Formed together

We realize that many individuals come to church looking for deeper intimacy and a different kind of learning than can take place in traditional spiritual formation classes.

In addition to a regular adult "inductive" Bible study on Sunday mornings, we always offer several other electives for adult formation. We seek to offer small group opportunities that are either focused on building community with a certain segment of the church or that attempt to take people more deeply into a particular facet of the Christian life. Often the groups do both.

Some of our small groups are ongoing and some are short term. On Friday mornings at breakfast, a group meets with the pastor to talk about the upcoming Lectionary texts and how they intersect with our lives. The Lectionary breakfast is for the entire church; everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Doyle Young or Nan Rentz.

Lectionary breakfast discussion

In the past, groups have gathered around movie discussions, body prayer, contemplative prayer, parenting teenagers, life as a young adult woman, living the missional life, relationships as a spiritual path, and family spirituality. On most Sunday mornings there are several options available for adults which are coed and intergenerational.

We also offer "discernment groups" for individuals wanting to listen for God's leadership and direction in their lives.

Spiritual Formation for Adults

"Among the mature . . . we impart a secret and hidden wisdom." (I Corinthians 2:6-7)

"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind [Greek "nous"]." (Romans 12:2)

"Put off your old nature . . . and be renewed in the spirit of your minds [Greek "nous"] and put on the new nature." (Ephesians 4:22-23)

At DaySpring, many of us have come to see that the spiritual journey is deeper and richer than we have been taught. Many of us grew up in churches that seemed to teach "get saved and go evangelize" without teaching people how to go deeply into the spiritual life. We want to know God in a deep way that heals and transforms us; we want to have transformed hearts.

It has been a surprise to many of us to learn that there is an ancient Christian spiritual tradition that teaches a person how to cleanse the heart and open it to God in a way that leads to change. At DaySpring, we value this spiritual tradition and seek to understand it and practice it. This is not pop psychology or New Age stuff or the latest trend — it is the ancient Christian path that has been largely unknown among western Christians, particularly Protestants.

Though being made right with God does not depend on one's efforts, one's subsequent spiritual progress does. The spiritual journey is not an escalator (you just step on and it carries you upward). Jesus said that it is a "hard road," i.e. it requires effort, but it "leads to life." There are stages in the spiritual journey and there are spiritual disciplines that are appropriate for each stage. As a person practices these spiritual disciplines, i.e. makes an effort, with an open heart, God acts — the spiritual Fathers described this as a synergy.

We want to be a community of spiritual, loving people who are walking the spiritual path and becoming more like Christ.

At DaySpring, we attempt to be formed spiritually in a variety of ways. We encourage one another to immerse ourselves daily in Scripture through a slow, meditative style of reading it. We worship in a style designed to draw us deeper into God. We cultivate stillness and quiet in our lives. We learn how to gain control of our bodily desires, thoughts, and emotions. We learn how to pray. We periodically offer spiritual formation classes, usually before the worship service, that teach aspects of the ancient spiritual tradition. A group gathers weekly with the pastor to reflect on the scripture texts for the upcoming Sunday and the conversation is usually rich and formative. We offer spiritual direction to those who seek it; this is usually a monthly one-on-one meeting between a spiritual director or mentor and the person seeking direction in which there is a sharing of insights and wisdom. We offer discernment groups to assist people who are struggling to discern Gods direction in their lives. We post under the Resources/Library section of this web site documents written by our leadership to help people on the journey and we make books on the spiritual life available for purchase in the church narthex.