SPIRITUAL

FORMATION is
A PROCESS
of being
formed in the
image of
Christ for
the sake of
others.
ROBERT MULHOLLAND
INTRODUCTION
In his book, Invitation to a Journey, Robert Mulholland notes that “Spiritual
formation is a process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of
others.” 1 He notes that our spiritual formation requires a pilgrimage of deepening
responsiveness to God’s control of our life and being.

The theme of this spiritual formation journey is Developing As We Grow. The theme
of this journey plays off the idea that God, who foreknows each person from
eternity past (Rom. 8:29), already has a fully developed photo of a mature me
hanging in heaven’s gallery. However, the extent to which that photo is developed
during MY life on earth is dependent on MY responsiveness to His working in MY
life.

This journey is six weeks long and provides the opportunity for you to embark on
your own mini-pilgrimage of spiritual formation. Each of us walks around with some
form of brokenness in our lives. However, as the Apostle Paul notes, we are being
transformed into the image of Christ, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, from
one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18).

The journey is designed to be conducted in a small group environment, where each

week, you will be invited to consider a different topic related to your spiritual
GROWTH. From the very start of the journey, you will be challenged to allow God's
transformative work to disrupt the normal and comfortable patterns you may find
yourself in. Take up that challenge to grow! You will be encouraged that while
change is rarely comfortable, being transformed into the image of Christ will
always be of most significant benefit to you, and those you interact with daily.

Each week a new topic will be discussed in our small group environment. While the
small group provides a means for corporate growth and accountability, everyone
will be required to press into God in their personal capacity, as you are:
q Challenged to delve into God’s truths described in Scripture.
q Encouraged to set aside time for the Holy Spirit to minister to you.
q Asked to capture your own thoughts and feelings related to the topic.
q Given the opportunity to establish new patterns of thinking and doing.

By the end of this journey, we trust that there would have been a shift at a head,
heart, and hands level in your life, and that you would:
HEAD: Develop an understanding of the importance that each of the
six aspects of spiritual GROWTH plays in your continued journey.
HEART: Be convinced that your primary focus in life and your
heart's greatest longing should be a personal relationship with God.
HANDS: Establish new patterns of thinking and doing that will allow
you to continue growing spiritually and helping others to grow.

1. Mulholland, M. Robert. “Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation” (Downers Grove: Intervarsity
Press, 2016), 16.
2
 JOURNEY OVERVIEW
There are many things believers need to know as they grow as a follower of Jesus
Christ. However, the six topics included in this journey represent the starting point,
and a good foundation, for a person’s ongoing spiritual GROWTH.
The topics have deliberately been kept simple, each covering three key ideas. The
simplicity will allow you to practically apply the insights and principles learned and
enable you to share what you have learned with others. The topics are related to
the acronym GROWTH, and will be covering the following:

I GENUINE FAITH (p5)

Genuine faith is the starting point of your spiritual growth. It
CONFIDENCE represents your confidence in the absolute promises and
CONTROL unchanging character of God.
CONTENT

II RELATIONAL INTIMACY (p9)

True relational intimacy with God evidences itself through your
RELIGION
unwavering belief that God is entirely, wholeheartedly, and always
RELATIONSHIP
RIGHT THINKING
on your side.

III OUR PERSONALITY (p13)

Our personality influences how we approach our spiritual growth.
PREFERRED FOCUS Spiritual wholeness calls for a balanced interplay between your
PATH preferred and less preferred ways of being and doing.
PRACTICES

IV WHOLENESS IN CHRIST (p19)

The greatest wholeness a human can ever experience is to be
YES LORD formed in the image of Christ. By yielding to the Holy Spirit, areas
YOUR PURPOSE of your unlikeness to Christ are transformed into His likeness.
YIELDING

V THE CHURCH (p23)

The Church community is the place God has chosen for you to
DILEMMA grow spiritually. It is a place where others can be a means of
DEVOTION God’s grace to you, and you can be an agent of His love to others.
DISCIPLESHIP

VI HELPING OTHERS (p27)

Helping others begins with the servant attitude that Jesus showed
while on earth. Considering others before yourself is not
CONVICTION something that comes naturally; it is an attitude that you develop.
CONSIDERATION
CHOICE

3
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
Based on the Journey Overview, describe the ONE THING that you would most
like to have achieve at the end of this journey.

