At the beginning of this class, CONG 630 at Indiana Wesleyan University/Wesley Seminary, I wasn’t sure what I would gain to help my own community since we are so small. Some of the work of looking into our ministries and our explicit and implicit acts was difficult just because we are so new. It was a challenge, but I believe that it will be rewarding as we move forward in our process. We can use these studies and timelines as a steppingstone to where we want to go next and what we don’t want to continue in our own tradition.
Some inspiration from the semester:
Will Our Children Have Faith? By John Westerhoff gives us a lot to think about when it comes to the generations behind us. What are we teaching them and how does our own current church context affect them in the long run? These are questions that I have been thinking about since the beginning of this class. At first, I thought our children were doomed according to this author. We had made too many mistakes, and the church of today is so outdated that we could not regain any traction on discipleship. I look at my own children and find that they long for more discipleship and less ritual. They have been a part of the ritual Sunday since birth. They long for relationship. Our current church context portrays that feeling of my kids and myself. So, will our children have faith? Westerhoff says, “I believe it suggests ways to engage in religious education that can insure a positive response to that question. Our children will have faith if we have faith and are faithful.”[1] Doesn’t this statement just sum it all up? We are so quick to change our ways of education and teaching of the gospel to fit our needs. We forget that when we reach the point of nothing working our faith sways and we begin to question if we are doing the right thing. God calls us to be faithful and continue to work.
Our Future:
We don’t have a large group that attends our community. We are small, but we are deep and searching. When you have a small community like that there is a tendency to give up and move on. If that were the case, then these small seeds of knowledge would be going to the wayside, and no one would benefit. As Westerhoff has shared with us, our faith is what keeps the generations of Christians going. We must stay the course and continue to teach and seek deeper discipleship.
[1] John Westerhoff III. Will Our Children Have Faith? (New York, NY. Morehouse Pub. Third Edition. 2012) P. 126
In the small village of Kambos, nestled in the hills of Crete, a centuries-old olive tree stood behind the Papadakis home. Yiayia Eleni claimed it was planted by her grandfather during the Ottoman occupation, though no one had ever verified it. The tree was more than a tree—it was family.
Eleni, now 87, sat in its shade every morning with her embroidery and a cup of sweet Greek coffee. Her granddaughter, Lydia, visiting from New York after ten years away, found the ritual both charming and oppressive. Lydia, 28, a UX designer who lived for her startup’s metrics, had little patience for the slow rhythms of village life or the clingy weight of tradition.
One morning, as cicadas buzzed like static in the distance, Eleni looked up from her needlework.
“You don’t remember, but you used to climb this tree every summer,” she said. “Like a monkey, your grandfather would say.”
Lydia gave a half-smile, scrolling through her phone. “I was a kid, Yiayia. I barely remember being here.”
“You remember more than you think. The roots go deep, even if you don’t see them.”
Lydia sighed, “I get it. Tradition. Roots. But I live in a world that changes every three months. If I don’t adapt, I disappear.”
Eleni nodded slowly, sipping her coffee. “You think this tree survived hundreds of years without adapting? Look at its bark. Scarred from storms, cut back in droughts. But always growing.”
Later that week, Lydia joined Eleni to prune the olive tree. As they worked, stories flowed—of wartime famine, of hidden romances, of broken dreams and rebuilt lives. Lydia found herself listening more than speaking. She began to recognize something in her grandmother’s tone—a quiet resilience not unlike her own.
On her last day, Lydia sat under the olive tree alone, sketching a new app concept—not one for startups or subscriptions, but one that mapped family trees with stories, sounds, and smells attached. She called it “Roots.”
Before she left, Eleni pressed a small pouch into her hand. Inside was a pendant carved from olive wood. “For strength,” she said.
As the taxi pulled away, Lydia looked back once. Eleni waved, framed by the gnarled old tree—both of them smaller in the distance, but somehow larger than ever.
