From Life in the Trinity course. November 2012

1. Becoming Christ-Like
Christ in You
Spiritual Formation-Becoming Christ Like-Christ in You: We will explore the biblical theme
of the image of God in us, integrating insights from Scripture, church history, and the monastic
tradition, exploring how the church in its liturgy preaching, and program can become a dojo,
school, or studio of Christ-like feeling, thinking, virtue, integrity, and action. We'll consider the
imitation/embodiment of Christ as the heart and soul of Christian living. (Suggested
Prereading: Naked Spirituality, Finding Our way Again, A New Kind of Christianity).

2. Welcome!
Thanks for coming!

3. Philippians 2:1-11

4. Let this attitude be in us,
Let this attitude be in us,
The attitude of Jesus.
Amen.

5. Christ being in the image of God ...
Did not count equality with God
Something to be grasped,
But he emptied himself,

6. By taking the very nature of a
servant,
Being made in human form,
And being found in appearance
as a man,
He humbled himself.

7. He became obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
Therefore God exalted
him to the highest place.

8. God gave him the highest name
of all,
So that at Jesus’ name
All knees should bow/
All tongues confess/

9. That Jesus Christ is Lord/
To the glory of God the
Father,
Who works in us to desire
And do God’s good pleasure.

10. Let this attitude be in us,
Let this attitude be in us,
The attitude of Jesus.
Amen.

13. Name, home, work, fun ...
Who has most modeled the way of
Jesus for you?
Who are one or two of the most
Christ-like people you have
known? What about them makes
you say that?

14. Today: What/Why
Tomorrow: How

15. The problem of Christ-likeness
The image of God
What is Christ-likeness?
The imitation of Christ/Christ in
you
Practice and transformation

16. Image of God
1. Genesis 1:26-27
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that
creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own
image, in the image of God created he him; male and
female created he them.
2. Genesis 5:3
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a
son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his
name Seth:
3. Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be
shed: for in the image of God made he man.

17. Image (face) of God
1.Genesis 33:10
“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in
your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see
your face is like seeing the face of God, now
that you have received me favorably.
Image = idol (60+ times)

18. Image of God
Image = idol (60+ times)

19. Image of God
Mark 12:15-17
15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying
to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let
me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he
asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose
inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar
what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And they were amazed at him.

20. Image of God
Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might
be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:4
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the
Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image
with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit.... The god of this age has
blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

21. Image of God
1.Colossians 1:15
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation.
2.Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being
renewed in knowledge in the image of its
Creator.

22. 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from
being united with Christ, if any comfort from his
love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any
tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy
complete by being like-minded, having the same
love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you
to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the
same mindset as Christ Jesus:
[NRSV]

23. who, [though he was] in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited [grasped, snatched],
7
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

24. Image of God
Not kings or nobles ... but common hunter-
gatherers
Not idols ... but humans
Children ... like father, like son (spittin’ image, chip
off the old block)
Jesus ... true image, true human, last adam
Transformation ... Christ-like, restored to true image
of God

25. So ... what does “the
image of God” mean?
A valid “idol” for God - a
representation, stand-
in, reflection, likeness
The glory of God is a human being,
fully alive. - St. Irenaeus

26. To be Christ-like is to be
restored to the image of
God ... to become a true
human being, fully alive.
The glory of God is a human being,
fully alive. - St. Irenaeus

27. Follow me.
(Imitate me.)

28. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, for I
am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. For
my yoke is easy and my
burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-29)

29. I have set you an
example that you should
do as I have done for
you.
(John 13:15)

30. The Gospel of Matthew ends with these important words:
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain
where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they
worshiped him, but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them
and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and
make [spiritually form] disciples
[apprentices]
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with
you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:16-20)

31. Disciples
And
Apostles

32. Disciples: called to learn, imitate,
become like their teacher
Apostles: sent to form new
disciples

33. The church is the unique disciple/
apostle-forming community that
passes on ways of Jesus, the ways
of the kingdom.

34. The Three Curricula
Explicit Curriculum
Covert Curriculum
Null Curriculum

40. The Three Curricula
Explicit Curriculum
Covert Curriculum
Null Curriculum

41. Our contemporary gospel is primarily
INFORMATION ON
HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN
AFTER YOU DIE
with a large footnote about increasing your personal
happiness and success through God.
with a small footnote about character development
with a smaller footnote about spiritual experience
with a smaller footnote about social/global transformation.