If you had to identify what you think would be the greatest obstacle to you
successfully dedicating the necessary time and effort to get the most out of
this journey, what would it be? How could you plan to overcome this obstacle?
WEEK I : GENUINE FAITH
BIG IDEA:
Genuine faith is the starting point of your spiritual growth. It
represents your confidence in the absolute promises and
unchanging character of God.

CIRCUMSTANCES CAN MISLEAD

Have you ever misinterpreted an event that occur in your life?
Imagine a father taking their young child to the doctor’s room for vaccination. If
you had to ask the young child if their father loves them at that moment, the
answer would probably be a resounding, “No!” The young child only feels the
stinging of the injection in their arm. They experience the trauma of the big
needle being plunged into their flesh. How can any of that be a show of love?
But years later, when that same child has matured into a parent, they see things
very differently with their own children.
Just as a child cannot correctly judge their parent’s character by a single trip to
the doctor’s office, we will not be able to accurately determine God’s character
by the immediate circumstances of our life.

“Circumstantial faith is fragile because our frame of

reference is too small. It is hard for us to look at the
significance of events in the context of a lifetime, much
less weigh those events on the scale of eternity.”
Andy Stanley

(i) Confidence
Genuine faith requires that you have confidence in the character of God and His
unwavering plans and promises for you. The circumstances in your life often seek
to confuse your faith. When people pray for things, and their prayers seem to fail,
they are left thinking that God doesn’t answer their prayer, or perhaps that He is
angry with them. They conclude that God can’t be trusted. However, genuine
faith moves past a circumstantial faith and represents wholehearted confidence
in God’s character, His motives, and the everlasting truth of His Word (Scripture),
no matter the outcome.

Read Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

5
 Is it hard to trust God in every area of your life? Why or why not?

(ii) Control
The issue of control is a critical issue to understand in our lives. Robert
Mulholland notes that “the difference between forming ourselves and being
formed is the vital issue of control.” 2 If a person is constantly trying to control
their own life, it will be tough for them to yield to God's control in their lives. In
addition to having confidence in God, genuine faith requires that you choose to
lay down your own agendas, surrendering your will and desires completely to
God’s will and desires. You need to invite the Lord to work out His agenda for
you in your life.

Read Jeremiah 29:11-13 – I know the plans I have for you, declares the
Lord …
[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

How does knowing the plans God has for you influence your willingness to
handing control of your life over to Him? Is there anything hindering you from
handing control over to God?

2. Mulholland, M. Robert. “Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation” (Downers Grove: Intervarsity
Press, 2016), 31.
6
(iii) Content
Genuine faith is not wishful thinking, nor is it blind faith. Genuine faith is based on
the person of Jesus Christ, who the Bible describes as the “author and perfector
of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). The more that we know who Jesus is, what He has
accomplished, and what He has promised us, the greater the content we have for
our faith. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is described as the Word of God, who
became flesh and walked among people on earth (Jh. 1:14). The Word of God
provides us with access to the necessary content we need to build our faith.
However, the problem with many Christians is that they don’t read the Word of
God.

Read Romans 10:17 – So faith comes from hearing …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

If Jesus – in the flesh – were to walk into the room you are in right now, how
would your life change? Considering your answer, think of what new meaning
you could attach to reading the Bible daily.

7
WEEK I : FOR ME
The greater your understanding of God’s
nature, will, and ability, the more confidently NATURE
you will live a life of faith. Search for Scriptures
(at least three of each) that speak to God’s
nature, God’s will, and God’s ability.
WILL ABILITY
Once you’ve found the Scriptures, re-write
them in your own words.

