Today, we will explore a key way God's people stay excited about the adventure despite the changes around them. The points below apply to us personally, but I'm going to focus on how they are relevant to a group of Christians. Where do we start?

Learn to distinguish between your shadow mission and your true mission.

Show notes here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/a-new-challenge-part-5-the-challenge-of-staying-true-to-our-mission-september-2024/

Show notes here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/a-new-challenge-part-4-the-community-bonding-challenge/

Show notes here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/a-new-challenge-part-3-pain-doors-visions-malcolm-cox/

7 examples of how the early church recognised and embraced the new challenges God brought their way.

More details can be found here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/a-new-challenge-part-2-how-to-recognise-a-new-challenge-from-god-malcolm-cox/

Send questions and comments here ➡️ malcolm@malcolmcox.org Watch This Next: (Insert a link to a video you want your viewers to watch next)

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Question - - What is your current mountain-challenge as a group?

I am a qualified solutions focused coach. You can book a session with me either via the email above, or at the website: https://malcolmcoxcoaching.com/

God bless, Malcolm

You can find the show notes as a pdf here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/a-new-challenge-part-1-the-blessings-of-community/

Introduction

A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome back to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, one model that may help us understand how God changes us.

In previous episodes we have explored the nature of spiritual growth - that it is both practical and mystical. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by Dallas Willard - something he called, "The golden triangle of spiritual growth".

By the way, before we go on, both he and I would be appalled if the model came across as a formula.

1. Centred in the mind of Christ

• The mind is our centre. How we think shapes everything. We need to centre in the mind of Christ if we are to see transformation. That way we learn to see things the way Jesus sees them. We learn to see Father God the way he sees him, we learn to see ourselves the way he sees us, and we learn to see other people the way he sees them.
• 1 Corinthians 2.16 ““For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
• Philippians 2.5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”
• QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION: What helps you to 'have the mind of the Lord'?

2. The work of the Holy Spirit

• God's power is what transforms us, not just the way we think.
• Romans 8.6 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
• Romans 8.13 “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
• QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION: What does it mean for you to grow in the power of the Spirit?

3. Ordinary events of daily life

• We are talking especially about the hard stuff. God shapes us through the nitty-gritty of daily life.
• Philippians 3.10 “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”
• Therefore, although we may mourn our painful experiences, we must look for the valuable growth opportunities they contain.
• QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION: What is going on in your life right now that God can use to help you grow in Christ-likeness?

4. Planned discipline to put on a new heart

• What are these disciplines? They are practices such as fasting, prayer, solitude, fellowship, worship, silence, and whatever helps us consciously invite God to transform us more into the likeness of Christ.
• Spiritual discipline tools open us up to God's grace. In themselves they do nothing. However, when added to the ordinary events of daily life, the transformational activity of the Spirit, and the mind of Christ, they are powerful channels for God's work.
• More on this in the following episodes

Conclusion Spiritual growth can be stimulated and catalysed by our actions, but the key is to open ourselves up so that God can do his work.

For reflection

• What helps help you to be centred in the mind of Christ?
• How have you seen the Holy Spirit transform you so far?
• What's going on in your life right now that could be a channel for God's growth work in you?
• Which spiritual disciplines might help you to access God's power to your spiritual character?

Next time we will go on to look at another model of spiritual transformation.

Your brother, Malcolm

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, or practical? Could you send me your questions or suggestions? Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God Grows His People”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and change. How do we change?Last week we explored the nature of spiritual growth. That it is empowered by God, aimed at Christlikeness and enabled by Jesus.

“[We]…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV)

This week we will take the last point further and look at some key principles of spiritual change. Spiritual growth is:

1. Both practical and mystical Our main avenue for spiritual growth is to walk with Jesus as one of his followers - just like they did when Jesus was on this earth. On one level, simply saying 'yes' to Jesus' offer of friendship is all that is needed. As someone said, ‘Proximity makes disciples’. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NIV11) QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION: How can we live 'in proximity to Jesus' today? In addition, we grow as we cooperate with the Spirit, which is a mystical enterprise. Harking back to the passage in 2 Cor 3.18.... “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”” (John 3:8 NIV11) QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION: If the work of the Spirit is mystical, how can we cooperate with his work in us?

