Growing in Spiritual Formation: Study Guide {Introduction + Giveaway} #discipleship #spiritualformation

Looking for a new Bible study to share with your small group? Today, we're going to take a look at a new study from Discipled Church: Growing in Spiritual Formation.  Let's take a look:

This powerful 8-week study invites you to go beyond the surface of faith and experience genuine spiritual and emotional transformation. Explore what it means to follow Jesus and grow as his disciple. Fall deeper in love with God and with the person he has created you to be.  Includes a study guide and videos.  Created by https://discipledchurch.com/vision-mission/

Each of us is on a spiritual journey—a journey that began even before we took our first breath. It is a path shaped by life’s experiences, where we grow in faith and draw nearer to God in deeply personal and ever-changing ways. Along the way, we rediscover truths long forgotten—about who God is, and who we are meant to be. This journey is not static; it unfolds in stages of faith, through seasons of learning, serving, challenge, and joy.

In Growing in Spiritual Formation, we will explore these various stages at levels that most believers never venture. This study will challenge you to think beyond traditional perspectives on what it means to make disciples. It will introduce deeper levels of spiritual and emotional healing and freedom that many have never truly experienced. Be prepared to finally move forward in your journey as a follower of Jesus.

First things first, I want to acknowledge that I have not personally gone through the entirety of this study. This is a very in-depth study that covers eight weeks and encourages participants not to rush through. It is also designed to be used within group settings. As such, I have not been able to use the study quite as intended (with a group), nor have I gone through all of the videos/lessons included. So, I'll only be sharing some initial impressions on the format rather than in depth of content as a whole. 

Within this study, the stages of spiritual formation are broken down through an in dept look at/study of Jacob's life. The study includes both a video lesson and a study guide. The study guide is available to download and print when you purchase the study. The physical guide is not required to participate but does have a section of 'Leader's Notes', which has a lot of valuable information for group leader's on how to best lead this study, and as such, I would certainly recommend if for leaders. The study guide is broken down into five sections:

• Discover. This goes over the lesson we hear/see in the video, repeating important definitions and points that Joshua discusses in those videos. These do not replace the videos, but help to reiterate important notes, as well as giving us some related questions to ponder.
• Read. This section tells us where we are reading in the Bible this week. 
• Consider. This section gives an overview of those passages read, highlighting particular parts of the text that are important in the week's lesson. 
• Reflect. Offers questions relating to the passages, with space for short notes as well.
• Additional Notes. This space offers space for more notes as you're reading, or meeting with your group. 

It is encouraged that group members watch the video and read the passages, as well as look over the questions prior to meeting with the group to discuss. As mentioned previously, this study goes fairly in depth. The videos alone are a good half hour or so, and when you add in the additional reading, it is recommended to devote at least an hour of preparation on your own before the group meeting so that you can really focus on discussion during that time together. One of the things that I appreciated about this study and the video lessons provided is that it does encourage participants to ask questions and to be open and honest with one another to truly get the most growth out of the study. I also appreciated the reminder that our growth isn't always linear, and that that's okay too. 

But what if you don't have a group, can you still benefit from the study? Maybe. Personally, I found the few videos that I did watch quite insightful and the 'consider' and 'reflect' sections certainly allowed me to dive deeper into these familiar passages that I would have just reading these passages on their own. The questions really do make you think about your own experiences and thoughts on what you've read individually. So, I do think you could get something from it on your own as well. That said, this was designed with groups in mind and I do think hearing from people who have lived different experiences and who are at varying points in their spiritual journey would certainly make it all that much more beneficial as well. 

You can learn more and purchase this study here: https://discipled.link/yg4vpg

And there's a giveaway too! Enter to win here: https://www.blessedfreebies.com/growing-in-spiritual-formation-giveaway.html