196: Kyle Strobel and Integrating Spirituality and Theology

Kyle Strobel is the associate professor of spiritual theology at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Today, Kyle shares the story of how he discovered spiritual formation, feeling abandoned by God and surrendering to him, and studying the works of Jonathan Edwards. Kyle brings a unique historical perspective to the spiritual formation conversation. We also talk about his newest book, Embracing Contemplation: Reclaiming a Christian Spiritual Practice. Kyle’s story reminds us that our tradition is rich if we only take the time to mine it.

Listen to Kyle’s story today!

Stories Kyle shared:

Growing up at Willow Creek
Doing his PHD on Jonathan Edwards
Leaving Willow with a lot of relational brokenness
Going to college and having a profound realization about prayer
Feeling abandoned by God and surrendering to it
Learning about prayer and how
Understanding spiritual practices through Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley
How love works itself out in his life
The conversation he hopes Embracing Contemplation starts

Great quotes from Kyle:

If prayer is performative then the psalter makes no sense.

It took me wrestling profoundly with myself to open up others people’s lives.

The journey to God is a journey to love.

Prayer isn’t something you generate, something you start; it’s something you enter.

Resources we mentioned:

Embracing Contemplation: Reclaiming a Christian Spiritual Practice edited by John H. Coe and Kyle C. Strobel
Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross
Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard
Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards by Kyle Strobel
Ravished by Beauty: The Surprising Legacy of Reformed Spirituality by Belden C. Lane

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