Tuesdays, March 12 - June 4 (no class April 2) | 7:00-9:00pm | Activity Center
Forming addresses a frustration that many of us Christians face when we try to grow in our relationship with Jesus. In spite of our best efforts to do what we know we ought to do, we get tired and discouraged, similar to when we’re rowing a boat against the wind. We know we can’t grow on our own, so we pray for strength to row harder. We go to conferences, participate in Bible studies, commit to spiritual disciplines, and get involved in ministry. But the frustration of trying to do more eventually wears us out!
Instead of moving forward by “rowing,” Forming teaches us another way—which we could call “Sailboat Christianity”—that is, letting the wind do most of the work. In sailing, one learns to how to align the sail with the wind and let the wind take us to places we could never get to on our own.
The key to Forming is learning how to allow God’s Spirit to work on us from the inside out. Instead of forcing myself to say, “I forgive you,” I learn how to engage with God, and my heart is changed into one that truly forgives. Forming teaches us to not depend on willpower to override contrary feelings and inclinations, but to break free from the cycle of repentance and rededication by learning to participate with God to move our inner life forward in ways we could not do by our own effort.