42. Heaven
Self (soul)
church
world

43. Heaven
world
church
self

44. Heaven (God’s will)
world
church
self

45. Gospel of saving individual souls
from hell, and abandoning earth to
destruction.
Two
Gospels:
Gospel of saving earth* from
human sin, beginning with us.
*Including individuals

46. 2 gospels/2 churches
One of evacuation (warehouse)
One of transformation (community
of practice …)

47. The Three Curricula
Explicit Curriculum
Covert Curriculum
Null Curriculum
What was Jesus’ “classroom?”
What was his curriculum?

49. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, for I
am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. For
my yoke is easy and my
burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-29)

50. What is Christ-likeness?
1. “Mind” or attitude or heart
of Christ
2. Character/Integrity of
Christ

51. 17 Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live
as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened
in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their
ignorance and hardness of heart. 19They have lost all sensitivity and
have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practise
every kind of impurity. 20That is not the way you learned Christ! 21For
surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in
Jesus. 22You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old
self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23and to be renewed in the spirit
of your minds, 24and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created
according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our
neighbours, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not
sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make
room for the devil. 28Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them
labour and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have
something to share with the needy. 29Let no evil talk come out of your
mouths, but only what is useful for building up,* as there is need, so
that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve
the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the
day of redemption. 31Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and
anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32and be
kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ has forgiven you.*

52. What is Christ-likeness?
1. “Mind” or attitude or heart
of Christ
2. Moral Character/Integrity
of Christ
3. The social ways of Christ*
*Danny’s story

53. John 14:8
Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be
satisfied.’ 9Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this
time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen
me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the
Father”? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on
my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;
but if you do not, then believe me because of the works
themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me
will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater
works than these, because I am going to the Father.

54. What is Christ-likeness?
1. “Mind” or attitude of
Christ
2. Moral Character/Integrity
of Christ
3. The social ways of
Christ ...
4. What was his message?

55. What did Jesus do?
What was his agenda or
mission?
Signs and signified ...

56. Went about doing good ... (Acts 10)
Healed sick
Released from demonic oppression
Confronted hypocrisy
...What else?

57. What would it mean to develop a
curriculum for Christ-likeness?
The Mind/Heart of Christ
The Moral Character/Integrity of
Christ
The social ways (manner) of Christ
The Message of Christ
The Agenda/Mission of Christ
... More?

59. Becoming Christ-Like
Christ in You
Spiritual Formation-Becoming Christ Like-Christ in You: We will explore the biblical theme
of the image of God in us, integrating insights from Scripture, church history, and the monastic
tradition, exploring how the church in its liturgy preaching, and program can become a dojo,
school, or studio of Christ-like feeling, thinking, virtue, integrity, and action. We'll consider the
imitation/embodiment of Christ as the heart and soul of Christian living. (Suggested
Prereading: Naked Spirituality, Finding Our way Again, A New Kind of Christianity).

60. What would it mean to develop a
curriculum for Christ-likeness?
The Mind/Heart of Christ
The Moral Character/Integrity of
Christ
The social ways (manner) of Christ
The Message of Christ
The Agenda/Mission of Christ
... More?

61. "There are many who preach Christ, but not so many
who live Christ; my great aim will be to live Christ.”
Robert Coleman Chapman, 1803-1902
Chapman asked his guests to leave their shoes or boots outside
of their rooms so that he could clean them. When people
objected, Chapman wouldn't relent. One guest remembers
Chapman saying, "It is not the custom in our day to wash one
another's feet; that which most nearly corresponds to this
command of the Lord is to clean each other's boots."
"My business is to love others and not to seek that others shall
love me."
“A bright, genial, loving and attractive spirit [in his 80‘s] drew out
the confidence even of the little ones. He used to play with our
little girl, then two or three years old, in the afternoons at a
childish game on the carpet…; and one morning before the
household was awake, he had made a paper kite for our son,
then about six years old, and was out with him by nine o'clock
helping him to fly it.”

