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104 pages

English

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Western culture has long prized the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) as a benchmark of a person's mental abilities. And since the mid-nineties we have known of other forms of intelligence such as emotional and social. Now, prolific author, former pastor, and leadership development specialist Alan E. Nelson introduces "spiritual intelligence"--a person's ability to assimilate faith into everyday life.Churches and individuals are coming to the conclusion that far too many people are active in church their entire lives but never mature, going directly from Pampers to Depends. How can this be? In Spiritual Intelligence, Nelson will help readers take charge of their spiritual growth by helping them incorporate methods Jesus used in teaching his disciples. Readers will assess their own spiritual maturity and learn what steps to take next in their journey of discipleship.

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Philosophie et théologie

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Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 janvier 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441207586
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0202€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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Alan Nelson has provided a clear, comprehensive, and biblical road map for the journey of spiritual formation. This guide will help us avoid ditches of extremes on either side of the road and lengthy excursions that yield no worthwhile destinations.
-Steve Stroope, Pastor, Lakepointe Church, Rockwall, Texas
Alan Nelson s Spiritual Intelligence begins precisely where any sound treatment of spiritual maturity ought to begin, namely, with an examination of Jesus s own view of the subject. I m afraid much of what passes for growth and spiritual intelligence in contemporary Christianity resembles what Nelson labels faux fruit. In a world increasingly filled with paid-for experiences, people wishing to truly follow Jesus had better heed the call, embrace these disciplines, and grow in faith, knowing the world offers no better experience.
-James H. Gilmore, coauthor, The Experience Economy: Work Is Theatre Every Business a Stage (Harvard Business School Press)
Spiritual Intelligence
Spiritual Intelligence
Discover Your SQ. Deepen Your Faith.
ALAN E. NELSON
2010 by Alan E. Nelson
Published by Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakerbooks.com
E-book edition created 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-for example, electronic, photocopy, recording-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-0758-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Les Parrott III, PhD
Introduction: From Pampers to Depends
Section I: A Spiritual Journey
1. It s Your Soul: Taking Responsibility for Your Own Spiritual Growth
2. Soul Cartography: Assessing Your Journey toward Spiritual Intelligence
3. Jesus s Soul Growth Method: Why Most Spiritual Activities Don t Get Us Where We Want to Go
4. The Travel Team: Tapping the Power of a Spiritual Journey Group and Enjoying It
5. Directions: GPS for the Soul
6. Experiencing the Trip: Activating Your Passion and Knowledge
7. The Path Finder: Increasing Your Rate of Growth and Avoiding Plateaus
Section II: Planning Your Trip
8. Reading the Odometer: Measuring Your Progress While Avoiding Legalism
9. Roadblocks and Detours: How to Stay Out of the Ditch
10. Makes and Models: Determining Your Soul Type
11. Enjoying the Journey: Spiritual Intelligence Is Wings Not Weights
12. Are We There Yet? Recognizing the Destination of Spiritual Intelligence
Appendix A: The Journey: A Spiritual Health Assessment and Development Plan
Appendix B: The SI Church
Acknowledgments
I d like to thank some friends and mentors:
Ray and Anne Ortlund, who saw some potential in a young couple like Nancy and myself and invested time as our Path Finders.
Thom and Joani Schultz, whom God has used amazingly to transform people around the world with their creative ideas and infective passion.
And Chad Allen, an incredible editor who saw the worth in this project. While Formica countertops are functional, I prefer granite. Thanks for the upgrades, Chad.
My soul mate, Nancy, who has been Jesus in my midst more times than I can imagine. Forgive my moments of blindness.
Foreword
As a university professor I ve often fantasized about a pill I could offer my students each semester to boost their intelligence. On the first day of class, I d say something like, After we read through the syllabus, I d like you to each take one of these little pills I m handing out, and we will reconvene tomorrow. They d file into the classroom the next day, each with a higher IQ than the day before. Wouldn t it be marvelous? In my dream, the semester is filled with lively discussions and intelligent questions. I see students learning not only from me, but from each other as they bring in outside reading that wasn t even assigned. I see them digging through the library for more and more knowledge. As one insight is gleaned, it feeds the curiosity and desire for finding another. My students are passionate about learning-not to get a grade, but for the pure enjoyment of improving their minds. They wake up each morning eager to get to class. And their excitement for learning propels me to teach like never before as we share the journey of increasing our intelligence. By semester s end, I have grown a small army of intellectual giants. Can you imagine? I suppose it s every teacher s dream.
