Embracing Transformation Through Communion and Spiritual Formation

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the New Life in Communion

Communion is a sacred act that invites believers to remember the sacrifice of Jesus, who left the glory of heaven to join humanity in its struggles and offer a new life. This act of remembrance is not just about looking back at the cross but also about embracing the life Jesus offers—a life filled with joy, peace, and purpose. As participants partake in communion, they acknowledge the new covenant established through Jesus' blood, which frees them from the old covenant of law and sacrifice, and invites them into a relationship with God based on faith and grace. This new covenant is a powerful reminder of the freedom from shame and guilt, allowing believers to live in the assurance of God's love and salvation. [22:04]

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Reflection: How can you intentionally remember and embrace the new life Jesus offers you today, beyond the act of communion?

Day 2: Living in the Freedom of the New Covenant

Through Jesus' blood, believers are invited into a new covenant with God, one based on faith and grace rather than law and sacrifice. This covenant frees individuals from the burdens of shame and guilt, allowing them to live in the assurance of God's love and salvation. The new covenant is a transformative promise that shifts the focus from adherence to rules to a relationship grounded in faith. It invites believers to experience the fullness of God's grace and to live in the freedom that comes from knowing they are loved and accepted by God. [26:37]

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Reflection: In what ways can you live out the freedom of the new covenant in your daily interactions and decisions?

Day 3: The Miracle of Spiritual Formation

Spiritual formation is the process of being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. It is a miracle that God performs in partnership with believers, requiring their intentional participation and commitment to follow Jesus' ways. This transformation is not instantaneous but involves a journey of growth and change, as individuals strive to abide in Jesus and cultivate a constant, conscious communion with God. The process of spiritual formation challenges believers to examine who they are following and to adopt the practices of Jesus as their own, allowing His presence to shape them into new creations. [39:16]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: What specific practice can you incorporate into your life this week to partner with God in your spiritual formation?

Day 4: Becoming an Apprentice of Jesus

To follow Jesus means to be with Him, become like Him, and do what He did. This involves organizing one's life around these goals and adopting the practices of Jesus as one's own. Being an apprentice of Jesus requires intentionality and practice, as believers strive to abide in Him and cultivate a constant, conscious communion with God. This journey challenges individuals to examine who they are following and to allow Jesus' presence to shape them into new creations, ready to thrive in His kingdom. [50:02]

Luke 6:40 (ESV): "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can more closely align your actions with the teachings and example of Jesus?

Day 5: Establishing a Transformative Prayer Rhythm

A daily rhythm of prayer is a vital practice for spiritual formation. It requires finding quiet moments to connect with God, being intentional in the pursuit of His presence, and allowing prayer to become a transformative habit in one's life. This practice is not about legalism but about creating habits that form individuals into the image of Christ. Establishing a daily prayer rhythm invites believers to deepen their relationship with God and to experience the transformative power of His presence in their lives. [01:09:25]

Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Reflection: How can you create a specific time and space in your daily routine to cultivate a deeper prayer life with God?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we focused on the profound significance of communion and the transformative journey of spiritual formation. Communion is a sacred act that invites us to remember the sacrifice of Jesus, who left the glory of heaven to join us in our struggles and offer us a new life. This act of remembrance is not just about looking back at the cross but also about embracing the life Jesus offers—a life filled with joy, peace, and purpose. As we partake in communion, we acknowledge the new covenant established through Jesus' blood, which frees us from the old covenant of law and sacrifice, and invites us into a relationship with God based on faith and grace.

We also explored the concept of spiritual formation, a process of being shaped into the likeness of Jesus. This transformation is a miracle that God performs in partnership with us. Just as Jesus invited his disciples to follow him, we are called to be apprentices of Jesus, organizing our lives around being with him, becoming like him, and doing what he did. This journey requires intentionality and practice, as we strive to abide in Jesus and cultivate a constant, conscious communion with God.

The series we are embarking on, based on John Mark Comer's book "Practicing the Way," will guide us through this process of transformation. It challenges us to examine who we are following and to adopt the practices of Jesus as our own. This week, we are encouraged to establish a daily rhythm of prayer, finding quiet moments to connect with God and deepen our relationship with Him. This practice is not about legalism but about creating habits that form us into the image of Christ.

