Date

8-20-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Practical Theology (PhD)

Chair

Ben Brammer

Keywords

Spiritual Formation, discipleship. Maturation, Greatest Commandments, maturity, holistic, love, fitness

Disciplines

Practical Theology | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

Christian spiritual formation is a field abundant in materials, resources, and programs to help people become fully devoted followers of God. Yet a disconnect appears to exist between the biblical concept of discipleship, which encompasses both a process and an event, and the lived reality of Christians in the United States today. A new model that lays the foundation for a new spiritual formation framework grounded in the practical application of the Greatest Commandments may be of benefit. This dissertation develops a model that includes orthodoxy and orthopraxy to apply the Greatest Commandments in an easy-to-understand framework in a practical, holistic way. To love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is practically and holistically applied through emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social fitness. The study aims to aid in the development and understanding of Christian discipleship and spiritual maturity by helping Christians build the capacity to think about and enact the love of God in a holistic manner that is directly applicable and intuitive to their lives in today’s world. Christians will develop the sure-footedness and the agility to grow in Christlikeness in their own context as they align the call to love God and neighbor more closely with their spiritual formation.

Download

Share

COinS