I ve also had a similar secret wish about the church. Every year, I m privileged to preach to some of the finest congregations in North America. And on countless occasions, I ve shared Sunday brunch with a minister and asked, Well, do you think I got through? He knows exactly what I m asking: Did my message make a difference? The typical response is positive and affirming-what else are you going to say to a guest in your pulpit? But I have a hunch he wonders the same thing I do as I climb onto an airplane and head back home. Did the souls of the people in the pews grow? Or was it just another routine Sunday of suiting up and going through the motions? And the more I meet with ministers, the more I m convinced that they, in week after week of ministering to their parishioners, are wondering the same thing.
That s why I am so very excited about the book you hold in your hands. Alan Nelson has given us a tremendous tool for growing our souls. Alan has succinctly noted the ways and means for improving our spiritual understanding. And he is the first to admit that his insights are not uniquely his own; they rest on the principles Jesus taught two thousand years ago.
In Spiritual Intelligence , Alan has delineated the activities, insights, and skills of the people who have a higher spiritual quotient, and how it is they bring about this growth. He has studied their moves and reveals them to us in this volume. He shows us that these people are not the spiritual elite; they are individuals like you and me who have learned to expand their capacity for God and have become more confident and competent in his ways.
If you are yearning to grow your soul as well as the souls of others; if you want to ratchet up your spiritual know-how, get ready to be challenged on one page and inspired on another. Spiritual Intelligence is the best book I ve read in years for helping people cultivate a deep and authentic spirituality. This book has the potential to awaken the all-too-dormant life that lies within the soul of far too many churches. And every person who is serious about improving his or her SQ should read and reread its pages.
Spiritual Intelligence is not a fantasy pill to swallow-it won t give you three easy steps to spiritual wholeness -but it affords articulate and meaningful answers to soul-searching questions, as well as proven practices that are sure to lead you into a deeper relationship with Jesus-an intelligent relationship that will impact who you are, what you do, and how you do it.
Les Parrott III, PhD, Seattle Pacific University, Author of Becoming Soul Mates
Introduction From Pampers to Depends
If you re like most people, you believe you have a soul. Nearly everyone these days is interested in soul growth to some degree. Whether it s the popularity of Osteen, Ortberg, or Oprah, our culture has demonstrated an appetite for faith and spirituality. Chances are you possess at least a modest desire to develop spiritually. You may or may not have found organized religious or church events helpful. Whether you have is not necessarily pertinent to this book, but it may be to understanding why I ve written it. You see, a growing number of pastors, researchers, and authors like myself have become disappointed with the results we ve seen in people after years of church involvement.
The reason is not, as some might believe, too many liberal, gospel-lite preachers. Nor is it a sheer lack of motivation among those pursuing faith. Most of my observations come from the entrails of committed evangelicalism. I was reared in a very conservative Baptist church, followed by Pentecostal influence, and then I pastored congregations in the holiness movement for over twenty years. All of these are traditions that pride themselves in applying orthodox Christianity.
In all my observations, one question has plagued me more than the rest. In spite of decades of worship services, Bible studies, ministry involvement, building campaigns, revival services, and church board meetings, why do so many Christians seem so petty, negative, cantankerous, easily offended, judgmental, critical, and grace deficient? Certainly we would think they d be different from those outside the church. I have witnessed far too many church attendees behaving badly, and numerous other leaders testify to the same observations. How can so many years of involvement in faith events and programs yield such pitiful results? To be honest, this is a personal question as much as anything else. I too have had an up-and-down life of faith in spite of being raised in the church and immersed in Bible studies, prayer meetings, small groups, and professional training.
There has to be a better way to catalyze spiritual growth and significantly improve the return on our investment of religious activities and church programs. Think of the satisfaction of seeing your own life change, becoming the person you dreamed of,