Mansions of the Heart

A practical program for developing a deeper, more authentic relationship with God

Written for anyone who wants to develop a deeper more meaningful relationship with God, Mansions of the Heart offers a step-by-step guide through a spiritual formation road map based on Teresa of Avila's Seven Mansions. The book includes a Mapping Tool that will help you discern your place on your spiritual journey and offers church leaders a process for helping church members to grow into spiritual maturity.

• Contains a spiritual program based on the writings of Teresa of Avila, one of Christianity's most profound and beloved mystical teachers
• Offers a complete, step-by-step program for spiritual growth
• Includes information for leading others in their spiritual journeys
• Appropriate for all kinds of Christians

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

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1 Is This All There Is?

2 Common Myths That Lead Down Dead-End Roads.

3 Your Journey into the Love of God.

4 New Beginnings: The First Mansion.

5 Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Second Mansion.

6 Following Jesus: The Third Mansion.

7 Discovering the Love of Jesus: The Fourth Mansion.

8 Longing for Oneness with God: The Fifth Mansion.

9 The Long Dark Corridor: The Dark Nights of the Soul.

10 The Passion of God's Love: The Sixth Mansion.

11 A Life of Love in the Trinity: The Seventh Mansion.

12 Your Unique Journey.

13 Spiritual Formation and the Church.

14 Our Call to Action.

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Notes.

The Author.

Index.

R. THOMAS ASHBROOK is the director of spiritual formation for Church Resource Ministries and leads CRM’s international spiritual formation ministry, Imago Christi. Imago Christi develops spiritual formation resources and coaches Christian leaders and churches. He provides spiritual direction and coaching for pastors and missionaries and leads retreats on prayer and spiritual growth. Dr. Ashbrook also served as adjunct faculty at George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

Mansions of the Heart begins with the author’s personal story of frustration and confusion and the discovery that there is more to the Christian life than building a successful church. While strengthening his relationship with God, R. Thomas Ashbrook—a engineer-turned- pastor—went on a wondrous and often challenging adventure of discovery. By revealing his story of transformation, Dr. Ashbrook offers seekers a way to move forward on their own spiritual paths.

Written for anyone who wants to develop a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God, Mansions of the Heart offers a step-by-step guide through a spiritual formation road map based on Teresa of Avila’s Seven Mansions. This centuries-old spiritual classic reveals the various phases of spiritual transformation. Dr. Ashbrook taps into this ancient description of spiritual growth and offers a personal guide to each stage of the process that is designed to help followers of Jesus reexamine their life experiences and their relationship with God.

Mansions of the Heart debunks commonly held myths that lead to spiritual dead ends and describes a clear pathway to a deepening love relationship with God. The author explains how hearts and spirits cooperate with God in their growth using the insights of the Seven Mansions. He begins with a description of the new believer who comes to personal faith in Christ and ends with the final phase of life in unity with the Trinity that brings forth a wonderful season of inner peace in loving God and others.

Mansions of the Heart can help anyone discern their place on their spiritual journey and offers church leaders a process for helping church members to grow as disciples of Christ.