September 11, 2021 John Kimball

Conformed To His Image (Group Studies)

Cover of Ken Boa's book

Welcome! This is a special private page for those who are working through Ken Boa’s excellent study Conformed to His Image with me. On this page you will find additional resources to help enhance your spiritual formation knowledge and experience in this study. My prayer for each person who engages CTHI is “May you never be the same.”

Textbooks (with links)

Required Text: Conformed to His Image, Revised Edition: Biblical, Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation: Boa, Kenneth D.: Amazon.com: Books

Helpful Supplemental Materials (Not Required):

 

INTRODUCTION

Read pp. 1-8; Introduction: A Gem with Many Facets

We talked about the twelve “facets” of our spiritual formation journey together. I then outlined the corresponding disciple making experience with a teaching diagram from my work with the Praxis Center for Church Development.

CHAPTER 1 – Relational Spirituality: Loving God Completely

Read pp. 11-18

We talked more generally about how one grows in a love relationship with God, with the goal of walking with Him in full trust and obedience.

CHAPTER 2 – Relational Spirituality: Loving Ourselves Correctly

Read pp. 19-27

We focused on the essential nature of finding our identity in Christ — in what God says about us, not how the world identifies us.

CHAPTER 3 – Relational Spirituality: Loving Others Compassionately

Read pp. 29-40

We reviewed the basis of the “triangle diagram” again from the first meeting to build off of our love for God, understanding our identity (loving ourselves correctly). This led us to talk about Loving Others and “Capacity” – that God “stretches” us so that we can love more and better.

CHAPTER 4 – Paradigm Spirituality: Life Is A Journey, But Where Are We Going?

Read pp. 43-51

We talked about the importance of “counting our days” and living life on purpose with an eternal perspective.

CHAPTER 5 – Paradigm Spirituality: Can We Trust God?

Read pp. 53-60

We talked about the two rival value systems (temporal versus eternal) based upon their respective perspectives, and how they influence everything in the way we live.

CHAPTER 6 – Disciplined Spirituality: Dependence and Discipline

Read pp. 63-69

We introduced the idea of spiritual disciplines (spiritual habits) and how they help us to grow deeper in our walk with Christ.

CHAPTER 7 – Disciplined Spirituality: What Are the Spiritual Disciplines?

Read pp. 71-87

We went over some of the spiritual disciplines in more detail.

CHAPTER 8 – Exchanged Life Spirituality: Grasping Our True Identity in Christ

Read pp. 91-100

We discussed our God-created identity and how the “exchanged life” we have with Jesus makes it possible.

“I am not who I think I am. I am not who you think I am. I am not who I think you think I am. I am, solely and completely, who God says I am.” – Mike Chong Perkinson

CHAPTER 9 – Exchanged Life Spirituality: God’s Plan to Meet Our Needs

Read pp. 101-115

We discussed the importance of understanding Christ’s completed work on our behalf and how that makes us a vital part of a spiritual family, a spiritual body and a spiritual temple.

CHAPTER 10 – Motivated Spirituality: Why Do We Do What We Do?

Read pp. 119-127

We talked about vertical and horizontal motivations and the impact each has on our lives and our walk with Christ.

CHAPTER 11 – Motivated Spirituality: Love, Gratitude, and Rewards

Read pp. 129-137.

We talked about both the love and gratitude we should experience as we think of all God has done for us, and also the godly rewards given for those who are faithful to King Jesus.

  • 12/18/21 – There is no video for this day.

CHAPTER 12 – Motivated Spirituality: Identity, Purpose and Hope, and Longing for God

Read pp. 139-147

We returned to our discussion about our identity in Christ, and how that lead to understanding our purpose for life, the hope that we have in Christ, and ultimately produces an authentic longing for God.

CHAPTER 13 – Devotional Spirituality: Our Image of God

Read pp. 151-162

We discussed how a right image of God in our hearts and minds leads us into deeper devotion and faithfulness. We also talked about the value of journaling, which helps with focus and gives us a record of our faith and prayer journey with God.

CHAPTER 14 – Devotional Spirituality: The Contemplative Way

Read pp. 163-173

We talked about how real (and biblical) contemplation draws us deeper into our love for God. We also talked about how the terms Haggadah, Halacha and Hayim relate to John 14:6.

CHAPTER 15 – Devotional Spirituality: The Practice of Sacred Reading

Read pp. 175-187

We discussed the practice of sacred reading and it’s impact on the heart.

  • 02-05-21 – Video of today’s discussion for those who could not attend
  • Handout on Lectio Divina

CHAPTER 24 – Spirit-Filled Spirituality: Walking in the Power of the Spirit

Read pp. 303-314

We talked about how many North American Christians have rejected (or at least are suspicious of) the power of the Holy Spirit, and how that has caused them to be ineffective and unproductive for the Kingdom of God. This is a passion for me because I was that Christian for 22 years of my life and then encountered the Holy Spirit. My life has never been the same. Boa does a great job of explaining this mandatory — and often missing — component of the victorious, fruitful Christian life.