Deeper Journey
A Deeper Journey is a two-year, eight-retreat experience held at Country Lake Retreat Center just north of Louisville, KY. It provides a comprehensive spiritual formation experience in light of the unique challenges of vocational ministry in the 21st century. The quarterly retreats offer an integrated approach of biblical theology and Christian psychology within a worshiping community. The experience is inclusive of large and small groups. Each retreat highlights at least one spiritual discipline and provides space for the engagement of the discipline.
A Deeper Journey is designed for those who are serious about nurturing and protecting their souls. If this is what you desire and can give a day and a half every three months, CrossPoint will make it possible for you to engage this experience. We promise it will be well worth the investment. Here is a brief overview of what is covered.
Retreat #1 – Essential Dimensions of the Soul in Spiritual Formation – Explores foundational dimensions of the soul’s formation in Christ.
Spiritual Disciplines: Silence & Solitude
Retreat #2 – The Voice of God in Spiritual Formation – Examines the role of Scripture in formation and the challenge of truly listening to the voice of God.
Spiritual Discipline: Contemplative Reading of Scripture
Retreat #3 – Communion with God in Spiritual Formation – Attends to the gift of communion with God with an emphasis on the role of prayer in formation.
Spiritual Discipline: Meditative & Contemplative Prayer
Retreat #4 – The Necessity of Self-Clarity in Spiritual Formation – Explores the invitation for a deeper self-understanding in Christ through the use of the Enneagram. Attention is given to the dynamics of personality in formation.
Spiritual Discipline: Examen
Retreat #5 – The Role of Desire in Spiritual Formation – Explores the importance and necessity of desire in the journey of transformation.
Spiritual Discipline: Discernment
Retreat #6 – Difficult Realities in Spiritual Formation – Explores the difficult realities of pain and failure which require grace and truth so that we may fully enter the experience of transformation.
Spiritual Disciplines: Forgiveness & Confession
Retreat #7 – Rhythms of Life in Spiritual Formation – Attends to the need of formulating a rhythm of spiritual practices that honors God, nourishes the soul and blesses others.
Spiritual Disciplines: Simplicity & Sabbath
Retreat #8 – Sustaining the Journey of Spiritual Formation – Provides a summary overview of the previous seven retreats with an emphasis on elements needed to sustain a personal journey of Spiritual formation.
Spiritual Disciplines: Gratitude & Spiritual Direction
A new Deeper Journey community typically begins in January. For more information or for registration you can contact us at info@crosspointministry.com or leave a reply below.
Leader’s Journey
The leadership of CrossPoint understands the demands of ministry. We have been pastors for a combined total of almost 50 years. We know the pressure leaders face and feel. We know a healthy pastorate requires the successful integration of the ‘functional’ and ‘spiritual’ leadership. The functional aspects of a church are vital in meeting the many needs of those being served. However, the most significant reality you bring to others is your transformed and transforming presence. It is ‘spiritual’ leadership, the quality of one’s character, which ultimately draws people to Christ.
Unfortunately, over time the functional pressures of ministry can overwhelm the leader’s soul to the point that one becomes bored or angry or vulnerable. The Leader’s Journey addresses helps leaders live in a way which sustains their souls. It offers an intentional ‘way of being’ which fosters the ‘spiritual’ side of leadership while facing the demands of their ‘functional’ leadership.
The Leader’s Journey is a three year, twelve retreat experience held on site at a church (we currently lead LJ for churches in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Savannah, and Louisville). Once a quarter the staff takes a day away to strengthen their souls in order to meet the demands of ministry and to enjoy communion with God. The following is a short description of the experience.
Retreat #1 – “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” – Establishes the Nature of our Soul (in Creation) and of our True Self (in Christ). Spiritual Discipline: Solitude & Silence
Retreat #2 – “If God Be For Us …” - Cultivating a way of knowing God from the heart. Spiritual Discipline: Contemplative Reading
Retreat #3 – “Come to Me All You Who Labor …” – Cultivating a greater sense of intimacy with the triune God. Spiritual Discipline: Contemplative Prayer
Retreat #4 – “There is Another Law at War within Me” - Exposing the subtle (and not so subtle) nature and defenses of the false self. Spiritual Discipline: Self Clarity
Retreat #5 – “To Whom Much is Given” - Exploring the role of personality in Christian spiritual formation. Spiritual Discipline: Examen and Confession
Retreat #6 – “Growing in Wisdom, Knowledge, and Stature with God” – Explaining Stages of Soul and Faith Development. Spiritual Discipline: Attentiveness
Retreat #7 – “It is no longer I, but Christ …” – Exploring the reality and implications of our participatory union with and in Christ. Spiritual Discipline: Gratitude & Rest
Retreat #8 – “Let the Beauty of the Lord …” - Affirming the Role of Desire in Spiritual Formation. Spiritual Discipline: Discernment
Retreat #9 – “You Are the Body of Christ” – Entering into the nature and necessity of community in Christian spiritual formation. Spiritual Discipline: Spiritual Friendship & Compassion (in light of Family Systems)
Retreat #10 – “Except a Grain of Wheat Die …” – Living and learning in the Dark Night of the senses and Soul. Spiritual Discipline: Forgiveness & Perseverance
Retreat #11 – “Fruit of the Spirit” – Fostering character and a healthy volition in spiritual formation. Spiritual Discipline: Simplicity & Willingness
Retreat #12 – “You Are the Light of the World” – Engaging our world with the love of Christ. Spiritual Discipline: Social Justice, Stewardship, Rule of Life
For more information concerning the possibility of leading a Leader’s Journey at your church with your staff please contact info@crosspointministry.com or leave a reply below.