62. Becoming Christ-
Like: How?
Christ in You
Spiritual Formation-Becoming Christ Like-Christ in You: We will explore the biblical theme
of the image of God in us, integrating insights from Scripture, church history, and the monastic
tradition, exploring how the church in its liturgy preaching, and program can become a dojo,
school, or studio of Christ-like feeling, thinking, virtue, integrity, and action. We'll consider the

63. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all
creation; 16for in* him all things in heaven and on earth were
created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created
through him and for him. 17He himself is before all things,
and in* him all things hold together. 18He is the head of the
body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead, so that he might come to have first place in
everything. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to
dwell, 20and through him God was pleased to reconcile to
himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making
peace through the blood of his cross.
21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing
evil deeds, 22he has now reconciled* in his fleshly body* through
death, so as to present you holy and blameless and
irreproachable before him— 23provided that you continue
securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting
from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has
been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became
a servant of this gospel.

64. 24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for
your sake, and in my flesh I am completing
what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the
sake of his body, that is, the church. 25I
became its servant according to God’s
commission that was given to me for you, to
make the word of God fully known, 26the
mystery that has been hidden throughout the
ages and generations but has now been
revealed to his saints. 27To them God chose to
make known how great among the Gentiles
are the riches of the glory of this mystery,
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28It
is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone
and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that

65. In Christ ...
...Christ in you
... so that we may present everyone mature
in Christ. 29For this I toil and struggle with all
the energy that he powerfully inspires within
me.

66. From Michael Polanyi, Personal Knowledge: Toward a
Postcritical Philosophy (1958)
It follows that an art which has fallen
into disuse for the period of a generation
is altogether lost. There are hundreds of
examples of this to which the process of
mechanization is continuously adding
new ones. These losses are usually
irretrievable.

67. It is pathetic to watch the
endless efforts -- equipped
with microscopy and
chemistry, with mathematics
and electronics -- to
reproduce a single violin of
the kind the half-literate
Stradivarius turned out as a
matter of routine more than
200 years ago.

68. To learn by example is to submit to
authority. You follow your master
because you trust his manner of doing
things even when you cannot analyze and
account in detail for its effectiveness. By
watching the master and emulating his
efforts in the presence of his example, the
apprentice unconsciously picks up the
rules of the art, including those which are
not explicitly known to the master
himself.

69. These hidden rules can
be assimilated only by
a person who
surrenders himself to
that extent uncritically
to the imitation of the
master. A society
which wants to
preserve a fund of
personal knowledge
must submit to
tradition.

70. … practical wisdom is more truly
embodied in action than expressed in
rules of action. (pp. 53-54)

72. Becoming Christ-Like
Christ in You

73. Philippians 2:1-11

74. Let this attitude be in us,
Let this attitude be in us,
The attitude of Jesus.
Amen.

75. Christ being in the image of God ...
Did not count equality with God
Something to be grasped,
But he emptied himself,

76. By taking the very nature of a
servant,
Being made in human form,
And being found in appearance
as a man,
He humbled himself.

77. He became obedient to death,
Even death upon a cross.
Therefore God exalted
him to the highest place.

78. God gave him the highest name
of all,
So that at Jesus’ name
All knees should bow/
All tongues confess/

79. That Jesus Christ is Lord/
To the glory of God the
Father,
Who works in us to desire
And do God’s good pleasure.

80. Let this attitude be in us,
Let this attitude be in us,
The attitude of Jesus.
Amen.

82. Positive imitation is essential to forming
Christ-likeness.
The Mind/Heart of Christ
The Moral Character/Integrity of Christ
The social ways (manner) of Christ
The Message of Christ
The Agenda/Mission of Christ
How can we promote positive imitation?

