An audio podcast for The Compass Center exploring the discipleship deficit in contemporary Christianity and how to restore discipleship to where it belongs: the very center of Christian faith.

This is part one of a week-long series on discipleship. Subscribe so you get every one of these conversations about the discipleship mission of the movement begun by Jesus 2,000 years ago.

What if worship is bigger than we imagine?What if it is larger than what we are used to experiencing?What if what we call worship is actually smaller than what worship truly is?

In this episode of The Trailhead, we step into the experience of Isaiah and the witness of John Woolman to ask a deeper question: what can worship really be?

The answer might surprise you.

This week on Substack I’m writing and thinking about scripture. I’m doing that to tether Christian spiritual formation—at least the way I view spiritual formatio—is tethered to scripture.

Today’s conversation is a story, a testimony, a lament, and a blessing all in one about the beauty of taking scripture seriously — and the ways I struggle to live the words and ideas of scripture.

In this short, guided time of stillness, we reflect on the words of Jesus in John 10:27:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Long before you thought to seek God, the Shepherd was already seeking you.Today’s Presence invites you to rest in the reality that you are fully known and deeply loved — and to carry that truth with you into the rest of your day.

In this episode:

* Listening for the Shepherd’s voice

* Resting in God’s knowledge of you (Ephesians 1)

* A line from Thomas Kelly on the Shepherd seeking His sheep

* A guided moment of stillness and blessing

If this episode encourages you:

* Try the practice again tomorrow — anywhere, anytime.

* Share it with someone who might need to hear the Shepherd’s voice today.

* Subscribe to The Compass on Substack for weekly reflections and spiritual formation tools.

After a short break from the podcast, I’m beginning something new here on The Compass podcast feed. This new rhythm, called Presence, is a short, guided time to help you pause, listen, and renew your awareness of God’s nearness in the middle of an ordinary day.

Each episode draws from the ancient Christian way of praying the Scriptures—listening deeply to God’s Word, letting it settle into your heart, and carrying it with you into whatever comes next.

Today’s episode is a little longer than the usual five minutes. I’ll explain the heart behind this new series and then walk you through a simple practice from Psalm 46:10:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

This isn’t an escape from the chaos of life. It’s an invitation to be still within it—to restore the awareness that God is still God, still for you, and still with you.

In This Episode:

* A brief introduction to Presence

* A five-step, Scripture-centered practice for renewing your awareness of God

* A blessing to carry with you into the rest of your day

After listening, try the practice anywhere, anytime

* Share it with a friend who might need a quiet space with God today

* Subscribe to The Compass for more reflections and spiritual formation tools each week

In today’s Formation Dig, we begin laying the foundation for next week’s series on Being the Beloved. At the center of that identity is this truth: you don’t earn belovedness—you receive it.We explore the parable of two men in the temple, a posture of humility, and the mercy that anchors us before we ever prove a thing.

🛤 If you’ve ever felt like you don’t measure up, this one’s for you.

→ Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections and practice tools that help you walk more slowly, more deeply, and more honestly with God.

→ Share this episode with someone who needs a word of mercy.

💧 Want to go deeper in listening, guidance, and soul care?Yesterday’s The Compass post invites you to explore spiritual direction—and the quiet transformation it makes possible:👉 Read the post here

In this episode, we explore joy not as a fleeting emotion but as a deep, deliberate practice. Drawing from the wisdom of Henri Nouwen, we consider his profound insight:

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”

What does it mean to choose joy in a world marked by pressure, grief, and noise? And how might Christian spiritual formation help us recover joy—not as escape, but as resistance, hope, and trust in God's goodness?

📬 Get the Companion Practice ToolEvery Wednesday, paid subscribers to The Compass receive a beautifully designed 1–2 page formation tool to help anchor these themes in real life. This week’s tool explores how to cultivate a daily posture of joy, even in hard seasons.

👉 Subscribe now to receive the weekly spiritual practice tool

💬 Share This EpisodeIf this conversation encouraged you, consider forwarding it to a friend or sharing it on social media. Your kind words and shares help more people discover The Compass.

What if we’ve misunderstood joy—not just as a culture, but even as the church? What if joy isn’t the reward for a life finally in order, but the defiant practice of those choosing trust in the middle of the mess?

In this short reflection, we’ll explore how joy might be less about emotion and more about formation. And why this rebel virtue might just be what our soul—and our world—needs most.

👉 If this stirs something in you, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Each week, I share a thoughtful spiritual formation tool to help you live these truths more deeply.

📤 And if this dig helps you, send it to a friend. Joy is meant to be shared.

About This Episode:Joy isn’t something we chase—it’s something we wake up to.

In this first episode of Formation Digs, we explore how spiritual practice helps us hold space for the soul to notice God—even in the middle of ordinary life. Joy often begins when we stop rushing, pay attention, and open our hearts to grace already present.

This short reflection offers a simple daily practice to help you do just that.

Call to Action (CTAs):

👉 Subscribe to The Compass for weekly reflections, spiritual formation tools, and resources for living a deeper life with God: Click here to subscribe.

🎧 Share this episode with a friend who might need encouragement today.

What happens when trust stops being a spiritual concept—and starts becoming your daily lifeline?

In this Formation Dig, we explore what it means to trust God when life doesn’t resolve on schedule. No tidy answers. No spiritual shortcuts. Just real life, real waiting, and real hope.

Along the way, we’ll draw wisdom from the saints who’ve gone before us—Julian of Norwich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Augustine, Corrie ten Boom, and others—voices forged in seasons where trust wasn’t easy, but necessary.

If you’re in one of those seasons right now, this reflection is for you.

📬 Stay Connected

At The Compass, we explore spiritual formation for real life—not just the polished moments, but the messy ones too.

If this reflection resonates, consider subscribing or sharing it with someone who needs it today.

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