Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation

by Kenneth D. Boa

What does a relationship with God look like and how do we obtain it? It is vital for church leaders to grapple seriously with this question, for pat answers no longer suffice. Lives well-lived, not just words eloquently spoken, must become our response. The quality of our relationship with God is what will influence the health, potency, and witness of the church in an increasingly complex and hostile world.

Designed for use as a college or seminary course, Conformed to His Image helps us build our lives on a fully biblical perspective. Exploring twelve approaches to Christian spirituality in depth, Dr. Kenneth Boa corrects our tendency to pick and compartmentalize. Pointing the way instead to an integrative, whole-life approach, Dr. Boa shows how each spiritual paradigm discussed is just one important facet in the gem of authentic and powerful New Testament living.

With chapter overviews and objectives, questions for personal application, a glossary, and a list of key terms, Conformed to His Image will prove a defining text for the student, pastor, and church leader of today . . . and tomorrow.

12 Facets of the Complete Christian LifeRelational Spirituality: Loving God Completely, Ourselves Correctly, and Others CompassionatelyParadigm Spirituality: Cultivating an Eternal versus a Temporal PerspectiveDisciplined Spirituality: Engaging in the Historical DifferencesExchanged Life Spirituality: Grasping Our True Identity in ChristMotivated Spirituality: A Set of Biblical IncentivesDevotional Spirituality: Falling in Love with GodHolistic Spirituality: Every Component of Life under the Lordship of ChristProcess Spirituality: Being versus Doing, Process versus ProductSpirit-Filled Spirituality: Walking in the Power of the SpiritWarfare Spirituality: The World, the Flesh, and the DevilNurturing Spirituality: A Lifestyle of Discipleship and EvangelismCorporate Spirituality: Encouragement, Accountability, and Worship

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Discipleship, Theology, Nonfiction, Faith, Christianity

544 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Kenneth Boa is an author, a speaker, and the president of Reflections Ministries. He is the author of over fifty books, including Conformed to His Image, Faith Has Its Reasons, Face to Face, and Rewriting Your Broken Story. He is a contributing editor to the Open Bible, the Promise Keepers Men's Study Bible, and the Leadership Bible, and is the consulting editor of the Zondervan NASB Study Bible.

Boa earned a BS from Case Institute of Technology, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, a PhD from New York University, and a DPhil from the University of Oxford. He teaches a weekly Bible and Faith study at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he resides with his wife.

Reviews

[Jason Kanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conformed to His Image was one of the required texts for the Centurions Program. In fact, it was the only book that was assigned to take the entire year--one section at at time. I am glad it took that long. There is a lot to chew on in this book that deals with the development of Christian spirituality. Unlike many Christian books, which either generally confirm what you already believe or are completely in a different camp, Boa recognizes the richness of Christian tradition and how it influences our spirituality. I was deeply challenged by this book. Often, I will wait a while to begin a book again, but this one I am going to start reading again right away.

I would commend it to you as well.

[Joy Strube · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boa has important and very helpful insights on spiritual growth; however, his continuous use of the words “should” and “ought to” slightly negate his stated emphasis on avoiding legalism or seeing Christianity as solely behavior modification. To be clear, I am not against doing the necessary work to grow in your relationship with Christ; moreso, I would have appreciated a deeper integration of his concept of longing to be conformed to God’s image throughout the book rather than reaching the conclusion with a laundry list of “shoulds.”

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

an excellent, comprehensive resource on Christian spiritual formation. I've been using it with a weekly men's group for some time now.

[Kellie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more of a textbook that I’ve been studying off and on for the past six years or so thanks to my former discipleship group leader (thank you Amy!!). It is dense but packed full of wisdom. I will probably start it from the beginning again here soon and continue to gain new insight.

The section on relational spirituality provided a summary of our purpose to “love God completely, love self correctly, and love others compassionately” that has become a guiding mission statement for my life.

[Karen L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fabulous discipleship book compiled of all of the most wonderful traditions of Christianity from the early church fathers to the 20th century Christian thinkers such as C.S. Lewis and Francis Schaefer(sp?).It is both Evangelical and Catholic in its material. We are using it in our Discipleship/ Bible study group. It's only draw back is that it has so much spiritual meat in it , that it is like taking a drink from a fire hose!

[Matt Barcalow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book full of simple truths that must be revisited time and time again. It needs to be in the bookshelf of any practicing Christians.

[Michael Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conformed to His Image is Kenneth Boa’s comprehensive review of approaches to spiritual formation. There is much I admire about the book.

First, it is very well ordered and structured, making it easy to know exactly what he is discussing and how it fits within the broader framework of the book.

Second, rather than setting forth “the” method of spiritual formation or treating it in a cookie cutter fashion, he explores twelve facets of spiritual formation, essentially twelve different takes on how to do spiritual formation.

Third, within each facet, he presents a thorough overview of the ways each approach has been practiced by individuals or groups and asks some good review questions at the end of each section.

