By Renovaré
4.9
5454 ratings
The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.
The final episode of this season of Friends in Formation covers listener questions on why spiritual formation "clicks" at certain ages, whether we should pray the prayer "Disturb me, Lord" (Sir Frances Drake), and knowing when to take a break from something.
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email friends@renovare.org.
Listener questions guide our hosts into a fruitful discussion about moving from theory to practice in the discipline of Sabbath, exploring historic Christian writers both inside and outside of your own tradition, and learning to pray for others.
Three listener questions—
Resources:
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].
Show Notes
In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, Richella, Nate, and James answer listener questions about Dallas Willard’s version of The Lord’s Prayer, what things get the goat of our hosts, and how to measure progress in one’s spiritual formation.
Three listener questions—
Resources
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].
Show Notes
Three Listener Questions—
[2:35] My question concerns a phrase I hear you use often in Renovaré — referring to people as “Image Bearers.” I must admit this always makes me sit up as it was not a phrase I had encountered much. At first I wondered if it was just a poetic way of referring to humanity, but am coming to realize it is an important truth and attitude but one I feel I have lacked - I think because my evangelical background had focused more on the 'depravity of Man' and begins viewing humanity (especially oneself) from a position of sinfulness, where the Image of God is lost and only restored in Christ. Specifically, HOW you have learnt to see yourself and others as Image Bearers, not just as a theological belief but in practice, and how doing this helps your spiritual formation.
[17:46] I am currently reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (and trying, reasonably, to take my time with it), and next on the list is Streams of Living Water. Some dear church friends have begun to visit the churches of other friends — ones they know have a true, deep relationship with God — who attend churches of different denominations, in order to gain a better appreciation and understanding of their traditions. I find myself wishing that we, too, had many friends of other denominations who could not only serve as our safeguards, but with whom we could afterward discuss their traditions and church’s values, and process those of our own more objectively and reflectively. We would greatly appreciate any suggestions you could offer as to how to go about this.
[31:33] From two different listeners in ministry positions:
Resources
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].
In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, James, Nate, and Richella answer listener questions about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, unfairness and injustice in the church, and prayer labyrinths.
Show Notes
[1:20] I want us to reflect together on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, because this is a big world event. We have a lot of folks who have indicated that they’re interested in what all this means, how things fit together in the faith of a very public person.
[15:13] How do we respond to unfairness and injustice in the Christian context?
[31:16] A church near me has just built a new prayer labyrinth in their side garden, and I have the desire to visit it. I have prayed and meditated using a labyrinth in the past, but I have always struggled keeping my mind on the Lord. What are some suggestions for how I can focus in, slow down, and use the labyrinth to connect deeply with God?
Resources
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].
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In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, Richella, James, and Nate answer listener questions about wrestling with unhealthy views of God, habits that can help us read deeply, and whether to pray for someone's healing right away, or only after feeling led to do so.
Show Notes
[1:10] A.W Tozer opens his Knowledge of the Holy with, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Dallas Willard wrote that if our view of God does not allow us to wholly give ourselves to God in love, you need to rethink your theology until it does. Question: what significant view of God have you wrestled with successfully?
[14:59] Have you experienced integration over the years in your written conversations: in devotional reading, in journaling... and in the two intertwined?
[28:02] Should you wait until you feel led to pray for someone's healing, or should you jump right in and just do it?
Resources
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].
In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, Nate, Richella, and James answer listener questions about which Christian Stream “gives the most bang for the buck,” how to discern when to fast (or practice any spiritual discipline), and how to have spiritual conversations with kids who are grown.
[2:32] Of the Six Streams, which is the best one to sit in that gives the most bang for the buck in the journey of Christian spiritual formation?
[19:24] I struggle a lot in my day-to-day life with decision fatigue, second-guessing myself, and fears about not being "good enough." This past school term, I developed a very beneficial rhythm of weekly fasting and found the practice deeply helpful. However, now that I'm on my summer schedule that old rhythm no longer works well and I haven't fasted consistently. Whenever it's been a while since I've fasted, I start thinking about it frequently, even every day or every meal and fretting about whether it's a good time or not…. Are there some stabilizing questions or thoughts that I can come back to when I start to debate fasting? What are valid vs. invalid reasons not to fast, be it in the moment or for a season?
[37:50] What are some suggestions in talking to adult children about spiritual matters?
Resources Mentioned
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].
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In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, Nate, Richella, and James answer listener questions about training in joy, how to be a "friend in formation" to a spouse with dementia, and knowing when to confront someone's sin.
[1:13] I’ve been a (hopefully) honest apprentice of Jesus for over 50 years, but I've always struggled with a lack of joy in my life. I recently came to the thought that perhaps experiencing joy is something that needs training, much like learning how to live in the constant flow of grace. If this is true, what spiritual disciplines might be best to allow a person to enter into a greater experience of joy. Thank you again for your willingness to share your tremendous expertise in Kingdom living in this setting. I feel as though I'm getting to know the three of you in an interesting, very pleasant way. I look forward to actually meeting you in about 50 years.
[15:22] Three years ago, the love of my life came down with dementia. Her dementia has progressed to the point where she's unable to communicate verbally. And a little while ago, her safety and my own health, led me to place her in a home. I visit her on a regular basis and want her to know that she's not only loved by me and our family, but that our heavenly Father loves her as well. I know there is a communication of the heart. So I try to sing to her simple love songs, like “You are My Sunshine,” as well as hymns that she grew up with, as well as holding her hands while I pray for her. I want her to know the peace that will sustain her as we journey together through this horrible disease. Do you have any suggestions? How can I be a “friend in formation” to her?
[25:49] It sounds like you hold to a reticence in confronting, except when absolutely necessary. Can you flesh that out a bit, in light of Galatians 6:1, Matthew 18:15-17, and other passages that seem to instruct us that part of love is to kindly address others. How do we discern when it is necessary, good and loving to address someone else's sin?
Resources
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].
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[1:26] In the stage of life me and my husband are in—we have three young children, jobs, and we are involved in our local church, there are lots of opportunities to do good things. When I sit down and look at our family calendar, I feel overwhelmed and unable to do all that I set out to do! How do I know what to say "no" to, and how do I say "no" without feeling guilty?
[16:20] When moving forward to understand some of the deep riches of other Christian traditions that have not been familiar to me I sometimes find myself looking back at my own stream of origin and being pretty grumpy. Does anyone else find this happens to them? Any tips on not falling, ironically, into judgementalism about our ‘family of origin’ in our faith?
[26:20] Does Christianity have a "body" problem? What is the body and what is its connection to our spirituality as it relates to formation?
Resources
Want to Suggest a Question?
To submit a question for James, Richella, and Nate to consider discussing on Friends in Formation, email [email protected].
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In this month’s episode of Friends in Formation, Richella, James, and Nate answer listener questions about the easy yoke Jesus talked about, experiencing true freedom, and spiritual formation in marriage.
Show Notes
[1:20] Is it possible to practice the spiritual disciplines out of a place of peace and rest from day one following Jesus, or is the easy and light yoke only the prize at the end of the journey? It just feels so often like the spiritual disciplines are another form of religious performance, and the rest Jesus promises remains a distant hope.
[18:08] I have been thinking of freedom - Galatians 5:1. I notice when I talk with other Christians that there is fear and resistance when it comes to freedom. Why is that if this is something Christ wants us to truly experience? What does true freedom look like in ordinary everyday life? Are there practices that help position us to experience true freedom more as Christ desires for us?
[31:18] How can we work toward a faith-filled marriage? What can spiritual formation look like in the context of marriage? How do each of you share spiritual life with your spouses?
Resources
The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.
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