From Intention to Action: Living the Kingdom Vision

 

Summary

Standing at a crossroads, we are reminded of the power of intention and the pivotal moments that shape our lives. The question posed is whether we have formed the intention to live within the vision of the Kingdom of God. This is not merely about having a vision but about the commitment to act upon it. The story of Cortés burning his ships, though possibly apocryphal, symbolizes a total commitment to a vision, a commitment that requires more than just intention—it requires decisive action.

Dallas Willard, in his book "Renovation of the Heart," emphasizes that personal transformation projects rarely succeed by accident. The will, though limited in power, is indispensable in making choices that matter in our inner world. We often procrastinate, delaying the actions needed to become the people we aspire to be. The tragic story of Mickey Mantle illustrates how good intentions without decisive action can lead to a life unfulfilled.

The gap between our professed intentions and actual behavior can be bridged by choosing to do things simply because we said we would. This practice, once common, is a form of moral training that strengthens our character. Examples include fasting, journaling, or serving others, not for external rewards but to honor our commitments. G.K. Chesterton's essay "In Defense of Rash Vows" highlights the importance of making commitments that bind us, preventing us from becoming people who merely follow fleeting desires.

The challenge is to make the intention and decision to live the life Jesus offers, whatever it takes. This involves a transfiguring self-discipline that makes vows a truly sane thing. The thrill of commitment is known only to those who fully engage with their chosen path, burning their ships to ensure no retreat. This is the call to action: to decide, to commit, and to live intentionally within the vision of the Kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways:

- The Power of Intention: Intention alone is not enough; it must be coupled with decisive action. The will, though limited, is crucial in making choices that shape our inner world. We must move beyond mere intention to actual decision-making to bring our visions to life. [02:13]

- Procrastination and Its Consequences: Procrastination is a common way intentions are aborted. Like Mickey Mantle, many live with good intentions but fail to act, leading to unfulfilled lives. We must confront procrastination and take decisive steps toward our goals. [05:45]

- Bridging the Intention-Action Gap: The gap between intention and action can be bridged by doing things simply because we said we would. This practice strengthens our character and aligns our actions with our professed intentions, fostering personal growth. [08:31]

- The Importance of Commitment: Making commitments that bind us prevents us from becoming people who follow fleeting desires. G.K. Chesterton highlights the value of vows in shaping our character and ensuring we remain true to our chosen path. [10:14]

- Living the Vision of the Kingdom of God: The ultimate challenge is to make the intention and decision to live the life Jesus offers. This requires a commitment to self-discipline and action, ensuring we fully engage with the vision of the Kingdom of God. [10:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:36] - The Crossroads of Life
- [00:50] - The Power of Intention
- [01:18] - Cortés and Commitment
- [02:00] - Vision and Intention
- [02:43] - The Role of Choice
- [03:21] - Intention to Action
- [03:53] - The Finality of Decision
- [04:23] - William Law on Transformation
- [05:06] - Procrastination's Impact
- [06:13] - The Profession of Intentions
- [07:26] - The Vision of Jesus
- [08:19] - Bridging Intention and Action
- [09:25] - The Strength of Commitment
- [10:31] - Living the Kingdom Vision

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- James 1:22-25 (NIV): "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."
- Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV): "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Observation Questions:
1. What does James 1:22-25 say about the relationship between hearing the word and doing it?
2. How does the story of Cortés burning his ships illustrate the concept of commitment mentioned in the sermon? [01:18]
3. According to Matthew 7:24-27, what is the outcome for those who hear and act on Jesus' words compared to those who do not?
4. What examples of moral training practices were mentioned in the sermon that help bridge the gap between intention and action? [08:31]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that procrastination affects our ability to live out our intentions? [05:45]
2. In what ways does the sermon propose that making commitments can prevent us from following fleeting desires? [10:14]
3. How does the sermon relate the concept of "burning the ships" to living intentionally within the vision of the Kingdom of God? [01:18]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of self-discipline in living the life Jesus offers? [10:31]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had good intentions but failed to act on them. What was the outcome, and what could you have done differently? [05:45]
2. Identify one area in your life where procrastination is hindering your growth. What steps can you take this week to overcome it? [05:45]
3. Consider a commitment you have made recently. How can you ensure that you follow through with it, even when it becomes challenging? [10:14]
4. What is one specific action you can take this week to align your daily life more closely with the vision of the Kingdom of God? [10:31]
5. Think of a vow or promise you have made in the past. How has keeping or breaking it affected your character and relationships? [10:14]
6. Choose one moral training practice mentioned in the sermon, such as journaling or fasting. How can you incorporate it into your routine to strengthen your character? [08:31]
7. Reflect on the concept of "burning the ships" in your own life. What is one thing you need to let go of to fully commit to your vision or goal? [01:18]

