NNU Professors Diane Leclerc and Mark A. Maddix author new book Spiritual Formation: A Wesleyan Paradigm

In their new book Spiritual Formation: A Wesleyan Paradigm, Northwest Nazarene University professors and authors Diane Leclerc and Mark Maddix, along with their colleagues, address the significance of understanding Christian spiritual formation and the role it plays in developing persons into Christ-likeness.

Because there is an increased interest in spirituality in our world today and people have a deep need to connect with a transcendent God, the goal of the book is to explore a Christian approach to spiritual formation to assist faithful disciples to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. In the opening chapter, Maddix offers four aspects of what Christian spiritual formation focuses on: 1) our relationship with God; 2) nurturing self in relation to others; 3) what it means to form and transform people; and, 4) emphasis on a life-long process of forming and transforming persons in community.  These aspects are explored in the book by giving guidance in the role of Scripture in Spiritual formation, discipleship, spiritual direction, self-care and mentoring.  The book also provides practical guidelines for spiritual formation of adolescents, families and college students.

Central to the book’s message is the understanding that people grow in Christ-likeness by participating in Bible reading, prayer, the sacraments and other spiritual disciplines. Leclerc and Maddix believe the book will “assist faithful disciples to grow in their relationship with God through a wide range of spiritual practices, which are reflective of the Wesleyan understanding of how persons are formed and transformed into Christ-likeness.”  The book includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter to facilitate dialogue on issues of spiritual formation. The book is a good resource for Sunday school class, small groups and Bible studies.

Spiritual Formation: A Wesleyan Paradigm has been released and can be purchased at Nazarene Publishing House at www.nph.com  or www.amazon.com.