8
WEEK II : RELATIONAL INTIMACY
BIG IDEA:
True relational intimacy with God evidences itself through your
unwavering belief that God is entirely, wholeheartedly, and always
on your side.

MY DEVOTED FATHER
In 1988, there was a devastating earthquake in Armenia. Amidst the rubble of the
earthquake, emerge the incredible story of a devoted dad, Samuel, and his son
Armand.
Samuel had dropped his son, Armand, at school when an earthquake hit their
town. After not getting hold of anyone at the school, Samuel returned to the
school only to find the multi-level school building had collapsed. Many people
were standing by, but Samuel went to the area where Armand’s class had been
and began digging in the rubble with his hands. Samuel dug for 10 hours until
night set in, often requesting the help of others standing by, to no avail. During
the night, temperatures reached -10’C, and yet he continued digging. After 36
hours of digging, with his hands bloodied and tired, and when other parents had
already begun bringing flowers to the site to morn the loss of their children,
Samuel broke into the room and found his son and 13 of Armand’s classmates.
Rather than running to the embrace of his dad, Armand turned to his classmates
and said, “I told you my father would always be there for me.”
If an IMPERFECT earthly father could show such devotion to their son, how much
more would your PERFECT Heavenly Father show unwavering devotion to you?

“Regardless of how long we’ve been Christians and how

deeply we’ve studied God’s Word, most of us don’t really
believe down in the marrow of our bones that God is
entirely, wholeheartedly, and unwaveringly on our side.”
Beth Moore

(i) Religion
There are many different definitions of religion, but religion could be described
as a person's specific action or conduct indicating a belief in, obedience to, or
reverence for a god, or gods. When considering this description, it becomes clear
why many people who claim to be Christians can busy their spiritual lives with
activities and conduct, while not having a personal relationship with God.
Relational intimacy with God cannot be accomplished by our good works;
instead, it comes as a grace gift from God that we receive.

9
 Read Ephesians 2:8:9 – For it is by grace you have been saved …
[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

Do you tend to feel pressure to serve God in order to earn His favor or
approval? Why or why not?

(ii) Relationship
As Hill and Walton so aptly describe, “God’s plan from the beginning was to
create a people among whom he could dwell and with whom he could be in
relationship.” 3 Because our relationship with God is so important, the enemy will
do everything possible to hinder us from intimacy. The devil will tell you every
type of lie, bring every type of hurt, and present every type of distraction to keep
you from developing your relationship with your Heavenly God. God is NOT an
authoritarian, angry with humanity. God is NOT a distant deity, unconcerned with
human affairs. God is NOT a critical judge, hard to please. He IS a loving,
affirming father! A pastor once referred to God as having a long fuse, a short
memory, a thick skin, and a big heart. As you read the text in Psalms 103,
consider how each of these attributes is described in the passage.

Read Psalms 103:2-17 – Bless the Lord, O my soul …

[Capture some ideas that stand out to you under each of the headings … ]

Long Fuse Short Memory Thick Skin Big Heart

3. Hill, Andrew E., and John H. Walton. “A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd edition” (Zondervan Academic, 2010), 14.

10
Write down your experiences of the father-figure in your life, including at least
five positive and five negative attributes. How do you think your experiences
with your earthly father-figures have impacted your perception of your
Heavenly Father?

[Positive] [Negative]

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

(iii) Right Thinking

When we invite Jesus into our lives, the Bible teaches us that we become an
entirely new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). While the Holy Spirit immediately comes to
live in us and regenerates our spirits to have relational intimacy with God, it is up
to us to renew our minds. Without the renewal of your mind, you will not be able
to live a transformed life. Renewing your mind means “losing your old
perspective and gaining God’s perspective so that you may think and act like
Him” (Stanley, 2001). Learning to see how God sees is the key to experiencing
intimacy with God.

