Spiritual Formation Is…: How to Grow in Jesus with Passion and Confidence
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley draw on years of experience as pastors, church planters, professors, and transformed believers to equip readers to grow in their spiritual walk with Christ.
Spiritual Formation Is… challenges believers to grow upward, inward, and outward in their spiritual formation by loving God, loving one another, and loving our neighbors. Written in a down-to-earth, approachable style that invites readers to come as they are, Spiritual Formation Is… introduces the principles, philosophy, and practice of sanctification.
- Provides a "Personal Spiritual Growth Assessment" and a "Group Spiritual Growth Assessment" as a tool to analyze spiritual health
- Offers the authors' real life experiences and struggles in their walk towards spiritual growth
- Provides answers to questions on spiritual formation, discusses principles of spiritual growth, explains the primary disciplines that add to spiritual transformation and helps readers create a plan for ongoing spiritual growth and health
Top Highlights
“Spiritual formation is the process of being changed to be more like Jesus. It is the ongoing, gradual process of glorious transformation into the image of Jesus by the Spirit of God that is available to every believer as a result of honestly and intentionally seeking the face of God. It is the fruit of a relationship with God.” (Page 10)
“ You just start doing these simple practices and teaching the gospel of the kingdom.’” (Page 54)
“Spiritual formation is the process of transformation that occurs as a believer becomes more and more like Jesus. Spiritual formation is not merely doing spiritual disciplines. It is not merely about reading more chapters of the Bible or keeping a better spiritual journal. Those are merely means of helping us gaze into the face of Jesus so we may be transformed to think, act, feel, and look more like him.” (Page 7)
“We grow when we are serving, not merely sitting. We grow through giving out and not just by taking in. The life of Christ in us was designed to flow through us as we minister to others.” (Page 32)
“A growth group is a group of three or four persons of the same sex who gather weekly to encourage one another to make progress in their walks with Christ.” (Page 185)
"With the background of pastor, church planter, and professor, Earley and Dempsey provide Christ followers and Christian leaders with a philosophy and strategy for spiritual formation birthed from the overflow of their own walk with Christ and grounded in the Word of God. Whether you are just beginning your Christian walk, leading others to walk with Christ, or weary in your own walk, this book points us back to the Scriptures to remind us that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Brian Autry, executive director, Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia
"As a pastor I am constantly concerned about the spiritual well-being of the people at Thomas Road Baptist Church. Spiritual growth is an important part of discipleship, and we need simple but effective approaches to aid and assist the people we serve. Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley have been helping people know and follow Jesus for more than three decades. Their simple approach to spiritual growth - loving God, loving one another, and loving our neighbor with connected habits and disciplines - will help you and your church follow Jesus."
Jonathan Falwell, senior pastor, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA
"Rod Dempsey and David Earley present a solid approach to spiritual formation. Their emphasis is biblical, balanced, practical, and effective. They challenge us to engage in a life of spiritual development by loving God, loving one another, and loving our neighbors. Their insights will challenge your thinking, stir your heart, and bless your soul. Don't miss it!"
Ed Hindson, founding dead, distinguished professor of religion, Rawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University