What Happened to Formation in the Church? | Steve Porter

The Heart Behind The Formation Space | A Deeper Vision of Life in God's Kingdom

After years of ministry, study, and serving in the church, we all arrived at a similar realization: information alone wasn't producing transformation. In this episode, we pull back the curtain and share our stories. From pastoral burnout and church hurt to addiction, disappointment, and the search for a deeper life with God, we talk about the experiences that led us to a deeper vision of discipleship, apprenticeship to Jesus, and life in God's Kingdom, here and now. We also share how we met through the Dallas Willard School of Kingdom Living, the conversations that sparked this podcast, and our hope for creating a space where people can explore spiritual formation, practical discipleship, and the with-God life together. If you're new to The Formation Space, this is a great place to start.

What We Mean By Peace: It's More Than Feeling Calm

What if peace isn’t something we find when life finally calms down, but a way of living we’re invited into right now?In this episode, we explore shalom—the biblical vision of wholeness, harmony, and the full life God intended from the very beginning. Drawing from Dallas Willard’s profound definition of peace, we look at why peace is not the absence of conflict, but a resting of the will rooted in divine assurance.If you’re longing for a deeper, steadier, more grounded way of living with God, this episode offers a gentle but transformative invitation into the peace you were created for.

We Become What We Practice (The Spiritual Disciplines Explained)

What are the spiritual disciplines really for? In this episode, we explore practices like prayer, fasting, silence, solitude, Sabbath, and simplicity and how they shape us over time into people marked by love, joy, peace, and Christlikeness. Rather than treating the disciplines like religious obligations, we discuss them as ways of opening ourselves to the grace and presence of God in everyday life. We also reflect on why silence feels so difficult, how habits form our character, and why the question “What’s bothering you?” may reveal more about our spiritual formation than we realize. Featuring reflections inspired by Dallas Willard and Richard Foster.

What We Mean By Sabbath: It’s More Than Just Rest

What if Sabbath isn’t about slowing down for a day, but about remembering what it means to be human? In this episode, we explore Shabbat—the ancient invitation to cease, stop, and rest in the rhythm God built into creation. A simple, honest look at why rest is essential and how Sabbath reorients our lives back to God. 🕊May this invite you to breathe, stop, and rest today.

What Happened to Formation in the Church? | Steve Porter

If the church is meant to form people into the likeness of Jesus, why does it feel like we have to bring formation back? In this conversation with Dr. Steve Porter, we explore what the church is actually meant to do and how that vision has become obscured over time. We talk about the purpose of the church, the subtle ways formation gets replaced by activity, and how our understanding of salvation shapes the life of transformation. We also discuss the role of community and how formation unfolds in everyday life beyond Sunday gatherings. This conversation looks at how we got here, makes sense of where we are now, and invites us to rediscover what the church is meant to be.