Sin spotting, the noticing of how things are not as they could be or the ways they are broken, has some value. However, it is never the whole story. Each person embodies the image of God, each person reflects the glory of God. It is there for the noticing. If you cannot see the glory that another brings to a conversation you are missing an important part of the moment.
This lens can also be used when you view yourself. You bring the glory of God to others. After all, is this not what God asks of us? To be God's ambassadors to the world?
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
2018 Term 4 Week 5 - Good Desire Sucky Exeuction
Following on from the previous week. Desire is always good because ultimately desire leads to God. However, humanity sucks at following desire: We settle for less. The problem is not that we desire, rather it is that we limit our desire to the easy to reach things or we attend only to the shallow portions of our desire. Desire can always be traced deeper than the initial felt need/want. Wanting food is about wanting just food, it is often about other desires that struggle to find a language so they borrow from other desires we are familiar with to get our attention.
2018 Term 4 Week 4 - The problem isn't that you're greedy, you're not greedy enough
Matthew 13:44-46 - Parables about buried treasure and a pearl of great worth.
Greed is an indication you are settling for less. You are asking something to be more than it can be. The solution is not to want less, rather it is to want more. So much more that you are no longer tempted to ask the not-God things to take the place of God.
Greed is an indication you are settling for less. You are asking something to be more than it can be. The solution is not to want less, rather it is to want more. So much more that you are no longer tempted to ask the not-God things to take the place of God.
2018 Term 4 Week 3 - Three Rules - Part 2
The three rules go beyond salvation. They also apply to how we consider sin. After all, salvation finds itself rooted in the story of sin. When we think the three rules no longer apply, because we have transcended or no longer need them, it is an indication that we are not aware of our need for God.
2018 Term 4 Week 2 - Three Rules - Part 1
Rule 1: I can't save myself
Salvation completely depends on God. My role is participation in something which has long been completed.
Rule 2: I can't save others
Again salvation completely depends on God. My role is to invite others to participate in something which has long been completed.
Rule 3: I can't make myself more godly
It is the work of the Spirit to bring us to completion. God does not hold out. God is generous, blessing us with more than we know or notice. My role is to participate with the Spirit in the work God is doing with me.
Salvation completely depends on God. My role is participation in something which has long been completed.
Rule 2: I can't save others
Again salvation completely depends on God. My role is to invite others to participate in something which has long been completed.
Rule 3: I can't make myself more godly
It is the work of the Spirit to bring us to completion. God does not hold out. God is generous, blessing us with more than we know or notice. My role is to participate with the Spirit in the work God is doing with me.
2018 Term 4 Week 1 - Categories - Fight / Flight / Freeze
The fight / flight / freeze response is more of a first response to surprise or tension, though sometimes we remain in that mode rather than using it to buy us time to bring in other categories to aid us in choosing our response.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
2013 Term 2 Week 5 - Gospel of God's Works
Justification and Sanctification
Use Venn Diagram
Circle 1 = God's works
Circle 2 = Our works
Circle 1 is where the Gospel happens, the overlap doesn't mean anything special for the Gospel.
Use Venn Diagram
Circle 1 = God's works
Circle 2 = Our works
Circle 1 is where the Gospel happens, the overlap doesn't mean anything special for the Gospel.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
2013 Term 2 Week 3 - The Gospel doesn't avoid Pain
The Gospel will not make life easier or less painful.
Why do we think following Jesus will be less painful for us than Jesus' life was for him?
God loved Jesus and did not spare him from pain, suffering, and death.
The most important thing for God is connection with us, not how we feel about life.
Psalm 23. God makes a mockery of pain and death by choosing to enter into it to be with us. God makes a mockery of conflict by choosing to throw a party before the enemy is defeated and in the presence of the enemy. In fact God goes even further and invites the enemy (humanity) to dine with God.
It is not painless for God to connect with us (read the prophets). I believe pain and suffering will be done away with once Jesus returns, until then the Gospel mocks pain and suffering as being less significant. God doesn't wait for us to be safe to love us, he loves us in the midst of our pain and suffering and he experiences that pain and suffering too. It does not destroy God and the Gospel promises it will not destroy us either.
Why do we think following Jesus will be less painful for us than Jesus' life was for him?
God loved Jesus and did not spare him from pain, suffering, and death.
The most important thing for God is connection with us, not how we feel about life.
Psalm 23. God makes a mockery of pain and death by choosing to enter into it to be with us. God makes a mockery of conflict by choosing to throw a party before the enemy is defeated and in the presence of the enemy. In fact God goes even further and invites the enemy (humanity) to dine with God.
It is not painless for God to connect with us (read the prophets). I believe pain and suffering will be done away with once Jesus returns, until then the Gospel mocks pain and suffering as being less significant. God doesn't wait for us to be safe to love us, he loves us in the midst of our pain and suffering and he experiences that pain and suffering too. It does not destroy God and the Gospel promises it will not destroy us either.
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