Let’s apply this story to congregational life and community. Even when there is a strong sense that there is great intergenerational dynamics happening, there might still be something missing. There are groups for each separate age group, but nothing that would put them together at the same time except for maybe summer VBS or children’s church on a Sunday. This is the time that most ages get a chance to serve together. There is room for improvement. Mentor programs and classes with all ages able to connect and learn together about the Christian world and the way it’s moving and shaping.
Faith formation happens when we are able to work with one another and take in the knowledge and experience of those that have gone before and those that are coming up in the younger generations. We must learn and listen from one another. “Faith is being reinforced in its recurring performances and through both the spontaneous and intentional conversations springing up in the midst of the ordinary (and extraordinary) events of community life where the meanings and stories of these performance are told and retold for the benefit of all.”[1]
Here are some examples of Communal Faith Formation that would be a great place to start:
1. Worship Together
Photo credit: Catechists Journey
2. Learn together
Photo Credit: Catholic Courier
3. Mentor One Another
Photo Credit: Institute of Entrepreneurship Development
How would you go about adding more communal faith formation into your communities?
[1] Fred P. Edie and Mark A. Lamport. Nurturing Faith: A Practical Theology of Educating Christians. (Grand Rapids, MI. Wm.B.Eerdmans Publishing, CO. 2021). P. 11
If you have never had the opportunity to view such an interest piece of history, I highly suggest “Galileo Was Right” episode 10 of From the Earth to the Moon. There were moments of history, obstacles of learning about a subject that was not even of interest to them, overcoming the lack of knowledge and thriving, and success of the mission. We viewed before us a mission that was full of a difficult subject of geology. The astronauts had no idea what they were getting into. As the episode goes on we see the light bulb of interest turn on as they started to understand how important it was that they get it right. They were going to be the eyes and ears for us here on earth and there was knowledge that needed to be found and understood by them.
These astronauts, described as passionate Renaissance men, worked hard to learn the language of geology as well as the actual science that they were studying. At first in the episode, we see boredom when it is being taught to them. It took a very passionate teacher to come and light the spark of interest in them that pushed them to be better. The teacher laid it out like this; “It is your job to decide the difference between roadkill and a meal.” When they made that decision, they became the storyteller for those of us on earth. When they accomplished the feat of learning to be storytellers, they learned how to look at the land differently. They were able to describe what they were seeing and how it mattered to those of us who were unable to see ourselves.
Photo Credit: Entrepeneur
As leaders it is easy for us to tell the stories that we know and that we are good at. Sometimes it holds us in a box, and we are unable to see past what is right in front of us. Our congregations and communities are the rocks that these astronauts were inspecting. Each one of them is unique and has come from somewhere or something different. In order to see our communities the way that God has intended we should be studying them and looking at the uniqueness that they hold. We must stand at the highest peak and look out at the big picture in front of us. When we do that intentionally our people and our leadership will thrive. We should hold each “rock” as if it was the most genuine piece of rock ever discovered, just like the astronauts did when they discovered the one rock that they were looking for.
Have you looked at the community around you as a new landing site? I wonder what we would come up with now that we have these tools in our back pocket. Will it change the way we lead them? Could it give us more insight into the way it ticks? It’s possible. Our eyes must be open to this possibility.
This is a term or thought that we don’t often sit and ponder about. Prior to reading an article called “What Makes Education Christian?” by James Riley Estep Jr., I was under the impression that Christian Education is the teaching of principles, values, and of the Christian faith. It aims to nurture individuals spiritually, morally, and intellectually based on the teachings of the Bible and the life and message of Jesus Christ.
Yes, this is all true, but there are some things missing. There must be Christian theology that is attached or added to the education that makes it Christian.
“each criterion’s definition and conceptualization must be informed by Scripture, Christian tradition, and theology so as to reflect a distinctively Christian quality.” Estep, Jr.
Photo credit: Ringstrilogyposter.web
Take a book or movie like TheLord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien for instance. We have a book about a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins. If we read the story without the nitty gritty details, all we are reading or seeing is that there is a man that walks a long way for a long time and meets some friends on the way to somewhere. He finds a ring and good things happen.
