Spiritual Formation: Ever Forming, Never Formed

by Peter K. Nelson

Overview

In our ongoing battle against sin in our life as believers, we need all the help we can get. Spiritual Formation: Ever Forming, Never Formed is a breath of fresh air in this fight, setting out biblical foundations and offering practical advice. Spiritual Formation both humbles triumphalistic Christians and gives much needed hope to defeated Christians. Simplistic evangelicals often think of sin as a problem for unbelievers, and yet reality clearly points to the looming presence of indwelling sin in the life of the Christian and its deadly impact on the church. By not fully admitting and openly addressing chronic sin problems, believers deceive themselves and the world that looks on, doing harm to all through this hypocrisy. Spiritual Formation is a scalpel to cut away tumors of ignorance, avoidance, and pride, creating honest believers who then will be an authentic witness to a hurting world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830859481
Publisher:	IVP
Publication date:	01/05/2012
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	216
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Arthur A. R. Nelson presently serves as the chair of the board of Ministry Mentors, Inc. and as parish associate at Winnetka Covenant Church. In the past he has pastored churches throughout the United States including Massachusetts, Washington, New York, and Illinois. He also served as the Dean of North Park University and Seminary in Chicago.

Along with his wife, Laurel, he has three children and eight grandchildren.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Chapter 1 Time and Time Again 1

Part 1 Biblical Foundations

Chapter 2 Aiming High: The Call to Holiness 23

Chapter 3 Falling Down: The Fact of Indwelling Sin 37

Chapter 4 Fighting Back: Waging Spiritual Warfare 53

Chapter 5 Growing Up: On the Journey with Christ 73

Chapter 6 Paradoxes of Spiritual Formation 89

Part 2 Practical Applications

Chapter 7 A Life in Conversation with God 109

Chapter 8 Maturing in and as Community 129

Chapter 9 Developing Imperfect Leaders 161

Chapter 10 The Microscope of Marriage 177

Chapter 11 Sin, Sanctification, and Divine Sovereignty 191

Bibliography 211