2. Both quick and slow Sometimes growth comes in a flash. “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism” (Acts 10:34 NIV11) DISCUSSION: Share a time when you grew quickly More often, growth is slow and meandering. "Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'" John 11:16 (NIV) "Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'" John 14:5 (NIV) 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.' A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' John 20.24-29 DISCUSSION: Share about an aspect of spiritual growth that took time to develop in you

3. Both personal and corporate Your journey is unique. Don’t compare yourself to other people, only to your past self. Relationship is more art than science - not engineering. “When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”” (John 21:21-23 NRSV) Your growth is personal, but not private “But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16 NRSV)

Conclusion Spiritual growth can be stimulated and catalysed by our actions, but the key is to open ourselves up so that God can do his work.

For reflection * Which points do you find yourself most comfortable with and why—practical, mystical, quick, slow, personal, corporate? * How have you seen God work for your transformation so far? * Do you find it easy or hard to open yourself up to God doing his work? * What will help you most to cooperate with God’s work in your life? Next time we will go on to look at another aspect of change, focusing on models of transformation. Your brother, Malcolm

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, or practical? Could you send me your questions or suggestions? Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org. If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God Grows His People”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org. Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Introduction
 A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, the connection between being a new creation and change. How do we change?
Before we can talk about change, we have to ask a question. Do we believe we can change? Do you believe you can change?
You might like to pause this recording and discuss this with your friends before going on.

1. God is the change-agent
“…are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NRSV) We are in an ongoing, life-long process of change. The glory we grow into is from the Lord, the Spirit. Spiritual change is challenging, but it is not all about us. God empowers the change, our part is to cooperate with him. If we fully accept that God is the change-agent, then we will have no difficulty believing that we can change. So, God changes us, but what is the goal?

2. Change goal
Is the goal transformation? Yes, but, what is the point of that transformation? What are we aiming at? “…the goal of Christian spiritual formation is intimate, loving connection and relationship with the Trinity." The outcome of that is transformation.

John 17.3 ““This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

This understanding is important because if we aim too hard at transformation will become a slave to our growth and change hopes. In other words transformation could become an idol. Instead, we understand that the goal is a deep relationship with God, and we anticipate transformation, growth and change. So, the goal is God, but how does this happen?

3. Jesus the transformer
Jesus was skilled and powerful at helping people be transformed. * Take Peter.....from indisciplined mouth to effective preacher/teacher. * Woman at the well. One encounter took her from shame-ridden outcast to greatest evangelist of her community. * Zacchaeus - corrupt thief to generous benefactor. * James & John - sons of thunder, restless, selfish ambition, harsh. Later, James was first disciple martyr, and John became the Apostle of love. What happened? They all encountered Jesus in a way that freed them from remaining stuck where they were, as they were. That same hope for change is available today. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8.36 Valuing spiritual formation takes this promise seriously. We can learn to love and live well. "I dream of a day when spiritual formation has so saturated all who follow hard after Jesus that they become known to all as experts in how to live well. How to love a spouse well. How to raise children well. How to study well. How to face adversity well. How to run business and financial institutions well. How to form community life well. How to reach out to those on the margins well. And even how to die well." Richard Foster

For reflection * In which area of spiritual growth do you sense God prompting you, and how can you cooperate with him? * How can you make sure your goal is a deep relationship with God, not the change that comes from him? * What does it mean to you that Jesus has come to set you free? Is it more than sin? If so, what does that look like? * How do you see Jesus transforming you and your friends today? What makes that more likely to happen?

Next time we will go on to look at another aspect of change, focusing on how our relationship with Jesus is the key.

Your brother, Malcolm

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, or practical? Could you send me your questions or suggestions? Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org. If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God Grows His People”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org. Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review.

"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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