The Formation Space

You’re Being Formed By Something (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.

What We Mean By Repentance: More Than Turning Away from Sin

What if repentance isn’t about guilt at all, but about coming home? In this episode, we explore teshuvah—the ancient invitation to turn, return, and live on God’s terms instead of our own. A simple, honest look at the lies we’ve believed and the truth Jesus reveals. 🕊 May this shape the way you turn toward God today.

Formed in the Desert: Why God Feels Distant | Kyle Strobel

What if God feeling distant isn’t a problem to solve, but part of how He forms us? In this episode, we sit down with Kyle Strobel to explore what is actually happening in seasons where God feels far away. Drawing from his new book, "When God Seems Distant," Kyle helps reframe the desert not as failure, but as formation. We talk about why early spiritual passion fades, the difference between passion and affection, and how God uses dryness to expose what is in our hearts and deepen our love for Him. In this episode: • Why God often feels close early in faith and distant later • Passion vs. affection• How the desert exposes what is in us • Why formation is about love • Praying honestly in seasons of dryness Also: a drive by jelly bean incident, an unexpected run in with law enforcement, and at least one moment of fighting for the right to party 🎉