Read Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

11
Do you think that you are mostly living according to the “pattern of this world”
(Rom 12:2), or according to a renewed mind? Write down what the main
influence of your predominant perspective is.

WEEK II : FOR ME
To enjoy greater intimacy with God, you need to remove the lies that you are
living with, and one-by-one replace them with God’s truth.
You will see there is a line drawn down the middle of the page below. On the left
side, write down any lies you have believed. Then, search for Scriptures
describing God's truth related to each lie and capture God's truths on the right
side.

12
WEEK III : OUR PERSONALITY
BIG IDEA:
Our personality influences how we approach our spiritual growth.
Spiritual wholeness calls for a balanced interplay between your
preferred and less preferred ways of being and doing.

REMEMBER “THE DRESS”?

On the 26th February 2015, “the dress”
became a viral internet sensation when
viewers disagreed over whether the
dress pictured was colored black and
royal blue, or white and gold.
The phenomenon revealed differences
in human color perception. Although
the dress color was eventually
confirmed as black and blue, the image
prompted many discussions and has
even been the subject of ongoing
scientific investigations into
neuroscience and vision science.
In the same way people looking at the
same dress saw it differently, our
personality preferences can cause us
to see the world, and even our spiritual
journey, differently to those around us.

(Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dress)

“[As we] look at the role of our preferred ways of being and
doing in the world: how we prefer either extraversion or
introversion as our focus of life, sensing or intuition as our
means of receiving data for living, thinking or feeling as
our way of processing the data, and perception or judging
as our way of relating to the world … we will see that
spiritual and psychological wholeness calls for a balanced
interplay between our preferred and less preferred ways of
being and doing.”
Robert Mulholland

13
 (i) Preferred Focus
Scripture tells us that God had a specific design for each of us and that we are
fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:13). You are no accident; you are not a
mistake; you are not meant to merely exist here on earth. Your Heavenly Father
knows you intimately, and by developing an awareness of how He has designed
you, you can begin better engaging with Him and the world around you.
Read Psalms 139:13-16 – You formed my inward parts …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

If you had a real revelation that God knows you and created for purpose, how
would that impact your self-talk?

(ii) Path
By completing a personality assessment like the Myers-Briggs Personality
Inventory, you can find that aspects of your divine design, which you may already
be inherently aware of, are given a language that facilitates a greater awareness
and appreciation for how God knit you together. Robert Mulholland notes that
“our preferred patterns of being and doing deeply shape our individual and
corporate spirituality.” 4 Growing in an understanding of our preferences can help
us add spiritual disciplines that we would not ordinarily choose to our spiritual
path.
Read Psalms 139:23-24 – Search me, O God …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

4. Mulholland, M. Robert. “Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation” (Downers Grove: Intervarsity
Press, 2016), 80.
14
Are there any negative aspects of your behaviour that you have ever blamed
on your personality? If you asked God to search you in those areas, what do
you think He would say to you?

(iii) Practices
Looking back at your spiritual journey through the lens of your personality
preferences will provide you with meaningful insights in terms of how the Lord has
guided you to where you currently are. It may also reveal to you why you have
avoided certain spiritual disciplines while enjoying others. However, the important
learning from understanding your preferences is to develop holistically in your
spiritual path. You will be required to implement spiritual disciplines and practices
that are not necessarily your preference. Like an athlete preparing for a race, there
will be certain exercises they prefer, while others feel like a lot more work;
however, are equally important for their preparation and development.
Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 – Do you not know that in a race all the
runners run, but only one receives the prize …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

Using the list of spiritual disciplines provided, circle which of the spiritual
disciplines you regularly practice. Then, indicate which additional three
spiritual disciplines you would like to develop, to better prepare you for the
race you have been called to run.

Spiritual Disciplines:
Bible reading / Scripture memorization / meditation / private prayer / corporate
prayer / worship / praise / thanksgiving / evangelism / acts of service / fasting /
moments of reflection / silence / solitude / journaling.

