The Being Formed Podcast

Adam Ormord welcomes friend and mentor, Stephen W. Smith, to The Being Formed Podcast to talk about the power of deep listening.
Steve Smith is the co-founder of Potter's Inn, a Christian ministry devoted to the work of spiritual formation and the care of the soul. He's the author of several books and small group guides, including The Lazarus Life, Soul Custody, The Jesus Life, and Inside Job. Steve and Gwen have been married since 1980 and have four grown sons and 14 grandchildren.
Steve regularly writes on his Substack page, Potter’s Inn with Stephen W. Smith, where he recently posted an article entitled "Deep Listening Might Save Us. His article is vulnerable and honest, as evidenced in today's podcast.
 "So many words—too many words is a form of abuse to the soul, I believe. I use the word abuse intentionally. Why abuse? Because abuse is not just what is done “to”us—abuse it also what is withheld from us. When we are not heard, then the message we get is, “I don’t matter.” That’s not the truth. Listening validates that the one speaking matters." (Steve Smith, Deep Listening Might Save Us, July 29, 2024)
(26:55) Adam recites the lyrics of a song called "let me listen." Text by Charles Anthony Silvestri / Music by Dan Forrest. 2022. (Watch & Listen on YouTube Here.)
(48:12) Steve offers a short practice to help us consider the value of Deep Listening. Build an acrostic of the word LISTEN based on what listening looks like to you. Steve's example: "E" means Eyes fixed; "N" means Now is the moment. Adam's example: "N" means No phone on the table. Do this exercise in community and discuss ways to practice deep listening together.
If you'd like to share your LISTEN acrostic with our LifePoint community, send an email to info@lifepointresources.org. 
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

“Deep discipleship is not all that interested in power. It’s interested in listening and formation. Those two things sometimes work at odds.” - Brian Fisher
Our host, Adam Ormord, welcomes Brian Fisher (soilandroots.org) to The Being Formed Podcast for an important conversation on the topic of discipleship. Brian is the founder of Soil and Roots, a non-profit ministry helping to form and support small communities that actively listen to the stories and experiences of one another, thereby cultivating deep discipleship together.
Brian spent his early career in various executive roles in both for-profit companies and non-profit Christian ministries. He has spoken around the United States on issues such as cultural engagement, media, bioethics, and apologetics.
Brian is the author of various published articles and books, including his latest book, Soil and Roots: Cultivating Deep Discipleship. He’s also the host of the Soil and Roots Podcast, available on your favorite podcast streaming platform.
Visit the Soil and Roots website to learn more about starting a Greenhouse in your community.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.
 

"Christians so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together)
We're delighted to welcome Melody Leeper, Program Manager of Renovaré's Listening Groups, to the podcast. Melody does a phenomenal job explaining the growing community of participants from many countries around the world who are finding their way to online and in-person monthly listening groups.
Renovaré Listening Groups are a formational experience like no other in the Church today. Imagine coming together with one intention - to listen to God, to one another, and to your own heart. The Renovaré website further explains what participants will experience in a group.
Participants in Renovaré's Listening Groups...
Experience the freedom of listening without having to respond, fix, or correct one another
Offer generous and unhurried space to share without interruption, questions, or advice
Forgo fear of others’ judgment and impression management
Learn to discern the voice of God in community
Share honestly about their journey with God
Favor God’s voice over their own
Welcome prayerful silence
Give and receive prayer
 
We hope you enjoy this conversation and prayerfully consider joining a Listening Group. Visit Renovaré to learn more and sign up for a free "Drop-in Group."
Also, visit LifePoint Resources to read Melody's beautiful poem entitled "Yes."
Resources Mentioned
Celebration of Discipline (Richard Foster)
The Making of an Ordinary Saint (Nathan Foster)
 
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

How would you answer these five Biblical questions from God?
- Who do you say that I am?
- What is your name?
- Where are you?
- What do you want?
- What do you have in your hand?
These five questions provide a framework for formational mentoring, a ministry of soul care which stands apart from a typical mentoring relationship, life coaching, or even a spiritual direction relationship.
"Formational mentoring has an emphasis on a posture that's seeking intimacy with God."
Becky Dietz is the Formational Mentoring Director at LifePoint Resources. She's also a writer, speaker, and retreat leader with many years of church and para-church ministry experience, both in rural and urban settings. Becky’s undergraduate work focused on Christian Education, and she holds a Masters degree in Christianity and Culture from Knox Theological Seminary.
Becky writes formational resources which help Christians from many cultures pursue and protect personal sacred spaces and rhythms. She loves to facilitate groups – large or small – where people are invited to understand and enjoy deeper friendship with God.
Visit LifePoint Resources to learn more about Formational Resources and connect with Becky Dietz.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

