Missional Spiritual Formation

Information

This group explores the relationship between Christian spiritual formation and missional theology.

Members: 41
Latest Activity: Aug 11

Introducing Me

Greetings. My name is Stan Helton and I have a rather eclectic background. I grew up in a small Oklahoma town and began my journey with Churches of Christ as a Vacation Bible School kid. After high school, my educational journey would take me to the Preston Road School of Preaching (later, Center for Christian Education and now defunct); here I was introduced to Koine Greek and studied the whole Bible in English. After this I attended Oklahoma Christian College where I continued my work in Greek and earned my BA (1988) in Bible. The following year I entered Abilene Christian University where I served as Carroll Osburn's graduate assistant, working under him on various textual critical projects. I completed an MS (1992) in Doctrinal and Historical Studies (Historical Theology) emphasizing Church History and American Christianity. Under Osburn I had started an MA in NT Greek but at the end of the course work but before the thesis, I switched to the MDiv degree which I finally completed in 1999. After 1992 I left ACU to enter full time ministry in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Orleans and Chicago before entering full time teaching in 2003 at Western Christian College in Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada). I am currently working on my project/thesis for my DMin which will be completed by May 2009. My project/thesis deals with teaching Christian spiritual formation in a college setting.

These are some of the pieces of my story that inform my quest to be spiritually formed in the image of Jesus for the sake of the world.

Discussion Forum

Renovare's Definition of Spiritual Formation 6 Replies

Started by James Nored. Last reply by Gailyn Van Rheenen Jul 10.

Defining Christian Spiritual Formation 11 Replies

Started by Stanley N. Helton. Last reply by Stanley N. Helton May 4.

Just how badly are our Bible classes failing in Spiritual formation? Part 1 5 Replies

Started by James Nored. Last reply by Bret Wells May 3.

Practices: Lectio Divina 7 Replies

Started by Stanley N. Helton. Last reply by Stanley N. Helton May 1.

Christian Spiritual Formation in the Churches of Christ (or, Restoration Movement) 4 Replies

Started by Stanley N. Helton. Last reply by Lynn S. Nored Feb 19.

Practices: Hypnotism? 2 Replies

Started by Stanley N. Helton. Last reply by Stanley N. Helton Feb 5.

Resources for Christian Spiritual Formation 5 Replies

Started by Stanley N. Helton. Last reply by Stanley N. Helton Jan 14.

Comment Wall (12 comments)

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12 Comments

Comment by Eric Asante Obeng on July 10, 2009 at 7:09am: Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 ¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

Comment by James Nored on June 23, 2009 at 11:50pm: Let's welcome Chris Chappotin, who just joined the group. Chris is a church planter with Mission Alive in the Dallas area. He has really built up a lot of community in his neighborhood and found many ways to connect with people.

Comment by James Nored on February 4, 2009 at 11:46am: Hmm . . . I'm not much help here, Jonathan. No speako Spanisho. But I'm thrilled that this site can be used to bring together bilingual missional people as well.

Comment by Bob Young on February 4, 2009 at 11:34am: Thanks, Jonathan,
I gave a quick look at the first lesson. Looks like some good stuff with great potential.
Gracias por su ayuda en esta area del crecimiento espiritual. Creo que es una gran necesidad entre las iglesias. Ensene una clase en Baxter hace 3 o 4 anos, tema El Desarrollo Cristiano Personal. Fue bien recibido, con indicacion de la necesidad de mas estudios. De hecho, tenia la oportunidad de presentar los conceptos en varias iglesias.
Saludos y bendiciones en su trabajo del Senor.

Comment by Stanley N. Helton on February 4, 2009 at 11:19am: Jonathan, Thanks for letting us know what you are doing in this area. Don't speak Spanish, but glad you do and can do work like this. Let me know if I can be of help.

Comment by Jonathan Hanegan on February 4, 2009 at 11:07am: Greetings from Venezuela! I'm working on a series of Bible studies for the church in Caracas about spiritual formation. I'm translating a lot of materials as well as using other materials already in Spanish. So, if you speak Spanish, check it out and let me know what you think! I would appreciate your suggestions! Thanks and God bless!

The first study can be downloaded from by website:

http://panajonathan.squarespace.com/estudios/estudios-amigos-de-cristo/

Comment by Stanley N. Helton on January 14, 2009 at 7:39pm: Hey, Bob, good to "see" you again. I think you are pushing the right buttons here. So a full definition of Christian spiritual formation would have to include "sent-ness," as well as "communal." I would also like to pack in "incarnational" but that is connected with being sent and "trinitarian," which connects with God as a community and thus, the church as a community.

But you raised the real challenge in church life: to convert "breathing" into "moving."

Comment by Bob Young on January 14, 2009 at 7:11pm: I would like to see someone explore in depth the way in which missional attitudes are fostered--perhaps growing out of our initial calling into the community of believers, through our individual giftedness for the benefit of the community, so that the body in its connected can function missionally (think the progression in Eph. 4:1-16).

The spiritual body of Christ (in my observation) spends a lot of time in basic bodily functions (parallel breathing, eating, sleeping, drinking, etc.) and in this misdirection fails to fulfill what is the real purpose of the body. If spiritual formation does not enable to body (yes, the individual members, but in a missional context, the corporate body) toward the purposes of God, we may have misidentified the components, purposes, or results of spiritual formation.
Some recent literature suggests that spiritual formation occurs best (only?--by) in the context of the community. Such may provide a connection between the sentness of the body (exhibited in the sentness of individual members) and spiritual formation.

Comment by Stanley N. Helton on January 14, 2009 at 3:38pm: I want to welcome all of you who have recently joined this discussion. So far I have place a couple of reference for spiritual formation. I would love to hear from you.