15
WEEK III : FOR ME
As you conclude this topic, you will be required to complete the following three
activities:
1. Click on the link provided and complete the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory
(http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp ).
2. Having identified your MBTI personality profile, refer to Robert Mulholland’s
tables of Attitude, Function, or Lifestyle, and then Spiritual Paths. Using the
words suggested, identify those attributes which you feel best represent you.
3. Write a paragraph detailing any new insights you have gained from this topic
and any areas of your spiritual journey that need developing.
Tables of Attitude, Function, or Lifestyle (Mulholland 2016, 77)

16
Tables of Spiritual Paths (Mulholland 2016, 77)

MY MBTI PROFILE IS: ______________

Write a paragraph detailing any new insights you have gained from this topic
and any areas of your spiritual journey that need developing.

17
The invitation
is to receive
who we
FUNDAMENT
ALLY ARE as
the gift it is
and to
experience
others as the
MEANS OF
GRACE they
ROBERT MULHOLLAND

are.
WEEK IV : WHOLENESS IN CHRIST
BIG IDEA:
The greatest wholeness a human can ever experience is to be
formed in the image of Christ. By yielding to the Holy Spirit, areas
of your unlikeness to Christ are transformed into His likeness.

DOING NOT JUST KNOWING

Imagine that you were a parent of a thirteen-year-old child. You entered their
room and had found it to be an absolute mess. You asked them to tidy their
room and were very specific in terms of your instructions. Please pick up all of
your clothes off the floor. Place the dirty clothes in the washing bin and those
that are clean, fold neatly, and pack into your cupboard. Please tidy your school
desk. Please pack your books back onto the bookshelf and make your bed.
Finally, please remove your three-day old lunch from your lunch box and take it
to the kitchen to wash. As you leave, you say that you will be back in an hour and
you would like to see the room tidy. After the hour is up, you return only to find
your child lying on their bed, their room in the same state as when you left.
When you enquire as to why they haven’t done anything, your child responds
with an adequate level of shock, “Oh, but I have!” “I have memorized everything
that you asked me to. Not only that, but I have even visualized how I would go
about doing it and how clean my room will look once it’s done.”
The story sounds ridiculous, yet, too often, that is how many Christians live out
their Christianity. Somehow, we have believed the lie that as long as we know
what Jesus taught, we don’t actually have to do it.

“Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a

part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section
of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't
allowed to control their lives."
Francis Chan

(i) Yes Lord!

In the Christian community, you will often hear people referring to Jesus as their
Lord and Savior. These two concepts are important in understanding the Gospel
message. Jesus, as our Savior, provides us with the gift of grace, settles the debt
of our sin, restores our relationship with our Father, and redeems the purpose for
which we have been created. However, Jesus, as our Lord, seems a far less
popular idea for Christians to embrace. Lord means master or one who rules.
Lordship requires submission and necessitates complete obedience.

19
 Steve Murrell makes an interesting observation when he says, “Lordship is one of
the central messages of the Bible. Jesus is referred to as Lord 92 times in the
book of Acts and 747 times in the whole New Testament, while being referred to
as Savior only twice in Acts and 24 times in the New Testament. The biblical
emphasis is overwhelmingly on the concept of Lordship.” 5

Read James Acts 2:36 – Therefore let all Israel be assured of this …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

Write done how you think your life would look different if you submitted fully
to the Lordship of Christ?

(ii) Your Purpose

God’s ultimate purpose for you is to grow in your likeness to Jesus. However, the
world sells you the lie that you will only find your purpose through what you do.
The truth is that your ultimate purpose is not about doing something, but about
being someone. Robert Mulholland notes that we can never be all that God wants
us to be as long as areas of unlikeness to the image of Christ exists within us. It is
in the areas of our unlikeness to Christ that we remain the lord of our lives – areas
where our agenda, our will, our desire, our purpose rules.6 However, there is hope
for us, and that hope is the person of the Holy Spirit. In the areas of your
unlikeness to Christ, the Holy Spirit remains present and active, ready to lead you
into all truth (Jh. 16:13), and into your true purpose.
Read John 14:16-17 – And I will ask the Father, and he will give another
Helper …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

5. Murrell, Steve. ”One 2 One: Personal Discipleship Guide” (Every Nations Publications, 2014), 29.
6. Mulholland, M. Robert. “Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation” (Downers Grove: Intervarsity
Press, 2016), 49.
20
Take some time to reflect on which areas of your life still have an unlikeness to
Christ in them. Write each of the areas down.