What does it mean to discern wisely? Is discernment all about making decisions, either as an individual or with a group, or is there more to it than that? Our guest, Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia, helps us form a broader definition of discernment which includes all of our life with God by "practicing a preference for God" in every relationship, every circumstance, every conversation, every single day.
Steve Macchia is a thought provoking author and is the Founder and President of Leadership Transformations, Inc. LTI focuses on the spiritual formation needs of leaders and the spiritual discernment processes of leadership teams in local church and parachurch ministry settings nationwide. He is also the Director of the Pierce Center for Discipleship-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Visit stevemacchia.com to purchase your copy of Steve's recent book, "The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything."
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

We're grateful to Brandon Booth, the co-founder and president of Signpost Inn Ministries, for bringing his years of wisdom and insight related to the art of relational conversation to The Being Formed Podcast.
Brandon and his wife, Liv, run a retreat house in Colorado and provide hospitality through various retreats, spiritual direction, and masterfully crafted resources all designed to help people grow confidence in Christ's unfailing love, and help them to think wisely about theology, prayer, spirituality and more. Brandon and Liv offer spiritual friendship and support so that no one has to journey alone.
This episode is about learning to engage in more fruitful conversation primarily through practicing curiosity and active listening. As we learn to listen without cynicism and over-analysis, we become more open to the riches of relationship and friendship offered by the other.
This is true of our relationship with God.
Spiritual direction is a place and space where we are offered the gifts of curiosity and active listening. It's a place to pay attention to God's loving voice within. If you are seeking spiritual direction, please visit LifePoint Resources and connect with one of our spiritual directors.
Also visit Brandon Booth's website at www.signpostinn.org to connect with him as a spiritual director or to register for an upcoming retreat.
Brandon's book, Changing the Conversation, is available for purchase here.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Our host, Adam Ormord, discusses the spiritual practice of listening with Dr. Ann van der Merwe. Utilizing technological resources to curate musical experiences has never been easier than it is today. Is there value in considering the role of music in our own formation? How might we intentionally cooperate with God by allowing music and art to speak a better word to our souls? Is it possible God is present, beckoning us to be more present in and through the curated soundscape of our lives? If so, is listening a practice we might engage with more curiosity and attention? 
Ann van der Merwe currently works as an Adjunct Instructor of Humanities at Southern New Hampshire University. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Illinois and an MA and PhD in Musicology from The Ohio State University. She has two published books on music, both focusing on American popular music in the early twentieth century. She is also a lifelong follower of Jesus who has shared her love of music, writing, and the divine gift of human creativity in a variety of other ways, both in ministry and in life.
 
Two curated playlists for your practice of listening (from Ann):
Rest: I curated this playlist as an invitation to rest - to Sabbath, to being rather than doing, to relaxing both physically and spiritually, to trusting in and asking for God’s provision. The word “rest” appears throughout, and the sonic palette is intentionally restful as well. The songs collectively also reflect on and refer to a variety of Scripture passages inviting us to rest.
Rest - Andrew OsengaI Am - Jill PhillipsCome Away - Jason PolleyCome To Me (Acoustic) - Jadon LavikRest Easy - Andrew PetersonTake Five - The Dave Brubeck QuartetFill My Cup - Andrew RippGive It A Rest - The Arcadian WildRest - The Gray HavensLilies & Sparrows - Jess RayRest (Postlude) - Jess Ray
 
How Long?: I curated this playlist as a musical lament - a way to share grief, pain, impatience, frustration, and longing for the Kingdom. The words “How Long” appear frequently, and even when they are absent, the sentiment remains. Musical style varies more widely here, which intentionally reflects the range of emotions that accompany lament as well as our unique human expressions of lament.
Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2 (Songs of Surrender Version)How Long? - Bifrost ArtsThe Reckoning (How Long) - Andrew PetersonMy Soul Waits - Bethany BarnardCome Back Soon - Andrew PetersonO God, Will You Restore Us? - Bifrost ArtsThe Year of the Locust - Andrew OsengaThe Dark Before the Dawn - Andrew PetersonWaiting – Andrew Osenga“40” - U2 (Songs of Surrender Version)
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

How is it with you and God? What's God up to in your life? How is it with your soul These are some of the questions explored in spiritual direction, a ministry of listening. 
Debbie Schuster is the Director of Deepen, a two-year course of study designed for individuals who desire to grow in their own spiritual lives as well as to cultivate the spiritual lives of others in a cross-cultural setting. Grounded in multiple streams of Christian spirituality, the course offers a balanced learning environment blending spiritual formation with skills development through experiential, developmental and group activities.
A trained, practicing spiritual director for over 20 years, Debbie previously served as adjunct faculty and staff at Talbot School of Theology and the Institute for Spiritual Formation. Currently residing in Málaga, Spain, she is part of the SentWell multi-disciplinary member care team, providing services for cross-cultural workers serving around the world.
To learn more about Deepen and SentWell, visit https://www.sentwell.org/deepen. 
To meet with one of LifePoint's trained spiritual directors, visit https://www.lifepointresources.org/direction and request a consultation.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.