As we move forward, let us embrace this journey of spiritual formation, participating in the miracle of transformation that God is working in us. Let us be intentional in our pursuit of Jesus, allowing His presence to shape us into new creations, ready to thrive in His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. The Significance of Communion: Communion is a powerful reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and the new life He offers. It calls us to remember the cross and embrace the joy, peace, and purpose found in a relationship with Him. This act of remembrance is essential for living the life Jesus calls us to. [22:04]
2. The New Covenant: Through Jesus' blood, we are invited into a new covenant with God, one based on faith and grace rather than law and sacrifice. This covenant frees us from shame and guilt, allowing us to live in the assurance of God's love and salvation. [26:37]
3. Spiritual Formation: Spiritual formation is the process of being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. It is a miracle that God performs in partnership with us, requiring our intentional participation and commitment to follow Jesus' ways. [39:16]
4. Being an Apprentice of Jesus: To follow Jesus means to be with Him, become like Him, and do what He did. This involves organizing our lives around these goals and adopting the practices of Jesus as our own, allowing His presence to shape us. [50:02]
5. Establishing a Daily Prayer Rhythm: A daily rhythm of prayer is a vital practice for spiritual formation. It requires finding quiet moments to connect with God, being intentional in our pursuit of His presence, and allowing prayer to become a transformative habit in our lives. [01:09:25]
** [69:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:45] - The Importance of Communion
[22:04] - Embracing Jesus' Sacrifice
[22:51] - Invitation to Know Jesus
[23:56] - Remembering Jesus' Body
[25:09] - The Blood of Jesus
[25:56] - The New Covenant
[26:37] - Faith in Jesus' Sacrifice
[27:39] - Celebrating Jesus' Sacrifice
[34:34] - Introduction to Spiritual Formation
[35:42] - The Promise of God's Kingdom
[37:11] - The Process of Spiritual Formation
[39:16] - Miracle of Transformation
[40:14] - Partnership in Miracles
[41:14] - The Story of Healing at the Pool
[43:23] - The Greatest Miracle: Redemption
[44:46] - Practicing the Way
[45:32] - Who Are You Following?
[47:01] - Being a Disciple of Jesus
[50:02] - Goals of Following Jesus
[54:56] - Abiding in Jesus
[56:11] - Practicing the Presence of God
[57:19] - Becoming Like Jesus
[59:02] - The Process of Spiritual Formation
[61:00] - Doing as Jesus Did
[63:12] - Salvation and Transformation
[64:14] - Developing Spiritual Practices
[67:46] - Establishing a Daily Prayer Rhythm
[69:25] - Starting Where You Are
[73:18] - Enhancing Your Prayer Life
[75:53] - Participating in the Miracle of Transformation
[77:25] - Closing Prayer and Announcements

Sermon Clips

1) "It's hard. It's hard to look at the cross. It's hard to see our Jesus bleeding and struggling and dying. It's hard to think of the sacrifice that he made for us. But if we're going to really live this life that he has for us, we have to embrace the death that he died. We have to embrace this incredible sacrifice that he made." [22:04] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "And for some reason, Jesus said, you know what? I'm going to go down and join them in their struggle. I'm going to go down and join them in their misery. I'm going to go down there and show them what the kingdom of God can be like. I'm going to go there and invite them to come with us in the kingdom of God. I'm going to go down there and show them a way that they can be made right with God." [22:51] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "We're made right with God because we believe in what Jesus did for us. We believe that we can have new life because of his new life. This covenant, it's like a. Like an agreement, right? It's like a contract that we have with God. And it's not signed with ink. It's not signed with a handshake. It's signed with the blood of Jesus." [26:37] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Your hope is not in that you go to this church. Your hope is not in that you live a certain way or do certain things. Your hope is in Jesus. And so here's what we're gonna do to remember that. Let's stand up right now and let's sing one more song together about our hope in Jesus." [34:34] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "And when we do that, when we repent, God begins this process of spiritual formation. He begins to slowly, surely change us from who we were to what Paul called new creations in Christ. Right? Remember, we've talked about this a lot at baptism. When somebody goes into the water, this is what it represents. It's a grave, right. The old me is dead, and now I'm raised up as a new creation in Christ." [38:15] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "It's a miracle. It's a miracle transformation. It's a miracle metamorphosis. And I think one of the best things about this miracle, one of the best things about this metamorphosis is that God does it in partnership with us. He literally lets us participate in our own miracle." [39:16] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "And I think maybe that's why God loves this idea of God and man partnering together to do these miracles, because it points us to Jesus. So if God wants to do this miracle of shaping us and forming us and transforming us into the likeness of Jesus. And he wants to do it in partnership with us. Then what's our part, right. In the collaboration, in this partnership, what's our role in this miraculous, amazing, impossible, beautiful transformation?" [43:23] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "And the Bible has a great word for it, and that word is abiding. You see that word throughout the Bible? We're abiding with Jesus, and it means not performing for him. It means being with him, spending time with him, talking to him, listening to him, sitting with him, being in his presence. Just some versions will use remain instead of abide. It's remain with him. Just be with him." [56:11] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "The first and most basic thing we can and must do is keep Jesus before our minds. Just keep him right there, right? He says, our part in practicing the presence of God is to direct and then, like, constantly redirect our minds to him. The first goal of an apprentice to Jesus, if you really want to be changed, if you really want to experience this formation, if you really want to be transformed into the likeness of him, the first goal is to be with Jesus." [57:19] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10) "And this week is a first step of a lifelong journey of becoming like Jesus and being transformed into the likeness of him. And it's a process, it's a miracle that God does in us, but he wants us to participate in the miracle. And the way we participate is by following Jesus, becoming more than a believer, becoming an apprentice every day through the power of spirit, spending time with him, becoming like him, doing the things that he does." [01:15:53] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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