I. A revolution of love | 1 Corinthians 13

Now that we are married...

The real intent of the 1 Corinthians...

As it was in the beginning, so it shall be in the end

Something to anticipate and something to practice

"Love is not a 'duty', even our highest duty. It is our destiny."

- N.T. Wright; Surprised by Hope

II. You can't duct tape fruit to a tree | Galatians 5:19-25

Walking/living by the Spirit of Jesus

Rules, spontaneity, and a new kind of life

Deeds versus character (v.19-21)

Nine varieties of one fruit

A gift from God and a result of decision(s)

How this all works...kind of...

For Further Discussion

How did your understanding of the "love/wedding" chapter of 1 Corinthians change after hearing the talk?

How did your understanding of the "fruit of the spirit" from Galatians 5 change after hearing the talk?

Which part of the talk was most helpful to you? In understanding? In practice?

Are you better equipped to walk by the Spirit of Jesus into more transformation into His likeness? In what ways?

What practical steps can you implement in your daily life to walk by the Spirit?

Good Reads

The Divine Conspiracy

Dallas Willard

Renovation of the Heart

Dallas Willard

After You Believe

N.T. Wright

The Divine Dance

Richard Rohr

The promise of conformity to Christ's likeness (Galatians 4:19; Romans 8:28-29)

The reality of our lives/experience

Bridging the gap...

The power of thought

Life and death begin in the mind

May I have a little help, please?

Colossians 3

"The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow our minds to dwell upon."

- Dallas Willard

For Further Discussion

What thoughts take the most space in your normal state of mind? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in this reflective exercise as you identify those thoughts.

Which of the thoughts lead to life? Which lead to death? Can you imagine being freed from the thoughts that lead to death? What thoughts would replace them?

Retrace and discuss the practical steps described in Colossians 3. How would these steps/practices help in transformation toward the likeness of Christ?

The Divine Conspiracy

Dallas Willard

Renovation of the Heart

Dallas Willard

After You Believe

N.T. Wright

The Divine Dance

Richard Rohr

From image to likeness... | Genesis 1:26-27; 2 Corinthians 3:18

Becoming the people we are destined to be | Colossians 3:9-10

It is not automatic but is a process accomplished by God's grace, the Holy Spirit

Unfortunately, we do not begin the process with a blank slate; at least not in our minds!

Romans 12:1-2

This requires our participation!

Colossians 3:1-17

Thoughts and transformation

Ideas, images, information and thinking

Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:13; Philippians 2:5; Romans 12:1-2

Hosea 4:6;14; John 17:6; Romans 5:8; Psalm 19:7-8; Psalm 119

The constant presence of God in your mind and thoughts

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Dance with the Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit

A slow dance is necessary

Colossians 3:5, 8, & 14

For Further Discussion

What are three thoughts that have occupied your mind this week? Why those thoughts and not others? What effect have they had on your life?

What are the main ideas that dominate society today? Do they help or hinder you in living the kingdom life?

What images of God are most common and influential in the world today? How do they compare with the image of God as reflected in the life of Jesus?

How might we exchange these ideas and images for those of Jesus?

How does "dancing with the Triune God" affect right thinking and ultimately, transformation? How does that look in everyday life?

one, it's the loneliest number since the number one..."

- Harry Nilsson, 1968; Three Dog Night, 1969

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

The principle of three...or four!

Alienation, separation, and hostility

The principle of two...

The solution to two people is one people; reconciliation

The relationship of the one people to the Triune God results in transformation and can be described as life in 4-D!

For Further Discussion

Based on our discussion of the two trees, how did the principle of two originate? How does the principle of two result in hostility?

What is your understanding of verse 14 that indicates that Christ has broken down the wall of hostility? How is it that we, who were hostile toward each other, can now be at peace?

Where is it that this transformation takes place? Within what context?

Discuss your thoughts and feelings regarding this divine dance (perichoresis) that humans have been invited to participate in.

Illustrations:

The formation of the human heart

The transformation of the human heart.

Is it reality or fiction

Is it beyond human reach?

Transformation: A Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of an individual so that it becomes like the inner being of Christ

Transformation's goal: That the outer life of an individual becomes a natural outflow of the character of Christ

First, a couple of qualifying statements...

