"TRANSFORMATIONAL INTENSIVE" Dr. Dallas Willard

Photo courtesy of Willow Creek Association

Dr. Dallas Willard - Professor, USC
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...

"NECESSARY ENDINGS" - Dr. Henry Cloud

Dr. Henry Cloud

Dr. Henry Cloud

“Necessary Endings”

About 95% of today’s thoughts will be the same thoughts as yesterday.

VISION:
1) GOOD but not BEST  -80% - 20% principle
Churches horde activities, ministries, etc... but “it might grow, we might need that...” -we gather activities that are “good” but their season has passed.

Perhaps the real life of the church is in 20% of what it’s doing right now. “What currently exists that’s not aligned with the new vision you’re headed.”

2) Sick and not well
No matter how much we love it, it’s just not going to work.  There is a time to search and a time to give up as “lost.”
    -leaders fall in love with their ministry, but it can be codependent and effect the whole team. Reject a divisive person / ministry etc...

3) Prune DEAD stuff
Go through your weekly meeting “above” that thought - and talk about the WEEKLY MEETING for example.  

Get rid of stuff that’s just in the way.  “We do have a new focus around here, and it’s this vision.”  
    -continually have people buy in to the vision with time and resources.

WORKING THE PLAN

1) Clear vision, no confusion, clearly articulated
    eg: as you work on a vision, write down what your new vision is on a sticky note in 1 minute.  “If it’s not clear with your leadership team, how clear will it be in the nursery?” It’s got to be clear throughout the organization.

Sometimes each ministry leader has their own vision.

2) If you’re to change it, you must create a sense of urgency.  
    -Leaders must create this within the organization.
        a. There must be a fear of “what will happen if we don’t do this”
            -give understanding
        b. then present “Here are the opportunities if we DO do this”

3) Create a Change Coalition or “change strategy team”
    a. The group will look at How the change is going.
        -different people at different levels of the ministry-
            -who do they follow? who matters to them? GET THEM together
            -who do you need to take to lunch?
    b. from the top levels, display, show, and live out your commitment to this.  
        -spend time on it
        -don’t spend your time on the “urgent, not vital.”
        -demonstrate by example the change you want people to follow
    c. you’ve got to change the organization where it needs to be changed to align with the new strategy that you’ve messaged.
        -it must change to support the new vision
        -includes the entire flow of how people are empowered to do things

One of the biggest reasons Campus Crusade did so much is that IF SOMEBODY came to the CEO with an idea or vision, he would empower them and set them free.  They would go grow it.  Empower your entrepreneurial leadership to get it done today.
    d. promise yourself that you’re gonna run in to 3 groups of people       
        Leaders get derailed by the resisters
        i. those who are going to love the change
        ii. the sceptics will question and tell you why it won’t work
            -You job is to win them over. They’re honestly sceptical so win them over. DON’T BE AFRAID of this group. This is what leadership is about.  It’s MOST of the body - and they’re winnable.  
        iii. the “no-no’s” - the people who just say “no.” They’re not changeable. They’ll actively resist and create problems.  YOU MUST NEUTRALIZE them. If someone’s not going, they need to get “pruned.”  Paul “gave a person over to Satan...” that’s pruning.
            Here’s how to deal with them:
            a. distract them, get them so far away they don’t know what’s happening   
            b. get rid of them - I can’t have a foot on the accelerator and yours on the brake.  You have 30 days to decide...
            -make short term victories very well noted. When what we’re talking about is really done on a small scale, show them to the body and what it looks like - illustrate short term wins.
            c. integrate them into the conversation in the context of everybody else who’s on board then it will become very clear that they have an agenda

when you hire new people, make sure they’re aligned.

VISION IS REALLY EXCITING
There’s probably a 1:1 correlation with the life-giving of your vision with how much pain that will be associated with it.  You must be prepared for some hard moments.  

-If the demographics have changed... or ?? and you start “taking away the choir robes,” then you have Messed with People’s lives! And if they’re not Christ centered and it’s about their kingdom, then they cry VICTIM to other people.  BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE YOUR TEAM TOGETHER where you guys are one.  Jesus’ change group in the upper room, he prayed “that they might be one as you and I are one.” Our unity will enable us to go through change.

Be sure the changes come through in grace and truth.  Don’t give them bullets.  

“In the world you have tribulations but take courage.” -God is involved in ending things and leaving things, difficult conversations... but He will empower you.

-@coreydrose

Notes by Corey Rose during a “Transformation Intensive” general session May 4-6th. Notes on “Leading Change” by Henry Cloud may be the property of Henry Cloud.