Formed by Jesus Podcast

Scripture as Mirror: The Freedom Behind Confrontation In 1964, Norman Rockwell painted "The Problem We All Live With" for Look magazine. It depicted 6-year-old Ruby Bridges walking to her first day of school during desegregation, escorted by headless US marshals, with a tomato splattered on the wall behind her meant to resemble blood. Rockwell received more hate mail from this image than any other in his career—not from Black Americans, but from average citizens angry that he showed something true, real, and ugly about America. It wasn't the content that made people uncomfortable. It was the confrontation. Here's what's profound about the painting: Where are you positioned as the viewer? Rockwell made you both an observer of the image and a participant in the story. It forced viewers to confront who they really were in light of the Black American story. Scripture works the same way. It's a mirror that confronts us, challenges us, and calls out our assumptions about God, the world, and ourselves. The question is: will we look intently at what we see, or will we walk away? ## The False Self and Fig Leaves Genesis tells us Adam and Eve were created naked and felt no shame. They lived in wholeness and vulnerability without fear of confrontation. But after eating the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened. Genesis 3:7 says "they realized they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." The fig leaves are a physical symbol of a spiritual reality. When confronted, our inclination is to hide—from others, from ourselves, and from God. Our version of fig leaves today is what psychologists and theologians call **the false self**—the version of ourselves we project to others to hide our weakness, woundedness, and wickedness. - **Weakness**: The parts we're insecure about—our fears, personality quirks, things we feel unconfident in - **Woundedness**: Our embarrassing history, family of origin, trauma - **Wickedness**: Our sins, failures, willful disobedience—the anger we can't shake, the addiction we can't break free from, the pride in how we treat others The false self is a coping mechanism based on self-reliance rather than God's love and providence. What are you hiding behind? Your busyness? Your personality ("I'm just not wired that way")? Maybe even something good you're subtly putting before God—your family, career, health? ## The Four Levels of Sin Early church fathers and mothers understood how deep the false self goes. They identified four levels of sin: **1. Gross Sins** - Obvious wrongs most people would agree are bad: sexual immorality, deception, greed. These are easy to identify but also easy to use to make ourselves feel better. "I might have an anger problem, but at least I'm not an alcoholic." **2. Conscious Sins** - Things that are socially accepted but at odds with Jesus' way: How do you spend your money? What media do you consume? How do you talk about others? These confront not just our behaviors but our will and freedom. **3. Unconscious Sins** - Sins of motivation: doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. Dysfunctional relational patterns others experience in us. You might not yell at your spouse, but do you harbor years of bitterness? **4. Attachments** - Good things that become bad things because of our reliance on them. Success in ministry. Career. Family relationships. If we lose these, we question who we are. A false self built on career success crumbles after retirement. ## Looking Intently Into the Mirror James 1:23-25 says: "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it... will be blessed." Scripture has power to show us who we really are if we're willing to look intently. Most of us approach the Bible cognitively—asking about context, author, genre. These are good questions, but if that's where we stop, it's just a higher form of control. Try going deeper: - How do I actually feel in response to what I'm reading? - Where do I come alive? Where do I feel resistance? - What aspects of my life are being touched? - What do my reactions tell me about myself? **If you don't feel resistance to anything when reading the Bible, you're probably not reading enough of it.** When you feel challenged, discomforted, or exposed—that's an invitation to submit something in your soul to God. God forms us most deeply in the places where we are least like Jesus. ## The Gift of Confrontation James says whoever looks intently finds "the perfect law that gives freedom." Freedom from the false self you're killing yourself to construct. Freedom from wounds you'd rather hide than heal. Freedom from the weight of sin you'd rather manage than confess. Freedom from the fear of being found out. Remember how God responded to Adam and Eve's fig leaves? He went looking for them. He didn't wait for them to get their act together. He found them, confronted them, and even though He kicked them out of the garden, God went with them. What if that's how God is trying to call out to you today? What if the sign you're waiting for isn't behind a dream, vision, or miracle? What if it's behind confrontation? **What are you hiding behind? What part of Scripture are you ignoring out of fear? What if that's exactly how God is trying to get your attention today?** You don't have to cover yourself up to be seen by God. If you've given your life to Him, He's already forgiven you. The sins you're hiding, He's already paid for. Let the mirror do its work.

Scripture works best when we allow it to work slowly over the long haul in our lives. But this confronts our impulse to seek immediate results and instant satisfaction. Where Scripture plants small seeds that bloom slowly over time, we often live too hurried and impatient to allow it to do its deepest work in us. But by adopting both a daily pace and a humble posture, we can slowly train ourselves to endure while letting Scripture do its deepest work in our souls.