(iii) Yielding
Understanding the concepts of saying yes to Christ's lordship and understanding
what your ultimate purpose is are crucial to growing into your wholeness in Christ
Jesus. However, as necessary, if not more so, is the concept of yielding. Robert
Mulholland does well when he says, “Spiritual formation is not something that we
do to ourselves or for ourselves, but something we allow God to do in us and for
us as we yield ourselves to the work of God’s transforming grace.” 7
Yield is a great word. It can mean surrendering to someone or something, but it
can also mean to provide or produce something. When we yield to the
transforming grace of God in our lives, we not only surrender our agenda, desires,
and will for that of God, we also allow the Holy Spirit to provide us with His life
and produce His fruit in our lives.
Read Galatians 5:16-25 – So I say, walk by the Spirit …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

Ask the Holy Spirit which of His fruit He would want to produce in you, in each
of the areas you identified as the areas of your unlikeness to Christ (above
question). Write down your response.

21
WEEK IV : FOR ME
Read Romans 8:28-39 and let the Holy Spirit tell you what He will do for you.
Make the exercise personal by filling your name on the top of a page and filling in
the remainder of the page with the promises God makes you in this portion of
Scripture.

My child, _____________

I will
___________________________________________________________

I will
___________________________________________________________

I will
___________________________________________________________

I will
___________________________________________________________

I will
___________________________________________________________

I will
___________________________________________________________

I will
___________________________________________________________

I will
___________________________________________________________

I will 22

___________________________________________________________
WEEK V : THE CHURCH
BIG IDEA:
The Church community is the place God has chosen for you to
grow spiritually. It is a place where others can be a means of
God’s grace to you, and you can be an agent of His love to others.

A BRIGHTLY BURNING COAL

Ever heard of Dwight L. Moody? Dwight L. Moody (1837–1899), is described as an
“Evangelist and Master Disciple Maker.” 7 He was only sixty-two years old when
he died but had already preached the gospel to over 100 million people.
There is an account of Moody going to visit a man who had expressed interest at
one of Moody’s meetings. It was a cold and gloomy day, and Moody was taken
into a room with a blazing fire on his arrival. The man began to argue that a
person could be a Christian without participating in the life of the church. As he
presented his arguments to justify his belief, Moody leaned forward in his chair,
took the poker, and proceeded to remove a lump of burning coal from the fire.
As the coal lay simmering on the cold stone floor, both men watched as the coal
slowly dimmed and went out. After a long pause, the man said, “Mr. Moody, you
have made your point.” 8
The principle of Moody’s illustration lives on as an eternal truth. A person cannot
truly be formed in the image of Christ outside of the church any more than a
lump of coal can continue to burn brightly outside of the fire.

“Spiritual family is more about making disciples than

any other activity or event. Reaching the lost, laying
foundations, and teaching them to go and make disciples,
is our priority.”
Steve Murrell

(i) Dilemma
One could argue that in the Western world, much of the modern-day church
experience has been fashioned around the values of the consumeristic culture we
live in. More than ever before, people want to engage in a private Christianity that
allows them to pick and choose their spirituality from the menu of convenience.
Rather than inconveniencing themselves by opening up their lives to a community
of imperfect people, too many Christians seem content to have their spirituality in
a takeaway box. Robert Mulholland notes that “corporate spirituality is costly” and
argues that the “ultimate test of our spirituality lies in the nature of our life in the
world with others.” 8

