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Personality & Spirituality 3. Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas. Background. One God, many relationships Myers-Briggs type indicators Extravert-Introvert Sensing-iNtuitive Thinking-Feeling Judging-Perceiving Biblical characters Historic Church movements. Sacred Pathways. naturalist.
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Personality & Spirituality 3 Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas
Background • One God, many relationships • Myers-Briggs type indicators • Extravert-Introvert • Sensing-iNtuitive • Thinking-Feeling • Judging-Perceiving • Biblical characters • Historic Church movements
Sacred Pathways naturalist intellectual sensate LovingGod contemplative traditionalist enthusiast ascetic caregiver activist
Sacred Pathways naturalist intellectual sensate LovingGod contemplative traditionalist enthusiast ascetic caregiver activist
Caregiver • Biblical example • Mordecai • Biblical exhortations • Matt 25 • 1 John 3:17
Caregiver • Patterns of caregiving • Caregiver as prophet
Caregiver • Temptations • Judging • Serving ourselves through serving others • Holding Narrow Definitions • Neglecting Those Closest to Us
Enthusiast • A feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or activity and an eagerness to be involved in it: • Skiing • Enthusiastic Christians like to let go and experience God on the precipice of excitement and awe.
Enthusiast • 2 definitions of Enthusiast. • Mystery & Celebration • Mystery (of faith) • Supernatural occurrence. • The Unexplained.
Enthusiast • Mystery • They understand the secrets! • God is central to everything!? • Mystery and reason.
Enthusiast • Mystery – Joel 2 v 28 & Acts 2 v 17 • Dreams (Jacob, Joseph, Daniel) • Visions (Ezekiel, Isaiah, John) • Expectancy • Prayer
Enthusiast • Celebration – Jesus is alive!!! Yeah!!! • Enthusiastic Worship – Woo Hoo!!! • Tabernacles, Passover, Pentecost. • David danced. (Many instruments) • Jesus said – If the people are quiet, the rocks will cry out!!!
Enthusiast • Celebration • Praise services. Celebration services. • Fear of God? • Soul Survivor, Spring Harvest, etc. • Experience for experience sake? • Independent. • Good feelings, or good worship? • Scripture?
Enthusiast • Have you lost Enthusiasm? • Spend some time with Children.
Contemplative Intro: • Seeks to be in God’s presence more than anything – Psalm 63, Song of Songs etc… • Mary (as opposed to Martha) is also a biblical example • Being with God is an end in itself
Contemplative Practices: • Practicing God’s presence through familiar prayer or routine • Secret acts of devotion e.g. an anonymous gift to someone in need… • ‘dancing’ prayer • Less is more
Contemplative Temptations: • Becoming too heavenly minded for any earthly good • Unhealthy emphasis on the ego • Addiction to experience