As we close out Season 1, let’s crystalize what we’ve covered so far regarding the Great Omission, deep discipleship, and the journey into the ideas in our hearts. Then we’ll turn our attention to Season 2, and preview how we’ll dig into one of the primary problems: the Discipleship Dilemma.

We love our institutions - we love starting them, feeding them, and growing them.  But how do institutions relate to our spiritual formation?  What role do local church institutions play in our deep discipleship?  We are personal, relational beings who long to be known - can institutions "know" us?  Let's take a sober-minded look at our love of large churches and institutions to determine how they do or do not help us uncover the hidden ideas in our hearts and grow to be more like Christ. For more resources, check out the Soil and Roots website.  

As we explore ideas and deep discipleship, what role does the local church play in our spiritual formation?  Is it central to it, directing it, a part of it, or not related to it at all? We compare the average local church experience to other well-known formative experiences - and the conclusions we draw may be surprising. 

Today's episode relies heavily on a resource called the Formation Evaluation Worksheet.  You can find it on the Resources tab at www.soilandroots.org.

There are two sets of ideas that govern us: ideas of light and ideas of darkness. Today we’ll dig into just one Core Idea (Value) and compare the light version with the dark version. Then we’ll practice Heartview to determine which Core Idea of Value is powering our own hearts.

We've adopted a definition of discipleship as "the process by which our ideas of darkness are progressively transformed into ideas of light." But we've also noted that we aren't usually conscious of many of the ideas in our hearts!  Often times it takes a crisis for us to dig under the surface to uncover what's going on.  Can we discern our hearts at other times? We answer that question, and look at some very practical "signs" in our lives that point back to our hidden ideas, desires, and assumptions.  For more info, check out the Resources tab on the Soil and Roots website. 

Here in Season 1, we're getting our feet wet in the realm of "deep discipleship" - the journey into the world of ideas and desires as we become more like Jesus. Because ideas are essential to discipleship, let's explore some of their characteristics: origin, location, formation, and awareness. Where do ideas originate? Where do we find them today? How are they formed in our hearts? How do we become aware of them? Brian closes with a powerful personal story of how Jesus kindly revealed a dark idea in his heart, and how He continues to transform it today.

As we continue our journey into deep discipleship, once in a while it's good to take a pit stop! Soil and Roots bonus episodes are designed to slow down, marinate in what we've explored so far, and provide a few hints about what lies ahead. The first half of today's episode summarizes the Great Omission, deep discipleship, and the power of ideas. The second half introduces a few of the new terms and concepts we're going to be exploring ahead: the Six Core Ideas and the Five Key Elements of Formation. Enjoy the pit stop!

As we journey into "deep discipleship," we continue to get our feet wet in exploring ideas, these unconscious assumptions and principles that power and govern us.

Today we wrestle with a key question: Are our churches equipped and ready to help guide us into the latter stages of discipleship? Do we experience this exploration of ideas and desires through our customary Christian institutions?

Does the modern Christian institution recognize that we are integrated creatures living in an integrated world? Our heart, mind, and body are intimately woven together in the context of our soul, and we are "formed" as integrated beings. Is this how the modern church approaches our humanity?

We're digging way beneath the surface today!

If you're near a computer, check out the Creation Picture and On Being Human pictures on the Resources tab at www.soilandroots.org.   

What are we?  What does it mean to be "human?" When we talk about discipleship, or spiritual formation, what do we mean by "spirit" and how is it formed? We have a body, a mind, a soul, a spirit, a heart - how do these all fit together? We dig in to explore what it means to be a human being and we introduce a new category of idea: Ideas of Anthropology. Check out the "On Being Human" picture on the Resources tab at www.soilandroots.org as you listen in.  

As we journey into deep discipleship, we continue to "practice" identifying and exploring the ideas that form us. Today we dig into an "Idea of Expectation."

Is the world winding up or down?  Are we headed towards a worldwide crisis or are there other ideas to consider?

Whether we know it or not, we have conscious or unconscious assumptions about the direction of the world and the Kingdom, and these ideas have tremendous influence on our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. We explore one popular idea called "Christian fatalism," and how it relates to the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Christian church in the West.  If you haven't already done so, check out the Creation Picture for reference at www.soilandroots.org.