Christian spiritual formation is the transformation of our spirit through the Spirit of Christ.

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."

Like any journey, the road map that allows us to become a disciple of Jesus Christ requires the faith to take a single step, followed by another, followed by another, etc.

If we want to follow Jesus and experience an intimate relationship with him and with God, then we need to let Jesus' spiritual formation plan guide us as we walk with him.

• Inner Life - Jesus knew that the way to build a meaningful relationship with God was through the practice of "Holy Habits" including prayer, regular study of God's Word, fasting, private worship and rest and retreat from the rigors of work and ministry.

• Community Life - Living life in community means that we should not attempt to follow Jesus unless we are surrounded by a group of friends who help us to grow, support, nurture, care for and hold one another accountable.

         Community life is also seen in our need to attend to the public worship of God on a regular basis.

• Sacrificial Life - The model Jesus taught us by example was to live our lives in missionary service to the world around us.

This helps define what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.