When we add the details or real meat (theology) to the book/movie we find so much more. Frodo Baggins, a young hobbit, inherits a powerful and dangerous object called the One Ring. The ring has the power to control all other magical rings and brings corruption to whoever possesses it. To keep the dark lord, Sauron from reclaiming the Ring and conquering the Middle-earth, Frodo must go on a perilous journey to destroy it. He meets a lot of friends on the way that includes humans, elves, a dwarf, and fellow hobbits. There are many trials, battles, and betrayals, the members are separated, and each must fight their own battles against evil. While all these things are happening, Frodo and his best loyal friend, Samwise Gamgee press on toward Sauron’s realm, Mordor, where danger and corruption are growing from the Ring. Through courage, sacrifice, and hope, the story explores themes of good versus evil, friendship, power, and the resilience of the human (and hobbit) spirit. This is a much better story to tell.
Photo Credit: Te Kupenga
BOTH / AND
Photo Credit: MR Online
Christian Education needs to have Christian theology integrated into it to make it real Christian ….education. What is theology? Theology is the study of God. It explores questions of faith, the nature of God, salvation, and moral teachings, based on Scriptures. Maybe Christian education needs a little bit of social science added in as well. What is social science? Social science is a group of academic disciplines that study human society and social relationships. This includes sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, etc. Understanding both thoughts and what they can bring to education makes me lean towards the importance of the integration of both theology and social science being added to our Christian education. We must understand the nature of God and his teachings from the Scriptures as well as the context of our world through sociology and psychology. This helps us get a well-rounded education that can be used for the greater good of our society that we live in.
The level of educational theory and theology that I have received over the years in Seminary has been astronomical. I believe that at a level 3 now, I could begin to teach and share my theological convictions to those that would like a better understanding through Christian education. Areas of improvement are always present. Confidence in my own theological convictions is a place of needed improvement for me.
What are your thoughts on Christian Education? Do you think that social sciences help us become more well-rounded in our way of thinking when it comes to Christianity? How do you think you would do sharing your own theology and theories to those that are wanting more education in their life?
There came a day in my own life’s spiritual journey when I felt like there was something missing. I was going to church every week and using my musical gift as the Worship director. I was attending extra events in a large church every week and checking off those boxes that I thought needed to be checked. Something wasn’t right and there was an emptiness that remained in the hidden depths of my soul. What was that thing that was missing within me?
Discipleship and the WWE
Photo Credit: CBR
This weekend is THEE greatest Professional Wrestling event on planet earth. The annual WrestleMania event put on by WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). Yes, I am that person, I watch wrestling. Yes, I know it’s scripted and made up, but so is the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Jurassic Park Universe, but we watch those too. Wrestling is the ultimate show between good and evil! What makes it great entertainment and fun to engage with is that each program or match is leading to, what every wrestling fan knows as, “the pay-off”. The pay-off is the culminating event that each good versus evil battle leads to, the final showdown. In professional wrestling the dream of every male and female wrestler is to have their feud end up having their pay-off in the MAIN EVENT, at WrestleMania. The main event is the most anticipated and talked about thing every year in their business. For us, at The Foundry, the most anticipated and talked about thing we participate in is, DISCIPLESHIP! Discipleship is our main event, not Sunday morning, not a service, not an outreach program, not our children’s programming, not tithing or raising money, but discipleship! If we are ever talking about anything more than we talk about discipleship than we have missed our target. Everything can be talked about and thought about, but it must be spoken about and thought about through the lens of discipleship. Just like every match leading up to the main event at WrestleMania they must be planned, talked about, and rehearsed, but all those things are done through the lens of the pay-off. Our pay-off is seeing disciples made who make disciples. Everything else is secondary.
I am now a part of a small community of believers and unbelievers that gather with the prime intention of discipleship and fellowship. We call all our meetings, missional gatherings. It is what we do. As Paul and his followers in Acts went from gathering-to-gathering fellowshipping and talking about the love and message of Christ, so we too use that example to be missional with a purpose. This is also mandated in the great commission! The width and breadth of the gospel can be met in these small gatherings because there is freedom in the movement that we are a part of. The word is spoken, prayer is uttered, worship in song is given, laughter is a given, and tears of sorrow or joy are received. Healing from the hurts of the past is being made and our souls are forever grateful. Our full intentions for these missional gatherings are to develop authentic relationships, deepen our awareness of God, and discuss our journeys with awe and wonder.
