Verified Document

Essential Activity Of Christian Ministry Essay

Ministry There are a number of ways in which to define education, but one of the best methods for doing so came from John Dewey in the early 20th century. Dewey stated that education, in its most general concept is the means through which the goals, aspirations and habits of one generation is passed on to the next generation (Dewey, 1916). He also believed that students attended school in order to experience real and guided events that allowed them to interact with others socially, learning how to contribute to society through those actions and interactions.

Discipleship, on the other hand, can often be perceived as a following of a person or individual and the spreading of that individual's theology or beliefs by those who become disciples. Regarding disciples of Christ, one could say that a disciple of Christ would be the individual who not only believed in and followed Christ's teachings, but who also was one with Christ, one who would lay down the worries of the world and follow Christ in all things.

Spiritual formation is a cross between both education and discipleship. A recent article states that spiritual formation is "a showing how" (Vann, 2009, p. 56)or in other words, an education in how to worship the Creator through worshiping alongside other who are the same and also different. We learn be example and that example becomes a part of us that in turn becomes a part of others through the same process. We show others how to become more Christ like through our actions, this leads to a spiritual formation.

As described above, the similarities among all three should be obvious. Each is a method of not only learning the teachings of Christ but modeling that which is learned so that others might benefit from our learning as well.

Spiritual formation can be accomplished through example, as can discipleship, whereas education is all about example. One recent study determined that "most programs of adult Christian learning today expect students to engage in theological reflection" (Williams,...

54) which, in truth is equally a part of education, discipleship and spiritual formation.
These three concepts are different from each other as well in that discipleship is often described as a complete giving over to one's beliefs in Christ and focusing one's entire life on proclaiming the teachings of Christ to others, while both education and spiritual formation are forms of learning and living certain teachings without the total commitment to spreading the gospel as is necessary from discipleship. Additionally, spiritual formation is the art of learning through watching the examples of others, while education can easily be described as a course of study; not necessarily by example. For instance, a professor could conceivably teach gospel principles while not living them.

A recent study asks the question "How do the varying factors in one's life such as family history, education, work context, family situation, and personal beliefs get incorporated into the process of choice?" (Schutte, 2008, p. 415). Schutte goes on to explain that when we are fostering a life of purpose we are often forced to make difficult choices. In fact, says Schutte "The claims between work and family do compete…one cannot easily replace the other, and sometimes both are not an option" (p. 415). So it is also true in the purpose of the ministry, both from the perspective of the student, and the perspective of the instructor. The purpose of the overall educational institution or community should also be considered when determining what course to take.

Should the ministry promote discipleship over education or spiritual formation? That is a question that likely should be answered by the individual student, rather than the ministry at large. As one recent study found "most programs of adult Christian learning today expect students to engage in theological reflection" (Williams, 2011, 0. 54), yet at the same time when we ask the students to engage in this type of activity, it is most likely that they will discern their own…

Sources used in this document:
References

Dewey, J.; (1916) Democracy and Education, New York: The McMillan Company, copyright renewed in 1944 by John Dewey

Hull, J.E.; (2009) Education for discipleship: A curriculum orientation for Christian educators, Journal of Education and Christian Belief, Vol. 13, Issue 2, pp. 155-168

Moran, G.; (1997) Showing how: The act of teaching, Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International

Schutte, K.J.; (2008) Fostering an integrated life of purpose in Christian higher education, Christian Higher Education, Vol. 7, Issue 5, pp. 414-433
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Christian Security the Christian Doctrine of Eternal
Words: 3118 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Christian Security The Christian Doctrine of Eternal Security Christian faith is driven by the underlying notion that doctrinal adherence will lead to salvation. However, just exactly how one effectively adheres and achieves that salvation is a matter very much up for dispute. In fact, this is the dispute at the center of this discussion, which considers what some consider to be among the most divisive matters in the Christian faith. The question

Christian Values and Business Management
Words: 27724 Length: 75 Document Type: Term Paper

Christian Biotechnology: Not a Contradiction in Terms Presented with the idea of "Bioethics" most people in the scientific community today immediately get the impression of repressive, Luddite forces wishing to stifle research and advancement in the name of morality and God. Unfortunately, this stereotype too often holds true. If one looks over the many independent sites on the Internet regarding bioethics, reads popular magazines and publications, or browses library shelves for

Christian Worldview
Words: 730 Length: 2 Document Type: Research Paper

Christian Worldview A worldview is an intellectual concept of the world, or the universe, held by a group or an individual. One's worldview encompasses their beliefs concerning the origin and nature of human knowledge, reality, the universe, God, value and life, and the purpose of man and the universe Christians hold certain beliefs with regard to the aforementioned aspects. Such Christian worldviews are based upon scriptures contained in the Bible. The biblical

Reflection on Ministry Leadership Experience
Words: 625 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Ministry Leadership ExperienceBecoming a leader in a church organization is a journey that can be quite complex, rewarding, or even frustrating. The process of ascending into a leadership position or role in a church organization is demanding because of the complex responsibilities associated with it. From the insights obtained in this course, this process requires developing necessary skills and experiences in order to be an effective leader. As noted by

Jesus' Teachings, Prayer, & Christian Life He
Words: 35411 Length: 109 Document Type: Dissertation

Jesus' Teachings, Prayer, & Christian Life "He (Jesus) Took the Bread. Giving Thanks Broke it. And gave it to his Disciples, saying, 'This is my Body, which is given to you.'" At Elevation time, during Catholic Mass, the priest establishes a mandate for Christian Living. Historically, at the Last Supper, Christ used bread and wine as a supreme metaphor for the rest of our lives. Jesus was in turmoil. He was

Gary R. Collins, Christian Counseling
Words: 8475 Length: 31 Document Type: Research Paper

Christian counseling has become an important treatment modality for a growing number of health care practitioners and patients across the country in recent years. Introduced during the early 1980s, Christian counseling advocates integrating religious practices and beliefs founded on religious traditions with psychotherapeutic techniques to provide an optimal approach to helping people cope with a wide range of personal problems and family issues. The purpose of this study is to

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now