In Ephesians 6, Paul describes the armor of God and tells believers to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” When Jesus faces off with the devil in the wilderness, he uses Scripture as his main defense. Each temptation from the devil was met with a specific truth from God’s Word. In the same way, we too are called to apply Scripture specifically to our lives in order to combat the deceptions, accusations, resistance, and temptations from the enemy. The more we saturate our minds with Scripture, the more the Holy Spirit brings specific verses, promises, or truths to our minds in the moments we need them most.

“Sweeter than honey to my mouth…” That’s how the Psalmist describes the Bible in Psalm 119. Which means that Scripture is not just information to absorb or rules to obey, it’s meant to reshape our desires. Where most of us either indulge or suppress our desires, the Bible aims to redirect them back towards God. In order to allow ourselves to be reshaped by the Bible, we practice meditating on it. By meditating, we’re not rushing or skimming, we’re savoring. We’re slowing down with God’s Word to allow it to slowly sink from our heads into our hearts. Over time, as we consistently meditate on God’s Word, our thoughts begin to align with God’s thoughts, and our desires begin to align with His.

In order to be formed by Scripture, we must learn to submit to its authority. In Psalm 119, the Psalmist describes God’s Word as a lamp, something that illuminates just enough for us to take one small step of obedience to Jesus at a time. This means that Scripture can’t simply be read, it must be obeyed. If our attitudes, actions, behaviors, and beliefs are never redirected by the Bible, then we aren’t treating it like a lamp unto our feet. But by ruthlessly assessing the darkness in the world and our own hearts, and by radically accepting the light of God’s Word, we can slowly practice submitting to Scripture and obeying it as truth.

For most of church history, access to the Bible came at great cost. William Tyndale gave his life so ordinary people could read the Bible in their own language. Today, we carry it in our pockets and have it in our homes,yet the Bible often sits unopened. From the life and teachings of Jesus we learn that the Bible is not a textbook, storybook, or rulebook. It’s a library of writings that together reveal God and tell a unified story leading to Jesus. It is both fully human and fully divine, “God-breathed,” and when we submit ourselves to its story, it does more than inform us, it transforms us. To become formed by Scripture means we must learn to both read the Bible, and submit ourselves to its story.

For most of church history, access to the Bible came at great cost. William Tyndale gave his life so ordinary people could read the Bible in their own language. Today, we carry it in our pockets and have it in our homes,yet the Bible often sits unopened. From the life and teachings of Jesus we learn that the Bible is not a textbook, storybook, or rulebook. It’s a library of writings that together reveal God and tell a unified story leading to Jesus. It is both fully human and fully divine, “God-breathed,” and when we submit ourselves to its story, it does more than inform us, it transforms us. To become formed by Scripture means we must learn to both read the Bible, and submit ourselves to its story.

The Christian life is not defined by a single powerful moment. Instead, Scripture shows us that formation happens through both moments and marathons. In Acts 19, the church in Ephesus experienced a defining moment where God moved powerfully to save its people and bring revival to the city. But years later, Paul wrote Ephesians to guide them through the long obedience of faithful discipleship. Eventually, Jesus Himself addressed this church in Revelation, warning that perseverance without love leads to drift. The invitation of the gospel is not to grit our teeth through the race, but to keep falling in love with Jesus. To do this we must learn to guard our hearts, walk in community, practice faithfulness, and rely on the Holy Spirit to form us peace by piece over the long haul.

Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus, peace by piece. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com