Finally, I appreciate the Conclusion and Appendices for bringing what could be a disjointed review together in a more holist manner. One appendix, The Richness of Our Heritage, looks at how different Christian traditions have approached spiritual formation. The other, The Need for Diversity, included a (to me) somewhat odd evaluation of the twelve facets by tying them to the Myers Briggs assessment types. I assume this could help someone (who knows their MB type) to figure out which facet will appeal to them the most or that they need the most.

Some will be turned off by his continuationist views on spiritual gifts, others will be thankful for it. It does bring an added emphasis to the role of the Spirit.

Facet 10, Warfare Spirituality, seemed to me to not be a separate method of spiritual formation as much as a common threat that all approaches must work toward (fighting the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the Devil). There are several of the facets that seem to overlap, some more than others, leaving it hard to parse out exactly how these methods might differ in practice.

Rather than evaluate these approaches, Boa presents us with a smorgasbord of options. I wish he had spent more time evaluating strengths and weakness of each. This book is a good way to sample the options, but to really use the approaches you decide on, you will need to move on to other resources; the coverage is just too cursory.

[Wesley Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. As someone who is focusing on spiritual formation right now ,this was a treasure trove of Biblically-centered approaches to deepen my in my Faith walk with Jesus Christ. There is so much to glean and learn from this book by Mr. Boa, that I carefully highlighted and took notes in the margins throughout. Great possibilities for sermon topics or series as well. I went back through again with my sticky notes to quickly reference key ideas, definitions, quotes/poems and ways to better walk with Christ daily. A great book and a must-add addition to any Christian's library.

[Michael Schmid · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book certainly has a lot of good, biblical material, but I was very disappointed with the promotion of the mystical practice of "lectio divina" in this book, which I consider to be a dangerous pathway to New Age practices. I also found the differentiation between "Spirit-centered believers" and "Word-centered believers" to be misleading in some ways, as though a Christian who "centers" on the Word must be lacking something of the Spirit or vice versa.

[Josh Samarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible wisdom and insights by Ken Boa. I refer to this book as unlimited bars! Seriously, this book is holistically what every follower of Jesus needs to soak in and grasp. I'll be chewing on this book and what I've read for the rest of my life. I would also suggest going through this book with a small group. It makes for phenomenal conversation.

[Joseph Holzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conformed to His Image is one of the most influential books on Christianity that I have ever read. I learned more about what it means to follow Christ in the last year from reading this book than I had in the previous ten years as a Christian.

I am grateful to Dr. Boa for this foundational guide to Spiritual formation, and it will forever be a source that I refer to during my journey.

[Kathryn Sandquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entering this slowly. This is not a book through which you rush. It is one in which to take bites and contemplate and dig into your soul. Plan to spend time meditating on the ways to enrich your spirituality. Plan to examine the facets of a gem--as described by Ken Boa--the facets of spirituality in which to deepen your relationship with God and be "Conformed to His Image".

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great intermediate introduction to the Christian disciplines and the Christian life. Full of balanced formulaic teaching, the audiobook is nicely done, though it is not reading the text of the book directly. It covers the same material.

I have a few minor quibbles with it, but overall a nice comprehensive intermediate text.

[Andrew Nibbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Many of his points were drawn out to much. He also redifined some points and beliefs in inacurate and unhelpfull ways. One example would be his definition of cessationists which is not an accurate representation of what they believe (see HARWOOD Christian Theology for a more accurate representation). This book is a usefull read, but should be read criticaly.

[Tony Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boa links spiritual growth (spiritual formation) with being transformed into the image of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). Not a difficult read, but encouraging and challenging for all Christians who are interested in deepening their faith in Christ and walking more closely with Him.

[Damon Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has changed, is changing, and will change my life forever! I wish I had read this book much sooner, but God knew I would read it now. I took my time and contemplatively answered each end of chapter question. Conformed to His Image has now become a desk reference for me.

[Rob Markley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be a seminary text ...as it possibly is. This is really good quality stuff and useful in all many of ways and in many contexts. Highly recommended

[Philip Dampier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on spiritual formation. Lots of good stuff about the work of the Holy Spirit. Fun to read and study and great to use as a springboard for sermons or classes.

[Robert Lewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A text book truly. The answers to many questions are here. Wonderful!

[Steven Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a book one will want to continuously return to.

[Daniel D. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very convicting, but worth the effort. Best read over the course of a year (one chapter per month) like a devotional.

[Jonathan Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A foundational consideration of all the ways we become more and more like Jesus

[David Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Use it mostly as a reference book. Check out the appendices.

[Jorge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una presentación sistemática, clara y abarcadora de las formas que se utilizan en el cristianismo para el desarrollo espiritual. El autor describe cada aproximación y deja que el lector tome partido.

[Benjamin Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly deep well.

[Kristel Acevedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Full of wisdom and practical tools, written in accessible language.

[Eduardo Ocampo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un estudio extenso acerca de las disciplinas espirituales que Dios a provisto para tener una relación constante con él, tanto de manera individual como comunitaria.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

While themes repeat, and the writing at times felt simplified, the organization and integration of scripture and examples opened my eyes to many new perspectives. I highly recommend this book.

[Matthew Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the textbook for an online Discipleship class I teach at Leavell College. It’s a refreshing, helpful read!

[sophie gilmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

school book! lonnnngggg as frick