SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

UNITED IN FORMATION: Discipleship Shapes the Inner Life

OPENING PRAYER

Father, thank you for bringing us together today. We invite your Holy Spirit to guide our conversation and open our hearts to be transformed. We don't just want to discuss formation—we want to experience it. Show us the areas where you're working to form Christ in us, and give us courage to surrender to that process. In Jesus' name, Amen.

ICEBREAKER

Formation Stories: Share about someone who has significantly shaped who you are today. What qualities did they have that influenced you? How did their influence change the way you think or act?

SCRIPTURE FOCUS

Have different group members read these passages aloud:

Romans 12:1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Luke 6:40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher."

Galatians 4:19 "My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!"

MAIN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Understanding Formation: Pastor Scott emphasized that "discipleship is formation, not information." What's the difference between gaining information about Jesus and being formed by Jesus? Where have you seen this distinction in your own spiritual journey?

2. The Core Truth: This week's core truth was "What Jesus forms in us privately will sustain unity publicly." Can you share an example of how inner formation (or lack of it) has affected your relationships with others?

3. Transformation Process: The sermon described formation as intentional (not accidental), painful (not comfortable), and communal (not isolated). Which of these aspects of formation challenges you the most right now? Why?

4. Unity and Formation: Pastor Scott said, "Unity breaks down when unformed hearts collide." Think about a time when you experienced or witnessed conflict in a relationship or church. How might spiritual formation have prevented or changed that situation?

5. Formation Practices: The sermon mentioned several spiritual practices that shape us: prayer, Bible reading, Sabbath rest, and generosity. Which of these practices has been most formative in your life? Which one do you feel God calling you to develop further?

6. The Generosity Test: Pastor Scott suggested that our relationship with money and possessions reveals our formation level. How comfortable are you with this idea? In what ways has giving shaped your spiritual formation?

7. Becoming Like Jesus: Luke 6:40 says a fully trained disciple becomes like their teacher. What quality of Jesus do you most want to see formed in your life right now? What might be holding you back from that formation?

PERSONAL REFLECTION (2-3 minutes of silent reflection)

Take a few moments to quietly reflect on this question:

What is your current "formation frontier"—the area where Jesus is actively working to form you right now? What resistance are you feeling to this formation process? What would surrender look like in this area?

GROUP ACTIVITY: Formation Mapping

Materials needed: Paper and pens for each person

Instructions:

1. Draw a simple timeline of your spiritual journey, marking significant moments of formation (could be challenges, victories, revelations, etc.).

2. Circle the 2-3 experiences that most powerfully formed Christ in you.

3. In pairs, share one of these formation moments. As you listen to your partner, ask: "What quality of Christ was being formed through this experience?"

4. Come back together as a group and discuss: What patterns do you notice about how God forms us? Were there common elements in people's formation stories?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus, we want to be formed into your image—not just to know about you, but to become like you. Give us courage for the formation journey ahead. Help us surrender the areas where we're resisting your work. Form in us the humility, patience, and love that sustain unity. Make us a community that protects unity by pursuing formation. And Lord, use our transformation to show this community who you really are. In your name we pray, Amen.

TAKE-HOME CHALLENGE: Your Formation Commitment

Choose ONE of the following formation commitments for this week:

1. Daily Scripture Formation: Commit to the church-wide Bible reading plan this week, but with a formation focus. After each reading, ask: "Lord, how do you want to form me through this passage?" Journal your insights.

2. Formation Conversation: Identify someone in your life who demonstrates a Christ-like quality you want developed in yourself. Invite them to coffee and ask how that quality was formed in them.

3. Unity-Protection Practice: Identify one relationship where unity is strained. Practice a formation response this week: choose humility over defensiveness, direct conversation over gossip, or listening over assuming.

4. Generosity Formation: Take one intentional step toward greater generosity this week. This could be financial giving, but could also be generous time, attention, forgiveness, or encouragement.

Come prepared next week to share briefly how your formation commitment impacted you.

Leader Note: The goal of this discussion isn't just good conversation but actual formation. Create space for honest sharing without judgment. Watch for opportunities to affirm where you see Christ being formed in group members. Remember Pastor Scott's emphasis that formation happens in community—model vulnerability by sharing your own formation journey when appropriate.