“The word ‘disciple’ occurs 269 times in the New Testament. ‘Christian’ is found three times… The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples of Jesus Christ.” So wrote Dallas Willard in an article published 45 years ago. It was a giant boulder thrown into the pond of the Church whose ripples continue to spread. Read on…

— John

Can spiritual formation actually be measured? Growing empirical research says yes. Psychologists and theologians are beginning to identify the practices, relationships, and virtues that reliably shape Christlike character. Transformation may remain mysterious—but it’s becoming less mysterious to study. ⁱ

If becoming like Jesus isn’t one-size-fits-all, why do so many churches act as if it is? A groundbreaking global research initiative is uncovering how cultures around the world cultivate Christlikeness—revealing that faithful formation is always communal, contextual, and richer than any single tradition. ⁱⁱ

Knowing what forms disciples is only the beginning. New research suggests online learning can cultivate genuine spiritual growth—but not in isolation. The deepest transformation still happens through intentional communities, shared practices, and sustained relationships that turn digital instruction into embodied apprenticeship over time. ⁱⁱⁱ

Think you can follow Jesus alone? Scripture tells a different story. This brief essay argues that Christian maturity isn’t a private achievement but a communal reality, where God uses ordinary relationships, mutual encouragement, and shared life to shape extraordinary disciples.

If community forms disciples, what should communities actually do together? Spiritual Practices in Community moves beyond theory, showing how shared spiritual disciplines become the training ground where trust deepens, habits change, and Christlike character is forged in everyday relationships.

Healthy spiritual communities rarely happen by accident. A Short Guide to Spiritual Formation in Community offers church leaders a practical roadmap for cultivating cultures of apprenticeship, where people don’t simply gather, but intentionally help one another become more like Jesus over time.

Love is never stimulated apart from community.