It’s possible to follow God, and even serve him in ministry over decades, but not truly apprehend his love or know what it is to live from his life coursing through us. Coming to know this love and this life is an ongoing process of spiritual formation.

Some of the ideas we’ll cover in this course aren’t that complicated, but that doesn’t make them any less profound! These are foundational truths we need to keep coming back to; truths that are working their way into us as we’re being transformed into the image of Jesus, from glory to glory.
 
We’ll explore who God is and who we are as his children – and then, how do we live out of his life in us? How do we grow more deeply in love for God and for our neighbour?
 
You’ll learn about a range of spiritual practices from deep in the Christian tradition, and some more recent expressions of these, and we’ll try them out together. Our hope is that you’ll discover some new, creative ways of encountering God, and that they’ll be like a trellis that supports and develops your connection to the vine. Remember that image from John 15: Jesus is the vine: he’s the source of our life. It’s his life in us that bears fruit for the Father’s glory, for our joy, and for the blessing of others.
 
This course is an invitation to grow in depth and breadth as a follower of Jesus Christ, as we walk with him into life, by the power of the Spirit, for the glory of God and for the sake of the world. We would love to have you join us.

TOPICS COVERED

• What is Formation?
  
• The Image of God and You
• Identity and Narrative
• Forming the Whole Person
• Habits & Rule to Live By
• Prayer Contemporary Challenges to Faith Formation

LECTURER DETAILS

Miriam Jessie Fisher is an interdisciplinary Lecturer in the School of Theology and School of Education. Miriam's research focusses on how creative practice can be formative and transformative and the ways in which the Church can engage with the arts (in the broadest possible ways) in its mission in the world.

Dr Ryan Lang incorporates and understanding of the Christian imagination and beauty of God into his lecturers. He is passionate about the church growing in love for God and the world.