 |
| Photo courtesy of Willow Creek Association |
TRANSFORMATIONAL INTENSIVE:
“Living and leading in the Kingdom of God - in the Action of God.”
“That people would say “this is it, Jesus is in you, God is wonderful.”
I. As a result of lack of spiritual transformation, we have a culture that doesn’t look very different than our culture.
WHY? a Lack of Intention - that’s not what we have intended. It’s not on the mind of the people in church that would live a life that would cause people to say “God is wonderful”
Others would say that it’s “impossible” for this kind of spiritual transformation. It’s not possible to do the things that Jesus said. But it CAN be done and it HAS been done.
If the early church only did what we do and said what we say today, would there be a church today? > so will there be a church tomorrow?
II. THERE IS KNOWLEDGE of “how to do it.” -How to be transformed into Christ-likeness.
He told us to “make disciples,” not ‘Christians’ *much less Baptists*... but he meant surround them in trinitarian reality. Not that they ought to do it, but teach them in such a way that they do it.
III. It all depends on the Gospel you preach. There are about 3 different gospels being preached today - and “if that’s all you have, then you won’t be transformed.”
a. Your sins will be forgiven because of what Jesus did for you - is not the Gospel...
b. Another is that “Jesus is in favor of liberation and you can join him on that...” - but doesn’t lead to disciples or transformation.
c. and another is “you take care of your church and it will take care of you - with the spirit in the sky. Just be faithful.”
If we want to see what Jesus saw, we need to do what Jesus did. The Gospel is “life now in the kingdom of God.” The Gospel is: “REPENT, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
IV. TRANSFORMATION is available when we understand that it’s about the life that’s available now. “God In Action.” - and God is here. When we pray “thy Kingdom come-” we pray for His kingdom to come to the only kingdom where it’s not already - my kingdom.
a. Ph. 4:5 - be gentle because “the Lord is near...” -His action with me makes the Kingdom present.
b. 1Cor 13 is the clearest expression of the change that begins to happen. “though I speak with the tongues of men and angels etc...” -it amounts to nothing. BUT LOVE is patient, kind, does not envy etc...
THAT’S THE OUTCOME OF SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION. the Fruit of the spirit, or EXPRESSIONS of the transformation. This is the Kingdom of God - where what God wants done is done.
“Love your enemies” etc... and holy living comes out because of WHO you have become... FOR WHOM IT IS NATURAL TO LOVE YOUR ENEMY.
Your mind has to be transformed - then habits - then emotions. You’ll have to be a person who is not fearful but someone who cares
It would have been hard for Jesus to curse those who were crucifying him because it wasn’t who he was on the inside.
V. You have to do it or it won’t be done.
Grace is not opposed to effort, it’s opposed to earning. Effort is action.
Rom 11:36 - 12:2
TRANSFORMATION comes from renewing our mind. It causes you to take you body - a living sacrifice - into activities such as taking in the written living word of God.
With intention, “I will follow Jesus and do what I need to do.”
// Q & A session
A. “Jesus spent most of his time trying to get away from people, I spend most of my time trying to get people to come. Paul’s Gospel and Jesus’ Gospel are not different. The only difference is that Paul knows more about Jesus then the ppl before him knew (he presents it at the end of Acts).”
A. Jesus taught the Kingdom of God - but what is that and how does that work? Preach and teach what’s in the Gospels - Math 3: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. I need to teach the people something that helps them.
A. We want to help people to focus on Spiritual life and help them deal with the issue of “what does your spirituality do for you?” Such as the spirituality of Oprah.
“if you stay in the university, the church will stay open to you. if you stay in the church, the university will be closed to you.”
“The soul of a pastor can rest in God - and can STOP ‘trying harder.” It won’t work on our own effort, so what we can do is “give up.” We work with God and he works with us. Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, … I am meek and lowly of heart - (that’s what keeps you from being crushed by the burden of ministry) I will give you rest
“Unfortunately, so much of our seminaries emphasize success.”
Become honest with your intentions for your people. If it’s spiritual transformation, then it’s in the area of means and planning. Think of ways to go beyond regular church services to extend yourself to people in other settings. Regular preaching won’t do it. We have to think beyond that - looking at how transformation happened: The Weslyan movement, some Catholic movements etc...
0 comments:
Post a Comment