Designing, Writing and Testing a Book and Study Guide for Formational Discipleship

Abstract

Jesus' commission to make disciples has raised the issue of discipleship with every generation. This dissertation reports on the process of designing, planning, writing and testing a book and study guide, using action research, which has sought to provide readers and participants with an occasion to progress in spiritual formation toward authentic discipleship informed by a Biblical theology. Two groups of participants took part in two cycles of action research in which they provided insight and feedback into the curriculum as it was being written. A Spiritual Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) was developed to measure thirty-eight categories of spiritual formation and was administered prior to and after the course of study. Feedback questionnaires and interviews were also employed. The results indicated a statistically significant increase in the level of theological grounding, of discipleship practices and improvements in the quality of the participants' soul life with God. Participants reported a significant increase in their motivation to draw near to God, live for God, and to reach out to others as ones who have been sent. The data suggests that the use of the action research methodology has resulted in a much better product and process than had this methodology not been used. The actual book and study guide Love's Greatest Joy - A Closer Walk With God is an appendix (Appendix J) to this dissertation.