Transformation requires teaching, practice, community, and the Holy Spirit as essential components to become more like Jesus.
Teaching plays a vital role in transformation, challenging our beliefs and habits, and exposing us to the truth and reality of God.
Deep dives
The Path to Transformation
Transformation requires teaching, practice, community, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching refers to learning from the life and teachings of Jesus. Practice involves actively engaging in spiritual disciplines and habits that align with Jesus' teachings. Community provides a space for growth, accountability, and encouragement. The Holy Spirit is the source of power and transformation. Change takes time and happens through the challenges and trials of life. It is a joint partnership between the individual and God, with God doing the heavy lifting. Whether young or old, anyone can change and grow by following Jesus.
The Importance of Teaching
Teaching plays a vital role in transformation. Jesus was a teacher, and his teachings provide a vision of the good life and challenge our beliefs and habits. The alternative stories Jesus told in his teachings undermine the lies we believe and expose us to the truth and reality of God. Teaching encompasses more than just listening to sermons or attending Bible studies. It includes reading the Bible, engaging in meaningful dialogue, meditating, and renewing our minds. By embracing the teachings of Jesus, we can experience growth and become more like Him.
The Power of Practice
Practice is an essential component of transformation. It involves actively living out the teachings of Jesus in our everyday lives. It requires intentionality, discipline, and perseverance. Just as we practice physical exercises to strengthen our bodies, spiritual disciplines strengthen our souls. These disciplines include solitude, prayer, Sabbath, community, simplicity, and more. Practice is not about trying hard, but about training hard. It allows us to align our thoughts, words, and actions with Jesus' way of life, leading to personal growth and transformation.
The Role of Community and the Holy Spirit
Community and the Holy Spirit are crucial for transformation. In community, our growth and maturity are exposed through authentic relationships, bringing out both the best and the worst in us. Community provides support, accountability, and encouragement. The Holy Spirit is the source of power for transformation. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to open ourselves to God's presence and allow Him to work in and through us. Together, community and the Holy Spirit facilitate growth, healing, and a deeper connection to Jesus.
We are all being formed into someone. For us, as apprentices of Jesus, how do we become more like Him? In this teaching, John Mark tells us that our apprenticeship to Jesus needs to be stronger than the stories we believe, our habits, our relationships, and our environment. Then he lays out how teaching, practice, community, and the Holy Spirit can help us counter these influences. John Mark closes by equipping us with tools and practices to help us be intentional in our spiritual formation with the goal of becoming more like Jesus.
Key Scripture Passages: Luke 6v39-40; Romans 12v2; Matthew 5-7
