Hey Peeps:
I wanted to drop a quick note to you about this Thursday night. There has been some real work, prayer and thought put into this Catalyst service and I think you are going to be blessed.
Church experts say that the best kind a growth a Christ-centered community can have is organic. In other words, people come to a Christian community when their friends invite them. This relational "bridge" is essential if people are to come and give any community a chance.
I encourage you to be that bridge this week. Invite one other person to come with you. Ask God who that person should be. I will be asking God to give you His eyes and His heart.
I look forward to seeing you Thursday night.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
What is Spiritual Formation
I was asked recently to define what is spiritual formation. Below is my brief description.
Spiritual formation is the work of becoming like Jesus in the life I now live. This formational work is not necessarily concerned with outer behavior (whether I cuss, get mad, drink too much, want too many flat-screen tvs, etc); outer behavior will change, for sure, as this formation work goes on but outer behavior is the "fruit" of our spiritual formation.
Spiritual formation is essentially inner work. It is about the shaping of the whole person--body, soul and spirit into the life of Jesus. This is primarily done through the spiritual disciplines. I can not directly choose to act like Jesus in every area of my life. My flesh, my mind, my heart--ME--will eventually get in the way. I must indirectly find ways to reshape my inner life; this reshaping, this transformation, will allow me to slowly become like Jesus in every area of my life.. Spiritual disciplines are the space of this reshaping. Through the disciplines, God's Spirit does for me what I could never do for myself: forms me into the image of Son.
Foundational to the disciplines is silence and solitude. It is in the space of being alone we meet ourselves and God. And we learn something radically amazing: he loves us and he is for us. From this foundational place, we memorize scripture, fast, and do secret acts of mercy. We smartly and intentionally use the disciplines to systematically reshape our inner lives. In doing so, we enter into the resurrection life that Paul spoke of in Colossians 3. The fruit of such a life is this: compassion, kindness, quite strength and self-discipline. The ability to be happy with second place, the heart to quickly forgive an offense as quickly as Christ has forgiven us. And more than all of this, we become people of radical love (the very love we have experienced). This is Spiritual formation.
Spiritual formation is the work of becoming like Jesus in the life I now live. This formational work is not necessarily concerned with outer behavior (whether I cuss, get mad, drink too much, want too many flat-screen tvs, etc); outer behavior will change, for sure, as this formation work goes on but outer behavior is the "fruit" of our spiritual formation.
Spiritual formation is essentially inner work. It is about the shaping of the whole person--body, soul and spirit into the life of Jesus. This is primarily done through the spiritual disciplines. I can not directly choose to act like Jesus in every area of my life. My flesh, my mind, my heart--ME--will eventually get in the way. I must indirectly find ways to reshape my inner life; this reshaping, this transformation, will allow me to slowly become like Jesus in every area of my life.. Spiritual disciplines are the space of this reshaping. Through the disciplines, God's Spirit does for me what I could never do for myself: forms me into the image of Son.
Foundational to the disciplines is silence and solitude. It is in the space of being alone we meet ourselves and God. And we learn something radically amazing: he loves us and he is for us. From this foundational place, we memorize scripture, fast, and do secret acts of mercy. We smartly and intentionally use the disciplines to systematically reshape our inner lives. In doing so, we enter into the resurrection life that Paul spoke of in Colossians 3. The fruit of such a life is this: compassion, kindness, quite strength and self-discipline. The ability to be happy with second place, the heart to quickly forgive an offense as quickly as Christ has forgiven us. And more than all of this, we become people of radical love (the very love we have experienced). This is Spiritual formation.
Catalyst Service...This Thursday Night
Darkness. Trouble. Distress. Anxiety. Death. Hope. Light. Peace. Joy. Resurrection.
In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus our lives get direction and meaning. He is central to everything. This Thursday night, we pause to remember what Jesus has done for us.
This Catalyst service is going to be an amazing experience--testimonies, great worship,and communion. It is a great chance to celebrate Jesus. I hope you can make it.
IMPORTANTT NOTE: WE ARE STARTING ON TIME FROM NOW ON!!! 7:05pm! WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT PEOPLE HATE IT THAT WE START LATE. SO PLEASE :) BE ON TIME!!!)
We meet this in the lower level of Faith Church. We start at 7:05pm; childcare is provided.
In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus our lives get direction and meaning. He is central to everything. This Thursday night, we pause to remember what Jesus has done for us.
This Catalyst service is going to be an amazing experience--testimonies, great worship,and communion. It is a great chance to celebrate Jesus. I hope you can make it.
IMPORTANTT NOTE: WE ARE STARTING ON TIME FROM NOW ON!!! 7:05pm! WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT PEOPLE HATE IT THAT WE START LATE. SO PLEASE :) BE ON TIME!!!)
We meet this in the lower level of Faith Church. We start at 7:05pm; childcare is provided.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Schedule and Invite
Catalyst is a community of 20-somethings who desire to get to know Jesus better. We are marrieds and un-marrieds that have realized something radical: "There can be no maturity or wholeness in the Christian life apart from an immersion in and embrace of community." We desire to be such a community.
We also want to have some fun along the way. Life can be hard but it doesn’t need to be dreary. Come have fun with us and meet Jesus on the way.
Catalyst Spring Calendar:
4/2: Catalyst Service (7pm in the Garage)*
--Easter Celebration
4/16: Catalyst Service (7pm in the Garage)*
—Philippians: Happiness in Turmoil
4/23: Catalyst Core Group Meeting *
(7pm in Room 144/145)
4/30: Big Daddy Weave Concert
5/7: Catalyst Service (7pm in the Garage)*
—Philippians: Happiness for Others
5/21: Catalyst Service (7pm in the Garage)*
—Philippians: Happiness in Community
6/4: Catalyst Summer Kick off (7pm in the Garage)*
(Catalyst12.blogspot.com)
*Childcare provided
We also want to have some fun along the way. Life can be hard but it doesn’t need to be dreary. Come have fun with us and meet Jesus on the way.
Catalyst Spring Calendar:
4/2: Catalyst Service (7pm in the Garage)*
--Easter Celebration
4/16: Catalyst Service (7pm in the Garage)*
—Philippians: Happiness in Turmoil
4/23: Catalyst Core Group Meeting *
(7pm in Room 144/145)
4/30: Big Daddy Weave Concert
5/7: Catalyst Service (7pm in the Garage)*
—Philippians: Happiness for Others
5/21: Catalyst Service (7pm in the Garage)*
—Philippians: Happiness in Community
6/4: Catalyst Summer Kick off (7pm in the Garage)*
(Catalyst12.blogspot.com)
*Childcare provided
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