Peace By Teaching: Why Renewing Your Mind Matters As we continue through the Peace by Piece series at Passion Creek Church, we’re exploring what it actually takes to become disciples who change—people filled with love, joy, and peace in a world that feels increasingly chaotic. In a culture where the church often responds by becoming either consumer-focused or crusader-driven, we’re imagining a different way forward: a community whose hearts and minds are guarded by the peace of Christ. The Tone Of Transformation Ephesians 4:1 serves as the hinge point of Paul’s entire letter. After three chapters showing us the vastness of what God has done in Christ, he pivots to how we live in light of that grace. But notice three crucial words that set the temperature for everything: Urge (parakaló) – This isn’t scolding or shaming. The word literally means “to call alongside,” carrying the tone of encouragement and comfort. It’s the same word Jesus uses for the Holy Spirit—the one who gently prompts and directs but never forces. Paul isn’t barking like a sheepdog; he’s beckoning like a shepherd. Worthy (axios) – This isn’t about proving your worthiness to God. The word picture is a balancing scale—balancing what you’ve received with how you respond. You’re only accountable for what you’ve received, and that grows as you grow. When our walking and God’s calling are in balance, we’re whole—living maturely, living congruent with the way God calls us into being. Calling (klēsis) – Our calling is to encounter and then embody peace (shalom). In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and it was shalom. We were at peace with God, with others, with creation, with ourselves. But sin disrupted that shalom. Since Genesis 3:15, God promised to send a Savior to restore it. Jesus is our shalom, and the church is called to embody shalom in and to the world. The Gap Between Vision And Reality Here’s the rub: what we see described in Ephesians typically isn’t what we see in the church. The picture on the puzzle box looks nothing like the pieces we have on the table. We quit on the vision of peace because all we see and feel is chaos. How do we embark on truly becoming peace in such an anxious and evil world? How do we “grow into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness”? Three Frameworks That Have Failed Us In our lifetime, popular streams of the church have given us three frameworks for fullness that, while containing truth, have ultimately failed to deliver complete transformation: Bible Study – “If we just knew more truth, we’d be transformed.” Yes, to an extent. But Scripture itself says, “Knowledge puffs up; love edifies.” We have more information at our fingertips than ever and we’re still not at peace. Encounter – “If we just encounter God in worship, we will be changed.” We live for the next conference or summer camp, putting pressure on worship experiences to deliver transformation. But experiences fade and don’t seem to work on the deeper issues of maturity. Missional Movement – “If we just multiplied ourselves, maturity would come.” But what are we bringing people into? Are we sure we’re not just a spiritual pyramid scheme? We’ve made transformation too simplistic, and it has failed us. But it can’t be too complex, or we’ll quit before we begin. A Better Framework Our framework for fullness is: Teaching, Community, Practice, Holy Spirit, Moments & Marathons. These aren’t revolutionary or novel—they’re essential pieces that, when done faithfully over time, lead to real transformation. Today, we’re focusing on why teaching is such a crucial piece (but still not the whole piece). Why Teaching Matters Ephesians 4:14 warns that children are gullible and easily fall for lies. But Paul is implying that adults are just as easily duped. Without proper doctrine, we stay stuck in immaturity, instability, and gullibility. Our lives become like a storm, tossed back and forth by every new deceitful teaching. Here’s what’s critical to understand: deception happens without us looking for it. This is unintentional spiritual formation. Just by existing in 2026, certain presuppositions shape your life. Consider this: In the Middle Ages, people didn’t trust their desires. The assumption was, “If I follow my desires, I will wreck my life.” But in the modern world, we’ve flipped that completely. Our default assumption is, “If I don’t follow my desires, I will wreck my life.” Most of us never consciously chose that belief—it’s just the air we breathe. Ephesians 4:17-19 describes those who walk with futility in their thoughts, darkened in their understanding. Sinful behavior always starts in the mind. If your mind is devoid of truth, it leads to destructive actions. Ideas and Images This deception doesn’t just come from obviously false religious teaching. It comes through the stories we tell ourselves, movies we watch, books we read, heroes we glorify. It’s primarily through ideas and images. Dallas Willard puts it this way: “Ideas and images are, accordingly, the primary focus of Satan’s efforts to defeat God’s purposes with and for humankind… When he undertook to draw Eve away from God, he did not hit her with a stick but with an idea.” Ideas and images are subtle ways we are sabotaged and deceived. Many have the image of God as an angry traffic cop waiting to bust them for mistakes. Others are stuck in the idea that they must earn their salvation. Some imagine the church should be like a wild meadow with no structure, no planning, no budgeting—when Scripture says it’s a body that needs sustenance, a family that needs leadership, a vineyard that is pruned regularly. Some of the greatest destroyers of peace in your life aren’t circumstantial; they’re intellectual. If we don’t start here, it doesn’t matter if you do the practices or live in community. If we don’t allow truth to penetrate and change our ideas and images, we’ll be tossed about like immature children. The Call To Renewal Ephesians 4:20-24 calls us to renew our minds, and this happens over a lifetime. Sometimes there are lightbulb moments. But more often, it’s the slow and steady marathon of Scripture that changes us from the inside out. Showing up to church is a great start. But that’s probably not enough when it comes to transforming the big stuff: overcoming sins you’ve promised God you’d never commit again, breaking free from bitterness and anger, no longer living in catastrophic thinking or for people’s approval, feeling deep in your bones that you truly are forgiven. Six Ways to Renew Your Mind Read large chunks of Scripture Memorize small portions of Scripture Sit under the teaching at church Read books Listen to podcasts Study Bible in community This is the first step, but it’s not the last. This will take you pretty far in the beginning years of the Christian life. You can’t think your way to Christlikeness alone. You can’t skip this step, but you’ll starve yourself if it’s the only step. Peace is possible because of the Prince of Peace. One major piece we must begin with is teaching—renewing our minds. We must walk worthy of the calling we’ve received, and that starts by confronting the lies we’re already believing. What lies are you already believing?

