Biblical Premise

Therefore the growth of your faith is truly as necessary as its beginning, and indeed more so; but all is the work of God. (Sermons of Martin Luther)

The command of Jesus to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20) is the framework of Christian ministry. Inherent in the word “mathetois” is the implication of developing and training others: “train everyone you meet” [The Message]. Essential to training others is the awareness that the disciple is acutely paying attention to his/her own spiritual life.

Disciples of Christ, are called to “abide in Christ” in order to “bear much fruit” (John 15:4-8), to “be watchful and pray” (Luke 21:26), to avoid “conformity to this world” while being “transformed by the renewing of the mind” (Rom 12:2-3), to “walk by the Spirit” while refusing to “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:16), to “put away your former way of life, the old self “ and to “clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22).

Transformation discipleship implies spiritual formation. The theme of “formation” is deeply rooted in the writings of Paul in the New Testament:

“My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2)

Christian formation is a discipline that is both personal and corporate, involving our inmost heart, our outward behavior, and the way we live together. Formation is the work of the Spirit who brings us to Christ and joins our lives to his, so that in struggle and newness of life we bear the image of the crucified and risen Lord and make him known to the world. According to Lutheran confessional teaching, the work of the Spirit which grants faith inescapably transforms us (Apology, Art IV, par 64).