L Cole Harper

I spend my time making disciples of young people.

Tag: spiritual formation

  • Lost Liturgical Traditions & Why We Ought to Revive Them

    Cole

    This is the final post in a series that highlights five ways the contemporary evangelical church can learn from church history about spiritual formation. This post focuses on liturgical traditions. For more on this topic, see my previous article: Tired of Church? How to Rediscover the Joys of the Christian Tradition. Contemporary evangelicalism has rejected… Read more

  • Spiritual Formation Was Historically a Team Sport – What Happened?

    Cole

    This is the fourth post in a series that will highlight five ways the contemporary evangelical church can learn from church history about spiritual formation. This post focuses on communal rhythms. The individualized regimen of solo Scripture-reading and personal prayer is a modern invention. Unfortunately, it is the predominant spiritual growth plan in the twenty-first… Read more

  • The Missing Center of Spiritual Formation: the Eucharist

    Cole

    This is the third post in a series that will highlight five ways the contemporary evangelical church can learn from church history about spiritual formation. This post focuses on the Eucharist (a.k.a., the Lord’s Supper or communion). Whereas the initiating sacrament of baptism and the corresponding catechesis have traditionally served as the onboarding process of new… Read more

  • What To Do With New Believers? Church History Answers

    Cole

    This is the second post in a series that will highlight five ways the contemporary evangelical church can learn from church history about spiritual formation. This post focuses on the traditions of catechesis and baptism. The Early Church: Make Sure They Know What They’re Getting Into The initiation of new disciples into the church has… Read more

  • Church History and Spiritual Formation: The Willingness to Suffer

    Cole

    This is the first post in a series that will highlight five ways the contemporary evangelical church can learn from church history about spiritual formation. Jesus and the early church were willing to suffer. Suffering is intrinsic to spiritual formation. Christ himself suffered for sins and learned obedience through suffering (1 Peter 3:18 and Hebrews… Read more