Well, good-day folks. Welcome back to the church.nYC podcast. Thanks so much for joining us.

I wanted to let you know this autumn. We are going to be talking through the idea of spiritual formation.

This series is called Formed. And it is a journey through the key stages of development where someone goes

from being dead in sin into being formed into the image of Jesus. And it's really getting back

to the core concepts that are often overlooked in all the conversations about spiritual formation.

What does election, regeneration, justification, vivification, mortification, sanctification, these big terms,

what do they actually mean for the spirit's work within us, helping us move out of the brokenness

of our sin-stained flesh and into the fullness of life that God has for us?

How do we make sense of our stories in light of the

resurrection of Jesus and the kingdom of God? The word formed, we're taking from Galatians 419,

where Paul talks about being as in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in us.

Romans 8 tells us that we've been predestined to be conformed to the image of the sun.

Those are high theological terms and we're going to make them both practical and meaningful

over the course of these series. Thanks for tuning in. We can serve you in any way. Feel free to

reach out. Let's get back to the podcast. Peace.

Today's teaching text is Matthew 28, verse 18 through 20.

You might have heard this passage before, know it by heart.

I just want to invite you to hear it with fresh ears.

These are the words of Jesus, Matthew 28, 18, 2.20.

Then Jesus came to them and said, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the

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