Missional Community
Photo Credit: This Old City
Our denomination is amazing and supports us in our own autonomy. We are different and they like it. How ever we can meet people where they are and in the space that they need is what is important. We attend annual conferences yearly to gain district support and knowledge as well as monthly huddles that happen in our areas. God is moving and we are here for it.
We have been in our community for several years and we know a lot of people in many different places. Our missional groups have been created to support those different places and different people while bringing them together for the same purpose. Our name is known in large places intentionally by us supporting them. We make sure that we are doing the missional work outside of our groups as well as inside.
If you are feeling like something is missing in your soul. Take some time away from the hustle and bustle of life and try to figure out what that might be. Maybe it’s a change of some sort. Are you attending your local church? Are you doing too much? Do you need more intentional discipleship in your life like I did? If yes is the answer to any of these then I invite you to make a change. Join us in one of our missional gatherings where discipleship is the main event!
We are blessed with inner rhythms that tell us where we are,
And where we are going, No matter, then,
Our fifty- and sixty-hour work weeks, the refusing to
Stop for lunch, the bypassing sleep and working deep
Into the darkness. If we stop, if we return to rest,
Our natural state reasserts itself.
Our natural wisdom and balance come to our aid,
And we can find our way to what is good, necessary, and true.
Wayne Muller, SABBATH
A person relaxing in a hammock by the water, surrounded by trees during a vibrant sunset. Photo credit: MissionCentral.ca
What is Sabbath?
Sabbath is…Rest and Worship: In today’s language Sabbath is a day of rest and renewal. Over time, since the early Jewish tradition of celebrating Sabbath on Saturday, Sunday then became the primary day of worship and rest. This practice is reflected in the Christian tradition of attending church services, taking time for reflection, and resting from work.
Sabbath gives…Spiritual Renewal: The role of Sunday as a “day of rest” focuses more on spiritual renewal and reflection on God’s grace, the teachings of Jesus, and the importance of community worship.
Theological Meaning: For many Christians, the Sabbath (or Sunday observance) symbolizes a rest found in Christ’s redemption, as described in Hebrews 4:9-10. It is not merely a physical rest but a spiritual rest, celebrating the new covenant brought by Jesus.
What happens when the Sabbath is forgotten?
Sabbath keeping is the linchpin of a life lived in sync with the rhythms. That God himself built into our world, and yet it is the discipline that seems hardest for us to live. Sabbath keeping honors the body’s need for rest; the spirit’s need for replenishment and the sou’s need to delight itself in God for God’s own sake. It begins with willingness to acknowledge the limits of our humanness and then take steps to live more graciously within the order of things.
Ruth Haley Barton, Strengthening the soul of your leadership
Our personal and corporate lack of attention to Sabbath keeping can significantly hinder our ability to experience spiritual wholeness in several ways:
Disconnection from Rest and Renewal
The Sabbath is a day of rest, a time set apart to rejuvenate both physically and spiritually. When we neglect this practice, we fail to intentionally disconnect from the relentless pace of daily life. Without a designated time for rest and reflection, we risk burning out, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The absence of rest leads to exhaustion and makes it difficult to engage with the deeper aspects of our faith or experience moments of true spiritual renewal.
Loss of Sacred Time
Sabbath keeping isn’t just about physical rest, but it’s also a time to reorient ourselves towards God and reflect on the sacredness of life. By skipping or dismissing this practice, we fail to create space for prayer, meditation, worship, and scripture reading. This limits our spiritual growth and deprives us of opportunities to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, which is foundational to experiencing spiritual wholeness.
