Catalysts

Spiritual Essential: Transformation

Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.””

Transformation doesn’t happen in isolation. In the gym, your biggest breakthroughs rarely come when you’re training alone. They happen when someone’s watching your lift and says, “Go heavier.” When a partner next to you pushes the pace and you rise to meet it. When a coach sees a subtle improvement you didn’t notice and calls it out. These are catalytic moments — small sparks of encouragement or challenge that lead to big growth.

That’s what the writer of Hebrews is talking about. Spiritual growth is not just about personal disciplines — it’s about staying connected to the people who help us grow. It’s about transformation. We define transformation as the Spirit-led process of becoming more like Jesus, where God reshapes our inner life so that our outward actions reflect His character. And one of the key ways the Spirit leads the process of transformation is through community.

Why do we need others to grow spiritually? Because we don’t always see ourselves clearly. We forget our progress. We veer off course. We get discouraged, distracted, or stuck. But someone in your corner — someone who knows your goals, your faith, your journey — can speak into your life with truth and clarity. They can remind you who you’re becoming. They can spur you on when you’re tempted to settle.

In the gym, we see it in the shared strength sessions, the partner workouts, the nod across the room that says, “You’ve got this.” In life, it’s the friend who prays with you when you’re weary, the mentor who challenges you to forgive, the community that keeps showing up when life gets hard. These are your catalysts — not the source of your transformation, but the spark that keeps it going.

Hebrews 10 reminds us that community isn’t optional for spiritual growth — it’s essential. And the kind of community that transforms you is one that draws near to God together, that holds fast to hope together, and that refuses to stop meeting even when life gets messy. That’s where real transformation gains traction — not just in your quiet time, but in loud, messy, honest community.

So, surround yourself with people who make you better. Let them speak into your faith the way a coach speaks into your form. Let them push you, encourage you, and hold you accountable. Because when your transformation slows, community could be the catalyst that gets it going again.

Questions for Reflection:

How has your community helped you grow closer to God?

Who in your life has been a spiritual catalyst?