Welcome to Season Nine of the Formed by Jesus podcast! This is our favorite part of the year — where we share conversations with real people from Passion Creek Church about how they’re living out the Practices of Jesus in everyday life. We’re still in our Witness Practice, learning how to cultivate a heart for the lost, pray with persistence, and open our lives to meaningful relationships with non-believers. In this episode, Emily Heaton returns to the podcast to share her story of growing up in Christian circles, feeling convicted about not knowing many non-believers, and how God used prayer, presence, and unexpected opportunities (including LDS missionaries knocking on her door!) to stretch her faith. We talk about: How prayer leads to opportunities for witness Why presence matters more than having all the perfect answers What it means to show hospitality without fear How to step into spiritual conversations with wisdom and discernment Why God often answers our prayers slowly, then suddenly Plus, we get into stories about neighbors, bracelet-making, visiting other faith traditions, and what it means to be a peaceful presence in a polarized world.

Welcome to Season 9 of the Formed by Jesus Podcast—our deep dive into the Ninth Practice that’s shaped the trajectory of our church. If you’re new to Passion Creek, our Nine Practices to Make Disciples book is now on Amazon—summarizing the first full run-through of the practices that form us for life between Sundays. In this episode, Trey sits down with Ryan to explore the Witness Practice: sharing your story, inviting others into community, and living a credible, consistent life with Jesus. We talk vulnerability vs. transparency, forgiveness that actually frees, how marriage becomes a living gospel, and why consistency beats intensity in spiritual formation. If you’ve ever wondered how to witness without being weird—or how to heal from bitterness and lead from your real story—this one’s for you. Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through 9 practices. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com

Coffee Table Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FWR249RY Spiritual Health Survey: https://form.typeform.com/to/n5FDTU8I?typeform-source=formedbyjesus.com Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through 9 practices. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com

Season 9 kicks off with Pastor Trey VanCamp sitting down with Cade Wiles to talk about the practice of witness. Cade shares his journey from growing up LDS to following Jesus, his baptism at Passion Creek, and how Scripture opened his eyes. We unpack key differences, the cost of discipleship and family tension, spiritual warfare, and simple, practical ways to witness—like giving Bibles, praying with people, and leading with weakness and love. Cade asks for prayer: open doors with family/friends, financial provision, and Baby #2 on the way.

In this episode, Pastor Trey & Pastor Caleb give some of their final thoughts on the practice of witness... and they disagree on quite a few things.

Paul had a sense of urgency when it came to sharing the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 5 and 6, he tells us that we will all appear before God one day and give an account of how we lived as witnesses. He also says that our job is to persuade people to believe in the gospel because “today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). But today, few of us live with this sense of urgency. Rather than fearing God and His judgement, we fear other people and their opinions. We also write people off as being unlikely to accept the gospel if we were to share, and most of the time, we simply forget to live our lives as witnesses. But witnessing is not an optional practice. Both Paul and Jesus teach us that to be a disciple is to be a witness. When we learn to examine our fears, our flesh, and our forgetfulness, and then bring them to God, we can become effective witnesses who lead others into the Kingdom through the practice of Invitation.

In Corinth, Paul faced a city with culture similar to ours. The highest values in Corinth were social status, success, and self-image. You were only accepted if you were able to present the most successful version of yourself to the rest of the world. But rather than boat in his accomplishments, successes, and brilliance, Paul did the opposite. He vulnerably demonstrated his weakness to those he shared the gospel with. By being honest about his sins, struggles, and his hope, Paul allowed the gospel to shine through his weaknesses. To learn from Paul means we must also be willing to share our weaknesses with those we witness to, choosing to be honest about ourselves and our lives. We can do this through the practice of conversation — simply talking honestly and intentionally with others about our hope in Jesus.

In Corinth, Paul faced a city with culture similar to ours. The highest values in Corinth were social status, success, and self-image. You were only accepted if you were able to present the most successful version of yourself to the rest of the world. But rather than boat in his accomplishments, successes, and brilliance, Paul did the opposite. He vulnerably demonstrated his weakness to those he shared the gospel with. By being honest about his sins, struggles, and his hope, Paul allowed the gospel to shine through his weaknesses. To learn from Paul means we must also be willing to share our weaknesses with those we witness to, choosing to be honest about ourselves and our lives. We can do this through the practice of conversation — simply talking honestly and intentionally with others about our hope in Jesus.

Pastor Trey and Pastor Caleb process what it means to share the full gospel in our everyday lives.

When Paul planted the church in Corinth, his method was simple — preach Christ and Him crucified. Paul was able to clearly and courageously call people to repent and align themselves with the true King, Jesus, and the church in Corinth was born. Our job as witnesses today is the same — preach Christ and Him crucified with courage and clarity. And while courage comes with time, clarity takes effort. Most of us have an incomplete gospel story. We tend to emphasize one part over another, and often miss out on the depth and complexity of what salvation really is. To become effective witnesses who clearly and courageously preach the gospel, we must learn the full gospel story: Jesus has come to rule and reign over the world through His death and resurrection, and anyone can live in the Kingdom here on earth and into eternity if they repent from their sins and align themselves with Him.

