THE PRESENT FUTURE–THE RETURN TO SPIRITUAL FORMATION
I’ve just read again from Reggie’s book, The Present Future, the chapter entitled, The Return to Spiritual Formation. For me, it is one of the most important chapters about spiritual formation and church education, that I’ve read. It certainly gives opportunity for a person in my position (adult education leader) to begin changing the direction of what we do at church in areas of education. This is one reason that we are going to view the DVD again in class tomorrow evening. I think it’s a God thing (I’ll tell you why later).
I’ve never done this before in 40 years of teaching Bible classes (use the same lesson two times in a row) but felt like there were too many good things said to digest in just one hearing. Come and enjoy the video Wednesday. I do have a few books for those who requested them, ask for one. I’ll highlight a few of the more important things Reggie says (in my opinion) in subsequent blogs. I’d really like some feedback from those of you who are in the class and/or have been following on this blog
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I have more time to think and reflect now. I have attended the Church of Christ all my life, but never attended classes in my youth. When I did start attending regularly (thanks to meeting the woman who eventually became my wife and her continued encouragement), I learned a whole bunch of stuff. Most of it was good. However, in class I often felt intimidated by so many of the “charter-club” members and their in-depth knowledge of everything “churchy” and “rightly dividing”. Frankly, I never did get comfortable in a church bible class even though I taught on several occasions. But a lot of this is my own personality and I do not think it is necessarily the fault of anyone other than me nor the fault of our process. We just need to be aware of it – and I think I am more sensitive than I used to be regarding putting new Christians in situations they are not accustomed and really has little to do with spiritual growth. We do need to be challenging them, as well as challenging ourselves, with the kinds of questions Reggie is suggesting.
Last Fall (2009)I was asked to provide an “Instructor Testimony” for a faith-based home school teaching assignment I voluteered to do. I completed it and will forward it to you separately. After doing it I felt it was time very well spent. As I told the director at the time I submitted it: “I am somewhat embarrassed to say this, but I had never done one before so it was a meaningful experience.”
In class Wednesday night, I pointed us to two scriptures:Philippians 3:10 and John 5:39-40. I worry that in my teaching experience I’ve fallen into the same trap that Jesus accused the Pharisees of; putting more importance on learning “the Scriptures” than on “knowing Jesus.” If such scriptures as Matthew 10:25, Galatians 4:9, and Romans 8:29 are true (and I believe them to be true) then goal of spiritual formation (Christian maturity, growth in Christ, etc.) is that what we do should be pointed towards helping us look more like Jesus every day. How can we spent our time more profitably to that end? We spend so much time trying to get people to “know the Scriptures” when God wants us to “know” His Son. After all, it is through Jesus that we have life (John 1:4, 3:15, 3:36, 6:35, 10:10, etc.) How can we do this?