Community and Calling
Every believer’s calling is discovered and refined within community. Our gifts find meaning only as they serve others. Calling is not a job description but a relational vocation — to love God and neighbor in tangible ways (Col. 3:23–24).
The faith community provides the space where our earthly identity (our roles and experiences) meets our heavenly identity (our life in Christ). It is in this context that believers write their life story with God — learning who they are, how they’ve been shaped, and where they are called to serve.
When each person discovers their identity and uses their gifts, the entire body grows stronger. If one member suffers, all suffer; when one rejoices, all share in the joy (1 Cor. 12:26). Spiritual formation, then, is not private growth apart from the church but maturity within the church and for the church.
Conformity to Christ in a Fragmented World
The goal of formation is Christlikeness — having “Christ formed in you” (Gal. 4:19). But this is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing journey of renewal (2 Cor. 3:18).
In an age that celebrates independence, Scripture reminds us that growth happens through interdependence. Paul’s letters to the Ephesians and Philippians portray believers as being “made alive together,” “raised together,” and “built together.” These compound “syn” phrases (from Greek syn, meaning together) reveal that the path of holiness is a shared walk.
The mature believer, according to Pauline theology, demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit, wisdom, steadfastness, and love. These are cultivated through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship — the rhythms that train the heart toward obedience and shape us into Christ’s likeness.