Recapping Week One As we begin our last practice together, the practice of Witness, we look to Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians. Writing to a church in the middle of a diverse and pagan culture, Paul encourages the church there to live their lives in such a way that their alignment with King Jesus is evident. Much like a strong aroma will either draw others in or push them away, Christians should remain so close to God, each other, and the lost that their lives draw those who are willing closer to God. Like the church in Corinth, our Witness practice must start with our with-ness. We must remain so close to God that others find our lives appealing. We must remain so close to each other that we’re able to rely on each other for support. And we must remain so close to the lost that we actually have opportunities to draw them into communion with the God who created them.

As we begin our last practice together, the practice of Witness, we look to Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians. Writing to a church in the middle of a diverse and pagan culture, Paul encourages the church there to live their lives in such a way that their alignment with King Jesus is evident. Much like a strong aroma will either draw others in or push them away, Christians should remain so close to God, each other, and the lost that their lives draw those who are willing closer to God. Like the church in Corinth, our Witness practice must start with our with-ness. We must remain so close to God that others find our lives appealing. We must remain so close to each other that we’re able to rely on each other for support. And we must remain so close to the lost that we actually have opportunities to draw them into communion with the God who created them.

This episode of the Formed by Jesus Podcast features Michelle Rediger, a deeply rooted woman of prayer and a pillar of hospitality at Passion Creek Church. Michelle shares her journey from postpartum depression to a vibrant prayer life, how she learned to hear God’s voice, and what it looks like to minister from a place of intimacy with Jesus. She talks about spiritual warfare, the power of journaling, learning to prophesy, and why God sometimes doesn’t remove our weaknesses. Whether you’re in a dry spiritual season or longing to deepen your intimacy with God, Michelle’s story will stir your heart and inspire your prayer life.

Dana shares what it was like growing up as a third-generation pastor’s kid, how prayer was woven into her daily rhythm from a young age, and how she’s learned to trust God not only for the little things—like lost keys—but also for miracles—like being healed after eight years of chronic back pain. We also dive into the ancient practice of the Prayer of Examen, what it means to talk to God like a Father and a King, and how faith can grow even in seasons of spiritual silence. ✨ Whether you're just beginning your prayer journey or longing to experience more of God’s presence, Dana’s testimony will inspire you to keep showing up… even when you don’t feel it.

In this deeply moving episode of the Formed by Jesus Podcast, Pastor Trey sits down with Jonathon, a faithful member of Passion Creek Church, to share a raw and powerful story of heartbreak, discernment, and trust. Jonathon opens up about his daughter Cadence’s cancer diagnosis, the unexpected ways God has led their family, and the spiritual cost of both listening and not listening to God’s voice. Through laughter, tears, and moments of deep theological reflection, this conversation explores the hard edges of prayer, the wilderness of suffering, and the surprising places God's whisper can lead us. If you've ever wrestled with disappointment, doubt, or the pain of unanswered prayers—this is the episode for you. Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through 9 practices. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com

Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through the practice of prayer. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com/prayer

Prayer is so important because it allows us to delight in God’s presence, discern His heart, and depend on His power. But prayer is so powerful because it actually directs God’s hand. When we pray, prayer moves our heart and will to align with God’s heart and will. But it also moves God’s hand to directly interfere into the affairs of humanity. And yet few of us actually believe this. Some of us fall into the trap of fatalism, falsely believing God has already set the future and our prayers won’t actually change anything. Others of us fall into the trap of naturalism, falsely believing that prayer is less important than action. But throughout the scriptures, God does change his mind in response to his peoples’ prayers. In Exodus 32, after receiving the 10 Commandments, Moses prays on behalf of the Israelites and God relents. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha prays for the eyes of his servant to be opened to the reality of God’s power through prayer. If you track the theme of prayer throughout the biblical story, one thing becomes abundantly clear: prayer moves the hand of God to action. It’s our prayers, usually on behalf of others, by which God advances His Kingdom to push back the darkness in the world around us. Put simply, God responds when we pray. By praying bold prayers that just might move God’s hand to action, we practice turning our inward-focused minds, hearts, and bodies into outward-acting agents of God’s kingdom.

You've made it! Welcome to Week 4 of our family prayer practice—and this one may be the most transformational yet. This week, we’re focusing on praying for others, using Matthew 6:13 and the life of Jesus as our guide. He didn’t just pray for friends—He prayed for His enemies, for His disciples, and for people who didn’t yet know Him. What a powerful model for our children to follow. Juli shares simple but meaningful ways to help your kids intercede for others—from whiteboard prayer lists to breath prayers to scripture-based intercession. Whether you're praying as a family or helping older kids develop their own rhythms, this practice will help build empathy, compassion, and a Christlike mindset. 📖 Verse Focus: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” 📚 Story Focus: Jesus praying for His disciples and His enemies (John 17, Luke 23:34) ✨ This week includes: Tips for helping kids pray for friends, teachers, and even enemies A breath prayer toolkit for emotional regulation and spiritual focus Recommended resources for parents and kids to go deeper Continued Scripture prayer practice for older kids 💬 Comment below: Who did your family pray for this week? What surprised you? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Download the full Family Guide at https://formedbyjesus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Formed-By-Prayer-Family-Guide-2025.pdf 📚 Resources mentioned: Raising Prayerful Kids, Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer, and Praying the Scriptures for Your Children

