ..........................................................................................................26 Lynchburg Baptist College 1971 – 1975 ...................................................26 Liberty Baptist College 1976 – 1985.........................................................28 Liberty University 1986.............................................................................30 Progress of University............................................................................................30 The Chronology of Flames Football in the 1970’s ...................................34 The Chronology of Flames Football in the 1980’s ...................................35 The Chronology of Flames Football in the 1990’s ...................................38 The Chronology of Flames Football in the 2000 ......................................40 Summary................................................................................................................42 v CHAPTER THREE ..........................................................................................................43 THE BIBILCAL BASIS FOR TEACHING SPIRITUAL FORMATION TO STUDENT-ATHLETES.................................................................................43 Paul’s Example of Spiritual Formation .................................................................46 Paul’s Pre-Conversion Stage: No Spiritual Life ....................................................46 Stephen’s Background ...............................................................................47 Saul at the Stoning of Stephen ..................................................................48 Questions with Application for Today.......................................................52 Paul’s Conversion Stage: New Spiritual Life .......................................................53 Evidence of Genuine Salvation .................................................................55 Questions to Ponder During This Stage ....................................................59 Questions for Application for Today .........................................................59 Paul’s Post-Conversion: Super-Natural Life .........................................................61 Post Conversion Qualities of Life .............................................................66 Questions to Ponder During This Stage ....................................................68 How Are the Three Stages Linked to Spiritual Formation .......................70 Key Verse on Spiritual Formation ............................................................75 What Is Spiritual Formation ..................................................................................81 What Areas Are Impacted by Spiritual Formation ................................................85 How Are Spiritual Disciplines and Spiritual Formation Connected? ...................90 How Are Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines Connected? ...................92 How Are Character and Whole-Person Development Connected ........................93 Summary................................................................................................................95 CHAPTER FOUR .............................................................................................................96 THE PEOPLE AND CIRCUMSTANCES USED TO TEACH STUDENT- ATHELTES ABOUT SPIRITUAL FORMATION .............................................96 People God Uses to Teach Student-Athletes .............................................97 Circumstances God Uses To Teach Student-Athletes .............................101 vi Pre-Requisites for Being Used by God....................................................102 Patterns of Ministry..............................................................................................107 First Pattern .............................................................................................108 Second Pattern.........................................................................................109 Model for Ministry ..............................................................................................111 Relationship .............................................................................................111 Redemption .............................................................................................113 Restoration ..............................................................................................114 Rules ........................................................................................................117 Summary..............................................................................................................122 CHAPTER FIVE .............................................................................................................124 THE PROCESS OF TEACHING SPIRITUAL FORMATION TO STUDENT- ATHELETES ......................................................................................................124 Questions to Be Answered ..................................................................................129 The When Question ................................................................................129 The Why Question ..................................................................................130 The What Question .................................................................................131 The Where Question ...............................................................................133 The Who Question ..................................................................................134 The How Question ..................................................................................135 Three Categories of Athletes ..............................................................................136 High Interest Group.................................................................................137 Some Interest Group ...............................................................................139 No Interest Group ...................................................................................142 Principles of Ministry Engagement .....................................................................143 Summary .............................................................................................................149