“Grace To Begin Re-Training My Habits”
Becoming A Freer Me – Part 8
Doug Holmes (twitter: @dougholmesclc)
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March 5, 2017 (1stSundayof “Lent”)
Luke 2:42-52 – When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival… After the celebration was over, they started home… but Jesus stayed behind… when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
…they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions… amazed at his understanding and his answers.
…he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them… Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
Mark 4:1-34 – Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat… He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables…
“Listen! …Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.
Then he added, “Pay close attention… The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given – and you will receive even more…”
Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”
Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? …It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”
Jesus used many similar stories… as much as they could
understand…
“So, To Begin Re-Training My Habits, I Can:”
Envision a New Me; My History/Biology Isn’t God
Interpret Any Relapses as Temporary Growth Lessons
Accept My Human Weakness as a “Space for Grace”
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 – To keep me from becoming conceited… there was given me a thorn… to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Begin Re-Programming with Proven, Ancient Practices
Regular, Engaged Participation in Church Worship
Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Romans 1:12 – You and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.
Discover/Develop My Spiritual Gifts through Serving
1 Corinthians 12:7-12 – A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other… It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
Romans 12:3-10 – Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves… Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well… Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them… and take delight in honoring each other.
Applied Use of Scripture in Personal Growth
1 Peter 2:2 – Desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow…
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Regular Time Interacting with God: Prayer/Solitude
Mark 1:35 – Very early… while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Next Week @ CLC – “A Freer Me”(9) – with Doug Holmes:
Mapping A Life-Giving Course To A Freer Me
A suggested prayer: “Dear wise, loving Lord, I bring all my longings & deepest hungers to You. Help me today to begin retraining my habits so that they help me to grow spiritually. I ask this sincerely through Jesus Christ, our Lord & Savior, Who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.”
Some useful resources:
The Life You’ve Always Wanted – by John Ortberg
The Spirit of the Disciplines – by Dallas Willard
Addiction & Grace – by Gerald G. May, M.D.