From Understanding to Embodying: Moving Beyond Teaching for Understanding of the Spiritual Disciplines Through Using Psychological Theories of Motivation and Behavior

Abstract

Spiritual formation is the Spirit-directed process of forming pupils of Jesus into His image. Willard (2002; 2005) and Wright (2012) provide effective guidance for the spiritual growth process and place spiritual disciplines at the heart of change. Porter (2023) expresses the need for followers of Jesus to embody the spiritual disciplines and for those communicating about the process to do so in actionable ways. The current paper takes up this call by presenting psychological theories of motivation and behavior that can be seen in Jesus’ teaching of the spiritual disciplines in the Sermon on the Mount and that Christian leaders and teachers should use when teaching the disciplines to increase the likelihood that their students will embody the practices. Initial empirical support for using the Reasoned Action Approach when teaching meditation is highlighted. The paper concludes with practical suggestions for using both theories when teaching and communicating about the spiritual disciplines.