83. The New (Secular) Monasticism
Sharing a common life ...
Daily trials ...
Daily opportunities to serve ...
Modeling family life ...
Retreats, Field Trips, Mission Trips,
Pilgrimages, Summer Camps
Short term monastic experiences

84. Small Groups
-- Places for belonging
-- Classes for education?
-- Mini-monasteries for formation?
“Announcing” and repeating
our intention

85. Teaching disciples to seek mentors:
Theological
Family
Ministry
Problem areas
Aging
It’s like “learning to learn a language”
Questions, Requests for help
Active Learners

86. Teaching disciples to seek mentorees:
Theological
Family
Ministry
Problem areas
Aging

87. Spiritual Directors/Mentors
Soul Friends Soul Friends
You
Soul Friends Soul Friends
Mentorees/Apprentices

88. At the heart of mentor relationships:
Queries
How goeth it with thy soul?

89. Wesley’s Initial Questions:
1. Have you the forgiveness of your sins?
2. Have you peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ?
3. Have you the witness of God’s Spirit with your spirit that you
are a child of God?
4. Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart?
5. Has no sin, inward or outward, dominion over you?
6. Do you desire to be told of your faults?
7. Do you desire to be told of all your faults, and that plain and
home?
8. Do you desire that every one of us should tell you from time to
time whatsoever is in his heart concerning you?
9. Consider! Do you desire we should tell you whatsoever we
think, whatsoever we fear, whatsoever we hear, concerning
you?
10.Do you desire that in doing this we should come as close as
possible, that we should cut to the quick, and search your
heart to the bottom?
11.Is it your desire and design to be on this and all other
occasions entirely open, so as to speak everything that is in
your heart, without exception, without disguise, and without
reserve?

90. Wesley’s Weekly Questions:
1.What known sins have you committed since our
last meeting?
2.What temptations have you met with?
3.How were you delivered?
4.What have you thought, said, or done, of which
you doubt whether it be sin or not?
5.Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?

91. At the heart of mentor relationships:
Queries
How goes the battle? (work)
How is your soul?
What do you need?
What dangers, toils, and snares are in
your path?
What’s been a high-point and low-point?

92. Queries
How have you failed and dealt with that
failure since we last met?
How have you struggled and dealt with
that struggle since we last met?
When have you felt God’s presence and
direction in your life?
When have you been able to serve others,
and so serve Christ - especially in the
outcast, outsider, weak, or vulnerable?

93. Queries
Some prompt self-examination
Some prompt a sense of accountability
(note “grace” and “law” accountability!)
Others elicit “tribal stories” - and
awareness for opportunities.

94. Queries
Storytelling (testimony) and Spiritual
Formation:
- How am I formed by listening?
- How am I formed by sharing?
- How does inter-generational storytelling
differ from intra-generational
storytelling?

95. A lifetime process ...

96. Becoming Christ-Like
Christ in You

97. Spiritual Formation in Christ-
Likeness:
- Mind/heart
- Moral character/integrity
- Manner/way of relating
- Message
- Mission

98. The Role of the Gospels
Formation in OUR form of
Christlikeness ...
vs.
Formation in Christlikeness

99. “Q” - source leads to Mark
Mark expanded by Matthew & Luke
John - independent source, much
later, new circumstances

100. Four Gospels as Four Teachers
Quadratos (Alex Shaia)
Matthew - Climbing a mountain
Mark - Crossing a stormy sea
John - Resting in a Garden
Luke - Walking the Path

101. Four Gospels as Four Teachers
Quadratos (Alex Shaia)
Matthew - Mountain of learning
Mark - Sea of conflict, struggle
John - Garden of mysticism
Luke - Path of mission

102. Four Gospels as Four Teachers
Quadratos (Alex Shaia)
Matthew - Intellect
Mark - Will, Courage, Confidence
John - Imagination
Luke - Action

103. How do we read the Bible?
Flat
Descending
Ascending
Mountain peak

104. How do we read the Bible?
Regularity
Intensity
Hearing, reading, studying,
memorizing, meditating
Snippets ... Narratives (ex. Luke
18)

105. An Ignatian Practice of
Reading the Bible:
John 8:1-11

107. Becoming Christ-Like
Christ in You

108. Spiritual Formation in Christ-
Likeness:
- Mind/heart
- Moral character/integrity
- Manner/way of relating
- Message
- Mission
Mentoring, Gospels, Practices

109. Work out your salvation …
For it is God who works in you …
(Philippians 2:12-13)

110. I learned to play guitar by accident and
on purpose

111. By accident through an invitation and a
gift …
and on purpose
by practice

112. There are deep similarities with my life as a
follower of Jesus.
It began with an
invitation and a gift.
It continued with
practice.

