Embracing Newness: Transforming Life Through God's Guidance
Summary
In the message delivered by Pastor Shawn and Krista at The Grace Place, the central theme revolves around embracing newness in various aspects of life through active participation with God's transformative work. The message begins by emphasizing the importance of adopting new disciplines, which are essential for personal growth and spiritual development. The concept of a "rule of life" is introduced, which involves identifying what nurtures and drains an individual, and then designing a life that maximizes the former while minimizing the latter. This approach is not just theoretical but has been practically applied by the speakers and their team, leading to a life lived from a place of fullness rather than emptiness.
The message then transitions to the idea of adopting a new disposition, which is essentially the lens through which one views life and the world. A new disposition is characterized by attitudes, tendencies, and mindsets that are aligned with the nature of being a believer. This includes embodying the fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are not just available to believers but require active engagement and a conscious decision to "put them on" and walk in them.
Furthermore, the message underscores the necessity of dreaming anew. Dreams are closely linked to one's thoughts and imaginations, and they reflect expectations of God. The speakers highlight that dreams are not always about grandiose aspirations but can also be about seeking healing and restoration, especially after enduring difficult seasons. Biblical examples such as Joseph and Esther are cited to illustrate individuals who dared to dream big despite their circumstances, and as a result, saw God's dreams for them come to fruition.
The message also addresses the need to shed old habits and mindsets that are incongruent with a believer's new life in Christ. This involves letting go of worry, anxiety, comparison, offense, unforgiveness, and negative talk. These negative elements are described as hindrances that prevent individuals from experiencing the fullness of what God has for them. Instead, believers are encouraged to trust in God, focus on their own journey without comparing themselves to others, and speak life-affirming words that align with the new nature they have been given.
As the message concludes, the congregation is invited to participate in an activity called "a letter to God," where they are encouraged to articulate their dreams and expectations for the coming year. This exercise is meant to help individuals commit their plans to God, as advised in Proverbs 16:3, with the assurance that He will establish their plans.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing new disciplines is crucial for spiritual growth and requires a deliberate effort to focus on what nurtures the soul while avoiding what drains it. This practice can lead to a life of fullness and purpose, as it aligns daily actions with one's values and beliefs. [14:05]
- A believer's disposition should reflect the transformative power of Christ within them. By adopting a new disposition, one can view life through a lens of hope and positivity, which is manifested in the fruits of the Spirit. This change in mindset is not automatic but requires a conscious decision to live out the new identity given by God. [15:18]
- Dreams are an integral part of a believer's journey and should be aligned with God's will and timing. Whether the dreams are for personal breakthroughs or for the benefit of others, they should be rooted in faith and expectation that God is at work, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. [24:32]
- Letting go of negative habits and mindsets is essential for stepping into the newness that God offers. This includes releasing worry, comparison, offense, and negative talk, which can cloud one's perspective and hinder spiritual progress. In their place, trust, contentment, forgiveness, and positive declarations should be cultivated. [17:19]
- Committing one's plans to God is a principle that can bring clarity and direction to one's dreams and aspirations. By seeking God's guidance and aligning one's desires with His purposes, believers can move forward with confidence that their steps are being established by a higher power. [29:12]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
2. Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
3. Proverbs 18:20-21 - "From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does 2 Corinthians 5:17 say about the transformation that occurs when someone is in Christ?
