Articles for tag: Spiritual Formation

December 9, 2007

Christian Standard

Creating Environments (Southland Christian Church, Lexington, KY)

A book review by Myron Williams When Jon Weece became senior minister of Southland Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky, he convened the leadership team to help determine Southland”s future direction. The mission, “Love God, love people,” was in place, but the strategy to accomplish these mandates was nonexistent. Over a two-year period the team developed six core values. This article tells the story of value four: “Life happens best in community.” A strategy grew out of many discussions and much prayer about how to create environments for moving “weekend-only” adults into smaller community settings where they could know and be known

January 21, 2007

Christian Standard

Two Examples of Emerging Worship

By Jennifer Taylor In his book Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations, author Dan Kimball asserts that “postmodern” worship, “emerging” worship, or “multisensory” worship should not be viewed as just a trendy new option for weekend programming. “As you rethink worship past the surface, you will find that the changes needed for the emerging church and worship go far beyond changing musical styles,” he writes. “It”s also not about adding candles. It is about rethinking how we approach our theology of church.” In other words, changing the model for “doing church” can lead to changes in the weekend

January 17, 2007

Christian Standard

A Nagging Concern

By Mark A. Taylor Let me say at the outset I’m not ready to join a house church like those described by Keith Shields this week. But I am intrigued to think about the quality of relationships and accountability I’d experience if I were a member of one. And I can’t imagine worshiping in virtual silence every week, in a setting like the one Dan Gilliam describes. But I can’t forget talking with Tony Twist who asks graduate students to spend two hours in silent prayer as the “final exam” for his course in spiritual formation. Neither am I sure

July 16, 2006

Christian Standard

Churches, Change, and Growth (Part 2)

By Kent E. Fillinger Starbucks was founded in 1971 to sell high-quality coffee beans and coffee equipment; it did not sell its first cup of coffee until 1984. Today, Starbucks has more than 11,000 locations in 37 countries and expects to open 1,800 additional locations this year. Its goal is to operate 30,000 locations, half of them outside the United States. There is even a Starbucks at the Great Wall of China and in Beijing”s Forbidden City. Starbucks both shapes cultural patterns and symbolizes our changing culture. Just ask historian Bryant Simon, a professor at Temple University, who visited 300

June 18, 2006

Christian Standard

Five Books About Spiritual Formation

By Tony Twist The Imitation of Christ: How Jesus Wants Us to Live By William Griffin (HarperCollins, 2001) This contemporary version makes Thomas a Kempis”s time-tested classic from 15th-century Germany much more accessible. Book one helps us understand how a healthy spiritual life functions. Book two, especially good for modern Americans, helps us find our spiritual bearings. I especially like the section on friendship with Jesus. Book three brings us deeper into the type of peace Jesus wants us to have. The final book on preparation for Communion is desperately needed today. We are too often guilty of “popping the

June 14, 2006

Christian Standard

Quantity, Quality, and Presentation

By Mark A. Taylor We were oohing and aahing about the meals we had just been served. Only a few bites into the delicious dinner, our college professor friend at the table shared a snippet of research about food and socioeconomic status. “The poor worry about quantity of food,” she told us. “Those in the middle class are concerned about the quality of food,” she added. “The affluent are most interested in presentation how food looks on the plate.” And now, a few days later, as I contemplate this issue about spiritual formation, I’m thinking about spiritual food. For example,

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