Embracing Transformation: A New Year of Faith

 

Summary

In the New Year 2024: The Wesleyan Covenant Service, the focus is on the transformative journey of faith and the immediacy of responding to God's call. The narrative begins with a reflection on the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9, where Jesus performs miracles, predicts his death, and is transfigured. The chapter also highlights the disciples' misunderstanding of greatness and Jesus' challenging teachings to those who wish to follow him.

The discussion of Luke 9 emphasizes the cost of discipleship. Jesus' responses to would-be followers underscore the urgency and sacrifice involved in the journey of faith. For instance, when one person expresses a desire to follow Jesus but asks to first bury his father, Jesus' reply, "Let the dead bury their own dead," is a stark reminder that the call to proclaim the kingdom of God is immediate and transcends traditional obligations.

The narrative then shifts to personal transformation, suggesting that change often occurs behind the scenes, without one's conscious awareness. It is posited that spiritual growth can happen subtly, through new practices or the cessation of unhelpful ones, and may only be recognized in hindsight. This point is illustrated with a personal anecdote about a shift in behavior and attitude during the speaker's high school years, attributed to the work of the Spirit.

The concept of liminal space is introduced as a metaphor for the threshold between the known and the unknown, the comfortable and the transformative. Liminal spaces are described as opportunities for growth if one can move beyond fear and anxiety. The New Year is presented as such a space, a time to reorient one's life and become more receptive to God's presence and action.

The service concludes with the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer, a historic prayer that invites individuals to fully surrender to God's will, regardless of personal circumstances. The prayer is a collective commitment to accept whatever the future holds and to allow the Spirit to work through each person.

The narrative also touches on the importance of community and shared experiences, as evidenced by the congregation's participation in a walking challenge for senior adults. This initiative aims to promote health and longevity, demonstrating the value of collective goals and support.

In summary, the New Year 2024: The Wesleyan Covenant Service is a call to embrace the present moment as the time for transformation, to commit to spiritual practices that foster growth, and to enter the new year with a willingness to be led by the Spirit, individually and as a community.

Key Takeaways:

- The journey of faith requires an immediate and sometimes uncomfortable response to God's call, as illustrated by Jesus' interactions with potential followers. This immediacy is a reminder that spiritual commitment often demands prioritizing divine purpose over personal comfort or societal expectations. [45:53]

- Personal transformation can occur subtly and without conscious awareness, often through the adoption of new practices or the abandonment of unhelpful ones. This transformation is the work of the Spirit and may only become apparent over time, as one's responses and behaviors gradually align with God's purpose. [51:02]

- Liminal spaces, such as the transition into a new year, are opportunities for growth and transformation. These thresholds challenge individuals to move beyond fear and anxiety, reorient their lives, and become more open to the Spirit's movement. Embracing these moments can lead to profound personal and communal change. [53:10]

- The Wesleyan Covenant Prayer is a powerful tool for expressing one's commitment to God's will. It encapsulates the essence of surrender, service, and openness to whatever the future may hold, reinforcing the idea that true discipleship involves a readiness to accept God's plans, whether they bring joy or suffering. [55:40]

- Community initiatives, such as the walking challenge for senior adults, highlight the importance of shared goals and mutual support within a faith community. These activities not only promote physical health but also foster a sense of belonging and collective responsibility, reflecting the communal aspect of spiritual growth. [07:50]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 9:57-62 - "As they were going along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' To another he said, 'Follow me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'"

2. Romans 12:1-2 - "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

3. Philippians 3:13-14 - "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the key events and teachings in Luke 9 that highlight the cost of discipleship? ([44:44])
2. How does Jesus respond to the would-be followers in Luke 9:57-62, and what does this reveal about the urgency of following Him? ([45:25])
3. What is the significance of the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer in the context of the New Year and personal transformation? ([53:10])
4. How does the concept of liminal space relate to the transition into a new year, according to the sermon? ([25:25])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus' response to the would-be followers in Luke 9 seem harsh, and what does this teach about the priorities of discipleship? ([45:57])
2. How can the idea of liminal space be a metaphor for spiritual growth and transformation in our lives? ([25:25])
3. In what ways does the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer encourage a deeper commitment to God's will, and how might this impact one's approach to the new year? ([53:42])
4. How does the sermon suggest that personal transformation often occurs subtly and without conscious awareness? ([50:55])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to make an immediate and uncomfortable decision for your faith. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([45:57])
2. Identify a "liminal space" in your life right now. How can you move beyond fear and anxiety to embrace this opportunity for growth? ([25:25])
3. The sermon mentioned the importance of adopting new practices or abandoning unhelpful ones for spiritual growth. What is one practice you can start or stop this year to align more closely with God's purpose? ([50:55])
4. How can you incorporate the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer into your daily routine to remind yourself of your commitment to God's will? ([53:42])
5. Think about the community initiatives mentioned in the sermon, such as the walking challenge for senior adults. How can you participate in or support similar initiatives in your church or community? ([06:00])
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of reorienting one's life to be more receptive to God's presence. What specific steps can you take this week to reorient your life towards spiritual growth? ([49:05])
7. Reflect on the personal anecdote shared in the sermon about transformation during high school years. Can you identify a period in your life where you experienced subtle spiritual growth? How did it change you? ([51:25])

