Definition:

God calls all people to holiness. Those who respond in obedience will experience transformation in their thinking and living into the image of Jesus. The call of the gospel is to crucify the old person, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. The Bible, Manual and many authors talk about this life of faith in many ways (see Nazarene Manual Article X). Sanctification is a crisis of full submission by faith to the cleansing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This cleansing is clearly witnessed by the Spirit in the Believer. Sanctification is a life-long process of God’s revelation of our weaknesses needs and applying that growing knowledge daily in loving obedience. Spiritual growth takes the formation of a wide range of spiritual disciplines. Pastors must understand the biblical doctrine of holiness, live it in their own lives, and teach others how to grow into Christlikeness.

Characteristics:

Be:

  • Loving
  • Christlike
  • Entirely sanctified
  • Bearing Fruit of the Spirit

Know:

  • Biblical doctrine
  • What the church has taught throughout the ages

Do:

  • Live out holiness
  • Teach others what it means to be holy
  • Lead others to the experience of entire sanctification

Outcomes:

  1. Identify spiritual development practices that speak most to the students in their own spiritual growth. Explain that what the Holy Spirit has shown them will need to change in their own lives to make them more like Christ (PS 139). HOL-1
  2. Explain the kenosis passage (Philippians 2:5-11) as it relates to our “imitation of Christ”. HOL-2
  3. List and explain the top ten character traits a pastor should have as it relates to pastoral ministry. HOL-3
  4. Prepare a testimony about their personal experience of entire sanctification and deliver it in a non- academic environment. Students who are uncertain of their current experience should clearly identify where they understand themselves to be in that journey, and what steps they are taking to embrace the experience of heart holiness. HOL-4
  5. Develop a system that focuses on the development of the spiritual character of the leaders of the church. Utilize existing ministry forms or adopt new ones (such as Sunday school administration and oversight, teacher education, curriculum planning and assessment, small group facilitation and training, and family nurture and formation, etc.) by which individuals, families, and congregations may be formed into Christlikeness. HOL-5
  6. Develop yearly lessons for Sunday School or small group and a yearly preaching plan about the character traits a pastor and/or a church must have (love, forgiveness, humility, courage, etc.). Teach the developed lessons to at least one age-group. HOL-6
  7. Identify key people and events in relation to Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels and explain how these model the types of responses Christians today should or should not have in becoming like Christ. HOL-7
  8. Explain the differences between a Wesleyan practice of spiritual development and Calvinistic, Roman Catholic, and Lutheran practices. HOL-8
  9. List ten persons from church history who displayed Christlikeness and show how these character qualities can be used to form a model for contemporary Christians to follow. HOL-9