SLOWING DOWN: Spiritual Transformation through Soul-Training Practices

In 2013 we will be offering SLOWING DOWN: Spiritual Transformation through Soul-Trining Practices retreat for our weekend event (Friday evening to Sunday lunch). It is for any leader in your church, young and more mature.  

Is your first love for Christ on the wane? Are aspects of your character somewhat disappointing? Do you long for greater love for the lost and least? Then this Retreat, led by Rowland Forman might be just right for you. It will help you identify and experience spiritual disciplines that will transform your attitudes and behaviour. This Retreat is for all church leaders (current or future, young or more mature).

The Retreat has three phases:

• Prepare Your Heart - 4 weeks before the Retreat you will receive readings (allow 2 hours a week) to maximize the learning experience during the weekend together.
• Learn in Community - This is the weekend retreat where you will receive teaching, discussion and plenty of time to process what you are learning in a group of around 12-24 people.
• Work it Out & Pass it On - You will receive material that will help you process what you have learned and enable you to pass it on through one-on-one mentoring experiences or in Small Group settings.

Participant Resources

Build Your Life on the Mercies of God (John Piper)
The Renewed Mind and How to Have it (John Piper)
Sabbath: God Rests (Brad Carr)

 

Here are answers to some of the questions we've been asked:

• What are some of the main concepts behind this Retreat?

That transformation is not a one-size fits all. We are unique, yet in community. One of the emphases in this Retreat will be to help you discern more about who God has created you to be and how that relates to his transformative work in you by his Spirit.

That there is no formula for spiritual transformation. There are basic processes though – God’s pursuit of us, Knowing God intimately through his Word and Spirit, life-change through the community of God’s people, and transformation in service and mission.

That there is nothing magical about the spiritual disciplines. However the course explores which spiritual practices are optimal for you as you are at the moment. The Wind of God, The Holy Spirit, is everything. The Spiritual Disciplines are just a way of hoisting of our sails to catch the wind of the Spirit. You will be taught and will practice several ‘Soul-Training Practices’ that should facilitate more growth into likeness to Jesus.

• How do the three phases of the Retreat work?

Prepare Your Heart (4 weeks of reading, listening to outstanding sermons and reflection – approx 2 hours per week – prior to the retreat). With this in mind, we would appreciate it if you would register early. This is not a cast-iron requirement. But if you want to optimize the Retreat, we urge you to complete these readings.

Learn in Community (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon). There will be some lectures and discussions and ample time to listen to the Spirit in times of prayer and reflection). The venue, Pacific Park, just over the road from Papamoa Beach, lends itself to this.

Work it Out and Pass it On. Although this is in a sense optional, nothing much might happen without this. When we practice what the Spirit is saying to us, life transformation starts to take place. And hurry is the death of spiritual growth. So, some may wish to engage in the ‘Soul Training Practices” for two months, others six. And either as you go, or after that ‘work it out’ period, you will be given Mentoring Materials that will help you pass some of this on to people that God has ‘given’ you. My goal is also to write a short course on Spiritual Transformation (probably 4 lessons) that would work in a Life Group or similar setting.

• Who will teach the Retreat?

Rowland Forman, Executive Director of Living Stones will be your teacher. He is quick to point out that he is a fellow-learner rather than a guru when it comes to life transformation into likeness to Christ.