This volume discusses the importance of a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach to Christian formation based upon godly love and the imago Dei (Latin, image of God). Grounded biblically and theologically, this interdisciplinary collection offers perspectives drawn from spirituality, ethics, philosophy, psychology, counselling, ecclesiology, physical health sciences, and leadership studies. Contributors address spiritual, emotional, and psychological formation, while highlighting how suffering has the potential to draw one closer to God and others. The book also details vocational development, appropriate stewardship of the physical body, and the ways in which the Eucharist sacramentally contributes to the process of formation. The book concludes with a call for further exploration of additional research trajectories, not the least of which is how Christian formation contributes to the missio Dei, the mission of God.

The church is a global body of believers called to grow in Christ. Yet too often, it privileges a few voices and ignores the practical dimensions of the faith. Offering a multi-denominational, multi-ethnic vision, this volume brings together biblical scholars, theologians, and practitioners from around the world to pursue a theology and praxis of spiritual formation for the global church.

Evan Howard, a noted authority on Christian spirituality, provides a holistic, accessible, and informed introduction to Christian spiritual formation written from a broadly evangelical perspective. Howard joins Scripture with themes of community, spirit, formation, and mission in a single integrative guide. The book includes helpful features such as figures, charts, chapter overviews, and formation-focused questions. Its evangelical-ecumenical and global perspectives will appeal to a wide audience. Resources for professors and students are available through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources.

Spiritual formation in our local churches is too often poorly done or it is virtually nonexistent. We developed this innovative approach to spiritual formation in the congregation because it is desperately needed. The prompt cards are used to spark deep reflection and shape potentially life-transforming conversations with a pastor around spiritual practices, spiritual character, personal and social ethics, and emotional well-being. The model was trialed in five countries. We heard time and time again how the six-week process fired a passion to go deeper with Christ. Some reported praying regularly for the first time in decades. Others found the Scriptures coming alive after years of “going through the motions.” In this book, the authors present a simple but powerful method and offer in-depth theological reflection on related issues. Some of the important areas covered are early church approaches to spiritual formation, contemporary spiritual practices, spiritual character, the indissoluble link between spirituality and moral virtue, the spirituality of the pastor, and the positive psychology approach.

In Pentecostals and Roman Catholics on Becoming a Christian, Dr. Karen Murphy explores the fifth round of the International Roman Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue (1998-2006). Discussing Spirit-baptism, faith, conversion, experience, and discipleship, Dr. Murphy notes areas in which the Dialogue has evolved since its inception in 1972. She unpacks the commonalities that bond Catholics and Pentecostals and examines theological divergences and challenges to dialogue. While Catholics approach becoming a Christian from a sacramental perspective, most Pentecostals think of Christian initiation in non-sacramental, or conversionist, terms, a reality that fosters ongoing tensions between the two traditions. Dr. Murphy reveals how Catholics and Pentecostals seek to overcome this dichotomy by honoring spirituality and experience as integral to the ecumenical encounter.

This textbook for introductory spiritual formation courses presents the fundamentals and practices of the discipline. This collection includes presentations by several well-known evangelical scholars including Gordon Johnston, Darrell Bock, Richard Averbeck, Klaus Issler, and others.

What does a Christian approach to counseling and psychotherapy involve? The 2021 Fuller Integration Symposium Lectures by Dr. Siang-Yang Tan, published in this book, cover this topic with the overall title of: “A Christian Approach to Counseling and Psychotherapy: Christ-Centered, Biblically Based, and Spirit-Filled.” The three lectures in three chapters are on: (1) “A Christian Perspective on Human Nature and Effective Counseling and Psychotherapy”; (2) “Implicit and Explicit Integration in Christian Counseling and Psychotherapy: Christian Faith in Clinical Practice”; and (3) “The Role of the Holy Spirit in Christian Counseling and Psychotherapy.”

Jesus consistently demonstrated his concern and love for the whole person, and that task is carried forward today by church leaders. Based on the 2018 CPT conference, this volume brings together reflections by pastors, theologians, and psychologists who explore the relationships among three fields of study—theological anthropology, spiritual formation, and modern psychology—resulting in a vibrant whole-person theology.

In a revised an updated edition, this comprehensive, up-to-date text offers a framework for intentional intergenerational Christian formation. It provides the theoretical foundation of intergenerationality, then gives concrete, practical guidance on how worship, learning, community, and service can all be achieved intergenerationally.

All signs point to Christian education having lost its theological location and prominence in the life of the Western Protestant church. The Emerging Church movement, as an intentionally postmodern approach to ministry in the contemporary context, may, however, offer insights to reinterpret Christian education. This significant movement in today's church gives Christian education a new interpretive framework that is theologically located at an intersection of doxology and doctrine. In her examination of postmodern faith formation, Wendi Sargeant explores the importance of the Christian worshipping community as the most appropriate setting for Christian education. Practitioners and students will benefit from the ready-to-use teaching and learning matrix, and all those with interest in the formation of faith in themselves and others will draw much from the way Sargeant situates worship as the basis for enhancing Christian formation and ethos.