The Well Worn Path: The Formation Journey

Scriptures: Matthew 4:18-20 / Psalm 16:11

Introduction

In May 2002, the Philadelphia 76ers had just been eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics in the first round. Their star player Allen Iverson gave a post-game interview that became one of the most infamous moments in NBA history. When reporters questioned him about missing practice, Iverson erupted: "We're talking about practice. Not a game... but practice." 22 times he says the word practice.

[Play clip]

Many of us have the same questions about spiritual practice. Why is it important? What good is it going to do me? Can't I just show up on game day?

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WHERE WE ARE GOING…

For the next few weeks, I want to explore why spiritual formation (the practice of following Jesus) matters so much.

Our Western culture is centered on what we and how we .thinkfeel

We've made Christianity about believing the right things and having the right emotional experiences.

But first-century followers of Jesus understood something different:

…..the repetition of your daily habits.what's truly formative is how you practice what you believe

When Jesus called his first disciples, he didn't say, "Believe in me." He said, "Follow me."

Matthew 4:18-20 [Read passage]

Following Assumes Four Things:

– You're going to have to be intentional. Following isn't passive.Movement

– You won't cut your own path. You walk the way Jesus has shown.Direction

– There are no shortcuts. (In fact, that was one of Jesus' temptations in the wilderness—.)Timetake the shortcut

– It must happen over and over and over again.Repetition

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THE PROBLEM: x2

Here's our dilemma: While we admire spiritual depth, we resist spiritual discipline.

Why do we resist?

It requires us to in a culture addicted to speedslow down

It requires us to when we're trained for constant noiselisten and be still

It requires us to when our phones buzz every thirty secondseliminate distractions

It requires us to in a world built on conveniencesit with discomfort and delay gratification

But there's something deeper going on.

We resist because we've been handed a version of faith that prioritizes belief and emotion over practice.

John Mark Comer puts it this way: “The problem is, in the West, we have created a cultural milieu where you can be a Christian but not an apprentice of Jesus.”

Noah Herrin observes “Many followers of Jesus have plans for family, finances, and career, but very few have a spiritual plan to grow closer to Jesus.”

Here's the truth: Many of us have spent years….maybe decades….developing and forming habits that don't help us.

Habits that actually harm us.

Then the moment we trust Jesus, we think belief alone is enough to break those habits.

But what if God wants to spend that same amount of time….….walking with you toward freedom?years

What if formation takes as long as deformation did?

What if the path to joy requires patience?

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TWO TRUTHS ABOUT THE PATH

Truth #1: Following Is a Path, Not a Moment

Psalm 16:11 – "You make known to me the path of life..."

Notice: it's a path, not a leap. Not a moment. Not a shortcut.

"Follow me" implies:

– You're not making this up as you goA path already exists

– You're joining a two-thousand-year-old traditionOthers have walked it

– This path has a destinationIt leads somewhere intentional

And paths are formed by:

– Not giant leaps, but daily walkingRepeated steps

– Small choices, compounded over timeDaily decisions

– Faithfulness in the mundaneOrdinary obedience

The path is worn smooth by feet that have walked it before you.

Truth #2: Formation Is Promised, Not Instant.

Look again at Matthew 4:19 – Jesus says, "I will make you fishers of men."

Not "You will make yourself."

Not "Try really hard and maybe you'll get there."

"I will make you."

Formation is:

– He guarantees the outcomePromised by Jesus

– Notice the future tense: "I make you"Shaped over timewill

– But you have to followExperienced through participation

Here's the tension:

Jesus is responsible for who we become.

We are responsible for whether we follow.

You can't transform yourself. But you can show up. You can take the next step. You can practice.

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CLOSING

Allen Iverson was right to be frustrated. Practice isn't the game.

But here's what he missed: There is no game without practice.

The path of following Jesus isn't glamorous. It's repetitive. It's slow. It requires showing up day after day, step after step.

But it's the only path that leads to life.

Psalm 16:11 – "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

The question isn't whether you'll be formed.

You're already being formed—by your phone, your habits, your culture, your routines.

The question is: And is doing the forming?What path are you walking?who

We are beginning 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting…

Some of you have been here before.

Some of you have not clue what this looks like…Its OK.

There are guided resources on the church app