Equipping the Saints Introduction & Spiritual Formation

Discipleship Class – FBC Alexandria

Joel W. Harder

Goals

� Establish a working definition of Spiritual Formation

�  Introduce the Relational Model of Discipleship

� Consider Biblical examples of this approach

�  Introduce ETS material by David Dawson

Spiritual Formation

� “all attempts, means, instruction, and disciplines intended towards deepening of faith and furtherance of spiritual growth. It includes educational endeavors as well as the more intimate and in-depth process of spiritual direction”

�  Gerald May, Psychiatrist

Spiritual Formation cont’

� Catch-all term that does very little to communicate any specific meaning

� Need to narrow terms � Christian Faith

� “Most statistical measures and anecdotal portraits of Evangelical Christians, not to mention Christians in general, show a remarkable similarity in the life-texture of Christians and non-Christians”

The Gospel & Spiritual Formation

� “Essence” of the Gospel � For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the

power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… (Romans 1:16)

� Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind… (Romans 12:2)

� …until Christ be formed in you. (Galatians 4:19)

Process of Change

� Who is the one changing? � Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

(Hebrews 13:8)

� Divine quality

� Typically to comfort

� Most helpful in contrasting ourselves to God

� Especially noticeable in the emerging adulthood years

Proactive Process of Change

� An optimal starting point is in accepting that we are going to change over the years.

� This change can be a passive process that will happen regardless of any interest or activity on the part of the individual, or it can be an arguably far more valuable transformation where one proactively grows in mind, body and spirit into greater Christ likeness.

� Read the Willard Quote (p. 4)

Three Movements

� First Movement: Identifying certain activities as spiritual work or exercise.

� Actively training people for ministry � And he gave the apostles, the prophets,

the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. (Eph 4:11-12)

� Fan into flame the gift of God in you… (2 Tim 1:6)

First Movement cont’

� The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce � Believers

� Attendants

� Disciples: Chosen by the Master and trained for the specific task of apostleship

� Desired outcome: Finding a passion and purpose for life

Second Movement

� Shaping of the inner life, or the “spiritual life” … the spiritual side of the human being. � Spiritual Disciplines

� Spiritual Practices

Third Movement

� Shaping of one’s life by spiritual things. � Not all spiritual formation is Christian

� For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12)

� Proactive formation focused on the spiritual things God has given His church: His Word & His Spirit

Working Definition

�  With this framework in place, spiritual formation among evangelical Christian might be defined as a proactive process of multi-dimensional transformation (mind, body, and soul) where one matures into Christ likeness, displaying a continuous yielding of the fruit of the spirit, and helping others to do the same (Harder & Stoneking, 2013).

�  With this definition, spiritual formation in Christ is accomplished as the Christian makes their highest intent to live in the commandments of Christ.

�  Willard adds they “accordingly make realistic plans to realize this intent by an adequate course of spiritual disciplines” (Willard, 2006).

Why: Relational Discipleship

�  The Church is constantly endeavoring to see authentic faith and spiritual formation take hold in the next generation.

�  It is often said that the church is ‘one generation away from becoming extinct.’

�  Though reasons exist to be hopeful about the next generation, it is undeniable that certain uneasiness exists in the church today about its effectiveness in retaining the millennial generation (Dickerson, 2013).

What: Relational Discipleship

� Accomplishing the goals and objectives of spiritual formation in is an impossible task if one has to do it alone. But as Willard notes, “no one has to. God gives us others to share the pilgrimage, and we will be met by Christ in every step of the way.

� “Faith is a relational enterprise, triadic or covenantal in shape” (Fowler, 1978).

Defining Discipleship

� “Jesus taught that faith means to follow… Discipleship isn’t a program or an event; it’s a way of life. It’s not for a limited time, but for our whole life…Simply, discipleship means learning from and following a teacher” (Hull, 2006).

� So we begin to see discipleship is an intrinsically relational, lifelong process that requires learning in the life of the one being discipled. Discipleship does not just mean an increase in knowledge.

Defining Discipleship cont’

� “Christianity is not a school for teaching moral virtues, the polishing of our manners…[it] implies an entire change of life, a dedication of ourselves, our souls, our bodies unto God in the strictest and highest sense of the words.” - William Law

� Discipleship results in a life that is dramatically transformed in body, mind, and soul.

Isn’t this just a mentor?

� Yes and no

� Mentorship

� Coaching

� Spiritual guidance

� Accountability

What is needed in a Discipler

� Three things: � Sees Jesus

� Points you to Jesus

� Sees Jesus in You

Biblical Model

� In Christian discipleship, and more specifically in the context of a local church, there exists a God-ordained method of relational discipleship.

� “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 11:1

Joseph of Cyprus

� 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

� Acts 9:26-27

Son of Encouragement

�  36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

� Acts 15:36-41

The Church is Uniquely Equipped

� Not aesthetics… but, rather � Faithful father of two, Christian bank

manager, local college professor, nurse practitioner, high school English teacher, software engineer, or social worker all sitting in the pews

Equipping the Saints

David Dawson

David Dawson, Founder of Equipping The Saints, has been involved in discipleship and training for nearly forty years. He has taught Equipping The Saints at Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary, Dallas Bible College, and at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For twelve years he conducted a year-long internship on training laymen to do the work of ministry for the Field Education Department of Dallas Theological Seminary. Dave was the National Director for The Navigators for twelve years in Singapore. It was there that Equipping The Saints was developed to equip lay people. He travels extensively throughout America, Asia, Europe, the Eastern Block and Africa in cooperation with mission agencies and other groups to develop Equipping The Saints and discipleship training in national and international churches and denominations.