Who am I becoming? This question is key for a fulfilling life. How do we live with intentionality? As disciples of Jesus, we ask questions like: What is the work of formation? How do we become people who look more and more like those who bear the image of Christ? How do love, joy, peace, and grace take root in our lives?
“God is creating a people who can live abundantly with him in his kingdom. Flourishing in every way. Becoming fully and deeply human.” - Gravity Leadership.
IDENTITY:
January 9, 2022
Luke 3:21-22
Pastor Chuck Fowler
Formation in Christ is about receiving and living out of our true identity. In Christ, your ultimate reality is that of a beloved son or daughter. This is the gift of knowing your identity in Christ. But we forget, don’t we? We look to so many other things (and people) to tell us who we are. In the waters of baptism, you are claimed by the Living God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we be renewed in our God-given identity and seek transformation from that solid footing.
“What others say about us can shape our self-identity in profound ways. Identities are not found; they are given. For many of us, identities are given by people who don’t have the right to identify us. True identities can be given only by God.” - David Lomas
TRANSFORMED LIVES:
January 16, 2022
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Pastor Katie Fowler
The goal of formation is to become more like Christ. It is the Spirit of God who transforms us. Or in other words the Holy Spirit brings about the fruit of the Spirit. We can’t change ourselves. But we can open space in our lives for the Holy Spirit to transform us. How do we experience transformation in our lives? Not just changing behaviors but actually experiencing formation of our heart? And what about when we feel stuck and don’t see transformation?
"ABIDE"
January 23, 2022
John 15:1-8
Matt DeHarte
The invitation is to abide in Christ. From there life flows.
How do we actually experience transformation? The Christian life is not about gritting our teeth and willing ourselves to change. This week will introduce the idea of a rule or rhythm of life. A rule of life is like a trellis that allows something organic to grow. What is the structure in your life that allows new life to grow?
"IN COMMUNITY"
January 30, 2022
1 Peter 2:9-10
Ed Black
The process of formation is a deeply communal one. While there are ways that we seek to grow individually, God is forming a people for himself. What role does community play in your own formation? Are there people who know you well — who know both the goodness and the mess of your life? What are the habits that allow you to embrace community? What gets in the way of you being formed in community?
"IF I DO NOT HAVE LOVE"
February 6, 2022
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Emmanuel Engulu
All this talk about formation, let’s circle back for a moment. Are we becoming more loving? Are our hearts being more and more oriented to the love of God and love of neighbor. That’s one reason we gather each week in worship, this is actually the gymnasium, or training ground, by which our hearts are formed in the way of love. We share in these practices together that shape our hearts in love for the sake of love.
"HABITS"
February 13, 2022
Luke 2:36-38
Junior McGarrahan
How do habits shape us (for good or for bad)? What are the habits that lead to transformation? What are some of the core habits of the Christian life? We explore the story of Anna, this woman who immediately recognized the infant Jesus when he was brought to the Temple. How did she see what so many others missed? The practices she took up – prayer, fasting, worship – all shaped her heart. Anna was open and ready to experience the presence of God.
"OUR STORIES"
February 20, 2022
Psalm 107
Pastor Katie Fowler
As many theologians and church fathers and mothers have pointed out, the call of maturity in Christ is to grow in God-awareness and self-awareness. We grow as we engage our own stories and participate with God’s work of healing in our lives.
"SABBATH PEOPLE"
February 27, 2022
Isaiah 58:1-12
Emmanuel Engulu
To be formed in the way of Jesus includes a heart for justice and a care for the oppressed. It is possible to do a lot of “spiritual practices” and miss the heart of God. It is possible to go through the motions and not be deeply formed in the way of Jesus.
