Printable notes

1.    What does it mean to be spiritual?

      2.  Give two definitions of Christian Spirituality, one general and the other more specific.

      3.  What is the difference between “spirituality” and “religion” according to Sharon Janius in “Spirituality for Dummies”?

   
4.  Articulate your own understanding of what Christian spirituality is based our discussion and your readings. 

   
5.  Which of Boa’s 12 facets of Christian formation speaks to you the most, give a detailed explanation of why.

   
6.  In the early church (first 100 years or so after Resurrection) what were the earliest expression of acts of normal Christian spirituality?

   
7.  What were two of the earliest expressions of elitist spirituality?

   
8.  What are the pros and cons concerning spiritual elitism in the church?

   
9.  In Relationship Spirituality what are the four basic relationships that the Bible has at the core of its teachings?

   
10.   ____________ was a way, a very extreme way, of separating one’s piety from the piety of everyone else and in doing so following in the footsteps of Jesus.  

   
11.  What is asceticism?

   
12.  Give an example of someone that practiced asceticism in the early church history, and what they had to say about it.

   
13.  Is there any room for asceticism in the modern day church?

   
14.   _______  _________leads to rejecting God’s grace in face of personal merit.

   
15.  What is the monastic life?

   
16.  What was the Celtic understanding of the “soul friend?”

    
17.  In what way is the practice of confessing one’s sin to one another helpful?

   
18.  What is the meaning of mysticism? Name three mystics.

   
19.  According to one of our Christian mystics, there are three stages of mystical enlightenment.  What are they?

   
20.  In the spiritual life how do you reconcile “grace” and “effort?” (If you disagree with me, state so, and give reasons why?)

   
21.  Urban T. Holmoes says there are four types of Christian spirituality.  What are they?  What do they mean?

      22.  What is your spiritual type (use the terminology and quadrants of the spirituality wheel) and why?
 

      23.  What is your church’s spiritual type and why?

      24.  What were the three distinguishing practices of Eastern Spirituality? Icons, Jesus Prayer, and Hesychia (stillness or silence, the going apart to the desert for solitude).

      25.  What were the “Iconoclastic Controversies?” (Explain in detail)

      26.  How could the use of Christian art enhance the spirituality of churches?

      27.  Bernard of Clairvaux identified four stage of love.  Name and explain each one.
 

28.  True or false.  Most people have capacity for spiritual formation.
 

29.  What is the primary goal of the local congregation according to James Wilholt in his book Spiritual Formation as if the Church matter?”

30.  According Wilholt what are the 6 characteristics of Christian spiritual formation?

      31. What are some of the greatest concerns, issues, helps, and obstacles comprising Spiritual formation?

      32. True or false! All of our spiritual problems come from our inability to understand the Bible.

Let me know if you have questions!!!!!!!   Good Luck and study hard.