Chapter 8 - Second half...

This week, let's finish up "The Exchanged Life Spirituality - Grasping Our True Identity in Christ". From page 104 to the end, we will look at: 1) God's Character and Plan, 2) Our Old And New Natures and 3) Our God-Created Needs. Basically, we're going to dig into the fact that God has set eternity in our heart, and He alone can fill the void (Ecc 3:11). In reading and reflecting, think through these two questions: A) How does God's plan flow out of and reflect his Character? B) Which of the three categories of psychological needs is the most important to you? Where do you usually turn to have this need met?

Chapter 8 - Exchanged Life Spirituality - Grasping Our True Identity in Christ

Exchanged life spirituality concentrates on the reality of the new identity through the in-Christ relationship that can dramatically transform us as we progressively grasp it in our experience. It stresses that the spiritual life is not a matter of trying to do things for Jesus but of claiming and resting in what he has already done for us. This chapter sets the stage for this issue of identity by considering our God-given needs for love and acceptance, significance and identity, and competence and fulfilment. In this chapter consider: 1) A clearer sense of the principles involved in exchanged life spiritually, 2) An appreciation for God's character and his loving plan that flows out of his character, 3) An understanding of our God-created needs for love and acceptance, significance and identity, and competence and fulfilment.

Chapter 7 - Disciplined Spirituality - Prayer

Prayer: "The concept of communicating with God, of talking directly and openly with him just as we would talk with an intimate friend, is one of the greatest truths in Scripture." Are we really leveraging the power and wisdom that is available to us in the simple communication with God? Or do we seriously desire to talk with God more than our friends, colleagues, family or .... [you fill in the blank]? Reading through Boa's 10 benefits of prayer on page 94, makes one wonder why we wouldn't tap into this spiritual discipline of prayer even more. 1) Enhances our fellowship and intimacy with God, 2) It is commanded, 3) We follow the example of Christ when we do it, 4) It appropriates God's power for our lives, 5) We receive special help from God, 6) It makes a genuine difference, 7) Prayer develops our understanding and knowledge of God, 8) Our prayers and God's answers give us joy and peace in our hearts, 9) Prayer helps us understand and accomplish God's purposes for our lives, and 10) It changes our attitudes and desires. Take a look at the suggestions to enhance your practice of prayer on pages 94-96. Then review Appendix A to get a better sense for who you are and how that would impact your spiritual discipline of prayer.

Chapter 7 - 3 Disciplines of Engagement - Study and Meditation

This week, let's dig into Study and Meditation. In the section on study, Boa outlines several good techniques to get past looking at the Bible as a textbook. Read this list over and determine what new ideas may kickstart your study of the Word. In the section for meditation, since we're "always sowing thoughts" consider what you are allowing to be sown and from what source. Does it align to the litmus test in Philipians 4:8? If not (completely), what can you do about that??

Chapter 7 - Solitude and Silence (Disciplines of Abstinence)

Solitude and Silence are companion disciplines; silence gives depth to solitude, and solitude creates a place for silence. If solitude was important enough for Jesus to 1) prepare for His inaugural ministry (wilderness), 2) prepare to select His disciples (mountain), and 3) prepare to sacrifice His life for us (garden); how much more should it be important to us? Consider that each day has clustered opportunities for little moments of solitude. Silence is then what you do in solitude. This "verbal fast" helps develop inner control and composure, the less we will feel compelled to gain outward control over people and circumstances. Enjoy reviewing the 20 disciplines (pgs 82-86) and then digging into the deep dive of Solitude and Silence (pgs 86-89).

Chapter 7 - Spiritual Disciplines

This chapter outlines twenty disciplines of the faith and focuses on two disciplines of abstinence (solitude and silence) and three disciplines of engagement (study, meditation, and prayer). A number of suggestions are offered for practicng these five strategic disciplines. You can read the disciplines at: http://books.google.com/books?id=9iN9qx0e9S0C&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&ots=UM75N-tHMH&dq=ken+boa+chapter+7+list+of+spiritual+disciplines&output=html_text Which ones resonate with you? 1) Solitude, 2) Silence, 3) Prayer, 4) Journaling, 5) Study, 6) Meditation, 7) Fasting, 8) Chastity, 9) Secrecy, 10) Confession, 11) Fellowship, 12) Submission, 13) Guidance, 14) Simplicity, 15) Stewardship, 16) Sacrifice, 17) Worship, 18) Celebration, 19) Service and 20) Witness

Chapter 6 - Disciplined Spirituality

Discipline should work in concert with dependence, since grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. The multiple benefits of the time-tested disciplines of the faith contribute to spiritual formation in the same way that training prepares us for skillful endeavor. How do we achieve balance - not overemphasizing our role and minimizing God's role?

