Romans 7: 18, NIV
I’m very excited for this portion of our journey together in 2025. Starting next Sunday, March 16th we once again embark on the spiritual disciplines we call “Practices of the Way.” These Practices are habits based on the lifestyle of Jesus that create time and space for us to access the presence and power of God and be transformed by the power of the Spirit. Together with the Word and Spirit, Practices are core to who we are becoming and how we live our lives in community as Formation Church. I can personally attest that since I began implementing these Practices into my life since April 2024 that they have changed my life. That is my prayer for you. Why do these spiritual disciplines matter?
The answer is found in Romans 7: 14-25. There is a civil war raging within each of us, an internal conflict between the Spirit who lives in us who works in us to do good and our automatic natural tendencies of our flesh to satisfy ourselves. Spiritual disciplines build in us new routines against our automatic natural tendencies towards selfishness, anger, fear, anxiety, lust, and judgement of others. We strive to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and hearts towards the life Jesus calls us into in the Sermon on the Mount characterized by: righteousness, mercy, peace, honor, without hypocrisy, empathy, eternal wealth, no condemnation, and treating others as ourselves. It’s a life that the Apostle Paul describes as “fruits of the Spirit” in Galatians 5: 22-23 of: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Jesus doesn’t call us to be regular Sunday Service attendees. Neither does He call us to be Christians. Jesus calls us to be His disciples. In Matthew 16:24 we find our life statements at Formation Church:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must
deny themselves and
take up their cross and
follow me.”
Denying Self. Your life is has so much more meaning and purpose than to make its goal the pursuit of enjoyment, the fulfilment of your desires, or looking within yourself.
Surrendering Fully. Life as a disciple of Jesus comes with a cost. When we surrender our lives we bear the cost in the form of comfort and things of this world.
Following Daily. The life as a disciple of Jesus is not defined by a once-a-week Sunday Service. It’s a 7-day a week life that pursues being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did.
I welcome you along this journey. Wherever you’re at, it’s a great time to start. Join us as we integrate these Practices into our lives in community. It will transform your life.