Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation groups are focused on seasons of life with four phases—Identity, Calling, Intentionality, and Legacy.
The evil trinity—the world, the flesh, and the devil—seeks to destroy us in each season of our spiritual formation. In the spring it messes with our identity in Christ; in the summer with our calling to Christ; in the autumn with our intentionality for Christ; and in the winter with our preparation for new life in the next era—our legacy from Christ.
The world ushers people to the pit, the flesh persuades us to fall in, and the devil pushes us over the edge. “The pit,” as it were, represents other voices besides God’s telling us what we should do. It is a place of confusion, greed, and autonomous attempts to make our idealistic dreams of being exceptional come true. It turns darker as unmet longings and failures may lead us down the paths of resignation, romanticism, or self-righteous bitterness.
Every Christian is called by the gospel to Christ, which the Father makes effectual at salvation (John 6:44). The Christian’s whole life is in response to God’s voice announcing Christ’s lordship over all of life—every relationship, educational experience, and job. Once Christians are secure in their identity in Christ, they are more likely to hear and fulfill God’s call on their life. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Who stands fast? . . . Only the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God.”
Spiritual Formation classes at Christ Church examine biblical answers for the following questions that come up in these “seasons of a believer’s life”:
- Identity: Who am I in Christ?
- Calling: How is God calling me to live for his glory?
- Intentionality: What does it mean to invest wholeheartedly for eternity?
- Legacy: What does it mean to die well?
For more in-depth information and detailed curriculum, please contact Pastor Bob Smart.