To Be Like Jesus: An Appraisal of Biblical Theology in Practice of Personal and Ministerial Spiritual Formation

Abstract

PREFACE This book started as lecture notes during my sabbatical and other teaching lectures online. As such, it has more extensive citations and Biblical references than usual. It is an academic book interspersed with the personal story of my spiritual journey, with added reminiscences to animate the text. As an academic scholarly document, it has numerous notes, citations, and references to facilitate further research. As I studied on the subject of spiritual formation, I felt it was an opportune moment to interweave my spiritual journey and development as a person and as a Christian minister to elucidate and illustrate the subject of Spiritual Formation. I offer my spiritual journey and reflection with the prayer that others would find the insights and experiences related helpful to enrich their lives, in pursuit of spiritual formation and their Christian ministries. It is my prayer also for those who might read this book, and have not started on their spiritual journey, and encounter with Jesus Christ that they may find this book an inspiration to begin their journey and that those who have already started, may find it encouraging and an inspiration to keep on. To those students who have just started on their personal and ministerial journeys, it is my prayer that you may take the seven pillars or disciplines (spiritual vitamins) suggested in this book seriously for, believe you me, using them will pay high spiritual dividends in your life's journey. Investing time to follow these disciplines would greatly enrich your experience. I highly commend these disciplines (spiritual vitamins) and the insights of this book to you, praying that God will use this book to bless you.