Shaped by the Word: The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation

I've had this book for years and read it for the first time several years ago. It helped me begin to read the Bible formationally, and this practice felt like "coming home". I read it again recently, and it was just as fresh, and as with good writing, I noticed things I had completely missed the first time. This is an excellent read for understanding formational reading, and a much needed correction for our information only culture. And contrary to what some might think, he is not advocating that you check your brain at the door and never read for information. Rather he is teaching something that we moderns have lost - the understanding that we are to soak in the Scripture, taste it, eat it (like John in the book of Revelation). The idea is that in order to be formed in the image of Christ, we need to read with a different goal than most of us have been taught. Buy it and read it! Enjoy the way it transforms your connection with Scripture.

Quite rich - I just finished reading this book twice in the last week. A few chapters are a little dry in the middle, but otherwise a very fabulous work that completely overshadows the two tedious chapters; where he is laying some ground work. A very well-explained description of spiritual formation and description of spiritual disciplines. The chapter on doing/being as it relates to disciplines is worth the price of the book alone. In addition, it is very applicational for the reader (although he describes a couple of instances in his journey, I would have liked to see more of his own personal learning added). In my opinion this book (originally written in 1985) is "way ahead of its time" in bridging mainline, mystical, and evangelical thought - although it never makes those distinctives. I would say that perhaps he slightly over-emphasizes the formational (vs informational) but I would also add this very important point: that it is this exact over-emphasis that is a needed corrective to the balance of our day for most people.For me this what a provoking book to my spiritual journey. I am very thankful - there are about a dozen different passages that struck me.In an ever-increasingly information-saturated world; this book offers needed medicine to our souls.

I came to this book with the advantage of having sat under Dr. Mulholland in 4-5 courses including 2 on Biblical exegesis. The title of this book "Shaped by the Word", is 100% representative of his view of scripture. Mulholland very effectively teaches us that we should approach the scriptures with our hearts and our minds full expecting to be shaped by the work of God through His Word. Mulholland effectively communicates to us that when we always lead our study of scripture with reason our hearts will not be formed as God intends.

If you are interested in understanding how to read Scripture and how to let it shape and mold your life, this is the book for you. Mulholland writes as a person from experience who has walked the path that so many of us have walked. This book will show the serious Bible student how to allow God's written word to shape you into the form of the Word made flesh. As Mulholland staes, we are to be conformed into the image of Christ, not for our own sake, but for the sake of others." In our individualistic western culture, this comes as a shock. Mulholland implies that God wants dreams of more from us than just to save our skin. Mulholland understands that we come to the Bible with our own worldview, attempting to validate our beliefs with certain Biblical text.Mulholland challenges the reader to set aside pre-conceived ideas and thoughts about the text and come to the text with as clear a mindset as possible. It is by setting aside our agendas can the truly be "shaped by the Word."

Mulholland's insistance that we are capable of letting go of what we know in order to freshly approace the scriptures with the intent of allowing ourselves to be shaped by God's Word is the premise of this excellent book. I lend it to friends, but make certain I retrieve it. The author describes the path he has personally trod in his attempt to realize his full God given potential. Examples illustrate his struggle to distinguish the critical difference between the accustomed reading of scripture for information, and the life changing willingness to read for personal spiritual formation. I am grateful for having discovered this fine author, and recommend this book to anyone interested in signposts to guide their spiritual journey.