Chapter 5 - Paradigm Spirituality - Do you trust God?

We continue our study in paradigm spirituality. If we truly trust in God, then we will live with an eternal value system, right? One of the good analogies was that of staying in a hotel - no matter if one stays in a flea bag or 5 star, everyone lives out of a suitcase. We are temporary here on earth so we need to live IN today, but FOR tomorrow.

Facet 2 - Paradigm Spirituality; Chapter 4 - Life's a journey, where are we going?

Onward... "Biblical realism requires a grasp of the brevity of our sojourn on earth so that our hope is fixed not on the prospects of this passing world but on the promises of the everlasting God. A growing realization of our mortality should cause us to treasure the opportunities of the present." In this chapter, let's suppose you have one day to live, now what?? Read pages 57-64 and consider life...

Chapter 3 - Relational Spirituality - Loving Others Compassionately

Chapter 3 is upon us! Does our vertical relationship translate to our horizontal relationships? If not, what's the point? A few highlights to ponder: 1) "The more we love God, the more we will express his transcendent love in others-centered deeds of kindness and goodness" (pg 43). 2) "The more we are concerned with what God thinks of us, the less we will be worried about what others think of us" (pg 45). 3) "A vertical relationship with the Lord is the key to quality relationships with others" (pg 46). 4) "The heart always provides for what it values, and if we value God first, our capacity to love him and others will expand" (pg 47). 5) "But if we are investigation in the lives of people, our investments will accrue dividends forever, since people were made in the image of God to inhabit eternity" (pg 48). 6) "When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor our of your life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself (pg 50). 7) "...treating each relationship as though it could be our last contact" (pg 52).

Chapter 2 - Relational Spirituality - Loving Ourselves Correctly (pgs 34 to 41): "We can be defined either by our world or by our God. To love ourselves correctly is to see ourselves as God sees us. This involves a process of exposure to the truths of Scripture with a view to understanding our new identity in Christ Jesus. This chapter contains an inventory of these truths in the form of a series of affirmations from Scripture." Take a look at the affirmations starting on page 36 and pick out the ones that speak to you. Oh, and blog your throughts here BEFORE next Thursday ;o)

Ok, after a week in sunny San Diego, we're seriously back to week 2 in this study: Relational Spirituality - Loving God Completely (pages 27-33). Read through the chapter, review the questions on page 33 and be ready on Thursday 6/21 at 6:15 to discuss. See you there! Oh, go ahead and blog a few thoughts if you get the time...

Week 2 - reloaded! Thanks for joining back in. Take a read at the old blog and think through what Chapter 1 really means to you. Scan through the questions on page 33 and consider carefully at bullet 2. Looking forward to meeting up with you all next Thursday!

Week 2 Assignment

Now that you're familiar with Ken's material, let's dig in! For the second assignment we'll get into facet #1 - Relational Spirituality. For this week, read through pages 27-41. Here, we'll look at Loving God Completely and Loving Ourselves Correctly. In the first chapter on Loving God Completely, please complete the questions on page 33 - you can just write your answers in the bottom half of that page. Which reminds me, it's not against the law to hightlight, mark-up and/or write in your book! As I mentioned before, I went through this back in '07 and re-reading my comments now is interesting to say the least. In your answers, don't just write the one-liner, "right Sunday school answer." Really think through the implications of the love of God in your heart and mind. In the second chapter on Loving Ourselves Correctly, focus on pages 36-41. Try to read those verses every day this week and reflect on what that means to you. And of course, blog your thoughts and comments for the rest of the group! Blessings as you allow God to work in your life...

Week 1 Assignment

Let's get this moving! I trust you all have your books. If you don't - get a move on! After you get over the shock and awe of the college textbook-like look and feel, I trust you'll find that we're going to get a ton out of this study. For week 1 work through these items: 1) Familiarize yourself with the book. 2) Go to www.kenboa.org and get a feel for Ken's work. 3) Read through the Preface and Introduction sections (probably a couple of times). 4) Post comments to the blog on what your initial thoughts are on what we're about to embark upon (you can use the questions on pagwe 24 as a guide).

Welcome to our virtual study

Thanks for joining our virutal study! I am pleased that you have chosen to read through Ken Boa's "Conformed to His Image" book with the group. We will be trying something different with this study. Instead of being perscriptive in our approach (i.e., traditional reading and answering questions), we will each be responsible for contributing to our collective development and insights. I will outline general guidelines and milestones, but it will be up to each of us to contribute to this blog - and to our collective maturity in Christ. Periodically, perhaps once a month, we will meet in person (and via phone) to discuss our collective insights. More to come on this...