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. 

Scripture

Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotional - December 2024

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. During Advent, we invite you to use the Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotional by Paul Tripp. It has daily Scripture passages from Genesis through Revelation, meditations, and prayers to focus your heart on the birth of Jesus from December 1 until Christmas Day. You can download a free pdf or ebook. (In January, we’ll begin a reading plan of the Gospels which will take us to Easter.)

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)