In the middle of teaching on prayer, Jesus tells us to ask, “Give us today our daily bread,” “forgive our sins,” and “deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:11–13). These requests span a spectrum: from the mundane, to the messy, to the monumental. Daily bread reflects ordinary needs we often overlook—food for the day, a safe commute, help with our to-do list. “Forgive our sins” gets messy, confronting our failures and the challenge of forgiving others. “Deliver us” points to overwhelming needs—healing from deep wounds, restored relationships, freedom from bondage. Yet Jesus makes no distinction. Bread, forgiveness, deliverance—all are gifts from a generous Father. If God truly is our Father, He wants us to ask—for small things and big things. Because asking reveals humility. It takes honesty and vulnerability to admit we need help, that we rely on His power. Prayer expresses this dependence. When we bring God the mundane, the messy, and the monumental, He responds. Not always how or when we expect. But Jesus reminds us: “Who among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9–11).

In Week 3 of our prayer practice series, we’re helping families focus on the sacred act of asking God for help—both in the big and the small. This week centers on Matthew 6:11–12 and the story of Hannah, a woman who poured out her heart to God in desperation. Her story not only models bold, honest prayer but also leads us to the story of Samuel—a prophet who teaches us how to listen and respond to God's voice. Julie walks us through how to bring these lessons to life in everyday parenting moments. Whether your child is afraid of the dark or dealing with something deeper, this week's practice gives you simple, powerful tools to make prayer a natural rhythm in your home. 📖 Verse Focus: Give us today our daily bread… and forgive us our debts. 📚 Story Focus: Hannah’s prayer for a child (1 Samuel 1) 💬 Drop a comment below with your family’s takeaway from this week! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Download the Family Guide at https://formedbyjesus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Formed-By-Prayer-Family-Guide-2025.pdf

In the middle of teaching on prayer, Jesus tells us to ask, “Give us today our daily bread,” “forgive our sins,” and “deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:11–13). These requests span a spectrum: from the mundane, to the messy, to the monumental. Daily bread reflects ordinary needs we often overlook—food for the day, a safe commute, help with our to-do list. “Forgive our sins” gets messy, confronting our failures and the challenge of forgiving others. “Deliver us” points to overwhelming needs—healing from deep wounds, restored relationships, freedom from bondage. Yet Jesus makes no distinction. Bread, forgiveness, deliverance—all are gifts from a generous Father. If God truly is our Father, He wants us to ask—for small things and big things. Because asking reveals humility. It takes honesty and vulnerability to admit we need help, that we rely on His power. Prayer expresses this dependence. When we bring God the mundane, the messy, and the monumental, He responds. Not always how or when we expect. But Jesus reminds us: “Who among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9–11).

Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through 9 practices. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com/prayer

In Week 2 of our Formed by Jesus Family Prayer Guide, we’re helping your kids learn what it means to listen to God—even when it’s not an audible voice. ✨ Trey and Kids Director Juli Minahan walk through this week's practice, which focuses on listening prayer and the power of reflection. This week’s theme is drawn from Matthew 6:10 ("Your kingdom come, your will be done...") and modeled through the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. In this episode, you’ll discover: How to teach kids that listening to God shapes our hearts A simple family rhythm inspired by the Prayer of Examen Daily questions to help kids reflect and notice God’s presence A powerful journaling rhythm for older children Bonus ideas like “writing scripture on the window” and the value of quiet moments Whether you’re raising toddlers or teens, this guide helps your family learn to slow down, reflect, and walk with God—together. 📘 Download the guide or grab a printed copy at formedbyjesus.com/prayer

If the goal of prayer is to delight in God’s presence and develop deeper communion with Him, few of us want to settle for a one-sided relationship. At some point in our prayer journey, we’ll want to actually hear from Him. This is what Scripture calls discernment. And while prayer is about delighting in our personal relationship with God by sharing our hearts with Him, it’s also about learning His heart for us and for those around us. When we pray to discern God’s heart, we’re asking to know God’s will. But we’re also asking that God would form and shape us into the kinds of people who are actually capable of accomplishing it. This means discerning God’s heart is less about finding the right path when faced with a decision and more about tuning our hearts and desires to God’s heart and desires. This is partly what Jesus means when He tells His disciples to pray, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done…” (Matt. 6:10). Discerning God’s heart is about surrendering our will to God’s. We want His will, not ours, to be done in our lives, in the lives of those around us, and in our world. Praying this way is about alignment. We want to bend our desires to God’s desires. And not just for ourselves. We want to develop the heart God has for those around us as well. We want to hear from God, we want to respond to His voice, and we want to become people who carry out His will.

