Intentional Spiritual Formation: Embracing Community and Transformation
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound journey of spiritual formation and transformation, emphasizing the importance of intentionality in our walk with Jesus. We began by acknowledging the necessity of community, encouraging everyone to join smaller groups within the church to foster deeper connections and spiritual growth. We also celebrated our partnership with Jung Kim, who is doing remarkable ministry work in Vietnam, highlighting the power of collaboration in spreading the gospel.
Our focus then shifted to the concept of spiritual formation, particularly for new believers and those who feel there's more to their faith journey than just attending church. We discussed the transformative power of following Jesus not just as admirers but as apprentices, striving to embody His teachings and lifestyle. This transformation requires resisting the conforming patterns of the world and embracing the countercultural values of God's kingdom, where love, joy, peace, and generosity reign.
We introduced the idea of a "formation audit" to help identify the habits, relationships, and stories that shape us, often unconsciously. By recognizing these influences, we can intentionally replace them with practices that align with Christ's teachings. These practices, or spiritual disciplines, are not about earning salvation but about creating space for God to work within us, transforming us from the inside out.
Intentional spiritual formation involves curating our habits, relationships, and the stories we believe. We are called to replace deforming habits with Christ-like practices, form godly relationships, and fill our minds with the truth of Jesus. This process is challenging but essential for becoming more like Jesus and thriving in His kingdom.
As we continue this journey, we are encouraged to engage in daily practices such as prayer and scripture reading, allowing God's word to transform us. By doing so, we align ourselves with His vision for our lives, moving from a life of stress and anxiety to one of peace and purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- Community and Collaboration: Spiritual growth is best nurtured in smaller, intentional communities where we can support and challenge each other. Partnering with others, like Jung Kim in Vietnam, exemplifies the power of collaboration in ministry. [22:04]
- Transformation through Intentionality: Spiritual formation requires intentional effort to resist worldly patterns and embrace the countercultural values of God's kingdom. This involves being apprentices of Jesus, not just admirers. [25:14]
- Formation Audit: Identifying the habits, relationships, and stories that unconsciously shape us is crucial. By recognizing these influences, we can intentionally replace them with practices that align with Christ's teachings. [30:05]
- Spiritual Disciplines: Practices like prayer, scripture reading, and solitude are not about earning salvation but creating space for God to transform us. These disciplines open us to His work in our lives. [35:47]
- Curating Our Consciousness: We must be intentional about the stories we believe and the relationships we form. Filling our minds with God's truth and forming godly relationships are essential for spiritual growth. [45:18]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [22:04] - Introduction to Spiritual Formation
- [25:14] - Recognizing Worldly Patterns
- [27:46] - Moving from List A to List B
- [30:05] - Intentional Transformation
- [35:47] - Spiritual Disciplines Explained
- [37:43] - The Role of Habits
- [39:13] - Importance of Godly Relationships
- [41:00] - Overcoming Isolation
- [43:26] - The Power of Stories
- [44:20] - Renewing the Mind
- [45:18] - Intentional Habits and Relationships
- [46:39] - Embracing Community
- [47:50] - Daily Prayer and Scripture
- [49:15] - Replacing Deforming Habits
- [50:40] - Engaging with Scripture
- [52:24] - Practical Tips for Bible Reading
- [55:39] - Closing Prayer and Announcements
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
2. John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
3. Luke 6:40 - "The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."
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Observation Questions:
1. What are some of the worldly patterns mentioned in the sermon that we are encouraged to resist? [25:14]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between being an admirer of Jesus and being an apprentice of Jesus? [27:46]
3. What is the purpose of a "formation audit" as discussed in the sermon? [30:05]
4. What are some examples of spiritual disciplines mentioned in the sermon that help create space for God to transform us? [35:47]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Romans 12:2 relate to the idea of intentional spiritual formation discussed in the sermon? [44:20]
2. In what ways does John 10:10 illustrate the transition from a life of stress and anxiety to one of peace and purpose? [27:46]
3. How does the concept of being an apprentice of Jesus, as mentioned in Luke 6:40, challenge the way believers approach their faith journey? [30:05]
4. What role do godly relationships play in spiritual transformation according to the sermon? [39:13]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current habits. Are there any that you feel are deforming you spiritually? What steps can you take to replace them with Christ-like practices? [35:47]
2. Consider the relationships in your life. Are there any that are shaping you more than your relationship with Jesus? How can you be more intentional about forming godly relationships? [39:13]
3. Think about the stories you believe about yourself and the world. How can you fill your mind with the truth of Jesus to counteract any negative or false narratives? [45:18]
4. How can you incorporate daily prayer and scripture reading into your routine to align more closely with God's vision for your life? [47:50]
5. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) that you want to cultivate. What specific action can you take this week to develop it in your interactions with others? [27:46]
6. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt stressed or anxious. How might embracing the countercultural values of God's kingdom have changed your response? [25:14]
7. Is there a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus? What practical steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction? [49:15]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Community and Collaboration
In the journey of spiritual formation, community plays a crucial role. It is within smaller, intentional groups that individuals can find the support and challenge needed for spiritual growth. These communities provide a space for believers to share their experiences, learn from one another, and hold each other accountable. The sermon highlighted the importance of partnering with others, like Jung Kim in Vietnam, to spread the gospel and exemplify the power of collaboration in ministry. By engaging in community, believers can foster deeper connections and grow in their faith together. [22:04]
"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to this week to encourage or support in their spiritual journey? How can you be more intentional about fostering deeper connections within your church community?
