Spiritual Formation at CIU
Spiritual formation is the divinely ordained transformational process by which the Holy Spirit leads believers to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ through the Word of God, and by that relationship become progressively more free from sin and more like Christ. The Spirit's formative work occurs in the context of a vital engagement with a community of believers.
Please click for more information on chapel, our chaplains, or the QEP Spiritual Formation Plan.
A summary of CIU's goals for Spiritual Formation:
We challenge our students to earnestly pursue spiritual formation during their time at CIU. Our goals for spiritual formation encompass five areas: relationship with God, biblical self image, relationship with the body of Christ, personal relationships, and relationship with the world. The Bible -- God's written Word -- provides dynamic direction for growth in each of these five areas as we study it, submit to its teachings, and trust the Holy Spirit to transform us through it. As students, faculty, and staff progress in their maturity in these five areas, our transformation will make a powerful difference in the world, whatever our individual vocation or calling.
Relationship with God - Believers should demonstrate a growing intimacy in their relationship with God, as evidenced in these areas:
- Worship: An understanding of and commitment to worship as the believer's expression of knowing God as Father, yielding to Christ as unconditional Lord, and trusting the Holy Spirit for His transforming work.
- Prayerfulness: A pattern of life that reflects the conviction that both individual and corporate prayer are essential in pursuit of God's purposes for holy living and productive ministry.
- Faith: Trust in and joyful reliance upon God and His Word for growth in Christ-likeness, increasing victory over sin, effectiveness in ministry, and material provision.
Biblical Self-Image - Believers should demonstrate a biblical understanding of themselves rooted in Christ, as evidenced in these areas:
- Confidence: An understanding of and commitment to God's sovereign purpose over all areas of life -- past, present and future. Knowing our heavenly Father has a purpose for the process gives comfort for the present and hope for the future.
- Self-discipline: A life that reflects self-control, saying no to whatever might harm or distract us and yes to whatever benefits and focuses our growth in Christ.
- Stability: Growing freedom to live as new creatures in Christ, free from deception and experiencing victory over one's past.
Relationship with the Body of Christ - Believers should demonstrate a growing relationship with the body of Christ as evidenced in these areas:
- Community: An understanding of and commitment to the local and universal Church as a multicultural and multiethnic body for the achievement of Christ's purposes within the context of stable and meaningful relationships with fellow believers.
- Unity: Ability to love and work harmoniously with peers, leaders, and those served.
- Submission: Surrender to the Word of God and the Lordship of Christ in relating to those in authority.
Personal Relationships - Believers should demonstrate a growing maturity in personal relationships, as evidenced in these areas:
- Purity: An understanding of and commitment to integrity in relationships with others and in personal thinking.
- Faithfulness: Consistent loyalty and responsibility in performing duties, fulfilling agreements and obligations, and sustaining deep relationships for mutual edification.
- Servanthood: Humble acknowledgement of God's faithful provision of our status, gifts, possessions, and accomplishments, and a readiness to sacrifice personal preferences and freedoms for the gospel's advancement.
Relationship with the World - Believers should demonstrate a desire to serve God fully as they engage the world, as evidenced in these areas:
- Eternal perspective: An understanding of and commitment to the Great Commission implications of our calling.
- Conviction: Commitment to live in terms of internalized biblical principles that guide and stabilize attitudes and behavior, and a readiness to stand on biblical authority.
- Perseverance: Grace when confronted with opposition, determination when confronted with obstacles, and resiliency in the wake of failure.
Love comprises the driving force in our relationship with God and with all others. Scripture encourages us to "put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity" (Colossians 3:14). We love when we, at our own expense, give and withhold emotions, words, and actions for the benefit of those we love for the ultimate glory of God.
