Spirituality & Discipleship
This page is my storehouse for both my research about spirituality and discipleship AND the resources I’ve created to help leaders and seekers to grow spiritually.
Missional Spiritual Formation leaders are called to cultivate growing disciples of Jesus who are equipped to discern God’s action in the world and empowered to participate in it.
CLICK HERE for a curated list of other spiritual formation sites that I recommend
My Courses Available on Faith + Lead Academy
Spiritual Formation Posts
Ash Wednesday
A reflection on the ashes–the beloved clump of dirt–of Ash Wednesday. What does this moment of our lives mean in the grand scheme of the universe?
The Art Pastor’s Guide to Lent 2026
Lent begins this week. It starts with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 and then moves through 5 Sundays that lead to Palm Sunday on March 29. In this post I want to look specifically at the texts and possible themes for the Gospel readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Everyone! I'd like to offer you two gifts to, hopefully, brighten your Christmas celebration. First, enjoy this image.It is the final piece in the 5-week series Drawing Through Advent. A special thanks goes to those of you who joined me live and...
Add Your Artwork to the Advent Journey
Last night I hosted a livestream contemplative art session for Advent 1 that focused on these texts Isaiah 2:1–5Psalm 122:1-9Romans 13:11–14Matthew 24:36–44 and the theme of hope. Watch the full session here. You are invited to create your own artwork and upload it...
Why Don’t My Grandkids Go To Church?
There’s a question I hear again and again when I talk with faithful church members—especially among older generations: “Why don’t my children or grandchildren go to church anymore?” It’s not just a question about attendance. It’s a question about belonging, faith, and...
Pentecost and the Disruptive Power of the Spirit
How does the Holy Spirit work in the world today? This post explores the story of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit tends to mess with our boundaries.
Recommended Reading
Journeying in the Wilderness by Terri Elton
The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster
Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
Belonging by Karoline Lewis
The Corner of Fourth and Nondual by Cynthia Bourgeault
The Critical Journey by Janet O. Hagberg
Renew Your Life by Kai Nilsen
Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mullholland Jr.
Acts of Faith: Meditations For People of Color by Iyanla Vanzant
Earth Crammed with Heaven: A Spirituality of Everyday Life by Elizabeth Dreyer
Thirsty for God by Bradley Holt
Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices by Brian McLaren
We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren
Cultivating Sent Communities edited by Dwight Zscheile
Power Surge by Michael Foss
I have two favorite metaphors to discuss spiritual formation.
The first is a journey. Jesus called to his first disciples, “Follow me!” and they traveled with him as he demonstrated what it looks like to live in fellowship with God.
The first disciples in John 1:38 asked Jesus, “Where do you dwell?”
Jesus replied, “Come and See,” so they followed him.
To be a disciple of Jesus is to move, to explore, to grow.
But what is the destination?
That leads me to my second favorite metaphor. The Vine and the Branches.
Jesus said in John 15:1-5, “I am the vine and you are the branches…remain/dwell in me and I will remain in you, and you will bear much fruit.”
The destination of this journey is not a physical time or place. The destination is the love of God.
God’s love is infinite, therefore we will never arrive. We simply keep growing.
We go and grow in two directions.
First, we grow deeper roots to be grounded in the love of God.
Second, we grow taller and wider branches to spread the fruit of God’s love wider.
Cultivating A Spiritual Formation Plan for the Local Congregation
The local church is the ideal place to grow spiritually. However, it is often difficult to do so. One of my ongoing projects is to experiment with how to cultivate spaces for people to grow spiritually. This article gives some basic outlines for how to think about this.
Check Out My Spiritual Formation Resources
Mindful Sketching
Learn how to connect your breath to your body and use the process of mark-making to become present with God.
Other Spiritual Formation Sites
Journeying in the Wilderness
