Dear Jill.

When I mentioned that I was teaching a course in Spiritual Formation, you said that you’d like to take that course. And it’s possible that you know some other people who might be interested, too.

But I’m curious about why you are interested. I know what I teach, or better, how I lead the class. But I’m aware that different people have different understandings of what such a class may include.

I can tell you what we do, which may help you tell me what you are looking for.

At the beginning of the first class, I start by giving people 5 minutes to think about what kind of person they want to be in five years. I say, “In five years, if you and I were together and we met someone new, how would you like to be introduced?”

And I give them the example of Tychicus, who was introduced as “a dear brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.” (Colossians 4:7). I know that question isn’t expressly “spiritual”. But It takes us to character, to the outward view of an inward way of being. And the course is being taught as part of a Master of Ministry grad program. So I work from the assumption that the answer will, in some way, relate to us having part of us that desires to connect to God.

I give them 5 minutes because it takes some people time to think, to be willing to be personal. Because I then have them introduce each other to a group of 2-3 other people.  And then they introduce one of those people to the rest of the class.

And then we begin to talk about the process of moving from here to there, about being formed in faithfulness, or love, or compassion. We talk about how we might, as Dallas Willard says, “learn from Jesus how he would live my life if he were I.”

We experience things that I think help us grow in our awareness of God, our selves, and each other. We read or listen to long passages of the Bible, like the whole Sermon on the Mount, and as questions like “What do you like best about that passage?” And “What do you like least?” Because they invite us to engage with the words in ways we usually don’t. And because I assume that engaging that way is formative, shapes us.

It’s not for everyone, I suppose. The course that is. But I’m pretty sure that the process of understanding from Jesus how to live my life is for everyone who follows him.

That’s a taste. Let me know if you are interested in more information. Or let me know how it might be helpful for you to explore this process.

Peace.