In this episode, Pastor Trey and Pastor Caleb recap the first teaching of our prayer practice.

Welcome to Week 1 of our Formed by Jesus Family Prayer Guide series! 🎉 This episode is for parents who want to teach their kids how to praise and thank God in simple, life-giving ways. Pastor Trey sits down again with Kids Director Juli Minahan to break down the first week’s practice: helping your children understand prayer as gratitude. In this episode, you’ll learn: - How to talk to your kids about what prayer really is - How to introduce the Lord’s Prayer in a way kids can remember - Why Psalm 145 (David’s prayer) is a beautiful example of praise - A simple daily rhythm that includes family prayers and journaling - A bonus activity called The Thankful Walk that will help your kids see God’s goodness in everyday life Whether your kids are toddlers or teens, this practice is designed to be doable, flexible, and transformative. And remember—progress, not perfection. If all you do is talk about one thing you're grateful for today, that’s a win. 📘 Download the guide or grab your printed copy at formedbyjesus.com/prayer

It’s pretty significant that the one time we’re told the disciples ask Jesus to teach them something, they say, “Teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). After everything they saw Jesus doing—preaching, performing miracles, healing, casting out demons—what caught their attention was the devotion and commitment Jesus seemed to have when it came to prayer. When Jesus answered his disciples’ request, the first thing He told them to do was address God as a Father. “Our Father in heaven…” as the prayer goes. Many of us know it by heart, but this was a radical move on Jesus’ part. In a culture full of both reverence and uncertainty about the divine, Jesus was demonstrating to His disciples a very simple, yet radical truth: God is knowable. He’s not simply “up there” in the clouds, nor is He passively waiting for us to approach Him with the right words, mantra, or sacrifice. God is near, and we can talk to Him the same way a child would talk to their father. The starting point of prayer is delight. We can’t develop the kind of prayer life Jesus had until we get our heads and hearts around the truth that God wants to be near us in prayer more than we want to be near Him. To truly delight in God requires a proper theology, a patient consistency, and a practicing community.

Season 8 of the Formed by Jesus Podcast is here, and we’re diving deep into the practice of prayer—but this time, we’re not just talking to adults. We’re inviting your whole family into the journey. In this episode, Pastor Trey sits down with Passion Creek’s Kids Director, Juli Minahan, to unveil our brand new Family Prayer Guide—a weekly and daily resource designed to make prayer approachable, meaningful, and consistent in your home. We talk about: - Why we created a printed guide just for families - How to help your kids memorize the Lord’s Prayer - Age-appropriate ways to teach children to pray - Encouraging rhythms (without overwhelming your schedule) Whether you have toddlers, teens, or somewhere in between, this guide helps you make prayer a sacred rhythm, not just a spiritual theory. 👉 Grab your digital or printed copy at formedbyjesus.com/prayer

In this powerful return episode, Jeremy Craig opens up about his life transformation—spiritually and physically—through fasting, focus, and faith. From a medically-required liquid fast to a Spirit-led journey of health and discipline, Jeremy shares how surrendering food led to gaining clarity, control, and deeper communion with God. Trey and Jeremy talk about the power of vision, the lies of modern food culture, and the kind of internal shift that happens when you finally realize: this isn’t a moment—it’s a new way to live. This is not just about health. It’s about formation.

Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through 9 practices. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com/fasting In this inspiring episode of Formed by Jesus, Pastor Trey VanCamp sits down with Keith Rogers—an ordained minister and cancer survivor—to talk about the intersection of fasting, faith, and the voice of God. Keith shares his testimony of coming to faith at 40, battling cancer four times, and how fasting has become a key part of his spiritual and physical renewal. From dreams that shaped his obedience to insights gained on prayer walks, Keith opens up about what it means to live with urgency, humility, and spiritual alertness in the fourth quarter of life. This conversation will challenge your assumptions, encourage your soul, and stir your desire to hear God's voice in both the ordinary and the miraculous.

In this honest and thoughtful episode, Trey sits down with Charlie Shorma, a faithful member of Passion Creek Church, to unpack his personal journey with the spiritual discipline of fasting. Charlie shares how he went from seeing fasting as a vague Christian obligation to embracing it as a pathway to deeper intimacy with God. What started as skipped meals turned into a sacred rhythm—a time to confront long-held doubts about God's kindness, wrestle with past pain, and experience the steady pull of God’s hesed love. Along the way, Charlie opens up about his family’s cross-country moves, seasons of struggle, and how fasting helped reframe his story—not for what he could get from God, but for who he was becoming in Christ. Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through 9 practices. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com/fasting

In this episode of the Formed by Jesus podcast, we hear from Rebekah, a homeschooling mom of three who shares how the practice of fasting has transformed her spiritual life, her parenting, and even her daily rhythms. She reflects on what God revealed through hunger, how abstaining from social media created more peace at home, and how fasting uncovered a deeper desire for control rooted in perfectionism. It's a conversation filled with wisdom, honesty, and practical encouragement for anyone looking to draw closer to God through spiritual practices—without falling into legalism or performance.