2. According to Proverbs 16:3, what is the result of committing our plans to the Lord?
3. In the sermon, what are some examples of old habits and mindsets that believers are encouraged to shed? ([17:19])
4. What are the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in the sermon that believers should embody? ([21:51])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of a "rule of life" help in nurturing one's spiritual growth according to the sermon? ([14:05])
2. What does it mean to "put on" a new disposition, and how is this related to the fruits of the Spirit? ([15:18])
3. How can dreams reflect our expectations of God, and why is it important to align them with His will and timing? ([24:32])
4. Why is it necessary to let go of negative habits like worry, comparison, and unforgiveness to experience the newness in Christ? ([17:19])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current disciplines. What are some practices that nurture your soul, and what are some that drain you? How can you design your life to maximize the nurturing practices? ([14:05])
2. Think about your current disposition. Are there specific attitudes or mindsets you need to change to align more closely with the fruits of the Spirit? ([15:18])
3. Identify a dream or aspiration you have. How can you commit this dream to God and trust in His timing and will? ([24:32])
4. Are there any old habits or mindsets you need to let go of, such as worry, comparison, or negative talk? What steps can you take this week to start shedding these habits? ([17:19])
5. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? ([21:51])
6. Write a "letter to God" outlining your dreams and expectations for the coming year. What new disciplines, dispositions, and dreams do you want to embrace? ([28:37])
7. How can you actively participate in your own transformation by putting on the new nature given by Christ? What practical steps will you take this week to walk in this newness? ([16:45])
Devotional
Day 1: Cultivating a Nurturing Discipline
Embracing new disciplines is about intentionally focusing on activities that feed the soul and avoiding those that deplete it. This practice is not just beneficial but necessary for a life of purpose and spiritual fulfillment. It's about aligning daily actions with core values and beliefs, leading to a life lived from a place of fullness. [14:05]
Psalm 1:2-3 - "But their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."
Reflection: What is one discipline you can start this week that will help nurture your spiritual growth?
Day 2: Embodying a Christ-like Disposition
A believer's disposition should mirror the transformative power of Christ, manifesting hope and positivity through the fruits of the Spirit. This requires a conscious choice to "put on" these qualities and live out the new identity given by God. It's a journey of replacing old attitudes with the love, joy, peace, and other fruits that define a life in Christ. [15:18]
Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to exhibit, and how can you actively work on displaying it today?
Day 3: Aligning Dreams with Divine Purpose
Dreams should be nurtured in alignment with God's will, reflecting faith and expectation in His work in our lives. They can range from personal breakthroughs to aspirations for the benefit of others, but all should be rooted in the belief that God is actively shaping our future. [24:32]
Habakkuk 2:2-3 - "Then the Lord replied: 'Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.'"
Reflection: What is one dream you have that you need to entrust to God, and how can you take a step towards it this week?
Day 4: Releasing Hindrances to Embrace Newness
Stepping into the newness that God offers means letting go of negative habits and mindsets. This includes worry, comparison, and negative talk, which can prevent us from experiencing God's best. In their place, we should cultivate trust, contentment, forgiveness, and positive declarations. [17:19]
Ephesians 4:22-24 - "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: Identify one negative habit or mindset you need to let go of. What is one positive action you can take to replace it?
Day 5: Committing Our Plans to God
By committing our plans to God, we seek His guidance and align our desires with His purposes. This principle brings clarity and direction, allowing us to move forward with the confidence that our steps are established by a higher power. [29:12]
Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reflection: What is one plan or decision you are currently facing? How can you commit it to God and seek His direction today?
Quotes
"Our disposition should be love; we should love people that are hard to love, we should love people that don't love us back. Why? Because it's not in us, but it's the spirit coming out of us that new disposition that love should overflow." [21:51] (Download)
"The disposition of a Believer is kind, the disposition of a Believer is good, it's faithful, we're gentle, and the disposition of a Believer is that we have self-control." [23:14] (Download)
"God wants us to participate in our own transformation." [23:53] (Download)
"Dreams reveal our expectations of God... it means that he's got a will and he's got a way and it's just different than yours, but we could still keep our expectation up here when things around us don't seem to be changing because it's on God's time clock not ours." [25:05] (Download)
"We want you to take these questions: what nurtures me, what drains me, and we want you to design your life around the things that nurture you and limit the things that drain you." [14:05] (Download)
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life has gone, and a new life has begun. He's given us a new disposition; we just need to put it on." [16:01] (Download)
"what would you like for him to do in you this year and aim big, aim high. What type of new passions would you like to see stir up in you, new desires, new freedom, new strongholds broken, new dreams, new ideas." [29:12] (Download)
"Dreams are not about just shiny new things, you know sometimes when you come out of a difficult season it's not a season to dream for Big Shiny new things, it's a season to dream for healing." [26:12] (Download)
"Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God. If you don't expect anything from God, you're never going to attempt any big things for God." [27:56] (Download)
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