What is Spiritual Formation?

Often we focus our attention on becoming or knowing rather than entering into a living relationship with our Creator. We tend to focus on acquiring knowledge and enhancing our performance rather than growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Spiritual formation is first about entering into a relationship with the living God. 

— Mike Sullivan – facebook.com/reel/303940472680014

— Relationship – Dalton Dueck – vimeo.com/259904048

Biblical spiritual formation is the process of growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ to be the people God has designed us to be, doing what He has prepared for us to do. (Romans  8:29, 12:2, Galatians 4:19, Ephesians 2:10) Spiritual formation happens through personal discipline and a willingness to learn first for all from God and from other people who know Him. God has taught other people before He taught us. He has placed people with specific gifts within the Body to help us grow and learn. (Ephesians 4:11-15) Through knowing and obeying His written word we can grow toward maturity and serving other people. (Colossians 3:16)

Biblical spiritual formation is not about personal piety and performance to be accepted. Our acceptance before God is a gift through our relationship by faith in Christ.

It is about learning to realize God’s lavish grace and His provision not only for salvation but for the day to day abiding in Him, walking in the Spirit, being rooted and grounded in truth, and being transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Galatians 5:16, Romans 12:2) 

What is Discipleship?

Can we teach others what we don’t know ourselves? 

Spiritual formation normally involves learning from God through His written word, The Holy Bible. In relationships with other people, particularly mentors, we learn more about God and His word through intentional investments of time. Though our pride tends to tell us otherwise, we usually do not even know what we don’t know until someone shows us.

Discipleship involves the activities of people leading each other to know, believe, and obey God. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

The Great Commission involves discipleship; engaging in spiritual formation. Teaching people of all ethnicities to know, believe, and obey Jesus Christ is what we have been commanded to do on the highest authority in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18-20)

God plans to bring Christians to maturity of faith in Christ. (Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:28)

There is a progression from having everything we need for life and godliness in Christ toward bearing much fruit to the glory of the Father. (John 15:8, 2 Peter 1:3-11)

God equips people for ministry through other Christians who teach what they have learned. (2 Timothy 2:2, Ephesians 4:12)

There are acts of the will involved in every Christian who will be a maturing, fruit-bearing, God-glorifying believer. (2 Peter 1:5, Romans 12:1-2, John 15:1-17)

What is Foundational Bible Teaching?

Foundational Bible Teaching is a method or path of discipleship that has been highly effective in establishing thriving churches across many languages around the world. 

In 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, Paul contrasts foundations for faith, exhorting his readers be careful how they build. 

Foundational Bible teaching is about directing the attention of those taught to the character and works of God. We must teach in such a way that God is glorified in the view of our students so that His person, purpose, plan, people, and processes are lifted high and centered on a relationship with God through Christ. *

If God’s glory is what the enemy wants to hide from people, then God’s glory is what we need to show them.  (2 Corinthians 4:3-6)

How do you engage people who know nothing about the God of the Bible and, in a reasonably short time, equip them to be Biblically qualified to lead churches and equip other people to know and follow Jesus?

What does a person need to know? 
Where do you start?
How do you know when you are done?

God is a master teacher. He has given us a textbook. It has an introduction and a conclusion. He has introduced His characters, His plot, and His solution. Perhaps we should take a moment to consider His person, purpose, plan, and process. 

Foundational Bible Teaching is a pattern of resources that are designed to lead people from knowing nothing about God toward multiplication and a growing maturity of faith in God. (John 17:3, Jeremiah 9:23-24)

There are things any learner must know before other things can be clearly communicated. (See The Bible Taproot.) 

The Old Testament is the foundation for understanding the New Testament. Many Bible doctrines and ideas are taught in the Old Testament, laying the groundwork for understanding concepts taught in the New Testament. 

There is a progression of Biblical knowledge that gives understanding (knowing how things correlate), and wisdom (knowing how to properly use what you know).

As a teacher, it will be difficult to teach students to the desired outcome unless the teacher knows the desired outcome and the path leading toward it. 

God has designed a process for us to grow in spiritual maturity toward his ultimate purpose. (Romans 8:29)

That process normally involves intentional effort from other believers to help to grow us in knowledge, faith, and fruitfulness. (Matthew 28:20, 2 Timothy 2:2)

During our short time on earth, we have opportunities to live holy lives, lay up treasure in heaven, and gain crowns to cast at the feet of Jesus.

While we were in darkness when we received the gift of God’s grace, He has no intention of leaving us in the dark. He has work for us to do internally and externally. It all comes about through abiding in Christ, putting off the old nature and putting on the new. (John 15, Colossians 2:11, 3:1-17, Ephesians 4:22-24)

The fruit of the Spirit will become evident in our lives as we obediently live out in our relationships what God has worked in. (Galatians 5:22-24)

The Father is glorified as we bear much fruit. (John 15:8)

There is a progression of growth toward fruitfulness that involves our intentional effort. (2 Peter 1:1-11)

The following resources have been developed and used extensively to help intentionally guide believers toward maturity and fruitfulness, transforming minds, and equipping the saints for ministry. (Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:12)

For both the learner and the teacher there is one factor that cannot be avoided: time. It requires and investment of time studying God’s word to grow to maturity. One hour a week is not going to produce rapid growth toward maturity and fruitfulness. 

Shape Your Thinking

Guide Your Students