cover image Spiritual Intelligence: Discover Your SQ. Deepen Your Faith

Spiritual Intelligence: Discover Your SQ. Deepen Your Faith

Alan E. Nelson, . . Baker, $13.99 (222pp) ISBN 978-0-8010-7193-5

Nelson, author of 14 books, believes that spiritual journeys are team efforts. He adapts Daniel Goleman’s concept of emotional intelligence to Christian life, harnessing it to create teams that assist in developing spiritual lives. Experiencing the spiritual trip with others speeds the journey. Spiritual Intelligence “road maps” include Bible study and shared experiences of team members and human pathfinders. Nelson is a professional leadership trainer who views nurturing the soul as the mission that can fuel church growth. Spiritual maturity requires an organized effort beyond Sunday worship; it can be attained by creating disciples who then become pathfinders for others. By helping others, the author says, Christians get beyond emotional stumbling blocks and grow in relation to a heavenly parent. His ideas on gathering together, writing a covenant, and maintaining group harmony, activities for which he provides workbook exercises, keep the book moving along. He neatly defines five dominant soul types that the local church encounters and how a church can create teams to work together as spiritual partners. In a world of superficial social networking, Nelson proposes committed relationships. (Jan.)