--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question isn't if someone will sign…" description: "\"The question isn't if someone will sign up for spiritual formation; it's just who and what our spirits will be formed by.\" — John Ortberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-ortberg-932_formation_the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign_190127.png" --- # The question isn't if someone will sign up for spiritual… ![“The question isn't if someone will sign up for spiritual formation; it's just who and what our spirits will be formed by.” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-ortberg-932_formation_the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign_190127.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-ortberg-932_formation_the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign_190127.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-ortberg-932_formation_the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign_190127.png) > “The question isn't if someone will sign up for spiritual formation; it's just who and what our spirits will be formed by.” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth depends on influences, not just willingness to join. **In simple terms:** Who shapes your spirit matters most. Key Takeaway Choose mentors and environments wisely. Themes spirituality growth influence choice Mood thoughtful encouraging Type spiritual educational When to use this quote - church groups - reading circles - online communities Key Concepts Mentorship environmental impact personal development Questions to Reflect On - Who are your biggest spiritual influences? - How do you assess their impact? A Different Perspective Ignoring personal agency can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual formation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-formation/) ## Related quotes > [London had so much death in its history, it was hard to find a spot without spirits. 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Just as there is an 'outer you' that is being formed and shaped all the time, like it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/spiritual-formation-is-for-everyone-just-as-there-is-an-outer-you-2/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [I hate how spiritual formation gets positioned as an optional pursuit for a small special interest group within the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/i-hate-how-spiritual-formation-gets-positioned-as-an-optional-pursuit/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In Spiritual formation we are aiming at a character and life that is so shaped that the deeds of Christ routinely and easily come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/in-spiritual-formation-we-are-aiming-at-a-character-and-life-that-is/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [It is not that the university as such is against spiritual formation. It is just that often the university does not know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/it-is-not-that-the-university-as-such-is-against-spiritual-formation/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [A Christian school should be a place where young men and young women go through a period of spiritual formation and development so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/a-christian-school-should-be-a-place-where-young-men-and-young-women/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [“So my fifth point is this: spiritual formation is the process whereby the inmost being of the individual takes on the quality or character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/so-my-fifth-point-is-this-spiritual-formation-is-the-process-whereby/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Everyone gets a spiritual formation. It's like education. Everyone gets an education; it's just a matter of which one you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/everyone-gets-a-spiritual-formation-it-s-like-education-everyone-gets/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Spiritual formation is character formation. Everyone gets a spiritual formation. It's like education. Everyone gets an education; it's just a matter of which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spiritual-formation-is-character-formation-everyone-gets-a-spiritual/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [One of the most beautiful ways for spiritual formation to take place is to let your insecurity lead you closer to the Lord. Natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/one-of-the-most-beautiful-ways-for-spiritual-formation-to-take-place/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Spiritual formation in a Christian tradition answers a specific human question: 'What kind of person am I going to be?' It is the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spiritual-formation-in-a-christian-tradition-answers-a-specific-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Spiritual formation for the Christian basically refers to the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spiritual-formation-for-the-christian-basically-refers-to-the-spirit/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Spiritual formation in Christ moves us toward a total interchange of our ideas and images for his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spiritual-formation-in-christ-moves-us-toward-a-total-interchange-of/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More by John Ortberg > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [If we are serious about loving God, we must begin with people, all people. And especially we must learn to love those that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/if-we-are-serious-about-loving-god-we-must-begin-with-people-all/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The greatest bloodbaths in the history of the human race were recorded in the twentieth century in countries that sought to eliminate God, worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-greatest-bloodbaths-in-the-history-of-the-human-race-were/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/hurry-is-the-great-enemy-of-spiritual-life-in-our-day-you-must/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/in-reality-each-thought-we-have-carries-with-it-a-little-spiritual/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-miracle-of-sunday-is-that-a-dead-man-lives-the-miracle-of/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/jesus-had-a-universal-concern-for-those-who-suffered-that-transcended/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/god-is-a-god-of-endless-opportunities-to-do-good-the-god-of-the-open/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [One of the most painful aspects of suffering is the loneliness of it. Others may offer support or empathy, but no one can walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-most-painful-aspects-of-suffering-is-the-loneliness-of-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More Formation quotes > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [The formation of the News America Publishing Group will lead to greater editorial excitement, new business opportunities and greater efficiencies and coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chernin/the-formation-of-the-news-america-publishing-group-will-lead-to/) [Peter Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-chernin/) > [The era I love most is the Federal period, just after the Revolution and the formation of the United States. The birth of America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/the-era-i-love-most-is-the-federal-period-just-after-the-revolution/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [I am convinced that, except in a few extraordinary cases, one form or another of an unhappy childhood is essential to the formation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/i-am-convinced-that-except-in-a-few-extraordinary-cases-one-form-or/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [EDUCATION, n. The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/education-n-the-bringing-up-as-of-a-child-instruction-formation-of/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [“When a child is immersed in a certain environment, his thinking is formed by roles models of behavior demonstrated by parents in the family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/when-a-child-is-immersed-in-a-certain-environment-his-thinking-is/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Succinct, thorough, and masterfully researched-Thomas Medvetz has written a subtle and timely history of these fixtures of public debate in the United States. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lemert/succinct-thorough-and-masterfully-researched-thomas-medvetz-has/) Charles Lemert > [To avoid a split between what men consciously know because they are aware of having learned it by a specific job of learning, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/to-avoid-a-split-between-what-men-consciously-know-because-they-are/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The emergence of a unified cognitive moment relies on the coordination of scattered mosaics of functionally specialized brain regions. Here we review the mechanisms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-varela/the-emergence-of-a-unified-cognitive-moment-relies-on-the/) [Francisco Varela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-varela/) > [I prefer the 4-2-3-1 formation and stick to it but have my own interpretations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/i-prefer-the-4-2-3-1-formation-and-stick-to-it-but-have-my-own/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [The essential thing is the formation of the political will of the nation: that is the starting point for political action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-essential-thing-is-the-formation-of-the-political-will-of-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The mind has three operations: the formation of ideas, judgements and reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-mind-has-three-operations-the-formation-of-ideas-judgements-and/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [If you put a ten dollar bill under the rug instead of spending it, that is capital formation. It represents ten dollars' worth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garet-garrett/if-you-put-a-ten-dollar-bill-under-the-rug-instead-of-spending-it/) [Garet Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garet-garrett/) > [Spiritual formation in Christ moves us toward a total interchange of our ideas and images for his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spiritual-formation-in-christ-moves-us-toward-a-total-interchange-of/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) Browse all 356 Formation quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The question isn't if someone will sign up for spiritual formation; it's just who and what our spirits will be formed by.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ortberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign-up-for-spiritual-formation-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Formation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign-up-for-spiritual-formation-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-ortberg-932_formation_the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign_190127.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-ortberg-932_formation_the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign_190127.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc0/john-ortberg-932_formation_the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign_190127.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The question isn't if someone will sign up for spiritual formation; it's just who and what our spirits will…” — John Ortberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Ortberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The question isn't if someone will...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign-up-for-spiritual-formation-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-question-isn-t-if-someone-will-sign-up-for-spiritual-formation-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```