Disruption of Healthy Rhythms
Sabbath keeping helps create a rhythm of work and rest that nurtures spiritual, emotional, and physical balance. In a corporate or personal setting, neglecting this rhythm disrupts the flow of life and can cause us to operate in a constant state of striving and depletion. This imbalance erodes spiritual wholeness, as we are not functioning in the natural rhythm God intended for us.
Embracing Sabbath—whether personally or corporately—invites us into a deeper, more holistic experience of spiritual wholeness. By resting and focusing on God, we give ourselves space to be renewed and restored, fostering true spiritual health.
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The concept of “pushing the pause button” in a world that’s “always on” can mean different things for different people, but for me, it brings a deep reflection on balance and intentionality, especially in a time where digital connectivity is relentless and often overwhelming. To be “paused” in the digital age means carving out spaces for rest, solitude, and presence—whether with others or within oneself. It’s about taking moments to disconnect from the constant stream of notifications, news, social media, and the pressure of always being available or engaged.
For me personally, the idea of “pushing the pause button” might involve consciously stepping away from technology to allow space for reflection, creativity, or simply peace. This could mean turning off notifications, spending time in nature, journaling, or engaging in activities that help center my mind and spirit away from the digital noise. It’s not about rejecting technology entirely, but rather reclaiming control over how it impacts my life and sense of well-being.
For a community of faith, being “on pause” can also be significant. Sabbath gives us time to pause and to disconnect from the busyness of life and focus on the spiritual, relational, and restorative aspects of life. In an “always-on” digital age, that idea takes on new layers. For faith communities, this could mean intentionally creating spaces for people to disconnect from the demands of work, digital life, and the speed of modern existence to come together for worship, prayer, and deepening relationships.
Pushing that pause button is not a rejection of technology, but rather an invitation to reclaim intentionality over our time and attention. It’s a way to seek balance between the demands of our always-on world and the need for spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. So, where are you on this Sabbath journey? Do you need to push the pause button and take a day of silence from the busyness of life? Just remember that God has given you that gift. You just have to accept it.
One of the best ways to understand something is to look at the end game first. When Marvel began their twenty movie and ten year run at the box office everyone knew one thing for sure; the end game. The endgame of the first phase of the Marvel Universe was always going to be a showdown with Thanos. The moment he showed up on the big screen, any Marvel comic book fan knew what the endgame was going to be for the Avengers. As we know, unless you were under a rock the last ten years, Thanos and the Avengers did end up squaring off and the final movie in the phase was called The Endgame.
When thinking about our salvation we can better understand these concepts by understanding what God’s endgame is for his people. If we are to grasp that concept, then we need to start at the end and work our way backwards.
So, what is God’s endgame? God is in the business of restoration. God wants to rid the world of the sin of humanity and the works of the devil. The endgame of God is to restore humanity to its pre-sin state and to do it now in the person who gives him consent.
So where do we start?
“Salvation is not merely deliverance from hell, but a present delieverance from sin, a restoration of the soul to its primitive health, and a renewal of our souls after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness.” -John Wesley
Reflecting on Wesley’s understanding of salvation, we embark on a journey of spiritual renewal, focusing on the transformative power of God’s grace and the active role we play in our own journey.
Week 1. The Beginning: Salvation, prevenient Grace and the Call to Faith:
Wesley believed in a “prevenient grace” – a grace that precedes our conscious choice, preparing our hearts for God’s love and drawing us towards Him.
This grace is the initial spark, a gentle nudge that awakens our souls to the possibility of a deeper relationship with God.
Faith, for Wesley, is the crucial response to this grace.
It’s not merely intellectual assent, but a trust in God’s love and a willingness to give him everything. It’s a new way of seeing the world, perceiving the spiritual realm and recognizing God’s presence and power in our lives.
Meditate on your own salvation. If you haven’t made that step yet, maybe it is time to lean into the grace that you have already received and allow God to have presence in your heart and to permeate your life.
Song suggestion to Meditate on as you consider these next questions:
Song: Hymn-“Amazing Grace”
Questions to Ponder:
How have you experienced God’s prevenient grace in your life? Have you allowed yourself to think about the times that God gave you that grace? What moments have drawn you closer to Him? Reflect on the ways faith has opened your heart and mind to God’s love and truth. Then write it down in a journal to come back to on this Way of Salvation journey.
