SPIRITUAL FORMATION – A 3-MONTH TELECONFERENCE COURSE FOR PASTORS

My first Spiritual Formation Tele-Conference class is this Thursday, 9 PM. I've sent the attendees the dial-up information.

Here are the class details below.

E-mail me for more information.  johnpiippo@msn.com

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SPIRITUAL FORMATION – A 3-MONTH TELECONFERENCE COURSE FOR PASTORS

Feb. – March – April 2014

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to engage participants in an exploration and expansion of their inner spiritual life utilizing the spiritual disciplines. Personal transformation is an internal process that occurs as the individual allows God access to the whole of one’s being and life. The course combines:

1.    Personal encounter with God

2.    Keeping a spiritual journal as a record of the activity of God in one’s life

3.    Corporate sharing of one’s experience with God

4.    Biblical and theological reflection on key issues that arise in the life of one who seriously engages in the spiritual disciplines

5.    Learning how to lead the Presence-Driven Church

COURSE GOALS:

1.    To encounter and experience God

2.    To experience personal transformation

3.    To deepen one’s prayer life

4.    To discuss issues of personal transformation and pastoral leadership colleagues in ministry

5.    To reflect biblically and theologically on this experience.

6.    To understand personal spiritual transformation as the necessary foundation for all relevant church, urban, and global transformation

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.    Attend and participate in 4 phone conferences.

1. The phone conferences will be on 4 Thursday evenings, 9-10:30 pm EST:

                                          i.    Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 (Introduction to the course; I'll present my Phenomenology [description] of Spiritual Formation)

                                        ii.    Thursday, Feb. 27 (Discussion of Boyd book)

                                       iii.    Thursday, March 27 (Discussion of Peterson book)

                                       iv.    Thursday, April 24 (Discussion of Barton book)

2.    Keep daily, structured devotional times with God for 3 months, 5 days per week, 30-60 minutes per day, from Feb. 1 - March 31. 

3.     Keep a Spiritual Journal that records what God is saying to you during these times.

4.     Read the following three books, which we will discuss during the phone conferences:

a.     Boyd. Present Perfect: Finding God In the Now. (Zondervan: 2010) Peterson, Eugene.

b.     The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (Dallas: Word, 1989).

c.    Barton, Ruth Haley. Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups

COST: $50 to register and attend. This cost will help cover the 4 conference calls. (I'm not seeing this as a money-making thing for me.)

REGISTRATION: Send me an email at johnpiippo@msn.com