Renovare Essentials Conference - FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Renovaré, the Essentials Conference and Spiritual Formation

Question: What is Renovaré?

Renovaré is a nonprofit Christian organization headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and active worldwide. Renovaré seeks to resource, fuel, model, and advocate more intentional living and spiritual formation among Christians and those wanting a deeper connection with God. A foundational presence in the spiritual formation movement for over 20 years, Renovaré is Christian in commitment, ecumenical in breadth, and international in scope.

Question: Why is UBC hosting the Essentials Conference?

To help members of our church family and others in our community discover the essential elements for living a Christ-like life, and learn how we incorporate those elements into life as we know it.

Question: Will there be materials for purchase at the conference?

Everyone who registers* will receive a conference packet that includes the Spiritual Formation Workbook and other materials. Many Renovaré and other spiritual formation resources will be available for purchase at the conference.

*Registration after January 22, including day-of conference, may not include conference packet.

Question: What is available to me after the conference?

Sunday, February 5, UBCers and guests will begin A Taste of Spiritual Formation in Weekend Bible Study groups. Offered during all three hours of Weekend Bible Study, A Taste of Spiritual Formation will give all an opportunity, for eight weeks, to experience the grace of God in the community setting of the small group. It will be experiential, but non-intimidating. Each person will be able to participate in the group at their level of comfort and ease, while at the same time each person will be encouraged to practice the spiritual exercises on their own between group meetings.

Question: What is Spiritual Formation?

It is the forming of our spirits. Everything we experience shapes our spirits—family, job, movies, music, health, environment, and more. Everything. By doing spiritual disciplines such as worship, prayer, study, celebration, solitude, etc. our spirits are shaped for the good. Things that are bad—dissension, violence, greed, lust, and jealousy to name a few—lose their attraction as our spirits are formed, conformed, and transformed into the image of Christ.

Question: What is the difference between spiritual formation and discipleship?

Everyone has a spirit or interior life that we, for the most part, cannot control. "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles," as Jesus said (Matt 15:18). This spirit is formed in various ways by the lives we live, sometimes by intention, other times, and arguably more often, by unplanned accident or incident. In so many ways all the days, all the minutes of our lives the spirit that God has given each of us is in formation. We all have a spiritual formation and everything that we encounter plays a role.

And, to a certain extent, we are all disciples of someone or something. Unlike many of the ways our spirits are formed we can decide to what we will disciple ourselves. Jesus? Mohammed? A celebrity? A political party? The choices are myriad and endless. So we all have a spiritual formation. And we are all disciples. The question is: to what will we disciple ourselves for our spiritual formation?

Question: What are Spiritual Formation Groups?

They are gatherings of two to eight people who meet together regularly for the purpose of mutual and loving nurture and encouragement in their spiritual lives. Find out more about Spiritual Formation Groups.

Question: What is the suggested size for a Spiritual Formation Group?

No smaller than two people and no larger than seven, and preferably five people or less.

Question: Is a Spiritual Formation Group for "saints" only?

No. While the title may sound a bit ominous, Spiritual Formation Groups are designed to meet the needs of people who have little knowledge of the spiritual disciplines and minimal experience doing them. The Workbook uses a step-by-step approach to teach and model the disciplines, explaining the "whats" and "whys" and especially the "hows." Does this mean the Workbook is too easy for the more spiritually mature? No. The exercises that you will do are basic and foundational and meet you where you are. At the same time they challenge you to move ahead, to grow spiritually.

Question: What can I expect to happen to me in a Spiritual Formation Group?

There is nothing magical about Spiritual Formation Groups. They contain no secret formula and they offer no easy shortcuts. What they do offer is a plan that helps you put yourself in a place where God can transform your life from the inside out. By providing you with the balance (the six dimensions of discipleship), the knowledge (the "Ideas and Exercises"), and the encouragement (the loving accountability), your participation in a Spiritual Formation Group may very well be the beginning of a renewed and deepening spiritual life.

Maybe you've heard questions about Renovaré - here's the response from President of Renovaré, Chris Webb.

conference schedule about the speakers conference home

Still have questions?

Contact the office, 281-488-8517 x331