The five day community for spiritual formation is a retreat designed to help participants grow closer to God through practices like prayer, reflection, and community. It usually takes place over 5 consecutive days and involves staying together with a small group of 10-20 people. The goal is to temporarily leave behind the busyness and distractions of everyday life in order to connect more deeply with God.
What happens during the five days?
Each day of the retreat follows a similar rhythm marked by times of worship, teaching, personal reflection, small group discussion, and rest. Here is a sample schedule:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Worship |
| 7:30 am | Breakfast |
| 8:30 am | Teaching session 1 |
| 10:00 am | Personal reflection time |
| 11:00 am | Small group meeting |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 pm | Free time |
| 3:00 pm | Teaching session 2 |
| 4:30 pm | Personal reflection time |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Worship |
| 8:30 pm | Small group meeting |
| 10:00 pm | Personal reflection & sleep |
As you can see, the days include extended times for worship, teaching from scripture, quiet personal reflection, and small group discussion. Meals are shared together in community. The pace of the schedule aims to facilitate an unhurried rhythm where participants can listen for God’s voice.
What is the purpose behind each activity?
Worship: The worship times focus on praising God through music, scripture, and prayer. Worshipping together invites God’s presence and reconnects participants to God’s love and grace.
Teaching sessions: Each day includes two talks given by a retreat speaker meant to engage the mind and impart biblical truth. Teachings aim to inspire and challenge participants while remaining grounded in scripture.
Personal reflection: Periods of personal reflection provide space for participants to process the teachings, worship, and their experiences. Common practices include journaling, contemplative reading of scripture, walking prayer, silence, and art journaling.
Small groups: Participants share into small groups of 4-6 people each day to discuss insights, encourage one another, and pray together. Meeting in small groups fosters spiritual community.
Meals: Eating together provides time for casual fellowship and conversation in community. Keeping silence during some meals can also facilitate listening for God.
Free time: Having occasional breaks for rest and free time allows participants to recharge physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
What are the core spiritual practices?
While each retreat may have a slightly different rhythm, most focus on a few core spiritual practices:
- Prayer: Participants devote extended time to conversing with and listening to God through practices like centering prayer, lectio divina, imaginative prayer, intercessory prayer, and examen prayer.
- Scripture meditation: Reading, meditating on, and internalizing scripture passages helps refresh participants’ minds with God’s truth.
- Silence & solitude: Periods of intentional silence and solitude counteract societal noise and busyness, opening space to hear God’s voice.
- Spiritual companionship: Walking with spiritual companions (small group) provides support and encouragement for the spiritual journey.
- Sabbath: Observing intentional times of rest reorients participants toward God’s gift of Sabbath.
The goal of each practice is to help nurture an inner posture of trust, openness, and discernment toward God.
What are the topics/themes?
The specific topics and themes vary by retreat, but often center around:
- Spiritual disciplines to sustain connection with God
- Hearing God’s voice and discerning his will
- Living purposefully out of calling and identity in Christ
- Cultivating spiritual intimacy with God and healthy community
- Wholeness, inner healing, and freedom in Christ
Teachings aim to provide fresh biblical and theological depth on the spiritual life. The goal is to spur participants’ further growth and transformation into Christlikeness.
Who leads the retreat?
The five day community is usually led by a small team including:
- A retreat director who oversees logistics, coordinates speakers, and guides the overall retreat experience.
- One or two main speakers who teach and share from their lived experience.
- Small group facilitators who shepherd each small group.
- Worship leaders to guide musical worship.
- Prayer ministers to offer personal prayer ministry.
- Staff to host the practical details of meals, lodging, etc.
High value is placed on finding mature spiritual leaders with wisdom and experience to guide the community. The team provides stability and support so participants can focus fully on their spiritual growth.
Where does the retreat take place?
Five day retreats are typically held in comfortable yet simple retreat centers or campgrounds that facilitate leaving behind the stresses of daily life. Peaceful natural settings like retreat lodges, monasteries, or Christian camping ministries are common. The setting aims to be cozy and welcoming while minimizing distractions.
What are the origins of the five day format?
The five day structure was initially inspired by Catholic Ignatian retreats dating back to the 1500s. Protestants later adapted this retreat model but made it more intensive with expanded teaching time. Modern five day retreats continue this emphasis on biblical depth while incorporating silent reflection and small groups for spiritual companionship.
How is community formed during the retreat?
Living in close community for five days facilitates deep spiritual bonding and mutual encouragement. Meal times, small groups, worship, and free time together weave relationships within the group. A spirit of trust makes it safe to share vulnerably and pray for one another. Community provides accountability to apply the retreat’s lessons back home and continues supporting participants after the retreat.
What are the benefits of participating?
Benefits include:
- Setting aside daily distractions to connect deeply with God
- Receiving biblical teaching tailored to your spiritual growth needs
- Practicing spiritual disciplines like prayer and Sabbath
- Experiencing intimate worship and community
- Gaining new spiritual insights through personal reflection
- Being refreshed and refueled spiritually to live purposefully
Participants frequently describe feeling closer to God, gaining new spiritual clarity, and feeling equipped to thrive spiritually after attending.
How should you prepare your heart beforehand?
To make the most of your time, it helps to prepare your heart by:
- Setting the dates aside well in advance
- Arranging for work and family responsibilities to be covered
- Praying for openness to hear from God
- Reflecting on hopes and needs for your spiritual growth
- Confessing any sin to start with a clean heart
- Approaching the retreat with eagerness and expectation
Advance preparation will allow you to be fully present and receptive.
What happens after the retreat?
To continue the spiritual momentum, many participants take steps like:
- Journaling on their experience
- Joining or starting a small group
- Beginning a habit of daily spiritual disciplines
- Finding a spiritual director or mentor
- Implementing lifestyle changes to grow spiritually
- Applying retreat lessons through serving at church
The community doesn’t end after the retreat—follow-up small group reunions and prayer partnerships reinforce the lessons long-term.
How can you find a five day retreat to attend?
Options to find an excellent five day community include:
- Asking your church if they host or recommend a five day retreat
- Searching for “spiritual retreat [your city]” online
- Looking for Christian retreat centers near you
- Asking mature Christian friends where they have attended
- Investigating denominational retreat offerings
- Contacting local Catholic retreat centers open to Protestants
With some research, you can find the right fit for your hopes in a five day spiritual formation community. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the place He has prepared.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the five day community for spiritual formation provides a powerful catalyst for drawing nearer to God. By setting aside a time of sacred space with like-minded sojourners, participants can detach from daily worries in order to attach more fully to the Lord. They can return home with spiritual nourishment from times of intentional community worship, biblical teaching, prayerful reflection, and small group fellowship. While an investment of time and focus, the eternal rewards from attending a five day retreat are well worth it for those feeling the tug toward deeper relationship with God.