We will never...

It is all by grace but it is not totally passive!

The pattern for change:

Discover...

A vision of the beautiful kingdom life

Decide...

Intend to live that life by making a resolute decision

Do...

Use whatever means available to affect change

"...utilize more and more grace to live by, until everything we do is assisted by grace." - Dallas Willard

For Further Discussion

Compare the formation of the heart as merely a human reality with the distinctively Christian formation of the heart.

What dangers lurk beneath the surface of an external and behavioral interpretation of spiritual formation?

How would you describe the "grace" component of spiritual transformation? How does our participation interrelate with grace?

What are the main means that you personally use to implement the decision to live the kingdom life?

• Ladder - represents movement in both directions

• Angels - showing the reality of the Kingdom of God and presence of God here on earth

• God - standing with Jacob

• Psalm 24:1 | Exodus 24:12 | Exodus 3:2

• God is always at work in the world, answering Jesus' prayer "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

• God is constantly inviting us to live and reveal His kingdom.

• God speaks to us through his Spirit in lots of ways.

• God's love for us always invites a response.

• God reveals more of who he is and who we truly are as we respond to him in trusful obedience..

• You've been born again into God's kingdom, filled with his Spirit.

• You invest your time in learning to recognize Jesus' voice .

• You take the risk to trust Jesus when he nudges.

• You're willing to be ruined for Jesus. (John 6:68-69)

For Further Discussion

Describe a time when you've had a meeting with God?

Describe a time when you've had a meeting with God?

Can we go to a place and not actually "be" there?

Can we hear God's voice but not listen to what it says?

How has your trust in Jesus grown through times of uncertainty?

What is holding you back from stepping more fully and freely into the "divine dance" with Jesus?

 

In God's image? A "fighter" instinct?

Fighting to the same end and in the same way as God fights.

A divine dance for the kingdom?

The day the music died...

The ends and the means have changed for man as he picks the wrong fight, the wrong adversary, the wrong way and the wrong place!

God, however, does not make man an enemy whom he fights against, but instead fights for man.

Adam...Cain...Lamech...Noah...Nimrod...and forward!

Escalation is inevitable unless man gets away from the want of being "like" God!

He first won the correct fight, against the correct adversary, in the correct way, and the correct place! (Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:20; 2:13-15)

And now, his instructions make sense...

We have NO human enemies! There are NO exceptions!

The command is based on the nature of God: Love!

Loving, especially enemy love, is characteristic of children of God

This command makes zero sense in the world.

For Further Discussion

Why are there so many militaristic metaphors in the scripture if God is love?

To what end does God fight? Who is He fighting against? How does He fight since the advent of the Messiah?

Discuss the word escalation. In what ways have you witnessed or experienced an escalation of hostile feelings or actions? How could this escalation have been avoided?

Paul said that, "...faith /trust is expressed through love." Why does it require trust to live this way?

Misery does not have to be!

Pain does not have to define us but it can be useful, in the right hands, for our transformation and growth in Christ.

Water into wine; a miracle or a signpost?

The intentions and promises of God are being fulfilled in a new way!

The presence of God among people is profoundly joyous!

The nature of God is being revealed to humanity.

Joy should be at the heart of the Christian life.

"Whatever He says to you, do it!" Mary, the mother of Jesus (John 2:5)

The necessity of our active participation...

Practice embracing and cultivating gratitude and celebration!

"Jesus thinks the world needs more wine than religion." Bruxy Cavey

Joyous Christian Feasting

For Further Discussion

In Cana, Jesus replaced ceremony with celebration. If he showed up today, what traditions or beliefs would he challenge to make his point?

In what ways did this "sign" of turning water into wine reveal the true nature of God?

What was the key takeaway for you from this wedding miracle?

What do you think about the necessity of our participation? Think back to the servant's response to his instructions; when did the water turn to wine?

How can you/we practice embracing and cultivating gratitude and celebration?

A Norman Rockwell Christmas

A Prince of Peace Christmas | Isaiah 9:6

"Believing in" vs. "living in" Christ

My outer world

My inner world

When peace transcends circumstances

Matthew 16:15

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