Spiritual formation is the process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others, according to Dr. Robert Mulholland. In recent years, the phrase spiritual formation has cropped up in faith circles, especially in Christianity. However, many groups have their own idea of what spiritual formation looks like, and this leads people to wonder: what is spiritual formation? Or even, what is spiritual formation in Christianity?

Beneath the murky waters, the Christian definition is clear and simple. According to Dr. Robert Mulholland, spiritual formation is a process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.^{(See disclaimer 1 )}

He breaks this definition down, explaining it in four parts: 

1. A process: Spiritual formation takes time, intentionality and patience. Contrary to our culture’s desire for instant gratification, being formed in the image of Christ doesn’t happen overnight or by random chance.
2. Of being formed: We do not form ourselves, but we are being formed. God is working in our lives and shaping us through His grace.
3. In the image of Christ: In this process of being formed, the ultimate goal is Christlikeness. 
4. For the sake of others: God made us for community and sacrifice. Our relationship with Him should transform the way we treat others, reflecting the heart of Christ in the way we serve.

Kelsie Doan, the spiritual formation manager at GCU, says their program uses Dr. Mulholland’s definition. “Very simply,” she says, “It means how are we becoming more like Jesus?”

Why Is Spiritual Formation Important?

Everyone is being formed by something. Our daily choices shape us, whether we realize it or not. Choosing to stay up until 2 am when you have a class at 7 am the next morning forms you. Eating a pint of ice cream because I got carried away forms me. The question is, what are we being formed toward?

Spiritual formation is the process of making your transformation intentional. It’s about seeking God and letting Him do the work in us, because only He can.

With the idea that we’re formed by our choices, intentionality becomes much more important. This intentional process hasn’t appeared out of nowhere, either. Although the term spiritual formation has gained popularity over the past few years, it’s rooted in biblical principles.

Yes. Spiritual formation is biblical: Scripture repeatedly describes believers being transformed into the likeness of Christ (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18), and Paul writes of laboring “until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). Becoming formed towards the image of Christ is a central part of the gospel. The Christian life doesn’t climax at salvation — it begins there. As we walk in our relationship with God and follow Jesus as Lord, He changes us to be more like Him.

Jesus called His disciples to spiritual formation from the very beginning of their relationship with Him. When Jesus invites Simon Peter and Andrew to follow Him, He says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Jesus is the one causing the transformation here, and it is assured. If Peter and Andrew follow Jesus, He will make them fishers of men. We follow; He leads and transforms us.

The apostles understood this and were concerned with believers’ spiritual formation. Paul wanted to present everyone mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28) and for believers to grow up “in every way” into Christ (Ephesians 4:15). There are even more Biblical examples of spiritual formation.

The Bible shows that:

• Jesus presented spiritual formation to crowds. His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 was counter-cultural. It focused mostly on transformation, especially of the mind, heart and a person’s lifestyle.
• The early church focused on spiritual formation. In Acts, believers frequently gathered for prayer, community, worship and more. They shared their faith and sought God daily (Acts 2:42-47).
• We haven’t “arrived.” Until Jesus comes back, we are being formed in His image. One day, He will complete His work in us, but until then, we should continue to abide in Him (Philippians 1:6).

Spiritual formation is the process of becoming more like Christ; discipleship includes that process but also involves learning from a mature believer and eventually making disciples yourself. Many people use spiritual formation and discipleship interchangeably, but they differ in key ways. 

Just like spiritual formation, discipleship is the process of being formed into the image of Christ and practicing His ways, but it goes a step further. Discipleship involves learning under a mature believer in a committed relationship and eventually stepping into the role of disciple-maker yourself, teaching others what you learned. Simply put, discipleship is concerned first with spiritual maturity, then ultimately with multiplication.

To elaborate further, spiritual formation’s primary focus is on every believer becoming more Christlike. Discipleship’s end is that believers grow up in Christ and make disciples, passing the baton. 

Furthermore, making disciples does not simply mean evangelism. Discipleship begins with new believers, most certainly, but remember, salvation is not the climax of the Christian life. Discipleship necessitates that new believers are taught how to sit at His feet in love and devotion, to live like Jesus and to learn to obey Him. 

Another way to think about the differences between the two terms is that spiritual formation can happen outside of discipleship, but discipleship cannot occur without spiritual formation. If someone is in a disciple-making relationship but spiritual formation is not happening there, something is wrong. 

On the other hand, followers of Jesus can engage in spiritual formation individually, not having someone to disciple or learn from. While this is possible and a helpful distinction between the two terms, such isolation is not recommended on its own. Christians are called to walk in community and make disciples, and spiritual formation is a key part of that process.

