Spirituality & Discipleship
This page is my storehouse for both my research about spirituality and discipleship AND the resources I’ve created to help leaders and seekers to grow spiritually.
Missional Spiritual Formation leaders are called to cultivate growing disciples of Jesus who are equipped to discern God’s action in the world and empowered to participate in it.
CLICK HERE for a curated list of other spiritual formation sites that I recommend
My Courses Available on Faith + Lead Academy
Spiritual Formation Posts
Life on the Möbius Strip | A Video by Parker Palmer
Thanks to Dr. Mary Hess for referring me to this video. Life on the Mobius Strip -- Parker J. Palmer from Center for Courage & Renewal on Vimeo.
Encouraged by Our High School Students, Once Again
The questions seemed confusing and cumbersome at first, to be honest. But then, something happened. We wrestled with understanding the words at first, and as the conversation continued, the questions unfurled. They were like hard cubes of sugar that splashed awkwardly...
Why the Missional Movement Will Fail | A Response to Mike Breen
Mike Breen wrote an article at The Verge Network titled Why the Missional Movement Will Fail. His answer boiled down to one word: discipleship. I couldn't agree with him more. However, as I read his follow up article--Why the Missional Movement Will Fail (Part 2)--I...
Pannenberg’s Article on Personhood translated by Fred Sanders
Personhood and the notion of self is an important topic in my research, both in regard to the Trinity and to spiritual formation. During my search for resources on the self and personhood I discovered this article from Pannenberg, but also discovered that it has never...
The Resurrection Plant – Amazing BBC Video
Tonight I teach the catechism students about the last part of Jesus' story. Of course, the most amazing and important part of the story is that Jesus rose from the dead. The power of resurrection is the power of life itself. The apostle Paul states that Jesus'...
Wind and Waves Illustration in #ProCreate on the #iPad
This is an illustration I did for Catechism last night. It was Part Two of a three-week series on the life of Jesus. I love the fact that I can be in the office at church, take out my iPad, open up ProCreate, do the illustration, upload it to Dropbox, then insert it...
Recommended Reading
Journeying in the Wilderness by Terri Elton
The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster
Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
Belonging by Karoline Lewis
The Corner of Fourth and Nondual by Cynthia Bourgeault
The Critical Journey by Janet O. Hagberg
Renew Your Life by Kai Nilsen
Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mullholland Jr.
Acts of Faith: Meditations For People of Color by Iyanla Vanzant
Earth Crammed with Heaven: A Spirituality of Everyday Life by Elizabeth Dreyer
Thirsty for God by Bradley Holt
Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices by Brian McLaren
We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren
Cultivating Sent Communities edited by Dwight Zscheile
Power Surge by Michael Foss
I have two favorite metaphors to discuss spiritual formation.
The first is a journey. Jesus called to his first disciples, “Follow me!” and they traveled with him as he demonstrated what it looks like to live in fellowship with God.
The first disciples in John 1:38 asked Jesus, “Where do you dwell?”
Jesus replied, “Come and See,” so they followed him.
To be a disciple of Jesus is to move, to explore, to grow.
But what is the destination?
That leads me to my second favorite metaphor. The Vine and the Branches.
Jesus said in John 15:1-5, “I am the vine and you are the branches…remain/dwell in me and I will remain in you, and you will bear much fruit.”
The destination of this journey is not a physical time or place. The destination is the love of God.
God’s love is infinite, therefore we will never arrive. We simply keep growing.
We go and grow in two directions.
First, we grow deeper roots to be grounded in the love of God.
Second, we grow taller and wider branches to spread the fruit of God’s love wider.
Cultivating A Spiritual Formation Plan for the Local Congregation
The local church is the ideal place to grow spiritually. However, it is often difficult to do so. One of my ongoing projects is to experiment with how to cultivate spaces for people to grow spiritually. This article gives some basic outlines for how to think about this.
Check Out My Spiritual Formation Resources
Mindful Sketching
Learn how to connect your breath to your body and use the process of mark-making to become present with God.
Other Spiritual Formation Sites
Journeying in the Wilderness
