What Is Formation?

The stated purpose of Formation/Discipleship ministries is to "grow disciples who reflect the likeness of Christ."

Formation brings to mind shaping and molding, like the forming of a pot from clay.

Christian Formation is all about the process by which individuals become more like Jesus.

The dictionary tells us formation is: "an act of giving form or shape to something." Within the Christian community, Spiritual Formation is identified as "growth in full devotion to Jesus Christ."

This devotion is described to us in Romans 12:1-2:

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you
 to give your bodies to God.
 Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--
the kind he will accept.
 When you think of what he has done
 for you, is this too much to ask?
  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world,
 but let God transform you into a new person
 by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God
 wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing
 and perfect his will really is."