113. Are you a practicing guitar student?
Are you a practicing dentist or doctor?
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Are you a practicing Christian?

114. The term “Christian” only appears 3 times in
the New Testament. It appears to have
been a term of disparagement (Acts 11:26,
Acts 26:28, I Peter 4:15).
The far more common
term for someone who
believes in and follows
Jesus is …

115. Disciple.
This term appears 261 times in
the New Testament!
3 versus 261

116. come, follow me
Learn of me, take my
yoke upon you
I have given you an
example
Make disciples,
teaching them to
practice everything I
have taught you

117. Be conformed to the image of
Christ. Romans 8
Be transformed by the renewing
of your mind. Romans 12
… that Christ may be formed in
you. Galatians 4
Learn Christ… Be made new in
the attitude of your minds
Ephesians 4
Christ in you, the hope of glory
… everyone fully formed in
Christ Colossians 1
Let this attitude be in you which
was also in Christ… Philippians 2

118. A disciple is a learner …
an apprentice …
one who imitates a master-
teacher
and practices his way.

119. The sermon on the mount
Explains how disciples of the kingdom are characterized by a “right/just
way of living” which “surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees.”
Different attitudes: blessed are …
Different role - salt and light
Beyond “no murder” to no hatred, anger, insult, or grudges
Beyond “no adultery” to no lust or divorce
Beyond no lying to no exaggeration
Beyond no excessive revenge to no retaliation
Beyond loving friends to loving enemies
Beyond harsh religious “perfection” to God’s compassionate
perfection.

120. What we call “Christianity”
was originally called
the way ..
A new way of life, a
new way of love.

121. We learn information by study.
We learn a way by practice.
To follow Jesus, to learn
his way, to experience
transformation … we
engage in practice.

122. Spiritual formation of
disciples/apostles involves
intentional spiritual practices
(or disciplines) in community:

123. Actions within our power which we do
to train ourselves to do things
currently beyond our power, and to
become people we are currently
incapable of being.
- Running a marathon
- Making or playing a violin
- Learning a language

124. Beyond your ability:
Being patient and self-
controlled
Being kind and forgiving
Loving enemies
Living in the way of
Jesus

125. practice
makes
possible

126. So … the church is the community
that passes on ways of being
formed into disciples of Jesus,
disciples of the kingdom.
Through the centuries, the
church has identified a
number of transformative
practices for individuals.

127. For example, fasting:
- Feeling and acknowledging our weakness in
the face of impulses from our bodies.
- Practicing impulse control.
- Asserting to ourselves the importance of
things other than impulse gratification.
- Accepting weakness and “poverty” in faith that
greater strength and satisfaction can come to
us.
- What benefits could come from this practice?

128. What personal practices form people
spiritually?
___solitude ___sabbath ___silence
___study ___spiritual direction
___practicing God’s presence ___prayer journaling
___fixed-hour prayer ___contemplative prayer
___service ___submission ___simplicity
___feasting ___fasting ___self-denial
___identifying with Jesus ___reconciliation
___giving ___encouragement ___empathy

129. Not just practicing our faith: Also
faithing our practices. The Celtic era
(400-600 AD) has much to teach us.
___prayers for washing your face
___prayers for stirring your fire
___prayers for leaving your house
___prayers for walking
___prayers for enjoying God’s creation
They integrated spiritual formation into all
aspects of normal daily life.

130. Not just practicing our faith: Also
faithing our practices.
What are some of your practices that you add (or
could add) a faith dimension to?

