This is a collection of key free downloadable resources especially helpful for teachers such as leaders of adult education classes, professors, spiritual directors and others. Obviously, many of the other resources on this site can also be used for teaching. The formatting of the documents is simple and if they are in Google Doc format you can download it in PDF format from the Google Doc app menu. Some of these resources are also found on other pages on this site.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION ASSIGNMENTS
This is a list of over fifty different spiritual formation assignments designed for individuals or groups. Most of the assignments are fairly penetrating and their purpose is to produce change. Recommended books and related assignments are also included. This document also includes the key lessons that should be learned in advanced discipleship in general and through these assignments in particular.
Spiritual Formation Assignments in Word format
Spiritual Formation Assignments in PDF format
SPIRITUAL LIFE QUESTIONNAIRE – ASSESSMENT TOOL
We find this questionnaire extremely helpful for assessment:
This assessment tool is very helpful in quickly discovering where someone is spiritually. It also makes it easy for a coach or teacher to cover many different topics quickly. It is about 8 pages long. We developed it because we could not find anything else like it. The Spiritual Life Questionnaire doesn’t focus on rating someone’s spiritual life but asks the important questions for examining one’s spiritual condition. It is up to the individual to decide how to proceed based on how they answered the questions. Or their coach or director can use it to highlight issues for discussion. We published a post about the Spiritual Life Questionnaire here. There are no copyright restrictions on this; share it as much as possible!
This questionnaire is highly recommended for discipleship, especially for discipling existing leaders.
It is updated from time to time.
A SUMMARY OF BIBLICAL SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY
This paper is highly recommended for everyone. It is a short paper (about 10 pages) titled: A Summary of Biblical Spiritual Theology: Being a Biblical Meta-Narrative of Human Maturity. This paper is invaluable because it summarizes the story of human spiritual maturity in the Bible. This serves as a foundation for all discipling, and can be used in many settings including coaching, spiritual direction, youth work, adult education, developing a vision for a church, etc.
OUTLINE OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION CLASS
This outline is a course in spiritual formation with an emphasis on transformation of the student, but it also contains much spiritual theology. It is designed as a graduate level class, but it can be tailored for use in undergraduate classes as well as for classes for local churches. It is also very helpful as an individual guide to spiritual formation. Scripture is the supreme authority for this outline. The course will also equip students to minister spiritual formation and spiritual theology to others. This outline is an attempt to summarize the key principles of spiritual growth found in scripture and history. It is over forty pages long.
Please excuse the faults of this outline. It has not been edited and it is just an outline. Feel free to adapt it and make it your own. It will be updated from time to time.
This outline features:
- Most of the important topics in spiritual formation.
- Links to several PowerPoint presentations, and web pages with short explanations of topics.
- Links to or titles of helpful books available on Amazon.com.
- Many exercises for application.
- An appendix with expanded discussion of important topics.
PAGE WITH DOWNLOAD LINK FOR OUTLINE
LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL RENEWAL MOVEMENTS
This is a series of lecture notes on some of the most important renewal movements in Christian history. They can be used for personal reading, to teach graduate or undergraduate classes, compose sermons or as adult education materials. The document is currently over 110 pages and includes bibliographies.
These lectures are focused on transformation in history and how it happened. They will inspire and guide one to spiritual growth. These movements demonstrate that instead of being embarrassed about bad stories of so-called Christian rulers, Christians should be proud of their history. True followers of Jesus are the best evidence of the truth of the gospel.
Currently, this document has lectures for the desert movement, Benedictine monasticism, Celtic spirituality, Medieval reformer Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assissi, Brethren of the Common Life, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, John Wesley, Holiness movement and the Pentecostal movement. Other lectures will be added.
OUTLINE OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION SEMINAR
This is an outline of a short class, 1-3 days, on spiritual formation. It covers the most essential material and includes links to resources for instructor and students. It is a highly condensed version of the “Outline of Spiritual Formation Class” above. This is also helpful for anyone wanting to get a brief overview of spiritual formation.