Following the Ancient Paths:Mapping the Intersection of

Christian Counseling and Spiritual Formation

Ever Feel a Little Lost?

Ever Feel a Little Lost?

Ever Feel a Little Lost?

Ever Feel a Little Lost?

Some Signs Are More Helpful Than Others

Some Signs Are More Helpful Than Others

Some Sign Are More Helpful Than Others

Some Signs Are More Helpful Than Others

Some Sign Are More Helpful Than Others

Some Sign Are More Helpful Than Others

Some Sign Are More Helpful Than Others

Need Some Directions?

Need Some Directions?

♥ How might the typical secular psychologist respond? ♥ How might the typical Christian counselor respond?♥ How might the typical pastor respond?♥ How might the typical spiritual director respond?♥ How might the typical lay spiritual friend respond?

Sharing/Growing as Spiritual Friends

♥ How might JesusJesus respond?♥ How might “Church History”“Church History”

respond?♥ How might WeWe respond?

Mapping Our Spiritual Journey

Following the Ancient Paths

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for yours souls” (Jeremiah 6:16a).

♥ Pedersen: “Lack sufficient awareness”♥ Oden: “Without the historic voices”♥ Oates: “Start over from scratch” ♥ Peterson: “Abandoned historic call”♥ Hiltner: “Lack identification with roots”♥ Butman: “Exists in a historical vacuum” ♥ Clebsch/Jaekle: “Too readily adopted”

Searching for Buried Treasure:The Forgotten Arts

♥ Chesterton: “Democracy of the dead”♥ Lane: “Balance changing/changeless” ♥ Edwards: “Reclaim spiritual friendship”♥ Oates: “Enter into durable fellowship”

Finding Buried Treasure:Changeless Truth for Changing Times

♥ Clebsch/Jaekle: “Grand tradition”♥ McNeil: “Edification/Correction”♥ Didascalia Apostolorum: “SHRG”♥ Oden: “Historical consensus”♥ Lake: “Suffer/Sin, Deprivation/Depravity”♥ Clebsch/Jaekle: “Classic spiritual care”♥ Leech: “Standard definition”

Investing Buried Treasure: Soul Care and Spiritual Direction

Our Treasure Map: Sustaining, Healing, Reconciling, and Guiding

♥ Sustaining: “Hurt”

♥ Healing: “Hope”

♥ Reconciling: “Horrible/Wonderful”

♥ Guiding: “Mature”

Soul Care: Sustaining

♥ Sufferology: “Evils We Have Suffered”♥ Sustaining—“It’s Normal to Hurt” ♥ 2 Corinthians 1:3-9—Sense the Soul’s EarthlyEarthly Story

Soul Care: Sustaining

♥ Empathy: CompassionateCompassionate CommiserationCommiseration ♥ Shared SorrowSorrow Is EndurableEndurable Sorrow

Soul Care: Sustaining

♥ Dual Listening: Listen to God’sGod’s Story While You Listen to Your Friend’sFriend’s Story.♥ We Have to Climb in the CasketClimb in the Casket with Them.

Soul Care: Healing

♥ Healing—It’s Possible to Hope”♥ 2 Corinthians 1:9-11: God’s EternalEternal Story ♥ StretchingStretching the Soul to GreatGreat Things. ♥ When Life StinksStinks, Our Perspective ShrinksShrinks.

Soul Care: Healing

♥ Help Your Spiritual Friend Look at Life with SpiritualSpiritual Eyes♥ Matthew 6:22-23♥ 2 Kings 6:15-17♥ Trialogue ♥ “Celebrate the EmptyEmpty Tomb!”

Sharing and Growing AsSoul Care Givers

♥Share: Sustaining?

♥Share: Healing?

Sharing and Growing AsSoul Care Givers

How might each of the following offer sustaining and healing to

Carl?♥Secular Psychologist?♥Christian Counselor?♥Pastor?♥Spiritual Director?♥Lay Spiritual Friend?

Sharing and Growing AsSoul Care Givers

♥How might Jesus sustain and heal Carl?

♥How might you sustain and heal Carl?

♥What Ideas? Illustrations? Suggestions?

♥What questions do you have?

Spiritual Direction:Reconciling

♥ Sancticology: “The Sins We Have Committed.”♥ Reconciling—“It’s Horrible to Sin.”♥ Puritans: LoadLoad the Conscience with GuiltGuilt.

Spiritual Direction:Reconciling

♥ Recognize the “Quadralog”“Quadralog”: Matthew 4♥ Catch Them Red-handedRed-handed: Hebrews 3, 10.♥ Leave the ConvictionConviction to God: 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Spiritual Direction:Reconciling

♥ “It’s Wonderful to Be Forgiven.”♥ Puritans: LightenLighten the Conscience with GraceGrace.♥ DispensersDispensers of Grace. ♥ Provide TastesTastes of Grace. ♥ Pen Psalms of HomeHome ComingComing: Psalm 32, 51

Spiritual Direction:Guiding

♥ Guiding—“It’s Supernatural to Mature” ♥ EnvisioningEnvisioning Who They Are: Eph. 1-3; 2 Tim. 1:5-7 ♥ New NurtureNurture: Reconciliation—SonsSons!♥ New NatureNature: Regeneration—SaintsSaints!

Spiritual Direction:Guiding

♥ UniversalUniversal Identity♥ UniqueUnique Identity

Spiritual Direction:Guiding

♥ EmpoweringEmpowering Them to Be All They Can Be: Ephesians 4:17-24; 2 Timothy 1:8-18♥ Putting Off♥ Putting On

Spiritual Direction:Guiding

♥ EquippingEquipping Them to Do All They Can Do: Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:1-10♥ StirStir Up the Gift of GodGod

Sharing and Growing AsSpiritual Directors

♥Share: Reconciling?

♥Share: Guiding?

Sharing and Growing AsSpiritual Directors

How might each of the following offer reconciling and guiding to

Carl?♥Secular Psychologist?♥Christian Counselor?♥Pastor?♥Spiritual Director?♥Lay Spiritual Friend?

Sharing and Growing AsSpiritual Directors

♥How might Jesus reconcile and guide Carl?

♥How might you reconcile and guide Carl?

♥What Ideas? Illustrations? Suggestions?

♥What questions do you have?

Follow the Ancient Paths:Sustain, Heal, Reconcile, Guide