You are more than an instructor or a teacher! Many people misunderstand our intentional change in language from “discipleship” to “spiritual formation.” In its purest form the word discipleship means the qualities of being a follower but the term has been hijacked in the common vernacular to mean “somebody who has been lead one-on-one through a specific curriculum.” The move to spiritual formation is an intentional move beyond the cognitive and behavioral into the very essence of being. The power of the Gospel doesn’t only change what we know or how we behave, it changes the very essence of who we are.
This essence works closely with my last post on “How much time do I have?” As small group leaders and Christian Education teachers we are not there to “dump data” into open minds. Our intent should be to see the person developed into a person who is more controlled by God’s Spirit.
The following 7 descriptors from Richard Foster highlight the valuable task to which we are committed.
What is spiritual direction?
1. Spiritual direction is an interpersonal relationship in which we learn how to grow, live, and love in the spiritual life.
2. Spiritual direction involves a process through which one person helps another person understand what God is doing and saying.
3. Discernment is a crucial gift in the work of spiritual direction.
4. In spiritual direction there is absolutely no domination or control.
5. The spiritual director/mentor/pastor guides another in spiritual things through the spiritual world by spiritual means.
6. God has ordained that there be spiritual directors/mentors/pastors among his people. This is the structure of love in practice.
7. Supremely, spiritual directors/mentors/pastors are persons who have a sense of being "established" in God. Otherwise they are too dangerous to be allowed into the soul space of others.
What Is Spiritual Direction? | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction
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