Week 2. Justification: Forgiveness and Acceptance
Justification is the moment of God’s forgiveness, where we are declared righteous in His sight through faith in Jesus Christ.
This is a gift of grace, not earned by our own efforts. He just likes us so much that he gives it to us for free. A concept that we don’t really understand in this day and time. It’s a fundamental shift in our relationship with God, moving from a state of separation to one of reconciliation. We are now not alone in the game towards the finish line.
Wesley emphasized that justification is not just a future event, but a present reality.
It brings immediate peace, joy, and a sense of belonging in God’s family. It’s a foundational experience that sets us free from guilt and shame.
Song suggestion to meditate to while you ponder the concept of Justification in your journey:
Chorus: Hallelujah, praise the one who set me free Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain There’s salvation in your name Jesus Christ, my living hope
Questions to ponder: Reflect on the freedom that comes with God’s forgiveness. Has death lost its grip on you? How has this knowledge impacted your life? How can you continue to experience the joy and peace that comes from knowing you are accepted by God?
Week 3: Sanctification: Growing in Holiness: This is a big word and sounds scary, but there is always more to do on this journey.
Sanctification is the ongoing process of spiritual transformation, where we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to increasingly live in accordance with God’s will.
It’s a lifelong journey of growth in holiness, where we strive to embody the love of God in our thoughts, words, and actions. He becomes the center of all of our being and nothing else comes out but love and joy.
Wesley emphasized that sanctification is not a passive process, but requires our active participation.
It involves cultivating habits of prayer, Bible study, and service, as well as striving to overcome sin and live in accordance with God’s teachings.
Song to meditate while you ponder on Sanctification:
Questions to Ponder: How can you actively participate in the process of sanctification? What areas of your life need further transformation? Are there rooms in your personal house that need to be opened to the Lord? Pray for God’s guidance and strength as you seek to grow in holiness.
Week 4: Glorification…We Have Made it to the Endgame!
We have now made it to the Endgame…Glorification!! There is no week of study for this one. If we focus on getting ourselves towards Sanctification, then we will make it to Glory with the Father at the end. Praise the Lord.
Wesley believed that love, especially the love of God and neighbor, is the driving force behind Christian living.
It’s the foundation of a truly transformed life, leading us to do good, to care for others, and to live in harmony with God’s will. This will ensure that we will make it to the foot of Jesus someday.
Song to meditate on in anticipation for Glorification some day:
When I think of faith formation the first two concerns that come to mind for me are: what was the motive or motivation that brought them to salvation and what is the discipleship path after they have made the commitment to Christ. These are two things that I have seen over the years become topics of conversations in our circle of youth ministry in the past and now church planting. Are folks really interested in the Christ filled journey of life or is it just a decision of future planning for them? Is there room in their life for true biblical discipleship and community where their faith can become even more than was ever anticipated when they made the decision in the first place or is salvation the one thing that they continue to go back to and don’t move on?
My hope for this class is that these concerns are eliminated for me. That we find answers within the pages of our textbooks and conversations. My concern is that I am way off in my expectations and this class will be over my head at certain points. Theology classes are difficult for me, and I pray that this one is the one that catches my soul and mind on my own to where I don’t have to ask my husband to help me along the way. Salvation is such a great topic, and I look forward to learning more about it.
This journey and this class right now are making me anxious only due to the subject at hand. I commit a prayerful journey through it and that I put my all in all into every word that is typed and every thought that is put on the page. I also want to commit my knowledge to my current ministry. I think that this topic is something that our groups will be interested in, and I want to share all of this knowledge I am receiving with them. Discipleship begins with knowledge from someone of experience and I pray that this experience gives me that capability. I also commit to the journey of this class and to my professor that I will, to the best of my ability, give my 100% as we discuss and read what has been given to us in our assignments. I look forward to this semester and what God has for us.
Reflections 