TRAINING FOR TRANSFORMATION Disappintment with wh we are? Yet the Prmise f Transfrmatin is the Essence f Hpe Galatians 4:19 Rmans 8:29 Rmans 12:2 When Transfrmatin Happens: Dn t just D the things Jesus wuld have dne Yu find yurself WANTING t d them! What are yur current Tls fr Spiritual Grwth? Expect Transfrmatin! In self and In everyne in the Bdy f Christ; Eph. 4:15-16, Cl. 2:19 D s mre and mre with ever increasing glry 1 st Thessalnians 4, 2 nd Thessalnians 1:3, 2 nd Crinthians 3:18, Prverbs 4:18, 2 nd Peter 1:5-8 Dangers f Pseud Transfrmatin Matthew 23 Becme a gd man in the wrst sense f the wrd Inauthentic Clean the Outside f the Cup v. 25-26 Prud Best Seat in the Huse v. 6 Less Apprachable Lved t be called Rabbi v. 7 Teach withut Ding Tie Up Heavy Burdens n Others v. 3-4 Playing the Game f Church Train Yurself t be Gdly 1 st Timthy 4:7-8 AD 51 Isthmian Games in Crinth Requirements fr Athletes Training vs. Trying! Luke 13:22-25 Make every effrt vs. Try What Spiritual Disciplines Are NOT Nt a Barmeter f yur Spirituality - Luke 18:11, Matthew 6:5 Nt Necessarily Unpleasant Clssians 2:20-23 Nt a Way t Earn Favr with Gd Rmans 11:6, Titus 3:4-5 Nt a Substitute fr Gd disciplining us as His children Hebrews 12
MUNDANE DISCIPLINES Acts 24:25 Frightening tpic! Mending Yur Nets Luke 5:1-5 Sharpening the Saw Self-Cntrlled, Upright, Hly, and Disciplined Titus 1:8 One can t presume t sublimely transfrm int the image f Christ withut als getting yur act tgether- mundane but necessary Time Urgent vs. Imprtant Martha vs. Mary (Luke 10:38-42) Imprtant Fire Preventin/Ptty Training (PT) Fire Fighting (FF) Nt Urgent Urgent Escapism (TV) Diaper Changing (DC) Nt Imprtant Planning Weeks and Mnths and Years (Genesis 1) First Things First - and secnd things are thrwn in (Matthew 6:33) Escapism (2 nd Samuel 11:1-5) Identify Barriers: Awareness f where yu spend time Mney Awareness: Track Budget - Review First Things First Calries Awareness: Track Budget - Review Bks: Freedm frm the Tyranny f the Urgent, by Hummel. Seven Habit f Highly Effective Peple and First Things First, by Cvey. Getting Things Dne, by David Allen.
SUBLIME DISCIPLINES Persnal Disciplines Sublime Engagement Prayer* Bible Study Bible in a Year Memrizatin and Meditatin Prv. 22:17-19; Jsh 1:8; Ps. 1:2, 119:97 Celebratin, Wrship, Singing, Jy Phil. 4:8 Jurnaling Jsh. 24:26 Sublime Abstinence Fasting Mt. 6:16-18; Isa. 58 Frugality, Simplicity, Sacrifice Mk. 6:8; Mt. 6:19-24 Aviding Temptatin Pr. 5-7; Gen 39; Silence, Slitude, and Sabbath Luke 5:16; Mt. 14:13 Practicing His Presence Cl. 3:22-24 Thanksgiving Ps. 100:4 Prclamatin* Ps. 27:7 Service* Eph 5:6-9 Cntributin* - 1Cr. 16:2; Prv. 4:23; Rm. 12:2 Sleep Unpluggedness 2 Cr. 6:17; Expse Entitlements James 4:1-4 Submissin Heb. 13:17 Secrecy (cupled with gd wrks) Mt. 6:3-4 Determining Yur Training Regimen Step One: Decide t Pursue a Life in Which Christ is Frmed in Yu with Ever Increasing Glry! Step Tw: (Objective) Knw What It Means fr Yu t Live in the Kingdm f Gd Hw wuld Jesus play the hand yu have been dealt? Hw wuld Jesus re-arrange yur life? What attitudes, ambitins, affectins, agenda, and allegiances des Jesus exhibit that make his chices fr the Kingdm s clear? Step Three: (Barriers) Expse the Barriers That Hinder Christ Being Frmed in Yu What prevents yu frm being mre lving, jyful, peaceful, patient, kind, gd, faithful, gentle and self-cntrlled?
Typically barriers ften include: selfishness, selfish ambitin, fear, insecurity, self pity, stress, arrgance, apathy, fatigue, cynicism, thughtlessness, cnflicting pririties (gd nes!), criticalness, pessimism, frustratin, etc. Step Fur: (Chse Disciplines) Put Tgether a Wise Training Regimen Make sure yu are hacking at the rts rather than the fruits (i.e. treat the cause nt the symptms) Brainstrm exercises that will best target yur muscles that need strengthening Fr example: I lse my temper with my children. I ve tried cunting t ten befre reprimanding their behavir with n real transfrmatin in my harshness. Why? I was addressing the symptm. What was the cause? When I really prbe deeper, I find that the cause is my arrgance (I talk harshly t my child because I can. I am bigger, strnger, and mre pwerful). S hw d I address my arrgance? I deply a discipline that helps me have greater respect fr them. S I spend the next week treating my child with same respect I give my bss at wrk. I crrect her just as wuld my bss. My respect muscle grws, my temper begins t appear flish even abminable, and my child and I grw in lve and respect fr ne anther. Vila! Step Five: (Celebratin) Review Yur Prgress and Share it with Fellw Transfrmers At the end f the appinted time f training in a specific discipline; review yur results vs. yur starting pint. Allw the transfrmatin t be a great surce f praise t ur Lrd Revise yur training regimen fr cntinued transfrmatin.
SUBLIME DISCIPLINES Cmmunal Disciplines Eph. 4:15-16, Cl. 2:19 I Gtta Be Me Western Individualism: Phil 2 The Bdy f Christ, They Ultimate Cmmunity: Jhn 17 Training fr a Team Sprt Fellwship Kinnia Fellwship in the Light Cnfessin. 1Jhn 1:1-10 Presenting One Anther Cmplete Discipleship Praying Tgether (Acts) Cmmunin with the Bdy and Bld f Christ 1Cr. 10 The Wrship Service Midweek Meeting Family Grups and Bible Talks Encuragement Cnfrntatin and Discipline Restratin Friendship and Curtship Putting It All Tgether Establishing Yur Own Rule f Life