131. What personal practices form people
spiritually?
___solitude ___sabbath ___silence
___study ___spiritual direction
___practicing God’s presence ___prayer journaling
___fixed-hour prayer ___contemplative prayer
___service ___submission ___simplicity
___feasting ___fasting ___self-denial
___identifying with Jesus ___reconciliation
___giving ___encouragement ___empathy

132. How are disciples formed?
Through personal practices.
___public worship ___solitude ___sabbath ___eucharist
___silence
___study ___spiritual direction
___practicing God’s presence ___prayer journaling
___fixed-hour prayer ___contemplative prayer
___service ___submission ___simplicity ___feasting/
fasting ___pilgrimage ___self-denial
___identifying with Jesus ___reconciliation
___giving ___confessing sin ___reciting creeds
But this is only part of the story …

133. Social practices …
___don’t exploit workers ___resolve conflicts non-
violently ___loose chains of injustice ___set
oppressed free ___break every form of
domination ___sharing your food with the
hungry ___bringing the homeless poor into your
home ___clothe naked ___don’t turn away from
another human being ___don’t point finger/
accuse ____don’t talk maliciously ___spend
yourselves on hungry ___satisfy needs of the
oppressed
Isaiah 58

134. How are disciples formed?
Through missional practices:
___healing (external and internal)
___eating with “sinners”
___standing with oppressed ___confronting the
powerful
___community organizing ___consciousness
raising
___leadership development ___campaigns
___ crossing the road/moving toward the other

136. Jesus calls disciples -
men and women who
will learn to live a new
way of life and
experience
transformation.
Then he sends them out
as apostles … people
who would bring
transformation to the
world.

137. The purpose of
personal
formation is
global
transformation

138. You are not the
end user of the
gospel.
The church is not
the point.

139. Does the church
have a mission
(or a missions
department)?
Or does Christ’s
mission have a
church?

140. As the Father sent me,
so I send you.
(John 20:21)

141. So … the church is the community
that joins God for global
transformation on every level …
It is a community of
transforming individuals
who participate with God in
the transformation of the
world.

142. The purpose of
personal
formation is
global
transformation
- on every level!

143. Does the church
have a mission
(or a missions
department)?
Or does Christ’s
mission have a
church?

144. Do justice …
Love kindness …
Walk humbly with God.

145. In your family …
In your neighborhood …
At your workplace …
With your church …
In your city or region or state …
In your nation - dual citizenship. (which has
priority?)
Globally - (to whom much has been given)

147. www.brianmclaren.net
slideshare.net
brianmclaren

148. Learning is not the
consequence of teaching.
Learning is the consequence of
thinking.

149. transformation
formation in practice:
…teach them to do
all I have commanded you.
(Matthew 28)

150. transformationFormation in orientation
I have give you an example
… love one another as I have loved
you.
(John 13-15)

151. Formation in identity:
to be conformed
to the image of God’s Son
(Romans 8)

152. formation in thought/feeling:
… be transformed
by the renewing of your
minds.
(Romans 8)

153. transformation
transformation:
…until Christ
is formed in you.
(Galatians 4:19)

154. In one sense, everything
is spiritual formation (or
malformation):
Listening to Rush Limbaugh, watching
Fox News or MSNBC or The Cosmetic
Surgery Channel, using pornography
or drugs, choosing one neighborhood
over another, engaging in office
gossip, making charitable donations,
etc.

155. What personal practices form people
spiritually?
___solitude ___sabbath ___silence
___study ___spiritual direction
___practicing God’s presence ___prayer journaling
___fixed-hour prayer ___contemplative prayer
___service ___submission ___simplicity
___feasting ___fasting ___self-denial
___identifying with Jesus ___reconciliation
___giving ___encouragement ___empathy

156. Social practices …
___don’t exploit workers ___resolve conflicts non-
violently ___loose chains of injustice ___set
oppressed free ___break every form of
domination ___sharing your food with the
hungry ___bringing the homeless poor into your
home ___clothe naked ___don’t turn away from
another human being ___don’t point finger/
accuse ____don’t talk maliciously ___spend
yourselves on hungry ___satisfy needs of the
oppressed
Isaiah 58

157. How are disciples formed?
Through missional practices:
___healing (external and internal)
___eating with “sinners”
___standing with oppressed ___confronting the
powerful
___community organizing ___consciousness
raising
___leadership development ___campaigns

158. How are disciples formed?
Through communal practices:
___public worship ___eucharist
___group learning/study ___spiritual direction
___fixed-hour prayer ___feasting ___pilgrimage
___giving ___confessing sin ___reciting
creeds

159. Public Worship:
a gathering for liturgy

160. Public Worship:
a gathering for liturgy
Liturgy:
an orderly succession of
rituals

161. Public Worship:
a gathering for liturgy
Liturgy:
an orderly succession of rituals
Ritual: a bodily action for
bonding to meaning

162. Ritualism:
repeating the prescribed
action without reference to
meaning

163. Liturgy:
the “workout” of the
people -
rituals and practices
for formation

164. public worship as
(spiritual formation)
[disciple-making]
{community formation}

165. there has been a lot of
talk about
worship in recent
years….