7. “Profile in Faith: D.L. Moody - Single-Page Full Article | C.S. Lewis Institute.” Accessed October 19, 2020.
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Profile_DL_Moody_Dorsett_Single-Page_Full_Article.
8. Mulholland, M. Robert. “Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation” (Downers Grove: Intervarsity
Press, 2016), 169, 177, 166.
23
 Read Acts 2:42, 44-46 – They devoted themselves to …
[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

What are the top ten things you are currently devoted to (your diary and
budget may give you some clues)? Now, write down some of the things which
Acts 2:42 and 44-46 describe you should be devoted to.

1. 6.

2. 7.

3. 8.

4. 9.

5. 10.

[Book of Acts]

(iii) Yielding
The relationship between discipline and discipleship is essential. Robert
Mulholland notes that “Somewhere between the extremes of avoidance of
discipline and the imprisonment of discipline is the holistic practice of balanced
spiritual disciplines that become a means of God’s grace to shape us in the image
of Christ for others.” 9 Two different mindsets tend to govern one’s spiritual
disciplines (e.g. Scripture reading, prayer, fasting, worship etc.). One is the
mindset of using your disciplines as a means to earn favor with God. The other is
presenting your disciplines as a love offering to God. However, the only pure
motive is the motive of loving God through your personal devotions to Him.
As we develop habits of spiritual disciplines, we begin to find our own secret
pathways to the heart of God.

9. Mulholland, M. Robert. “Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation” (Downers Grove: Intervarsity
Press, 2016), 120.
24
 Read Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God …
[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

How are you currently serving others in your local church? What else could you
do to better serve others in your local church?

(iii) Discipleship
Bill Hull describes discipleship as “a radical reorientation of our existence.” 10
Discipleship means giving up everything to follow Jesus. One of the greatest
enemies of discipleship is busyness. Busyness not only distracts us from following
Jesus, but it also eats away at the time we have to disciple others. When we plan
our schedules, very few of us begin by considering activities that would allow us
to be discipled in our faith or disciple others. You must consciously develop
margin in your life to attend to the things of God. Without margin in your life, even
the best of intentions will get lost in the sea of busyness. 11
Read Matthew 4:19-20 – “Come, follow me,” Jesus said …
[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

The disciples walked away from their fishing nets to follow Jesus. What do you
need to walk away from to follow Him wholeheartedly?

10. Hull, Bill. “The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ” (Colorado Springs: NavPress,
2006), 216.
11. Stanley, Andy, and Stuart Hall. “The Seven Checkpoints: Student Journal. Original ed. Edition” (West Monroe, La:
Howard Books, 2001), 181.
25
WEEK V : FOR ME
Read the three statements below and journal some thoughts and feelings related
to each. Then, write down some personal commitments related to discipleship.

Discipleship begins
at home.

Discipleship is
simple, but it’s not
easy; it requires
sacrifice.

If we put the
Great Commission
before the Great
Commandment,
we turn people
into projects.

Write down some personal commitments related to you allowing yourself to be

discipled, and you looking to disciple others.

26
WEEK VI : HELPING OTHERS
BIG IDEA:
Helping others begins with the servant attitude that Jesus showed
while on earth. Considering others before yourself is not
something that comes naturally; it is an attitude that you develop.

CONSIDERATION AT THE CHECK-OUT

I have a friend who regularly likes to surprise people by showing them
uncommon consideration. He often arrives at the check-out point in a
supermarket, only to ask the person in front of him if he can pay for their entire
shopping bill. He will also see people in a restaurant and approach their waiter in
private to pay their bill without them knowing. Sometimes they are friends of his,
and other times they are complete strangers.
I have been on the receiving end of some of these types of uncommon acts of
consideration. They have always left me feeling overwhelmed with gratitude
towards those people who have blessed me and my Father in Heaven.

