1. INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY, PART 2 CS 501 Houston Graduate School of Theology

2. FAITH LESSONS Reading the Moment— Text, Topic, Context Text, Topic, Context Reflecting on the Moment— Understanding the message Responding to the Moment— Application of principles to life

3. TASK OF SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY To describe and analyze the nature and effects of the gospel story, not just as facts, but how the facts impinge on the person whose relationship with God has been fundamentally changed by the story (Chan, 78).

4. SOME THEOLOGICAL TERMS Transcendence God exists prior to, distinct from, and independent of anything or anyone so must not be confused in any way with the created universe. God is not part of it. God is not contained within time or space. Immanence Reflects God’s presence with, persistent interest in, and love for creation.

5. SOME THEOLOGICAL TERMS Trinity A community of three divine personalities, united in one being. The plurality in oneness of a dynamic divine being… whose mode of existence is active and interactive rather than inert and passive.

6. SOME THEOLOGICAL TERMS Soteriology - The doctrine of salvation Terms to describe salvation Justification Justification Sanctification Sanctification Glorification Glorification

7. The Downward Pull of Sin

8. The Upward Journey of the Kingdom – The Realm of Salvation The Already/Not Yet Principle

9. Acts 16:16-34 – “saved” God saved (rescued, delivered) Paul and Silas and the prisoners The jailer was saved (rescued, delivered) from sure death Paul announced kingdom salvation (rescue, deliverance) to the jailer and then spoke to him and his household the word of the Lord

10. 1 Peter 1:3-9 – defining the realm New birth New birth Inheritance: imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for you Inheritance: imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for you To be revealed To be revealed The outcome of faith The outcome of faith Therefore... live holy lives through obedience, since you have been born anew by the word of God

11. HOW DO THESE THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDINGS... Inform our understanding of spirituality? Inform our understanding of ourselves? Inform our understanding of God?

12. WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN STORY PRIMARILY? A rescue or a fellowship? A story focused on me or the story of a people? An understanding of the hereafter or an understanding of how to live in God’s kingdom now?

13. ULTIMATELY, IS THE AIM OF LOVING GOD… A disciplined life or a life which overflows to our neighbors? A legal position or a mystical union? A life of solitude or a life of service?

14. IS THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY… To become an outstanding saint or to live responsibly within the community of saints? To live the “good life” or to live life-in-relation, patterned after and sustained by the Trinity?

15. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN... Spirituality is more individual than corporate in scope? An individual’s acceptance before a righteous God is concerned with the larger, corporate issue of participation in the covenant community?

16. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN... Becoming a better Christian is not exclusively about individual personal development? Growth as a Christian is more about growing in the body along with the other members of that body?

17. HOW SHOULD A DISCIPLE... Pray? We pray as members of the body of Christ. Enjoy spiritual fellowship? By not making it too spiritual! A community that exists for purely spiritual ends is in great danger of letting unspiritual, carnal elements develop. A Christian community recognizes the ordinary fellowships of everyday life in Christ.

18. SIGNS OF A SACRAMENTAL COMMUNITY A community of suffering (Jn 15:13) Seeks intimacy through risk-taking, vulnerability, possible misunderstanding, and giving another the space to be a person. Foregoes the temptation to impose one’s own will on others. Gives and listens—aspects of personal intimacy are painful but renewing processes that form communal character.

19. THE ONE ANOTHERS What is the purpose of the one anothers? What does it take to actually develop a practice of “the one anothers”?

20. MORE SIGNS OF THE SACRAMENTAL COMMUNITY... “Partys” - Christians should be a party waiting to happen—Tony Campolo Christians should be a party waiting to happen—Tony Campolo Plays Worships Sings Prays Reads Scripture and listens to Scripture A community of celebration (Phil 4:4)

21. MORE SIGNS OF THE SACRAMENTAL COMMUNITY... A community of solitaries (Mt 11:28) True community is formed from true solitaries Solitaries are those who bring their healthy distinctives to the community of faith Spiritual gifts Talents and abilities Personality Without the community there are no true solitaries

22. RICHARD FOSTER We must seek out the recreating stillness of solitude if we want to be with others meaningfully. We must seek the fellowship and accountability of others if we want to be alone safely. We must cultivate both if we are to live in obedience. We must seek out the recreating stillness of solitude if we want to be with others meaningfully. We must seek the fellowship and accountability of others if we want to be alone safely. We must cultivate both if we are to live in obedience.

23. CONCLUSIONS Within the community of the faithful we should find... A place of listening to instead of fighting with one another; A place of safety where others will not be shocked by the sins or shortcomings of others but accountable to one another for healing and growth in grace (since “my” sin is not only sin against God but something that affects or infects the church in one way or another).

24. SUMMARY Christian spirituality can be nothing other than living the Christian life in union with God within the church and to the world.