Devotional

Day 1: Urgency in Discipleship
The call to follow Christ demands immediate action and often requires setting aside personal desires or societal norms. This urgency is a hallmark of true discipleship, where the divine mission takes precedence over all else. [45:53]

Luke 9:59-60 - "He said to another man, 'Follow me.' But he replied, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'"
Reflection: What are you postponing in your spiritual life for the sake of comfort or convention? How can you prioritize God's call today?

Day 2: Subtle Spiritual Transformation
Spiritual growth often occurs without immediate recognition, manifesting through gradual changes in behavior and perspective. This silent work of the Spirit reshapes lives in alignment with God's will, revealing its impact over time. [51:02]

Philippians 2:13 - "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
Reflection: Can you identify a recent change in your life that may reflect the subtle work of the Spirit? How might you continue to foster this growth?

Day 3: Embracing Liminality for Growth
Threshold moments, like the start of a new year, present unique opportunities for personal and spiritual development. Embracing these liminal spaces can lead to profound transformation and a deeper connection with the divine. [53:10]

Joshua 3:5 - "Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'"
Reflection: What liminal space are you currently standing in, and how can you prepare yourself to step into the growth it offers?

Day 4: Surrender Through Covenant Prayer
The Wesleyan Covenant Prayer embodies a commitment to accept and trust in God's will, embracing both the joys and challenges that come with true discipleship. This surrender is a testament to faith in God's plan. [55:40]

Job 13:15 - "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face."
Reflection: What does surrendering to God's will look like in your life, and how can the Covenant Prayer guide you in embracing this surrender?

Day 5: Community as a Catalyst for Change
Shared goals and mutual support within a faith community are vital for individual and collective spiritual growth. Engaging in communal activities, like the walking challenge, fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose. [07:50]

Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you contribute to a shared goal in your faith community, and what might be the first step you take today?

Quotes

"It's quite an accomplishment to be vulnerable enough to recognize when you actually need help." [34:32] (Download)

"And one of the things that points to that is, or what we do with that rather, is that you can't just magically wait for something to happen, but you have to reorient yourself so that the new things can emerge." [44:44] (Download)

"So do what you can to become who you are meant to be." [56:40] (Download)

"Sometimes transformation happens behind the scenes whenever your cognitive brain isn't even aware of it. But because you've done something different, because you are taking on a new practice or doing away with a current practice that might be not helpful to you, that maybe the Spirit of God is using that to transform you, and you aren't even aware of it." [51:02] (Download)

"God was doing something in me that I wasn't even fully aware of, and it wasn't until almost my sophomore year of high school where I began to notice that I am responding to people differently than I would have. It really was the Spirit of God working in me." [52:06] (Download)

"But now is the moment for me to transform myself, reorient my life in such a way that I become more open to how the Spirit might work and move in me. There's no time like the present." [53:10] (Download)

"And so there's this deep sense of uncertainty about what 2024 might bring. And that liminal space that we're in is, I think, where God might be doing God's best work in us if we don't cave into fear." [31:47] (Download)

"One person said, and they were right, they had the hardest year of their life. Yet they survived and showed grit and resilience through it all. And in the end, they became a better version of themselves through the hardest year of their life." [33:38] (Download)

"One person learned how to ask for help when they need to. Somebody who's been independent and bright and for the bulk of their life never really needed help from anyone in 2023 had to finally learn how to ask for help." [33:38] (Download)

"Because there's this old adage that says people fear an unknown future more than they fear an unpleasant present. People will fear an unknown future far greater than they fear an unpleasant present." [27:50] (Download)

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?