1. By
Rev. Mutinda Musyimi

2. Introduction
 Our calling to the ministry comes with
tremendous privileges and awesome
challenges.
 The world expects answers to their
emerging questions and life threatening
concerns
 Our archenemy the devil is leveling the
severest attacks to us day and night as
leaders (Zech.13:7).
 Spiritual formation is a gap that needs to
be addressed urgently in our churches and
seminaries.

3. What is Spiritual Formation?
Spiritual formation is the growth and development of
the whole person by an intentional focus on one’s:
1. spiritual and interior life,
2. Interactions with others in ordinary life, and
3. The spiritual practices (prayer, the study of
scripture, fasting, confession, solitude etc)

4. What is SF (Cont)?
A process through which God works
through the dimension of our human life in
order to enable us to know and do his will
and purpose.
 It is God who takes the initiative but we
must cooperate 2 Cor. 3:18, Col.1:15
 Romans 12 sees it as a process of
becoming like Christ (compassion,
forgiveness, deeply care)
 We cannot transform ourselves, it is by
God’s grace that he liberates us from our
bondage, uncleanness and spiritual
deadness.

5. Nature of SF
 It is intentional
 The formation must be integrated
 Spiritual formation must be measurable
 It must be a priority of every Christian
not just leaders/workers
 It must span the entire ministry
experience

6. Strategies for Developing SF
 Regular devotional sessions
 Weekly covenant groups and service
opportunities
 Mentoring links
 Peer accountability
 Individual meetings with other leaders to
discuss about spiritual formation issues
on a personal level

7. Implications of Spiritual Formation
 We become Christ-like if we are prepared to deal
with our own spiritual formation (Our real self will
mature through special time with Christ)
 The minister who goes through spiritual formation
will impact others for Christ (Our practice in the
ministry becomes powerful and transformative)
The two have to go together
i) Being…Our transformed self
ii) Doing… Our practice/service

8. Purposes for Jesus use of Solitude
 Mat. 4:1 -11 to prepare for his public
ministry
 Luke 6:12 to seek the will of God the
father
 Mat. 14:23, Mark 1:35, for intense and
focused prayer
 To Refill

9. Results of Spiritual Formation
 He restores us
 Forgives and cleanses us
 Renews us by filling us with life
 Restores us into wholeness by shaping
us
 Enables us to serve others by
transforming us (true religion is never a
private affair; we are his agents).

10. Methods of Enhancing Spiritual Formation
1. Bible intake
 We lament the scriptural illiteracy in our
times
 Ways to study scriptures: Topical,
Character Studies, Book Studies
 God wants us to study scriptures
carefully:-
◦ Examine details for clarity Ezra 7:10
◦ Pay attention to grammar, geography, culture
and history
◦ Apply the word praying to seek to apply the
word correctly
◦ Improve the intake by memorizing, meditating
the word.

11. Cont.
2. Stewardship
 Responsibility for taking good care of
resources entrusted to one.
◦ Time: Ephesians 5:15 -16. time lost is never
redeemed. Time is short, easily lost
◦ We are accountable to God how we use our time
 Property. I Cor. 10:26, Psalms 24:1, Job
41:11.
◦ All property belong to God, we are only stewards
◦ Whatever we do with the property entrusted to us
should be pleasing to God; worship.

12. Cont.
3. Worship
The aim is to enjoy God for who he is to us.
John 4:23;17:17 gives us the guidelines
 Worship him in spirit…involving the whole
person, the mind and heart. Sincerity.
 Worship him in truth…It is in truth, that is it
is according to the dictates of the Word of
God, which is the TRUTH

13. Cont.
4. Prayer
 Jesus expects us to pray Mt 6:5,Luke
11:9
 The Scriptures commands us to pray
Colosians4:2, I Thess. 5:17
 All aspects of our ministry call dedication
in prayer, Ephesians 6:19. we are never
to rely on our own strength.

14. Cont.
5. Service
We are transformed in order to serve the
world better.
Illustration: Pony Express, founded on
3/4/180 and wound up 8/11/1861 due to
lack of business after the completion the
telegraph line.
Before being wound up, they once carried this
advertisement:- WANTED: TO YOUNG,
SKINNY, WIRY, FELLOWS NOT OVER
18. MUST BE EXPERT RIDERS WILLING
TO RISK DAILY. ORPHANS
PREFERRED.

15. Cont.
From Pony Express we learn two things
about our service:-
1. Our services must be commensurate to
the dynamics of the society. The
message is the same but the dynamics
will never be the same from one
generation to another.
2. Serving should be a matter of priority,
the ministry is no place for idlers or
pastime.

16. LEADERS WHO DID NOT MIND THEIR
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Samson
 Judges 14:1
 Judges 16:1
Sons of Eli
 I Samuel 2:11 - 17
King Saul
 I Samuel 15:23
Judas
 Mathew 27:3 – 5
Demas
 II Timothy 4:9

17. THE END
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.