How does lasting change happen in my life? How can I see long-term transformation of my character, not just temporary changes of actions and habits? That is what this seminar is about!
Law vs Grace
Typically when we try to bring spiritual change into our lives we give ourselves rules (we revert back to the law!).
These ‘rules’ could look like:
- Read the Bible more
- Attend more church activities
- Memorise scripture and pray more
- Try harder not to do x,y,z…
- Increase accountability measures
- Set new goals
- etc., etc.
The problem with doing this is not that those things are bad. For lasting change to happen many of them will need to be in place. The problem is that our proposed methods of change have not gone through the pathway of the heart – they are all external changes! The pharisees did all the above things better than anyone else – but their hearts were far from God and they received the harshest words from Jesus.
So, instead of applying the law to our external life, lasting change happens as we apply grace to our internal life. It’s knowing unconditional love and acceptance of Jesus that brings us the freedom that we need. It’s the security and intimacy of our relationship with our Father in heaven that brings us the assurance we need. It’s the power of the Spirit working in us that brings us the hope that we need.
In other words, it is not about more things we can do (law), it’s about appreciating what He has done and is doing (grace) that brings lasting change.
Idols & Lies
Genesis 3 tells us that the reason humanity has gone so far from God’s plan is because we believe lies and worship idols:
- Genesis 3:1 – “did God really say” (the lie)
- Genesis 3:6 – “when the woman saw…was pleasing…was desirable…she took…” (the idol)
In Romans 1 Paul gives a commentary on Genesis 3 and he summarises our problem by saying:
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25)
The reason for all our troubles in life is that we believe a lie and we worship something other than God. The lies and the idols promise so much – but deliver so little. Instead of bringing us the freedom and joy that we expect, they enslave us and eventually destroy us. It’s only the gospel that has the power to save us (Romans 1:16) and transform us (Romans 12:1).
In Jesus we have both the truth that sets us free (John 8:32) and the bread of life that satisfies (John 6:35).
Applying the gospel to my life and yours
Discerning
As I understand my heart (see previous seminar) I can start to discern the idols and the lies, and as I do I can speak the truth of the gospel to my heart until it sings.
Repenting
When I fail Jesus I can look at WHY I failed him, I can repent of my idols and believe the truth, and receive fresh grace from Him for today. In Jesus, we have someone that satisfies us when we ‘get him’ and forgives us when ‘fail him’.
Growing
As I seek to grow in Christ likeness throughout my life, I can identify the re-occurring sins that reveal deep-seated idols in my heart and ways of thinking that are not true, and more and more I can be ‘transformed by the renewing of my mind’ (Romans 12:2).
Applying
So, instead of turning back to the law for change, I apply the gospel more deeply into my life until I rejoice in Jesus more fully.
Speak truth till your heart sings
Tim Keller puts it brilliantly when he says:
The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s but the A-Z of Christianity. The gospel is not just the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make progress in the kingdom…
The main problem, then, in the Christian life is that we have not thought out the deep implications of the gospel, we have not “used” the gospel in and on all parts of our life…
All of us, to some degree live around the truth of the gospel but do not “get” it. So the key to continual and deeper spiritual renewal and revival is the continual re-discovery of the gospel
Or elsewhere, in his book on Counterfeit Gods, talking about how we replace our idols he says (page 173):
To rejoice is to treasure a thing, to assess its value to you, to reflect on its beauty and importance until your heart rests in it and tastes the sweetness of it. “Rejoicing” is a way of praising God until the heart is sweetened and rested, and until it relaxes its grip on anything else it thinks that it needs.”
That is what it means to speak truth to your head till your heart sings!
Seminar Format
Who – Everyone is welcome, whether you’re in a life group or not. This is vital discipleship training for EVERYONE.
When – Sunday 7th June, 6-7.30pm, after the normal online service.
How – Over Zoom, on the same zoom from our Sunday service – https://hubspot.zoom.us/j/393744003
What – This will be an interactive seminar, with examples, discussion, Q&A and teaching. The base of much of the framework will be Tim Keller’s ‘the centrality of the gospel’ article. We’ll also be using and adapting some of the material from this worksheet and in particular the gospel waltz. We’ll also look again at our deep desires and the HEAR exercise.
Why – Because we believe it is for freedom that Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1), and learning to apply grace to our lives more and more is the key to that freedom and all Christian joy!
Any questions let me know – steve@christcitychurch.ie – but hopefully we’ll see you there!