Formation for the Life of the City€¦ · irreligious thoughts, feelings, etc. forcing people’s...
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Formation for the Life of the City GEOFF HSU FLOURISH SAN DIEGO 1. Formation of the Will Character A Renovated Will Discipleship Implications 2. Power in Exile A Totally Different Approach 3. Public Discipleship Formation for the Life of the City Formation of the Will (Heart, Spirit) “Renovation of the Heart” - Dallas Willard The Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself. Spiritual Formation:
Transcript of Formation for the Life of the City€¦ · irreligious thoughts, feelings, etc. forcing people’s...
Formation for the Life of the City
GEOFF HSUFLOURISH SAN DIEGO
1. Formation of the Will Character A Renovated Will Discipleship Implications
2. Power in Exile A Totally Different Approach
3. Public Discipleship
Formation for the Life of the City
Formation of the Will (Heart, Spirit)
“Renovation of the Heart” - Dallas Willard
The Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself.
Spiritual Formation:
Five Aspects of Human Nature: • Thought • Feeling • Will • Body • Social Context
The Will: • Choice is an
exercise of the will. • We are free to do
or not do. (Actions) • Our will is often
pushed around • Often we can’t
control our actions.
“…the thoughts and feelings that the will depends on in any given moment of choice cannot be changed in that moment…
“…the thoughts and feelings that the will depends on in any given moment of choice cannot be changed in that moment…
But the will or heart can change the thoughts and feelings that are to be available to it in future choices.
“…the thoughts and feelings that the will depends on in any given moment of choice cannot be changed in that moment…
But the will or heart can change the thoughts and feelings that are to be available to it in future choices. It is because of this that we are responsible for our character.”
Our Character is the internal shape of our self that is revealed by our long-term patterns of behavior and from which our actions, more or less automatically arise.
What is Character?
Our Character is the internal shape of our self that is revealed by our long-term patterns of behavior and from which our actions, more or less automatically arise.
What is Character?
Character can be changed. That is what spiritual formation in Christlikeness is about.
“He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” John 8:28
What Does a Renovated Will Look Like?
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;…” Gal 2:20
Single-minded and joyous devotion to God and his will, to what God wants for us in service to him and in service to others because of him.
What Does a Renovated Will Look Like? Discipleship Implications • We don’t want
irreligious thoughts, feelings, etc. forcing people’s will into actions.
• Also don’t want to religious performance pressure to elicit actions.
Discipleship Implications • We want gospel
transformed thoughts, feelings, bodily inclinations and social interactions, governed by a transformed will.
Discipleship Implications • Actions that flow from a
renovated will oozes truth, beauty, and power.*
• A life of Christlike character is powerful.*
Power in Exile
Babylonian Exile - Jer 29
Mark 10 - James and John’s request
“King’s Cross” by Tim Keller
”Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory…”
Mark 10
”Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory…”
Mark 10
”You don’t know what you are asking… to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant…
”Mark’s vision of the moral life is profoundly ironic. Because God’s manner of revelation is characterized by hiddenness, reversal, and surprise, those who follow Jesus find themselves repeatedly failing to understand the will of God…[therefore] there can be no place for smugness or dogmatism…”
Richard Hays
”…the Gentiles lord it over them…” “…their high officials exercise authority over them…”
“Not so with you.”
Mark 10:42
”Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you in to exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Jeremiah 29:7
”Be so sacrificially loving that the people around you… will soon be unable to imagine the place without you.”
A Totally Different Approach
”Be so sacrificially loving that the people around you… will soon be unable to imagine the place without you.”
A Totally Different Approach
”They’ll trust you because they see that you’re not only out for yourself, but out for them, too.”
”When they voluntarily begin to look up to you because of the attractiveness of your service and love, you’ll have real influence.”
A Totally Different Approach
”When they voluntarily begin to look up to you because of the attractiveness of your service and love, you’ll have real influence.”
A Totally Different Approach
”It will be an influence given to you by others, not taken by you from others.”
”When they voluntarily begin to look up to you because of the attractiveness of your service and love, you’ll have real influence.”
A Totally Different Approach
”It will be an influence given to you by others, not taken by you from others.”
A Totally Different Approach
Who is the model for that way of gaining influence?
A Totally Different Approach
Who is the model for that way of gaining influence?
Jesus!
Public Discipleship
Gathered and Scattered
Formation for Vocation