In this episode of the Formed by Jesus podcast, we sit down with Mark Speiker, a faithful member of our church community, to talk about his first real experience with fasting—not as a religious ritual, but as a spiritual practice. Mark shares his journey from growing up in Catholic traditions to embracing a deeper, more intentional walk with Jesus. We discuss the physical and spiritual tensions of fasting, the temptation to fill the silence with distractions, and how this practice has softened his heart, strengthened his marriage, and brought unexpected clarity to his daily routine. This is a raw, honest, and encouraging conversation about learning to say no to cheaper desires and yes to deeper union with God.

Why Lent? Lent is a historical Christian season in the church calendar that’s been observed by the Christian church going as far back as the 3rd century. Lent marks the 40 days leading up to Easter, beginning with Ash Wednesday, as a time for repentance and prayer. During Lent we turn our attention on our sin to better prepare for the celebration of Easter. The primary way we do this is by fasting or abstaining from something specific until Easter. Lent is voluntary and invitational. It doesn’t make you more lovable to God, but it does move your heart in deeper devotion to God.

One of the sharpest and most consistent criticisms God gives against His people throughout the scriptures is the sin of neglect. As God’s people, the Israelites were chosen as a nation among nations to bring God’s light to a dark world. God’s people were always supposed to care for the poor and marginalized, and to bring the good news of God’s Kingdom to the lost around them. But rather than care for them, they often neglected them. In Isaiah 58, God’s people wonder why their prayers and fasts haven’t been acknowledged by God. God’s response is that they fast in vain; their focus is only on themselves while they neglect those in need around them. Instead, God describes a holy and honoring fast as one that leads to care for their neighbors. When we fast, we have an opportunity to direct our attention and our prayers away from ourselves and toward others. We use our bodies to cry out to God on behalf of those who have needs in our cities, communities, and neighborhoods. In our hunger, we identify with those who don’t have food in abundance like we do. We align ourselves with the poor and needy among us. From those with deep physical, relational, and emotional needs to those who have the ultimate spiritual need: reconciliation with God through the power of the gospel.

One of the sharpest and most consistent criticisms God gives against His people throughout the scriptures is the sin of neglect. As God’s people, the Israelites were chosen as a nation among nations to bring God’s light to a dark world. God’s people were always supposed to care for the poor and marginalized, and to bring the good news of God’s Kingdom to the lost around them. But rather than care for them, they often neglected them. In Isaiah 58, God’s people wonder why their prayers and fasts haven’t been acknowledged by God. God’s response is that they fast in vain; their focus is only on themselves while they neglect those in need around them. Instead, God describes a holy and honoring fast as one that leads to care for their neighbors. When we fast, we have an opportunity to direct our attention and our prayers away from ourselves and toward others. We use our bodies to cry out to God on behalf of those who have needs in our cities, communities, and neighborhoods. In our hunger, we identify with those who don’t have food in abundance like we do. We align ourselves with the poor and needy among us. From those with deep physical, relational, and emotional needs to those who have the ultimate spiritual need: reconciliation with God through the power of the gospel.

In this episode, Pastor Trey and Pastor Caleb recap Sunday's teaching on confessing your need. Fasting is hard because it’s a form of self-denial. We suddenly become aware of our weakness, frailty, and imminence. It’s a reminder that our bodies need sustenance to survive, and without food, we’ll eventually die. But just like our bodies need food for life, our souls need God. David knew this well when he fasted and pleaded with God in Psalm 69. As he denies his body food, he learns to confess his needs before God and redirect his trust back towards Him. Like David, we too are powerless to accomplish our deepest desires and weak when it comes to uprooting the deepest sins in our lives. We all have needs that only God can meet — prayers we need answers to, sins we can’t overcome, and decisions we need God’s will revealed for. To help us redirect our trust in God and to confess our needs, we fast.

Fasting is hard because it’s a form of self-denial. We suddenly become aware of our weakness, frailty, and imminence. It’s a reminder that our bodies need sustenance to survive, and without food, we’ll eventually die. But just like our bodies need food for life, our souls need God. David knew this well when he fasted and pleaded with God in Psalm 69. As he denies his body food, he learns to confess his needs before God and redirect his trust back towards Him. Like David, we too are powerless to accomplish our deepest desires and weak when it comes to uprooting the deepest sins in our lives. We all have needs that only God can meet — prayers we need answers to, sins we can’t overcome, and decisions we need God’s will revealed for. To help us redirect our trust in God and to confess our needs, we fast.