The Kingdom Life: A Practical Theology of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation

by Alan Andrews

Publisher:

NavPress

, 2010

Overview

Each of us has ties to family, friends, and strangers in our society, so our spiritual formation should touch not only ourselves but everyone we meet, including the most needy. The truest kind of transformation—the kind Jesus taught and modeled—prompts us to reach out to our neighborhood instead of withdrawing into a self-absorbed, isolated, and risk-free spirituality.

For six years, a dozen spiritual-formation leaders—including Dallas Willard, Bruce Demarest, and Bill Hull—have come together with their colleagues to create this collection of wisdom and honest personal revelation in the areas of discipleship and spiritual formation. The Kingdom Life aims to ground your transformation in the midst of your community through five key emphases:

• A fresh approach to spiritual disciplines that connect you with God and his kingdom
• The pursuit of transformation through communities of grace
• Exploration of the inner issues of woundedness, hiddenness, and legalism
• Direct involvement in God’s mission in your world
• Practicing the broader vision of an integrated approach to transformation

The Kingdom Life is for teachers, pastors, and lay leaders, but also for every serious Christian seeking a more integrated approach to spiritual formation. This book has both a theological foundation and a “process” aspect in which the key principles are exhibited in practice.

In the Logos edition, this valuable volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Discusses the full implications of living under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ
• Emphasizes the importance of actively living in the Kingdom of God everyday
• Provides insight into spiritual discipline

Contents

• Part 1: Process Elements of Spiritual Formation
  • The Gospel of the Kingdom and Spiritual Formation
  • Communities of Grace
  • The Transformational Process
  • Spiritual Formation from the Inside Out
  • Whole-Life Transformation
  • Formed Through Suffering
  • Participating in God’s Mission
• Part 2: Theological Elements of Spiritual Formation
  • The Trinity as Foundation for Spiritual Formation
  • The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Formation
  • The Bible in Spiritual Formation

Praise for the Print Edition

It is difficult to imagine a group of Jesus’ apprentices better qualified to write on the kingdom life than these authors. Their lived commitment to personal transformation, authentic community, and God’s mission in the world validates their wise words.

—Howard Baker, instructor of Christian formation, Denver Seminary

This book is sorely needed. The authors bring together discipleship and spiritual formation biblically under the canopy of sanctification, thereby dispelling false caricatures of either. This promises to be an important beacon giving direction to discipleship and spiritual-formation ministries in the future.

—Michael J. Wilkins, distinguished professor of New Testament language and literature, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

This challenging book pushes us to think more deeply about God’s great overarching purpose for our lives: transformation into the likeness of Christ. As the writers examine this great subject from different perspectives, shafts of light break through like rays reflected in the facets of a diamond, at times piercing in their illumination.

—Mike Treneer, international president, The Navigators

What a wonderful resource for those seriously interested in personal or community spiritual formation. This diverse team of experts who lived in spiritual community with each other as a preface for writing this book provides a unique and meaningful integration of the practical and theoretical foundation for spiritual formation.

—G. Craig Williford, president, Trinity International University

Christian discipleship in the American church is in crisis. The church is ready for a sober reevaluation. This is why I am thankful for The Kingdom Life. It is not another book on how to do discipleship as a program; rather, it reexamines the theology and practice of discipleship in light of the lordship of Christ and the life we have in his kingdom. In putting forth this project, Alan Andrews has assembled an extraordinary team of thinkers and practitioners to address an extraordinary need for these most critical of times.

—David Fitch, Betty R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology, Northern Seminary

Product Details

• Title: The Kingdom Life: A Practical Theology of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation
• Editor: Alan Andrews
• Publisher: NavPress
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 328

About Alan Andrews

Alan Andrews and his wife, Becky, joined the Navigator ministry in 1970 while attending Marshall University in West Virginia. They went on to lead collegiate and community ministries in Illinois from 1970 to 1976 before moving to Toronto, Ontario, to direct the Canadian national work. From 1990 to 1995, Alan directed Navigator ministries in the established countries of Asia. In September 1995, he became national field leader with the US National Leadership Team, and in 1997 he was selected as president of the US Navigators.