The four core spiritual formation practices are Scripture, prayer, community and rest, according to Doan. The core spiritual formation practices are the building blocks in a believer’s life. While the way a believer engages with each category may vary, the four areas themselves typically remain consistent in spiritual formation. 

According to Doan, the four basic categories of practice are:

• Scripture: This includes practices such as reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on Scripture.
• Prayer: There are many ways to pray. Whether praying Scripture, praying a reflection over the day while brushing your teeth or praying a lament for someone in suffering, prayer is an integral part of daily Christian life. 
• Community: Community is about finding regular rhythms of engaging with other believers, like getting coffee once a week with your roommates or going on a walk twice a week with your best friend.
• Rest: Sabbath is an important, foundational way to practice rest. Silence and solitude are two other ways to practice rest.

Doan emphasizes that practices shift with the seasons and sometimes even with the days or weeks. “Community is going to be different for someone who lives on a college campus and someone like me who doesn’t,” she says. 

Even day-to-day, some practices can look different. Doan describes how her rhythm of reading Scripture consists of three main practices: studying a passage, reading large chunks at a time and meditating on Scripture. On a given day, Doan might practice one or all three of them. One morning, she woke up late and chose her practice accordingly. 

“I had no memory of my alarm this morning,” she says, “I was like, I don’t want to not be in Scripture, so let’s do the big chunk reading.” The underlying practice here isn’t rigid discipline — it’s an intentional choice to seek God every day.

To start spiritual formation, choose one or two simple practices to begin with, ask a mature believer to walk with you and use a trusted resource to guide you.

Getting started in spiritual formation can feel daunting or overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re not meant to pile everything onto our plate at one time. Think of it like beginning to exercise. When you first start, your muscles are weak, and you treat them as such. In the same way, it’s important to start small with spiritual disciplines so as not to overwhelm yourself. 

Here are some ideas for how to get started in spiritual formation: 

• Ask a mature believer. There are people who would love to help you take your first steps. They can ask curious questions to see where you need to start, and they can teach you in a personal, intentional way.
• Be realistic. Choose one or two practices you want to implement, and don’t aim for unrealistic goals. For example, if you don’t normally pray, try praying while you brush your teeth or fix your hair.
• Find an easy way to learn. Don’t put the burden of research on your own shoulders. There are many resources available to help. Doan recommends John Mark Comer's Practicing the Way course as a beginning step.

Some of the main challenges to spiritual formation come from the culture surrounding us. Doan notes that our society is information-laden, which affects how we teach and learn. From school to church and beyond, Western society focuses on depositing information, even at the cost of application. “Part of the problem is our churches are set up like lecture halls,” Doan says.

Many who attend church show up for an hour on Sunday to receive a message. The pastor tells them information about God and the Bible, asks a good question and sends them away. Of course, church is an important part of the Christian life, but it cannot be the only aspect of it. Spiritual formation goes beyond the informational approach and aims at the behaviors of a believer’s life.

Another challenge to spiritual formation is that many Christians are taught that forgiveness of sin is the centrality of the gospel or its endpoint. Oftentimes, the idea of sanctification is neglected or underemphasized. This leads some to think that spiritual disciplines sound legalistic, overly challenging or unnecessary. It can be difficult to let go of this mindset and engage in spiritual formation.

The last challenge to spiritual formation is particularly true for college students. The culture on many campuses is hectic, success-oriented and non-stop. Who has time to practice the Sabbath? Who has time to read their Bibles every day? Still, Jesus calls us to stillness and silence. 

He calls us to walk in His footsteps. His followers have practiced rest for thousands of years. When the scholarships, student ministries, clubs and classes pile up, it’s past time to say no and make room for God. Consider your schedule — how are you seeking God daily?

GCU cares about students’ spiritual formation. There are many ways to get involved, including retreats, workshops and more.

Here are some ways to get involved in spiritual formation at GCU:

• Follow the Spiritual Formation Instagram page. They post events and regular rhythms to keep you updated on what’s going on.
• Visit the pastoral office. Located in building 26, the pastoral office is open during business hours; students can visit to talk with a student worker about spiritual formation. 
• Attend Withdraw. This silence and solitude retreat happens once a month and is a great practice of rest for college students.
• Join a training group. The Spiritual Formation team offers training groups throughout the week and at different levels. This is the best way for students to get involved intentionally and consistently in spiritual formation at GCU.

Whether you are passionate about spiritual formation or looking to deepen your understanding of Scripture and ministry, GCU offers ministry programs that can equip you with the ministerial skills needed to serve effectively. You can learn about spiritual formation and how to provide spiritual counsel to those who are intentionally seeking God.