The Sanctification Connection: An Exploration of Human Participation in Spiritual Growth

This work focuses on progressive sanctification as a divine and human undertaking that provides a motivational setting for the transformation of an individual's life. In Christianity, sanctification occurs when a person is 'set apart' by God to carry out his will. 'Progressive sanctification' is the aspect of sanctification that describes the process of spiritual growth. Dr. Keith Kettenring's research suggests that believers participate in this process with God in 'sanctificational synergism.' Human participation is recognized through an examination of free will and a study of components that contribute to belief and character formation. This participation also includes the evaluation of one's capabilities and one's context for spiritual growth. The integration of these concepts provides a compatible and useful matrix for a more comprehensive understanding of sanctificational growth. The study of the components of human participation is also applied to the believer's personal strategy for sanctificational growth and the church's strategy to aid sanctificational growth through worship and small groups.

Dr. Keith Kettenring is Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Anaheim, California and adjunct professor in the Ph.D. Educational Studies program at Talbot School of Theology. His Ph.D. in Educational Studies from Biola University/Talbot School of Theology emphasized Christian Spirituality in an educational setting. This work represents the research conducted for his doctoral dissertation. He has been married for thirty years and has two children.