This volume, edited by Jeffrey P. Greenman and George Kalantzis, marks another compilation from the Wheaton Theology Conference. 2009's event produced the wealth of work represented here exploring the theological foundations for a faithful approach to the church practices that contribute to spiritual formation, that is, to our sanctification in the power of the Holy Spirit. Including essays from keynote speakers Dallas Willard and Gordon Fee as well as contributing essays by noted presenters such as Chris Hall, David Gushee, Linda Cannell, Cherith Fee Nordling and Lawrence Cunningham, this book offers a stimulating exploration of the historical, biblical and theological dimensions of spiritual formation. It will be of special interest to those who serve as pastors, spiritual directors, church ministry leaders and Christian educators.
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George Kalantzis (Ph.D. Northwestern University) teaches theology at Wheaton College. His primary research focuses on the development of Christological and Trinitarian thought, as well as the interplay of classical Greco-Roman society and early Christianity.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's not often that you can get a group of front-ranking theologians and scholars together to discuss spiritual formation, spiritual theology and what "life in the Spirit" means. But the Wheaton Theology Conference in 2009 did just that and this volume is the result: Life in the Spirit: Spiritual Formation in Theological Perspective . The book has good scholars and some great topics, and it never strays from developing a theology of spiritual formation.
Gordon Fee, Dallas Willard, Lawrence Cunningham, Kelly Kapic, Chris Hall and Susan Phillips -- to name some. I really like the topics: definition by Jeffrey Greenman, the Spirit by Gordon Fee, the soteriology that shapes how we see spiritual formation with Dallas Willard, Kelly Kapic on John Owen, George Kalantzis on the desert monastics, Bruce Hindmarsh on evangelical spirituality, James Wilhoit on centering prayer, Cherith Fee Nordling on singing and David Gushee on sanctity of life... yes, this is a great roster.
Jeffrey Greenman's opening definition can't be improved upon: "Spiritual formation is our continuing response to the reality of God's grace shaping us into the likeness of Jesus Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, in the community of faith, for the sake of the world" (24).
This would be a great book for pastors and for a pastoral staff to ponder together for a year; and a fine textbook for seminary classes.
Gordon Fee, Dallas Willard, Lawrence Cunningham, Kelly Kapic, Chris Hall and Susan Phillips -- to name some. I really like the topics: definition by Jeffrey Greenman, the Spirit by Gordon Fee, the soteriology that shapes how we see spiritual formation with Dallas Willard, Kelly Kapic on John Owen, George Kalantzis on the desert monastics, Bruce Hindmarsh on evangelical spirituality, James Wilhoit on centering prayer, Cherith Fee Nordling on singing and David Gushee on sanctity of life... yes, this is a great roster.
Jeffrey Greenman's opening definition can't be improved upon: "Spiritual formation is our continuing response to the reality of God's grace shaping us into the likeness of Jesus Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, in the community of faith, for the sake of the world" (24).
This would be a great book for pastors and for a pastoral staff to ponder together for a year; and a fine textbook for seminary classes.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A. Morgan
Format:Paperback
This collection of papers originally presented at the 2009 Wheaton Theology Conference aims to set a perspective on the topic of Spiritual Formation. We may have heard of this phrase - it has become a buzz word amongst some - but what does it mean and what kind of theology does it espouse? This book answers that question. Each chapter covers an area of Spiritual Formation or Disciplines, providing the reader a framework that is theological, historical and practical.
Too often we divorce spiritual formation from theology, and theology from the spirit. We need to merge them back together so that we have a living theology which is simultaneously forming the work of Christ in us and in the world, through and in the experience of the Holy Spirit.
While all the chapters were excellent, Kelly Kapic's chapter on John Owen (Evangelical Holiness) and his concept of holiness was especially good, showing how the puritan Owen's approach to holiness was both Christ-centered AND Spirit-enabled.
Christopher Hall gives a very helpful chapter on Lectio Divina outlining the benefits of slow and intentional reading of scripture not for analysis sake, but for receiving and bathing in the word of God.
The Church needs to get serious about spiritual formation and growth. Too few christians today take seriously the need to spend time (significant time) in the scriptures and in prayer before the living God. We must become disciplined is spending time, daily, immersed in and soaking up the words of life found in the scriptures, and allowing that to shape a living and spirit empowered theology which translates itself into Christ centered living, individually and corporately.
This book is a wonderful resource on Spiritual Formation and should be used by Pastors and Church Leaders as a foundation for building their own theology of Spiritual Formation and then as a launch pad for teaching their congregations to do likewise.
Too often we divorce spiritual formation from theology, and theology from the spirit. We need to merge them back together so that we have a living theology which is simultaneously forming the work of Christ in us and in the world, through and in the experience of the Holy Spirit.
While all the chapters were excellent, Kelly Kapic's chapter on John Owen (Evangelical Holiness) and his concept of holiness was especially good, showing how the puritan Owen's approach to holiness was both Christ-centered AND Spirit-enabled.
Christopher Hall gives a very helpful chapter on Lectio Divina outlining the benefits of slow and intentional reading of scripture not for analysis sake, but for receiving and bathing in the word of God.
The Church needs to get serious about spiritual formation and growth. Too few christians today take seriously the need to spend time (significant time) in the scriptures and in prayer before the living God. We must become disciplined is spending time, daily, immersed in and soaking up the words of life found in the scriptures, and allowing that to shape a living and spirit empowered theology which translates itself into Christ centered living, individually and corporately.
This book is a wonderful resource on Spiritual Formation and should be used by Pastors and Church Leaders as a foundation for building their own theology of Spiritual Formation and then as a launch pad for teaching their congregations to do likewise.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Spiritual formation, “becoming like Christ through the Spirit” (p10), includes both purposes and practices essential to the development of cruciform Christ followers.
This work, based on the 2009 Wheaton Theology Conference, balances the continuums of theological and practical as well as historical and contemporary as it leads toward a more informed view of spiritual formation.
This work, based on the 2009 Wheaton Theology Conference, balances the continuums of theological and practical as well as historical and contemporary as it leads toward a more informed view of spiritual formation.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I laughed, I cried, it touched me Bob.
I just wanted to add to the other reviews that although this is a scholarly work, I am neither a theologian or a pastor, just a simple mom, and I thought that this book was very... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ann
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book
It is a good book if you know the players and know the background from which they are writing. Otherwise it is somewhat confusing.
Published 4 months ago by Randy Tompkins
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