Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation

Front Cover
Zondervan, 2001 - Religion - 543 pages
What does a relationship with God look like and how do we obtain it? It is vital for church leaders to grapple seriously with this question, for pat answers no longer suffice. Lives well-lived, not just words eloquently spoken, must become our response. The quality of our relationship with God is what will influence the health, potency, and witness of the church in an increasingly complex and hostile world. Designed for use as a college or seminary course, Conformed to His Image helps us build our lives on a fully biblical perspective. Exploring twelve approaches to Christian spirituality in depth, Dr. Kenneth Boa corrects our tendency to pick and compartmentalize. Pointing the way instead to an integrative, whole-life approach, Dr. Boa shows how each spiritual paradigm discussed is just one important facet in the gem of authentic and powerful New Testament living. With chapter overviews and objectives, questions for personal application, a glossary, and a list of key terms, Conformed to His Image will prove a defining text for the student, pastor, and church leader of today . . . and tomorrow. 12 Facets of the Complete Christian Life Relational Spirituality: Loving God Completely, Ourselves Correctly, and Others Compassionately Paradigm Spirituality: Cultivating an Eternal versus a Temporal Perspective Disciplined Spirituality: Engaging in the Historical Differences Exchanged Life Spirituality: Grasping Our True Identity in Christ Motivated Spirituality: A Set of Biblical Incentives Devotional Spirituality: Falling in Love with God Holistic Spirituality: Every Component of Life under the Lordship of Christ Process Spirituality: Being versus Doing, Process versus Product Spirit-Filled Spirituality: Walking in the Power of the Spirit Warfare Spirituality: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil Nurturing Spirituality: A Lifestyle of Discipleship and Evangelism Corporate Spirituality: Encouragement, Accountability, and Worship
 

Contents

Preface
15
FACET
25
Loving Ourselves Correctly
34
Loving Others Compassionately
42
Cultivating an Eternal versus a Temporal Perspective
55
Life Is a Journey but Where Are We Going?
65
FACET
73
What Are the Spiritual Disciplines?
82
Being versus Doing
267
Trust Gratitude and Contentment
277
FACET 9
289
Walking in the Power of the Spirit
291
The Gifts of the Spirit
301
Openness and Discernment A Balance
316
The World the Flesh and the Devil
323
Warfare with the Flesh and the World
325

Grasping Our True Identity in Christ
99
Gods Plan to Meet Our Needs
110
A Set of Biblical Incentives
125
Love Gratitude and Rewards
135
Identity Purpose and Hope and Longing for
143
FACET 6
151
Our Image of God
153
The Contemplative Way
165
The Practice of Sacred Reading
174
Falling in Love with God
187
Every Component of Life under the Lordship of Christ
199
The Centrality of Christ
201
An Integrated Life
213
Relationships Work and Society
229
Stewardship and Purpose
243
FACET 8
253
Process versus Product
255
Warfare with the Devil and His Angels
339
The Weapons of Our Warfare
351
A Philosophy of Discipleship
367
The Process Product and Context of Discipleship
377
A Philosophy of Evangelism
388
Overcoming the Barriers to Evangelism
398
Encouragement Accountability and Worship
413
The Nature and Purpose of the Church
426
Soul Care Leadership Accountability and Renewal
437
Continuing on the Journey What It Takes to Finish Well
450
The Need for Diversity
467
The Richness of Our Heritage
481
Glossary
512
Subject Index
523
Scripture Index
536
Copyright

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About the author (2001)

Ken Boa (PhD, New York University; DPhil, University of Oxford) is the president of Reflections Ministries and Trinity House Publishers. His recent publications include Conformed to His Image, Face to Face, Pursuing Wisdom, The Art of Living Well, Wisdom at Work, Living What You Believe, and Sacred Readings.

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