Day 2: Intentional Transformation through Apprenticeship
Spiritual formation requires intentional effort to resist the conforming patterns of the world and embrace the countercultural values of God's kingdom. This involves being apprentices of Jesus, not just admirers. As apprentices, believers are called to embody His teachings and lifestyle, striving to live out the values of love, joy, peace, and generosity. This transformation is not passive but requires active participation and a willingness to be shaped by Christ's teachings. By intentionally aligning their lives with God's kingdom values, believers can experience true transformation and growth in their faith. [25:14]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What specific worldly patterns do you find yourself conforming to? How can you intentionally resist these patterns and embrace the values of God's kingdom in your daily life?
Day 3: Conducting a Formation Audit
A formation audit involves identifying the habits, relationships, and stories that unconsciously shape us. By recognizing these influences, believers can intentionally replace them with practices that align with Christ's teachings. This process requires self-reflection and a willingness to examine the underlying influences that shape one's life. By conducting a formation audit, individuals can become more aware of the areas in their lives that need transformation and take intentional steps to align their habits and relationships with God's truth. [30:05]
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)
Reflection: What habits or relationships in your life are not aligned with Christ's teachings? How can you begin to replace these with practices that reflect God's truth and values?
Day 4: Embracing Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, scripture reading, and solitude are not about earning salvation but creating space for God to transform us. These practices open believers to His work in their lives, allowing them to grow in their relationship with Him. By engaging in spiritual disciplines, individuals can cultivate a deeper understanding of God's word and align their lives with His vision. These practices provide a foundation for spiritual growth and transformation, helping believers move from a life of stress and anxiety to one of peace and purpose. [35:47]
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." (Psalm 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What spiritual discipline can you commit to practicing daily this week? How can this practice help you create space for God to work in your life?
Day 5: Curating Our Consciousness
Believers are called to be intentional about the stories they believe and the relationships they form. By filling their minds with God's truth and forming godly relationships, individuals can foster spiritual growth and transformation. This process involves curating one's consciousness, being mindful of the influences that shape their thoughts and beliefs. By intentionally choosing to focus on God's truth and surround themselves with godly influences, believers can align their lives with His vision and experience true transformation. [45:18]
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
Reflection: What stories or beliefs are currently shaping your thoughts and actions? How can you intentionally fill your mind with God's truth and surround yourself with godly influences this week?
Quotes
1) "Okay, so for the last couple of weeks now, we've been talking about spiritual formation. And I think this is super timely for us as a church because as a lot of you know, we've got a lot of new people here, some of you are sitting here, that are new believers. They're not just new to our church. They're new to Jesus. And a lot of people have been coming to the Lord, and a lot of people have been. They're baptized, and that's super, super exciting. But a lot of those people are saying to me, look, I'm in. I'm in. You told me I had to repent. I was going this way, and now I need to go this way and start following Jesus. How do you do that? I literally don't know how to follow Jesus." [22:04] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Jesus came to move us from list A to list B. And I think last week was really just recognizing some of the stuff that's shaping us and some of the stuff that is forming us into list A, like our habits and our relationships and the stories we believe. So today we're going to start talking about being transformed. What it is like to be transformed. What it is like to be changed, to be more like Jesus, to really experience list B, right? To experience love and joy and peace and relationship with God. I think that's what we all want. Is that what you guys want?" [27:46] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "If we're going to partner with God in this thing, if we're really going to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus, if we're going to really be fit for heaven so that we can flourish and thrive and matter in the kingdom of God, then we're going to have to get a little bit more intentional about our spiritual formation. We're going to have to get a little bit more tensional about being with Jesus and becoming like Jesus and doing the things that he did." [30:05] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "So, intentional spiritual formation means, for one thing, recognizing that our habits can form us, and intentionally replacing deforming habits with transforming practices. We're also formed, or deformed, by our relationships. And that's, I mean, we were created to be in relationship, right? You were wired for relationship. We're created in the image of a God who is, in fact, a relationship of three persons in one, right? God created the whole universe so that we could have a relationship with him. God is all about relationships." [37:43] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "In John 8, 32, Jesus said, if you remain faithful to my teachings, then you'll know the truth, and the truth will set you free. And I want to suggest that it's not just free from hell. It's free from list A. Yeah, it's free from anxiety and irritation and lust and exhaustion and laziness. And sin and self and separation. When we intentionally fill our minds with God's word, we're formed by what we believe, and we begin to experience transformation." [43:26] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "If we're being unintentionally formed by habits, intentional formation calls us to replace deforming habits with transforming Christ-like practices. If we're being unintentionally formed by our worldly relationships, then we need to intentionally form relationship in Jesus' communities. And to keep from unintentionally being deformed by the stories we believe, we intentionally fill our minds with the teaching of our rabbi. And these intentional habits and relationships and truth form us into his likeness." [45:18] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "This week, we're going to try a new practice. If you started the prayer rhythm, don't stop that, right? We don't do one practice and then throw it out and then do another practice, right? We're trying to develop all of these things. A recent study showed that 87 % of people sleep with their smartphone near their bed. 87%. Most of them check their phones first thing when they wake up. So what's happening? So many times we're starting our day with a tragic news story. Or we're starting our day with a stressing email. Or we're starting our day scrolling through social media looking for something to make us feel miserable or lustful or left out." [47:50] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "So this week's practice is to read scripture daily. It's to replace some of these deforming habits. Maybe it's that one, maybe it's another one. You've got some habit in your life that's deforming you, and what if you replaced it with relaxing into God's presence through scripture? Think of the habit in your life, maybe it's that one, maybe it's something else, that you think is most deforming you, that's giving you the most anxiety or stress or pressure or making you lustful or angry or frustrated. Think of the one habit in your life that's doing the most of that to you. What if you got rid of that habit and you replaced it with this transformational thing of just relaxing into God's presence? Through his word." [49:15] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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