Session 1

Group Talk

–What is your name?

–Why did you come to this class?

–Share about one of your favorite trips?

MY STORY

Walk through the class format and book• Look at the book

• Format

• Assignment for next week

• Questions

• Small Groups• Introduce Table Leaders

• Next week we will lock in groups

Recommended Reading

• Invitation to a Journey

• M. Robert Mulholland Jr.

GETTING STARTEDPages 1-2

Three Things about Spiritual Formation

• It is a journey

My Growth Plan• Where Am I?

• Where Am I Going?

• How Will I Get There?

Three Things about Spiritual Formation

• It is a journey• Jesus is our teacher

and example• It is a process

Phases of the Journey

Awakening Purgation Illumination

• Encounter with TRUTH - about God, Self, the Universe…

• Awareness

• Invitation to Change

• Battle against Sin

• Old Self vs. New Self

• Spiritual Disciplines most important

• Bearing fruit

• “good works” come naturally

• Aware of God in everything

• Experience gratification

• Quiet peace

• No need for human reinforcement or approval

• Loss of Self

ONEWITHGOD

WALKINGWITHGOD

OBEDIENCETO

GOD

ATTRACTIONTO

GOD

DARK

N I GHT

OF

THE

SOUL

Union

A FRUITY PICTUREPage 3

Group Talk

Work through the study on page 3

Striving for a B“ There is nothing we

can do to transform ourselves into persons who love and serve as Jesus did except make ourselves available for God to do that work of transforming grace in our lives.”

(p. 26)

Striving for a B“ Our spiritual journey is

not our setting out (by gathering information and applying it correctly) to find God (as an object “out there” to be grasped and controlled by us). It is a journey of learning to yield ourselves to God and discovering where God will take us.”

(p. 32)

TWO BASIC COMMANDSPage 4

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30-31

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30-31

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this:

‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30-31

IT’S ABOUT OVERFLOWPage 5

chart on page 7

The Love of God

The Love of God

The Love of God

The Love of God

The Love of God

The Love for Neighbor

The Love for Neighbor

The Love for Neighbor

Habit #1

Bible Study

Habit #2

Prayer

Habit #3

Worship Habit #4

Giving

Habit #5

Serving

The Love of God

The 7 Habits of Spiritual Formation

TIME | TALENT | TREASURE

Habit #1

Bible Study

Habit #2

Prayer

Habit #3

Worship Habit #4

Giving

Habit #5

Serving

Habit #6

Vital RelationshipsHabit #7

Sharing My Faith

The Love for Neighbor

The 7 Habits of Spiritual Formation

REALITY CHECKPage 8

…as YourselfWe find it difficult to love God and others

because we don’t really love ourselves.

Two distorted self-perceptions

• I am the center of the universe. I deserve everything.

• I am worth nothing. I deserve nothing.

• Both are self-oriented.

The first key to Spiritual Growth is to see yourself how God sees you.

• I am not the center of the universe, God is.

• I am a unique and valued being, created by God to contribute to the universe.

• God’s Way is other-oriented.

CULTIVATING A ROMANCEPage 9

Q & A

Discuss the questions on page 11

Group Talk

Next Week

Session 2:Loving God with My Mind

[Studying the Bible]