Spiritual Formations: Community

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Key points

Our experience of spiritual formation is enhanced when we join in communities of faith, where we share the practices and encourage each other.

It is important to realise that although there may be times when we retreat in silence and solitude as part of our spiritual formation journey, these experiences were not meant to be considered the most highly valued of all spiritual practices.

There is something very special about sharing in the journey of faith with all its joys and sorrows.

Our experience of spiritual formation is enhanced when we join in communities of faith, where we share the practices and encourage each other.

To have a shared memory and history of faith with others can be so encouraging.

I had the very special experience of co-pastoring with my husband for 25 years.

Church life gave us the gift of a community of friends where we shared being formed spiritually together.

Those memories will stay with me and encourage me always.

Let’s try today contacting someone in your community to encourage them in their faith journey.

Having moved to a new location we are starting to meet with a new church community and although it is taking time to remember names, I am already convinced again of the importance of meeting together.

Mind you turning up for a service once a week will not suffice for me, I am looking for opportunities to share life beyond the Sunday gathering.

To share some of the spiritual practices in smaller groups and to encourage others in their faith as indeed my final days on this earth draw closer each day.

Let’s try today contacting someone in your community to encourage them in their faith journey.

Maybe you could share a verse to encourage them or plan to meet up.

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Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro

Series written by Kath Henry

Originally published as Spiritual Formation – Community