What is Spiritual Formation? — in 2 minutes (Episode 65 + transcript)

Explainer Episode

DESCRIPTION (Transcript Below)

Seems like everyone is talking about spiritual formation. But what is it exactly?

In this two-minute explainer episode, Dr. Geoff Holsclaw dives into the realm of spiritual formation, and how it is a "process of being conformed to the image of Christ, within the community and trajectory of Christ, for the sake of others.”

And come study with Cyd and Geoff in this new, innovative Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) in Spiritual Formation and Relational Neuroscience.

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Transcript:

What is spiritual formation?

Robert Mulholland says that spiritual formation is a process of being formed into the image of Christ for the sake of others.

Now I want to change this just a little bit into something like this: “It is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ within the community of Christ and the trajectory of Christ for the sake of others.”

So let's unpack that.

First, a process. All transformational, all growth is a process. It's a process that happens and fits and starts, sometimes hidden and sometimes invisible.

Second, Being conformed. We don't form ourselves. We receive who we are from God and what we are becoming comes from God.

Third, conformed to the image of Christ. This is not the destruction of our humanity, even if it feels like that at the beginning, but rather we're slowly being conformed in the image of Christ so that the fullness of life can come and extinguish death in and around us.

Fourth, this happens through the community of Christ. Being conformed to Christ, being formed with or formed together, happens with other people. This is the broader we that helps me make me who I am. It is our embedded relationships.

Fifth, there is the trajectory of Christ. This is the Old and New Testaments that are pointing to Christ in different ways, as well as the history and doctrine of the church, it is our extended lives within the culture of the church

And, lastly, for the sake of others. This is the completion of God's love in us, overflowing for love of others, for neighbors and even for enemies.

And because spiritual formation isn't just spiritual but it is relational and embodied. It learns not just from biblical, theological or pastoral resources, but also the best resources of relational neuroscience.