Spiritual Formation

Spiritual formation is the process whereby God the Father transforms us into the image of his beloved Son through the work of the Holy Spirit. This process is aided by regular practices of engaging with Scripture, prayer, sacraments, spiritual friendships, and other classic Christian disciplines and resources. The goal of it all is sacrificial, self-giving love for God and neighbor. Learn more from our sermon series on the Holy Habits of Grace here.

Scripture

Gospels Reading Plan: Every year, our pastors preach through one of the Gospels from Epiphany to Easter. This year it’s the Gospel according to Luke. We encourage you to read through all four Gospels during this time. Using this schedule, you’ll read a chapter a day with Saturdays to catch up.

We encourage you to pursue these spiritual habits:

Read: Begin with a prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you, and then read a chapter (more or less) of Scripture. Every year, our pastors preach through one of the Gospels from Epiphany to Easter. This year it’s the Gospel according to Luke. We encourage you to read through all four Gospels during this time. Using this schedule, you’ll read a chapter a day with Saturdays to catch up.

Write: Invest at least 5-10 minutes daily writing in response to what the Scripture says (observation: what?), what it means (interpretation: so what?), and what it means for us (application: now what?). Or check out the SOAP Scripture Reading Method.

Memorize: Choose a verse or two and invest 5 minutes daily storing the Word of God in your heart.

Process: Meet weekly for a one-hour, focused, intentional discussion with a Christian mentor or group of Christian disciples to process and pray through Mark’s Gospel. 

1. If you’re looking for a group, sign up here.

2. If you’re looking for a mentor email discipleship@christchurcheastbay.org.

3. Make sure you end your group by asking, “What is the Lord saying to me right now? What step of faith is the Lord calling me to take?” Pray for that.

Serve: Find a regular opportunity to put your faith into action and follow Jesus  by serving our church and neighbors; try our monthly Loaves & Fishes ministry.

We believe these five habits – read, write, memorize, process, serve – are essentials every disciple needs to grow and become empowered to make disciples.

Prayer

• Check out our Morning Prayer guide

• Prayer books: A Diary of Private Prayer, The Valley of Vision, Book of Common Prayer

• Prayer Upon Waking: Good morning heavenly Father, good morning Lord Jesus, good morning Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, I worship you as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Lord Jesus, I worship you, Savior and Lord of the world. Holy Spirit, I worship you, Sanctifier and Guide of the people of God. Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen. (John Stott)

• Table prayer: “Bless, O Lord, your gifts to our use and us to your service. Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all your mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

• Bedtime prayer: “Glory to you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth: Set up your kingdom in our midst. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God: Have mercy on me, a sinner. Holy Spirit, breath of the living God: Renew me and all the world.” (N. T. Wright)