The Kingdom Life a Practical Theology of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation - Book Analysis Essay

Introduction

The book "The Kingdom Life a Practical Theology of discipleship and Spiritual Formation" by Allan Andrews as the general editor was published by Navpress publisher. The authors of the book are: Bill Thrall and others. It is a nonfiction spiritual book which anchors its significant themes and articulate biblical teachings with primary quotes from the bible. The latter book highlights the main ideas and themes which are based in the kingdom of God and the Christian values, beliefs, roles, and responsibilities that underpin the creation of God and the Christian expectations. Various quotes from the bible and verses are conspicuous across the book that contributes immensely towards the achievement of the main themes in the entire context. The whole context of the book presents a well-articulated spiritual genre that displays significant appropriate Christian aspects. The book consists of 367 pages where every page portrays a critical aspect that underpins the themes spread across it.

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The outlook of the book entails two light blue peripheral, a deep-blue central and circular beige colored decorated hardcover. The writings on the cover page of the book are printed in white ink, making it visible and conspicuous to read. The book is published in a Christian setting with a spiritual outlook. Christian ways of life and the Kingdom of God are the dominant subjects in the book where various biblical books like Luke, Psalms, Mathew, and Mark, among other widely used with corresponding readings from each of these books. Since this is a spiritual book, majority of the information, ideas, themes, and other aspects are in line with Christian values and the readings from the holy book of Christians that is the bible. Most of the take-home lessons from the book are based on the Christian ways of life and strategies of gaining the righteous traits necessary for the entry into the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the book "The Kingdom Life a Practical Theology of discipleship and Spiritual Formation" is entirely based on the biblical teachings and Christian ways of life.

Analysis of the Subjects

The introductory topic "The Journey of Tack" of the book develops a strong theme that runs across the first chapter of the book. The spiritual formation, which is a Christian theme, is depicted from the first readings of the initial pages of the book. The authors attribute this theme to being a Christian requirement that enables them to have blessings from the Kingdom of God. Donald Bloesch, in his book "The Spiritually Old and New," there are closer similarities in the borrowings of biblical ideas and Christian beliefs. There are various programs that enable Christians to lead a positive life in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ through preparations of their hearts to receive the spirit of the lord. The book also has the thesis statement, which is based on Christian values that develop the central concept in the whole book. Christians are taught on the importance of congregating and praying together as a way of strengthening their faith in Jesus Christ and enhancing effective prayer sessions. Tough and easy moments in their lives are significantly highlighted across the book and the best methods of overcoming such challenges through bible reading and prayers.

The journey of the tack entails various elements, ranging from1 to 10, which are involved in the spiritual formation procedure. Every element bears Christian undertakings in the path of developing strong heartily relations between the individual believer and God in heaven. Bible verses are used in the description of each element with direct citations from the holy bible hence making the Christians acquire the required and acceptable features before the Lord Jesus Christ.

"The theology of spiritual formation emerges from the Trinitarian nature of God - relational, loving, gracious, mutually submissive, and unified in a will. Christian values are stressed across the book as a requirement for the believers and should obtain such values through theological and biblical teachings and concepts. Therefore, all the elements stated and explained in the book are useful in Christian lives.

The book further asserts the Christians' guiding principles and guides and directs them on their daily activities to prevent them from leading into temptations. The Christian cultures expected in God's Kingdom are highlighted in the guiding principles that underpin the Christian believers' relationships with God. Through some values, theoretical teachings enhance significant increase amongst believers. It therefore makes the congregations grow more prominent in the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Rivers of living water" is one of the biblical quotations that teach the believers on the means of seeking the kingdom of God and the importance of achieving such a spiritual goal.

Conflict resolution strategies amongst the believers and is well resented using various biblical verses in the book. The book indicates that this is achieved through spiritual formation through various spiritual formation elements that the Christians are expected to employ whenever they are faced with such kinds of temptations. Theological teachings on spiritual formations are essential in Christian live according to the book. It enhances the Trinitarian nature of God, which necessary for the Christian believers in embracing change in their lives. John 13:20 and Colossians 1:54 are the widely used bible verses in explaining the role of maintaining peace amongst believers and bring non-believers on board. Other Christian motivations of having peaceful coexistence in the society are bolded to emphasize as they are the fundamental biblical teachings of brotherhood.

Recommendations on the Book

Based on the contents in the book, I recommend youthful men use the book since it touches on the daily challenges these groups are facing. The spiritual formation process is beneficial to the target groups because it entails various aspects of life that positively build strong relationships in a given setup. Conflict resolution methods also play a significant role in a Christian life since it enhances peaceful coexistence and brotherhood in Christ amongst the believers. The cumulative results on theological teachings in all the spiritual formation processes yield positive Christian values that make the believers draw nearer to the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. The book is precise and straight to the intended purposes hence making the target populations have an urge to read it since there is minimum fatigue and monotony related features.

Bibliography

McNicol, Bruce, Dallas Willard, Bill Thrall, Keith Matthews, Paula Fuller, Bruce Demarest, Keith Meyer, Richard Averbeck, Peggy Reynoso, and Michael Glerup. The kingdom life: A practical theology of discipleship and spiritual formation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016.