Campaigners – Golden Triangle – Christ Binds it All Together (Steve)
Posted by tatescreekyl on November 24, 2008
1. Going to talk about spiritual growth
a. That is why we are here
i. Be together in community (encouragement, accountability, love)
ii. Grow closer to Christ personally
b. Hopefully that is why you are here
2. Need a model for spiritual growth
a. The Golden Triangle – “Divine Conspiracy” by Dallas Willard
b. Different parts that have to work together for spiritual growth
i. The Action of the Holy Spirit
ii. Ordinary Events of Life
iii. Planned Disciplines to put on a New Heart
c. Holding everything together is being Centered on the Mind of Christ
i. Colossians 3:1-2 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
1. Our hearts and minds should be set on Christ, not on the garbage that we world is telling us.
ii. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
1. His yoke is the things he is teaching, a new way of thinking and living
2. He wants us to learn how we are supposed to live
3. In order for everything to hold together, we need Christ at the center
a. Our heads and hearts are holding us back
i. Romans 1:20-25 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”
b. God promises us a new heart
i. Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
ii. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
1. God has promised us a new heart if we are in Christ
c. We need Christ
i. Romans 3:22-24 “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
1. Justified – brought into right relationship with God
2. Redeem – To pay off, buy back, or to clear a debt by payment.
Small Group Questions:
1. Romans 1:20-25 says our hearts (feelings) and our heads (thoughts) get in the way of us being centered on the mind of Christ. What are some feelings or thoughts that get in your way?
(Ex. Doubts. What kind of doubts? Feeling alone. Why do you feel that way?)
2. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we will be a new creation. What parts of you would you trade in as part of being created new? What parts would you have trouble letting go?
3. Reread Romans 3:22-24. Put it in your own words. Do you really believe what Paul is saying? What parts do you struggle to understand. How can really believing this help us to be centered on the mind of Christ?
