The most important question I will face as a leader in spiritual formation is this: "How is it with your soul?"

That question strikes at the very depth of my spiritual journey and raises the issue of the transparency and authenticity that I must bring to my own walk in Christ. Most importantly, it has led me to understand that it is my baptism, not my ordination—which can be revoked by the institution—that is the foundation of my ministry and life. "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Gal. 3:27).

If we were to ask the people in our churches the same question, what would they answer? And if we inquired further if Christianity was the organizing principle of their lives my guess is that most would be hard pressed to declare that it is.

Yet, church leaders continue to try to get people to go out and minister in their families and communities without bringing about the inner transformation that is necessary if baptism is to attain its objective—renewing our inmost being. I fear that much of what is labeled Christian spirituality in our churches does not transform lives so that "it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me." (Gal. 2:20)

The reintroduction to the spiritual disciplines and practices are a way of cooperating with the Holy Spirit in the transformation of lives. I’ve found that to be true in my own life when I begin with the habit the heart follows. It does not work the other way around.

When we follow the spiritual disciplines—daily prayer and meditation, living in non-judgmental ways, caring for our bodies, reading Scripture—the work of the Holy Spirit leads us to a more authentic, vibrant walk with Christ. Such disciplines help people live out their baptisms in the context of ministry. This is not "works righteousness," but a certain ways and means of transformation. They call us to a quiet attitude of mind and heart that enables us to attend to God.

A most significant challenge Method-ists face is to not institutionalize spiritual formation as another method of church growth. We must reorient clergy and church leaders away from institutional and programmatic, church growth expansionist mentalities to realize that the absolute priority and condition for everything else is that we be spiritually formed in Christ.