Explore the concept of spiritual formation in Episode 03 as John Mark Comer and Tyler Staton discuss the importance of presenting ourselves to God for transformation. They delve into the contrast between the broad and narrow roads of life, focusing on becoming a person of love in Christ through intentional transformation and following a narrow path to spiritual formation.
Spiritual formation is a lifelong process of becoming like Jesus with intentional transformation through surrendering to God.
Our formation is shaped by the stories we believe, our habits, relationships, and experiences, which can lead to deeper union with God.
Deep dives
The Process of Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation is a lifelong process of becoming like Jesus. It starts with being with Jesus and then gradually transforming to become like Him. Jesus invites everyone to be His disciple, but this process requires intentional spiritual formation. Spiritual formation is not limited to Christianity; it is a human experience that shapes us into who we become. We all go through spiritual formation throughout our lives, whether we realize it or not. As apprentices of Jesus, we play a role in shaping our formation and the person we become.
Defining Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation is about becoming a person of love in Christ. It is a process that occurs over a long period of time and is not linear. Spiritual formation is not just about becoming a good person or following religious practices. It involves the intentional transformation of our inner being through surrendering to God and making deeper layers of ourselves available to His work. It is a process that combines active participation, such as practicing spiritual disciplines, and passive formation through circumstances and experiences. Spiritual formation ultimately leads us to a deeper union with God.
The Four Forces of Formation
Spiritual formation occurs through four main forces: the stories we believe, our habits, our relationships, and our experiences. The stories we believe shape our mental maps and beliefs about what is good and true. Our habits, both physical and mental, shape who we become and reveal our deepest values and loves. Our relationships influence and mold us, making us similar to those we spend time with. Our experiences, especially pain and suffering, can either lead to our healing and transformation or to negative outcomes if we resist them. Practicing intentional spiritual formation involves pushing against these forces and aligning ourselves with God's truth, embodying the practices of Jesus, cultivating healthy relationships within the Christian community, and embracing our experiences, including pain, with surrender to God's work.
In Episode 03 of the Practicing the Way podcast, John Mark Comer and Tyler Staton argue that every person is a product of spiritual formation, regardless of what they believe, and describe ways to present ourselves to God to be counter-formed in the Way of Jesus.
This podcast accompanies the book Practicing the Way. Subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date on future episodes. To learn more about the book, visit www.practicingtheway.org/book. To begin building your personalized Rule of Life, go to www.practicingtheway.org/ruleoflifebuilder.
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