Written Assignment Instructions: All Assignments Must Be At

Written Assignment Instructions all Assignments Must Be At Least 5 Page

All assignments must be at least 5 pages, including a cover page and a table of contents, and in current Turabian format. Each assignment must include a bibliography with a minimum of 5 scholarly sources, which can include the course textbooks.

Written Assignment 1 – Spiritual Formation and Discipleship

For this assignment, you will write a paper detailing the importance of spiritual formation and how it relates to discipleship. Provide an overview of the three areas related to spiritual growth (referencing chapters 10 and 12 in Earley, Dave, and Rod Dempsey's Disciple Making Is…: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence) and discuss how it affects the whole person. Explain how walking in and under the control of the Holy Spirit impacts spiritual development. Additionally, reflect on your personal growth assessment (provided in the lecture notes for Module/Week 2). Identify your strengths and weaknesses, then develop habits and disciplines for each of the three areas in which you need improvement, based on your assessment.

Paper For Above instruction

Spiritual formation is a vital aspect of Christian discipleship, aiming to foster a deeper relationship with God that influences every facet of a believer’s life. It involves holistic growth—spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical—rooted in a dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit. In their book Disciple Making Is…, Earley and Dempsey identify three key areas of spiritual growth: love for God, love for one another (the body of Christ), and love for neighbors outside the church community. These interconnected dimensions serve as a framework for understanding how believers mature in their faith and live out the Great Commission.

The first area, love for God, emphasizes personal devotional practices such as scripture reading, memorization, prayer, fasting, solitude, and attentive listening to the Holy Spirit. As reflected in the self-assessment, moderate engagement in these disciplines indicates room for growth, especially in consistent Bible memorization and structured prayer. Spiritual formation rooted in a vibrant love for God facilitates a transformed heart that seeks to obey and honor Him continually. Walking under the Holy Spirit’s control enhances this growth, as Christians allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify their desires, guide their decisions, and produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Secondly, love for one another involves engaging in community, service, and accountability within the church body. Actions such as confessing faults, praying for others, and using spiritual gifts reflect a commitment to mutual edification. The self-assessment indicates strong performance in guarding against gossip, resolving offenses, and praying for family, highlighting a sincere effort to foster healthy relationships. Spirit-led growth in this area is evidenced when believers practice humility, patience, and forgiveness—traits enabled by the Spirit’s work (Ephesians 4:32). Discipleship transforms individuals into servant-leaders who prioritize unity and love within the body of Christ.

The third key area, love for neighbors outside the church, emphasizes outreach, evangelism, and compassionate service. This dimension necessitates intentional efforts—praying for the salvation of others, building genuine relationships, sharing the gospel, and serving the poor. The self-assessment reveals a commendable commitment to praying for non-believers and seeking opportunities for outreach. Spirit-controlled discipleship compels believers to love their neighbors as Christ loved, which involves practical acts of kindness and sharing the gospel in both word and deed (Matthew 22:39; James 2:14-17).

Walking in and under the Holy Spirit’s influence significantly enhances spiritual development. The Spirit equips believers with wisdom, strength, and discernment, enabling them to embody Christ’s character and fulfill the Great Commission. Galatians 5:16 instructs believers to walk by the Spirit to avoid gratifying the sinful nature, illustrating the ongoing process of sanctification empowered by divine presence. Spirit-led discipleship fosters qualities such as patience, kindness, humility, and love—virtues essential for genuine spiritual growth and effective ministry.

Reflecting on the personal growth assessment provided, the overall score indicates an average level of engagement and effectiveness across the three areas. Notably, strengths include a high level of prayerfulness and commitment to loving others, while weaknesses are evident in Bible memorization, fasting, and reaching out proactively to non-believers. To address these gaps, developing specific disciplines is crucial. For example, establishing a daily Scripture memorization routine, incorporating fasting days into the schedule, and intentionally planning outreach activities can catalyze growth in weaker areas. Such disciplines not only strengthen individual faith but also position believers to better disciple others and fulfill their part in the Great Commission.

In conclusion, spiritual formation is an integrative process affecting the whole person, rooted in a vibrant relationship with the Holy Spirit. Discipleship involves growing in love for God, His people, and the lost, with each area reinforcing the others in a dynamic cycle of sanctification. By intentionally cultivating habits aligned with spiritual disciplines, believers can progress toward spiritual maturity, embody Christ’s love, and effectively participate in His mission on earth.

References

• Earley, Dave, and Rod Dempsey. Disciple Making Is…: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. B and H Publishing Group, 2010.
• Galatians 5:22-23. Holy Bible, New International Version.
• James 2:14-17. Holy Bible, New International Version.
• Matthew 22:39. Holy Bible, New International Version.
• F. F. Bruce. The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction. InterVarsity Press, 2011.
• Richard Foster. The Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. HarperOne, 2018.
• Dallas Willard. Discipleship: A Concept in Search of a Definition. InterVarsity Press, 2017.
• John Stott. Basic Christianity. IVP Books, 2006.
• Henry Blackaby. Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God. B&H Publishing, 2014.
• Robert Coleman. The Master Plan of Evangelism. Revell, 2010.