“As Christians, we have been called to put the needs

of others before our own. Too often, however, we end
up manipulating others to get what we want …
we lose sight of the truth that God loved us and served
us when we were unlovable.”
Andy Stanley

(i) Conviction
Eugene Peterson notes that “if we want to understand God, we must do so on his
terms.” 12 One of the best ways of understanding God is to consider the life of
Jesus. Everything about the way that Jesus lived seemed contrary to the culture
of the day, no more so when He declares that, ”The Son of Man did not come to
be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
One of the primary reasons for God calling Christians to connect into community,
is to learn how to show devotion to Him by helping others. Time and again in
Scripture, we see the example of true believers demonstrating a sacrificial love as
they interacted with each other and the world around them, serving as Jesus did.
I have heard sacrificial love described as doing something, for someone else, to
put them in a better position than they were, at your expense, expecting nothing
in return. It is this personal conviction to love as Jesus loved and to serve as He
served, that is the true Christian life.

12. Peterson, H. Eugene. “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. 2000), 63.

27
Read John 13:34-35 – A new command I give to you …
[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

Is your attitude towards serving others the same as Christ’s attitude? Why or
why not?

(ii) Consideration
In our world, considering others above yourself is unexpected. By being selfless to
help others, you not only surprise them with a blessing; you build a landing strip
for the love of God to touch down in their lives. When you value others above
yourself (Phil. 2:3), you can open their hearts to the love and compassion of God
exhibited through your service. By the time of the Last Supper, Jesus had already
stooped down low, emptying Himself of His divinity and coming down to earth as
a lowly man. However, at the Last Supper, He stooped down even lower, stripping
Himself of His outer clothing and washing His disciples’ feet. In one of His last acts
before His crucifixion, Jesus set the most important example for us to follow.
Read John 13:2-17 – Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under
His power …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

What would happen if you started approaching all of your relationships with
the simple question, “How can I serve them?”

28
 (iii) Choice
Because loving other people is on the top of God’s priority list for each of us, we
can expect opposition when the opportunity arises to demonstrate God’s love to
those who seem undeserving. Every time we are presented with the opportunity
to love someone in a way that will really cost us, we will always experience a tug-
of-war in our minds.
Andy Stanley has some great advice when making decisions. He suggests that a
person ask themselves, “In light of my future, what is the wise thing to do?” 13
When it comes to developing behaviours that are not natural to you, begin your
decision making by considering that you are in the process of being formed in the
image of Christ, for the sake of others. In light of that future which belongs to you,
what is the wise thing to do?
Read Ephesians 5:15-17 – Be very careful, then, how you live …

[Capture one idea that stands out to you from this Scripture … ]

In your own words, explain what Paul is encouraging you to do in Ephesians

5:15-17?

13. Stanley, Andy, and Stuart Hall. “The Seven Checkpoints: Student Journal. Original ed. Edition” (West Monroe, La:
Howard Books, 2001), 130-138.
29
WEEK VI : FOR ME
If you had to describe yourself, are you selfish or selfless? Write down your
thoughts on this issue together with areas that you would like to change, or
new behaviours that you want to develop.

What areas would you like to What new behaviours that you
change? want to develop?

CONGRATULATIONS!
Well done for completing this six-week journey! Take a moment to consider the
objective you wanted to achieve when you set out (page 4). Did you achieve it?
Why or why not?
As we mentioned upfront, this journey can be a starting point for your ongoing
spiritual GROWTH. However, Discipleship is never a programme, it has to be a
lifestyle! As a final reflection, summarize ONE easy-to-remember thought related
to each of the six topics we’ve covered. Write it on the last page and use it as a
simple discipleship reminder for yourself in the weeks, months, and years to come.

30
 1. GENUINE FAITH

2. RELATIONAL INTIMACY

3. OUR PERSONALITY

4. WHOLENESS IN CHRIST

5. THE CHURCH
Faith means
TO FOLLOW.
Anything less 6. HELPING OTHERS
is
SOMETHINGBILL HULL