The vision and understanding of Renovaré is not just limited to the individual. In fact, as with the church described in the book of Acts, it works best in a gathered community set in a local context. It is in worship and service together, with the ‘easy to get on with’ and the ‘not so easy to get on with’, and through study and celebration, that we learn to grow.

Only in the gathering of an all-inclusive community of loving persons with Jesus Christ at the centre are we able to demonstrate something of the Kingdom of God. This is one of the reasons why Renovaré believes that the church is so important. So how could Renovaré play a part in the local church? What are we able to do together to help us become more like Jesus?

Vision, intention and means

First, the vision of Renovaré offers the hope that transformation is possible if guided by the Holy Spirit and based on classic biblical practices. Change is a realistic possibility for everyone. The hope, within all who truly believe, that we might make progress towards being more like our Lord and Saviour, is a perfectly valid one. It is the best hope for our world as people begin to see our light and give glory to the Father. Sadly, many church leaders and congregations have given up any real confidence that personal and corporate change can take place and this is causing great harm to the people of God.

Second, Renovaré encourages the intention and commitment that anyone will need if they are to pursue the life that Jesus offers us. This firm resolve will require others, probably in small groups, to help and encourage us to stay connected to the vision we have been given. Through loving accountability in an appropriate setting we see Christians grow. Not just the theologically sophisticated or the well educated, but all people as we share and learn together.

Third Renovaré introduces practical ways in which congregations and leaders can wade deeply into the streams of spiritual growth. These are most emphatically not laws, but they do require some discipline on our part. However, learning about the means of growth, which are essentially means of grace, will help us immeasurably to see our lives as a voyage of discovery as we embark on a total ‘renovation of the heart’. Placing this as the priority for a church or fellowship is an essential part of reaching our goal.

Just do it?

Now all we have to do is do it. The wise person is the person who hears Jesus’ words and does them (Matthew 7.24). Or, to use Paul’s image in 1 Corinthians, who runs the race. And yet we all know how difficult that is. Far more difficult than we ever really account for in the way we arrange for the intentional discipleship of individuals, churches or congregations. That may be because we misunderstood how God works to change us. Thankfully he sometimes does this through remarkable and even dramatic experiences, but more usually it is through steady and sustained growth.

Renovaré seeks to understand the more common process of change that can happen in a believer. The classic resources that it points to are ways in which we can cooperate with the divine work of God himself in our lives. They show realistic ways in which we can place our selves in places where he can change us. Just like a shower, it helps to step into it if we want to get wet.

Living like Jesus

There is, of course, no definitive list of disciplines for us to memorize or press gang others to adopt. In fact pushing others in this area is almost always counterproductive. Instead, we are invited to take up activities that have been widespread in many parts of the church at different times. Disciplines like slowing down, serving others, seeking out silence, fasting from the company of others, meditating on the Scriptures, self-denial, reading one of the great spiritual classics or finding time for meaningful worship.

Like any activity undertaken for the first time, these devices may feel odd and perhaps uncomfortable. Like taking up an instrument, learning a language or training for a sport, the point is not to practice. The point is to play, to speak, to score.

Finding a context in which to do all this, even when we might feel that we are in short trousers, is what Renovaré is all about. We can help others and ourselves best by creating a climate where grace abounds and where we are clear about where we are heading. Renovaré has developed what we call ‘spiritual formation workgroups’ for this very purpose. Without judging or manipulating people we simply invite as many as are thirsty to come to the waters. Together we find workable ways of developing a Christ-like life and character and we arrange the life of the church around this clear and specific goal.

To start a spiritual formation group get hold of A Spiritual Formation Workbook by James Bryan Smith with Lynda Greaybeal (foreword by Richard Foster) published by HarperCollins