Spiritual Formation Practices

In the words of Eugene Peterson, "God speaks to us; our answers are our prayers."
Being told just to "read Scripture and pray" is a little bit like being told by the doctor to exercise - half the battle is just getting started. So All Saints has put together a few simple ways to start incorporating this first practice in your daily life. Find them here.

The Christian journey isn’t walked alone, but in community with other Christians. We’re not called to love, serve, know people in general, but specific and particular ones. It’s in community that we mature and develop as Christ-followers with family, friends and small groups. This community should most naturally be tied to one’s local church community.

The Christian life is complex. Scripture is complex. We need to learn from others. Christian theology is a wonderful resource, friend and guide. Study occurs both in individual and group settings.

Scripture is full of examples of one-on-one relationships in which the spiritual life of the participants was nourished and built up by the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of another Christian. Ruth and Naomi, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy - these are just some of the ones we can name. But the entire culture of the Ancient Near East was one of apprenticeship, mentorship, and discipleship, sitting at the feet of another who is further along your path to receive guidance or instruction.

At All Saints, we want to help you cultivate some of these life-giving relationships, whether you are facing a particular challenge or simply want another Christian voice speaking truth into your life. There are four forms of one-on-one relationships, depending on your need or desire - Ministerial Counseling, Spiritual Mentorship (Discipleship), Spiritual Direction, and Licensed Professional Counseling. These relationships are by no means exclusive from one another and it is often recommended to maintain them concurrently. For example, it is very common and appropriate for someone in a relationship of Spiritual Direction to also be in Licensed Professional Counseling.

Learn more about these relationships here.

We're reminded every night that we are finite creatures in desperate need of rest. We’re reminded more fully of that every week. But in a technological world, rest is especially hard to come by. We can work late into the night; e-mail, texts and calls seldom stop and our work hours are varied and blurred. But, we still need to have rhythms, patterns and habits, where we put aside our work and rest so that we might be recreated and re-energized. The ancient Christian practice of Sabbath is a much-needed one today.

This is a little longer version to the daily and weekly rest. It’s a little longer version of daily reading and prayer. It’s an extended and intensified time to listen, learn, pray, be silent, be alone and/or with others and enjoy God’s amazing grace.

Tithing or sacrificial giving is a tangible reminder that we're not ultimately to live self-directed lives, but God and other-directed ones. Sacrificial giving is a discipline to make us more generous, joyful, caring and gracious people. The paradox of Christianity is that we are more blessed, satisfied, and fulfilled when we give, rather than when we receive. It was true of our Savior and it’s true of us. The goal of sacrificial giving is to more fully display the generosity of Jesus to us in our giving to others.

We were not made for excess or over-indulgence in anything (other than God!), but to enjoy all things in moderation. One of the ancient practices of the church is to abstain from food (but also other things) for a season, so that we might more fully hunger for God. Learning how to deny ourselves is hard. But learning to say no and to live moderately is vital for those called to "take up our cross" and follow Jesus.

We were made for friendship, relationship and community. True community isn’t only receiving from others, but also giving to others. Hospitality is an ancient practice of loving neighbors, strangers, friends in real and tangible ways. It’s a way of opening up our lives to others and to God through them. It’s a way of embodying the grace that we’ve received- God’s lavish, loving, warm welcome.

Just as Christ came not to be served, but to serve, so we also should seek to serve others in real and practical ways. Christian service isn’t ultimately about a to-do list, but an attitude, stance, posture. The apostle Paul opened most of his letters with these words, “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ.” The Greek word he used, was that of the lowest servant. This meant that for Paul, everybody was above him- children, slaves, barbarians. He was ready and eager to serve because he knew he had been served by Christ. Paul’s posture is much-needed today, as we seek to become more like Jesus, the true servant of all.