166. traditional
contemporary
blended
postmodern (ouch)

167. such labels can be
useful …
and they can be
problematic.
Do we need more “market
segmentation?”

168. let’s consider all of
these as transitional,
and on a deeper level ...

169. let’s consider ourselves
to be moving to a “post-
protestant” era in
worship …
where forms of worship
are not biblically
mandated

170. and where elements of
worship are not
denominationally
proprietary

171. where liturgy is
acknowledged as
universal …
a dynamic tension of
form and freedom,
identity and innovation,

172. and where “evolution”
is seen as normative,
and where one of the
essential functions of
worship is …

173. 1. Inconvenience:
Going to a place I didn’t
choose
At a time I didn’t choose
For a purpose I do choose.

174. 2. Awakening
Drawing attention to things
that can too easily be
forgotten.
Entry rituals, preludes,
songs, sacred space,
artwork, invocation

175. 3. Association/
Affiliation
Associating with some people
I like
And others I don’t like
For a purpose I believe in.

177. 4. Hospitality
Using my presence and our
space to help “the other” feel
welcome in my presence, and in
the presence of our community.

179. 5. Desire formation
Strengthening certain desires
through prayer, song, and
posture.
Which desires? What range?
Weekly, Seasonal, Annual,
Lifespan

181. Kinds of prayer:
invocation (here), thanksgiving
(thanks), adoration (O!),
confession (sorry), petition
(help), intercession (please),
aspiration (when?), refusal (no!),
abandonment (why?), meditation
(behold), surrender (yes),
contemplation (-)

183. 6. Confession/Absolution
Dealing constructively with the
gap between behavior and
aspiration.
Constructive versus destructive
confession

185. 7. Creativity/beauty
Participating in beauty through
song, ceremony, architecture.
Consider alternatives:

187. 8. Receptivity
Waiting for what I may receive
only by waiting receptively.
Sermons and silence

189. 9. Generosity
Taking greater pleasure in being
productive (fruitful) than
consumptive.

191. 10. Modeling
Exposing apprentices to
masters
In prayer, teaching, artistry,
faithfulness, service,
hospitality, etc.
Contemplative and charismatic
models …

193. 11. Envisioning
Preaching justice & compassion
Singing justice & compassion
Praying, signifying, announcing,
celebrating, organizing for
justice & compassion

195. 12. Catholicity
Celebrating the wideness of
God’s mercy to others:
Quoting others
Affirming others
Praying for others
Inviting others

197. 13. Mystery
Exposing the soul to the wonder
of saturated events - with
unfathomed layers of
meaning ...
Such as
Eucharist, Resurrection,
Pentecost, Eschaton

199. 14. Reciting creeds
Affiliation
Submission to tradition
Abiding in community
More?

201. 14. Reciting creeds
Affiliation
Submission to tradition
Abiding in community
More?

203. 15. Scripture reading
Living before and in the text

205. 16. Benediction
Being sent into the world ...
For what purpose?

207. What about your church
year?
What seasons do you have?
When is there planned latency?
When is there planned intensity?
Feasting? Fasting?
Inward, Upward, Outward focus?
Planning? Evaluating?

209. Are there unintended
“malformations” happening?
-Revelation sermon
-“Give us the lost” & “the nations” songs
-Warfare language, cliches
-Emotional manipulation/hype
-Emotional strangulation
-Racial/Cultural/age exclusion
-Body acknowledgement
-Intellectual or political messages

211. Six dynamic tensions:
-Charismatic and
contemplative
-Regularity and intensity
-Familiarity and surprise
-Ancient and Future
-Planned and spontaneous
-Word and image

213. Question:
How do we induct or initiate
people into our public
worship - so they know the
meaning we want them to
bond to?