Healthy conversation is taking place in the church and discipleship circles today. One of the questions that surfaces is how and when discipleship intersects with spiritual formation. This is a really important issue when disciple-making movements are brought up. Behind the issue is the question: Is discipleship synonymous with spiritual formation?
In a sense, “yes,” they are one and the same thing; but in a pragmatic, functional sense – maybe not.
As an apprentice of Jesus you are learning to be like Jesus. I like what John Mark Comer has written about in “Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become like him, Do as he did”. In his book, he highlights stages of “The Critical Journey” from Dr. Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich.
These have become very familiar. Let me share these with you again.
You can read more about the six stages in ARE YOU HITTING A SPIRITUAL WALL?
When you follow the narrative of the evangelical church in the West, most agree the church has done a good job on stages 1-3, not so well with stages 4-6. Using the diagram as a backdrop, it appears that discipleship is a subset of spiritual formation.
And, some might suggest the Catholic church does a better job in Stages 4-6 by emphasizing the ancient practices the Reformation deconstructed.
Naturally, there is a ton of church history that one would need to research to argue the point. My goal is not to argue; but instead, to synthesize the current reality and what I believe the popular line is on spiritual formation so together, we can fill in the gaps.
In summary, authors like Pete Scazzero (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality) and John Mark Comer (Practicing the Way) reinforce the six stages. Both emphasize the need for a Rule of Life. A Rule of Life is a wonderful tool to potentially advance your spiritual formation, assuming you implement and practice a Rule of Life that uniquely fits you.
The bridge between let’s say, stages 3 and 4, is moving from information to application. For instance, reading about the Rule of Life is important. The next step demands more – living into a Rule of Life. Understanding and knowing are two different activities; one is information-based vs. the other, which is experiential.
So, this raises the question, “How?”
Glad you asked.
In a real sense, writing out a plan is half of the challenge, which is what Scazzero and Comer do so well. In coaching leaders for the last 35+ years, part of the battle is won by having a written plan in place. If you, an apprentice of Jesus, take this step, the authors have achieved part of their purpose behind writing a book about spiritual formation. However, implementing the plan is up to the apprentice of Jesus, and requires a different orientation–a depth of understanding and motivation.
This is where the hard work begins.
Challenges apprentices of Jesus face moving from a plan to taking action:
- Intrinsic Motivation – deeper levels of motivation have not been tapped
- Priorities – there are other “important” issues competing for attention
- Sustainability – the level of complexity may be too great
- Accountability – finding a person or group that will provide a level of accountability
- Perfection over Progress – if perfection is the goal, you will fail; aim for progress
How to move from Stage 3 to Stage 4 in the Critical Journey
Following is a list of best practices I have discovered in moving from Stage 3 to Stage 4. It is not exhaustive, nor is it always the case in every situation. It should be considered as a list of suggestions that could help you sustain the shift from what evangelicals are generally strong in (Stages 1-3) and into the later stages (Stages 4-6), beginning with the shift from Stages 3-4. What I am trying to say is that I am an apprentice, just like you, and here is one apprentice sharing with another apprentice some things I’ve learned along my journey. See what resonates with you.
- Pray for a Spiritual Friendship
Preferably a person trained in spiritual direction who can be a discerning listener to hear you process your experience through the exercises
- Find a Road Map
I found that I benefited tremendously from a directive and detailed tool that has passed the test of time. The Ignatian Exercises (Journey With Jesus by Larry Warner) has been a helpful guide as I learned how to put my Rule of Life into practice.
- Embrace the Long-Term
Don’t rush; just take the next step. The “intent to do” your exercises is as important as the actual exercises.
- Don’t beat yourself up
You will go through seasons when it is easy to do your exercises and other seasons when it is challenging. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day, or have to cut it short; just pick up where you left off.
- Be patient
Growth doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time. Set realistic expectations. The beauty is that the journey we are on will take a lifetime. Don’t be in a rush; enjoy the process
Curious about your unique strengths as an apprentice of Jesus?
Take our FREE Disciple Coach Quiz today!
Interested in learning more about the FREE Discipleship Webinar?
Invest in leaders who are transforming lives and join the InFocus community. Together, let’s create a ripple effect of faith and love.
Click here to learn about joining the InFocus family to start your ripple effect!
Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash
