Formed - Our Effort

Jan 12, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Dropping Anchor in the Storm Drift

When life feels chaotic, spiritual practices act like an anchor chain pulling us back to God’s presence. Just as a boat can only drift as far as its anchor allows, our hearts remain tethered to truth when we cultivate habits that recenter us. These practices aren’t about perfection but returning – to stillness, to Scripture, to the quiet moment on the edge of a bathtub whispering “Abba, help me.” Transformation happens when we create space for God’s pull. [13:56]

“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.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel most adrift in your spiritual life? What small anchor could you drop today to reconnect with God’s presence?

Day 2: Bathroom Retreats and Frozen Duck Ponds

Sacred space isn’t about grandeur but intentionality. A locked bathroom door, a frost-covered pond, or a car parked during lunch can become sanctuaries. The psalmist’s perspective shifted not in a temple but in the act of turning toward God’s presence. Spiritual practices reframe ordinary moments – three breaths, two verses, one whispered prayer – into encounters with the divine. [09:34]

“But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task until I went into the sanctuary of God… But for me, it is good to be near God.” (Psalm 73:16-17, 28, ESV)

Reflection: What ordinary place or routine could you reclaim as holy ground this week? How might shifting your perspective there change your day?

Day 3: Two Verses and a Habit That Sticks

Transformation isn’t built in marathon sessions but daily crumbs. Reading two Bible verses while coffee brews, praying during a commute, or pausing before unlocking a phone – these micro-practices compound. Like physical training, spiritual growth requires consistency over intensity. What seems small today becomes the chain linking us to Christ’s likeness over years. [19:08]

“Train yourself for godliness. For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What 2-minute spiritual practice could you attach to an existing habit? How might this create space for God in your busiest moments?

Day 4: The Non-Negotiable Conversation

Every thriving relationship requires communication. Just as a marriage withers without dialogue, our connection with God depends on speaking and listening. Reading Scripture isn’t homework – it’s hearing God’s voice. Prayer isn’t a wishlist – it’s sharing breath with the Divine. These twin practices form the bedrock where all other disciplines grow. [22:19]

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: When do you feel most distant from God? What one sentence could you pray or Bible verse could you read today to restart the conversation?

Day 5: Buffet Lines and Personalized Holiness

Spiritual growth isn’t one-size-fits-all. God designed some to journal, others to serve; some to fast, others to feast. The Chinese buffet of disciplines offers nourishment, not obligation. Our task isn’t to sample every dish but to ask: “What helps me love Christ more today?” Then take that plate back to the table again and again. [24:29]

“Put off your old self… be renewed in the spirit of your minds… put on the new self.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, ESV)

Reflection: Which practice on the “buffet” makes your soul lean forward? How could you implement it this week in a way that fits your season of life?

Sermon Summary

The spiritual life does not work like a Gandalf moment where faith in Jesus instantly makes a person fully transformed with nothing left to do. Trusting Jesus begins the new life, but the old lie, the quick temper, the irritation, and the old habits can still show up three weeks later. Paul calls followers of Christ to action: present the body as a living sacrifice, put off the old self, put on the new self, and train for godliness. Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Timothy 4 all say that transformation involves real cooperation with the Holy Spirit, not just trying really hard to be good.

Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. A transactional approach to God turns spiritual practices into a trade off, as if x number of practices for y number of days equals z amount of blessing. Spiritual practices are not about earning love or approval. They are about making space for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do.

Romans 8 shows that the mind naturally settles on the things of the flesh because people are always being formed by culture, family, friends, screens, and daily pressure. Spiritual practices help set the mind on the things of the Spirit, even if that only looks like sitting on the edge of the bath for three minutes, breathing, and saying, “Lord, help me. You’re here with me.” Psalm 73 shows the same thing from another angle. The psalmist cannot make sense of the wicked prospering until he goes into the sanctuary of God, and then his perspective changes.

The anchor image gives spiritual practices their shape. An anchor does not stop every bit of drifting, but it limits the drift and pulls the boat back. Spiritual practices pull a person back to God’s voice, God’s presence, and God’s way of seeing things. God does not need human effort to run the world, but He cares deeply about forming His children into the likeness of Jesus.

Thoughtfulness matters because every person is wired differently, and God does not deal with every child in a one size fits all way. Consistency matters because time is not found lying around, it is made. Scripture and prayer stand as the two non negotiables because relationship needs communication. The long list of practices is not a checklist to complete, but a place to ask where the Holy Spirit puts the pin for this season.

Key Takeaways

1. Grace trains without becoming wages Grace never turns spiritual practice into a bargain with God. The life of faith is not “I do, therefore God should do,” because that would make devotion a transaction instead of relationship. Effort belongs in discipleship, but earning has no place in grace. [06:30]
2. Practices make room for the Spirit Spiritual practices do not manufacture holiness by human strength. They create space where the Holy Spirit can turn the mind toward life and peace. Even three minutes behind a locked bathroom door can become a real act of surrender when the heart becomes attentive to God. [07:34]
3. The sanctuary changes the sightline Psalm 73 shows that confusion can feel completely reasonable until God’s presence reframes reality. The wicked may look secure, and the world may look out of control, but nearness to God restores a truer perspective. The sanctuary does not deny the chaos, it teaches the soul where to stand while looking at it. [11:14]
4. An anchor limits the drift Spiritual practices work like an anchor dropped into ordinary life. Drift may still happen, but the chain holds, and the heart is pulled back toward God’s voice and God’s ways. The goal is not a flawless performance, but a life repeatedly returned to the presence of the Father. [13:35]
5. Start small, but start honestly A new practice does not need to begin with ten dramatic changes. One simple act, attached to an existing habit, can become a doorway into deeper formation. Small faithfulness becomes spiritually serious when it is chosen thoughtfully, consistently, and in response to the Spirit’s prompting.

## [26:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Transformation Takes Real Cooperation
[02:50] - Paul Calls Followers To Action
[05:57] - Why Motivation Matters
[07:34] - Making Space For The Spirit
[10:30] - Gaining God’s Perspective
[13:35] - Spiritual Practices As An Anchor
[15:18] - Choosing Practices Thoughtfully
[17:07] - Making Time And Building Habits
[18:50] - Small Practices In Real Life
[21:36] - Scripture And Prayer As Non Negotiables
[23:26] - The Buffet Of Spiritual Disciplines
[26:39] - Start Small And Build It In
[27:36] - Practising The Way And Alpha Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
"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."

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)
"To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Psalm 73:16-17, 28 (ESV)
"But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end... But for me, it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works."

Observation Questions

What three action verbs does Paul use in Romans 12:1-2 and Ephesians 4:22-24 to describe how believers participate in spiritual transformation?
In Psalm 73:16-17, what specific shift happened when the psalmist entered God’s sanctuary?
How does the sermon describe the relationship between grace and effort? [06:30]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Paul use the phrase "train yourself for godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7) instead of simply saying "try harder"? How does this connect to the idea of cooperation with the Holy Spirit?
The sermon compares spiritual practices to an anchor. How does this metaphor help explain the purpose of practices like prayer or Scripture reading? [13:35]
Psalm 73 shows the psalmist’s confusion about the prosperity of the wicked. Why does proximity to God ("nearness") resolve his struggle more than intellectual answers?

Application Questions

What current habits or routines could become "anchors" to pull you back to God’s presence when life feels chaotic? How might you attach a small spiritual practice (e.g., breath prayers, Scripture memory) to an existing daily habit? [26:39]
Reflect on a recent moment of frustration or confusion. How might intentionally creating space (even 3 minutes) to say, “Lord, help me. You’re here with me” have shifted your perspective? [09:34]
The sermon warns against treating spiritual practices like a checklist. How can you discern whether your current practices are transactional (“earning favor”) or relational (“making space for the Spirit”)?
What practical step could you take this week to “set your mind on the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5-6) in a way that aligns with how you’re uniquely wired (e.g., nature walks, journaling, silence)?
The psalmist’s perspective changed in God’s sanctuary. Where or when do you feel most aware of God’s nearness? How could you prioritize that space or time this month?

Sermon Clips

49s

#BecomeLikeJesus

“``News flash, and it's maybe hard for some of us to hear, God doesn't need us to do anything. He is perfectly capable of running this world without us. He chooses to work through us, but he doesn't necessarily need us, and it is way more important to him that we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. Because that makes intimate relationship with the holy God so much more possible. And so we up these anchors to draw us back to Him, to make us more like Jesus. That, for me, is the why of spiritual practices.”

66s

#SpiritualAnchors

“This is not my analogy. I learned it from an American pastor called Tyler Staton, but he talks about this idea of dropping an anchor. Now, don't have a boat or anything, but I understand that, you know, when you go out on the boat, if you want to bring that boat to a halt, you drop an anchor. And what happens is the boat stops, and the boat may drift a little bit, but it can only ever drift the chain that is on the anchor, and then it is pulled back to where the anchor is. For me, that's spiritual Spiritual practices are like dropping an anchor in our lives, and we may drift a little bit at times in our commitment to God and in our faithfulness. We may start to look at things from our own perspective instead of his, but when we drop that anchor, it pulls us back, back into line with where God is, back to listening to his voice, back to hearing and seeing things his way.”

59s

#ScriptureAndPrayer

“Here's the thing. I've been married for thirty one years and a half. Nearly got it wrong. Right? I would have been married for thirty one days and a half, and maybe not even that long, if I never spoke to John, and if I never took time to listen when he speaks to me. Relationships solve communication. If I never choose to read scripture and hear God's voice within the words that He writes, if I never choose to sit in prayer with Him, if I never choose to sit and let Him speak to me through His word, I'm not sure what sort of relationship I have with my heavenly Father. I believe we need to be reading scripture. I believe we need to be praying. Those are non negotiables for me.”

49s

#GraceNotTransaction

“you know, when you're a teenager living at home, you know, and you really, really want mom or dad to do that thing for you, so what do you do when you tidy up a room? So you can come downstairs and say, So mom, I've tidied my room. I was just wondering, could I get a lift? You know, what's the idea? It's a trade off. It's not We do it in marriage, don't we? Well, I cook the dinner, so you shouldn't wash out. You know, I put out the beds, you ought to bring them in. It's a transaction. It's the I do, therefore you should do. That's not what this is about. Our relationship with God is not some sort of transactional one. You know, x number of practices for y number of days equals z amount of blessing from God. That's not how it works.”

50s

#GodStillInControl

“We think we understand what is going on, but we may not, and spiritual practices are one of those things that bring us closer to the Father, enable us to shift our perspective, to lift our eyes, to see that God is still working, that God is still acting on our behalf, that He has not abandoned us, that He is still here. I've watched the news and thought, flip me, the world is just going out of control, that's when we need these spiritual practices that draw us back into the sanctuary, that remind us again that our God is still on the throne, and he is still in control.”

52s

#MakeTimeMakeHabits

“And then we need to do them intentionally and consistently. There's no going in saying, I'm going to do it when I find the time. Time is not something that lies around that you can just find. It doesn't work like that. We don't find time, we make it. And we make time for the things that matter most to us. We have to make time. We have to make I believe we have to make a habit. Dallas Willard also says that habitat willpower for breakfast, and I think he's right. Something that is a habit in your life, you will do it regardless of the circumstances. These spiritual practices are things that we are going to choose to do when we want to, and we're going to choose to do them when we don't.”

57s

#TwoVersesADay

“you don't have to have a ton of time. I counted this, so you can go home and count this and come back to me you think I'm wrong. If you were to set aside the time to read two verses of the Bible a day two verses a day you could read your way I picked this randomly. Okay? You could read your way from the start of the letter that Paul writes to the Galatians, and you would get all the way to most of the way through the first letter that he writes to Timothy. So you could read Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, first, second Thessalonians, and most of first Timothy in a year by reading two verses a day. Two verses a day doesn't take very much time, yet look how much of the Bible you would read in a year if you just read two verses a day.”

43s

#FindYourSpiritualFit

“God interacts with you as He created and wired and designed you to be. So there needs to be a thoughtfulness about spiritual practices, because this is not about doing everything. I'm gonna put up a list at the end of this with some spiritual practices that you could do. It's not about doing all the things on the list. It's about doing the things that will answer the why that we have talked about. What are the things that are going to draw you back into the presence of God? What are the things that are going to create space in your life to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work of transformation? We need to think about who we are, how we are wired.”

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