Attuning our souls to God's caring presence.
In our initial lesson, we discussed an intellectual shift: We're not at the center of reality. God is. In the last lesson, we opened our hearts to His love. In today's lesson, we seek to further attune our souls to God's caring presence. The goal is to notice and experience God's work in a personal and transformative way.
Over the course of my ministry, I've considered many resources for personal spiritual growth. Sometimes I found them to be sentimental, lacking in substance. At other times, I found myself drowning in information, yet without gaining a deeper love for God and my neighbors.
In this course, I want to provide an integrated experience: - Inviting you to take an active role, rather than passively consuming information - Pointing you towards God and His Word, instead of following a single charismatic leader - Encouraging growth within a global community that transcends denominational boundaries - Promoting active service to our neighbors, rather than merely studying theology
**Our passion is to be transformed for God's mission.**
But how? How does one experience spiritual transformation? In a conversation with Nicodemus, a prominent religious leader of Israel, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This concept bewildered Nicodemus.
Jesus continued to explain the need to be "born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the kingdom of God. He was likely speaking about a fulfillment of God's promise in Ezekiel 36:25-27, in which God vowed to cleanse and renew His people.
**Spiritual transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit within our spirits.**
Bible teacher Beth Moore makes this point in her memoir *All My Knotted-Up Life*:
*"When I let the wind catch the pages of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, I find nowhere to land on one precise pattern for what it looks like to be summoned by God to walk with him or called by Jesus to follow him... All come to Jesus by faith. No one comes by formula."*
God is on an uncommon pursuit, beckoning each of us to be transformed, to grow in love and grace, and to walk in the footsteps of Christ. Spiritual growth is less about the religious activities we engage in, and more about our faithful response to what God is doing, by the Holy Spirit, within our hearts, in every area of life.
Jesus answered, "Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Have you ever tried to 'follow a formula' for spiritual growth? What happened?
How does it change things to know that spiritual transformation is God's work, not yours?
What is one area of your life where you sense God is calling you to grow?
Holy Spirit, I want to be filled with your transforming love!
Spend 5 minutes in silence, asking God to show you where He is at work in your life right now.
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