Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered

Foreword

“Wilhoit has written a book of special urgency for our times. In it he addresses the central problem facing the contemporary church in the Western world and worldwide, the problem of how to routinely lead its members through a path of spiritual, moral, and personal transformation that brings them into authentic Christlikeness in every aspect of their lives. . . . He helps any serious person engage the project from where they are, discover what really works for Christlikeness and what doesn’t, and assess outcomes realistically to make needed adjustments as they go.”

Dallas Willard

“For anyone who has ever thought that the way we ‘do church’ is missing something, this book is a godsend. Wilhoit reclaims the New Testament vision of local congregations being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others. In this second edition, Wilhoit has refined and strengthened his arguments—his wisdom—for how local gatherings of God’s people are designed to be the nonnegotiable relational context for Christian formation and, thereby, mission. This book is my go-to for what Christian formation should look like in local churches.”

Steve L. Porter

“Christian spiritual formation is often reduced to personal practices and individual faith without an awareness of its communal nature. Wilhoit provides a corrective by developing an ecclesiology that situates spiritual formation in faith communities and the broader social context. In a communal view of spiritual formation, Christians are not formed for themselves but for the sake of others, and are to engage in God’s redemptive work in the world. I highly recommend Wilhoit’s thesis of placing the church as the curriculum for spiritual formation because of its transformative power!”

Mark A. Maddix

“Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered is the mature fruit of a devout scholar. Here Wilhoit weaves theory, passion, and practice together into a rich re-presentation of the gospel for the local church. He takes the discussion about spiritual formation an important step forward, shifting the emphasis from private pursuit to corporate culture. Sensitive to the seldom-noticed dangers along the path of growth toward Christlikeness, this book is loaded with wisdom for those who desire to facilitate communities of formation.”

Evan Howard

“From the first stunning sentence in Wilhoit’s book—‘The church exists to carry out Christ’s mission in the world’—I was hooked. Wilhoit captures the journey and struggle of spiritual growth through the life and invitations of Jesus Christ. This lovely work nourished my heart, instructed my mind, and opened my spirit to the Spirit of Christ.”

Adele Calhoun