Devotional

Day 1: Intention Requires Action
Intention alone is not enough; it must be coupled with decisive action. The will, though limited, is crucial in making choices that shape our inner world. We must move beyond mere intention to actual decision-making to bring our visions to life. The story of Cortés burning his ships, though possibly apocryphal, symbolizes a total commitment to a vision, a commitment that requires more than just intention—it requires decisive action. This is a call to examine the intentions we hold and to ask ourselves if we are truly committed to acting upon them. [02:13]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one intention you have been holding onto without taking action? What is one step you can take today to move from intention to action?


Day 2: Overcoming Procrastination
Procrastination is a common way intentions are aborted. Like Mickey Mantle, many live with good intentions but fail to act, leading to unfulfilled lives. We must confront procrastination and take decisive steps toward our goals. The will, though limited in power, is indispensable in making choices that matter in our inner world. This involves recognizing the areas where we delay and understanding the consequences of inaction. By addressing procrastination, we can begin to live more fulfilled and intentional lives. [05:45]

"Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys." (Proverbs 18:9, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where procrastination has hindered your progress. What practical step can you take today to overcome this delay?


Day 3: Bridging the Intention-Action Gap
The gap between intention and action can be bridged by doing things simply because we said we would. This practice strengthens our character and aligns our actions with our professed intentions, fostering personal growth. Examples include fasting, journaling, or serving others, not for external rewards but to honor our commitments. This form of moral training is essential in developing a disciplined and intentional life. By committing to small actions, we can gradually align our behavior with our intentions. [08:31]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small commitment you can make today to align your actions with your intentions? How will you hold yourself accountable to this commitment?


Day 4: The Strength of Commitment
Making commitments that bind us prevents us from becoming people who follow fleeting desires. G.K. Chesterton highlights the value of vows in shaping our character and ensuring we remain true to our chosen path. This involves a transfiguring self-discipline that makes vows a truly sane thing. The thrill of commitment is known only to those who fully engage with their chosen path, burning their ships to ensure no retreat. This is a call to embrace commitments that challenge and grow us. [10:14]

"When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow." (Ecclesiastes 5:4, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a commitment you have made in the past. How has it shaped your character, and what can you learn from it to apply to future commitments?


Day 5: Living the Vision of the Kingdom of God
The ultimate challenge is to make the intention and decision to live the life Jesus offers. This requires a commitment to self-discipline and action, ensuring we fully engage with the vision of the Kingdom of God. The question posed is whether we have formed the intention to live within the vision of the Kingdom of God. This is not merely about having a vision but about the commitment to act upon it. By living intentionally within this vision, we align our lives with a higher purpose. [10:31]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: What does living within the vision of the Kingdom of God mean to you? What is one practical way you can begin to align your daily life with this vision today?

Quotes


Dallas writes in his book still more than vision is required, and especially there is required intention. Projects of personal transformation rarely if ever succeed by accident, drift, or imposition, and that is because of the centrality of the will. The will can do very little; it's got a very small power, but what it can do is utterly indispensable and sacred, and no one can choose for you. [00:12:39]

In the outer world, we often stand back to look to see what will happen. Will rain ever come to California or not? Will COVID ever go away? Will the stock market go up? We wonder about causes that far transcend us. But in the inner world, in your little kingdom, it is far different. Here it is choice that matters, although fallenness and brokenness and sin and the evil one will try to keep us blind from this power. [00:23:04]

Now an intention is brought to completion only by a decision to fulfill or carry through with the intention. It is striking that we sometimes say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We never say it's paved with good decisions. There is a finality to decision that binds us. [00:36:21]

William Law, who was a great spiritual master for many, many centuries ago, wrote once, if you look to see why you're not as transformed as many of the early followers of Jesus were, you will discover it is not through ignorance or inability. You just simply never fully intended. [00:43:04]

Procrastination is a common and well-known way in which intention is aborted. Yes, but not today. You ever procrastinate? Would you like a little more time to think about it? A great baseball player a long time ago, Mickey Mantle, and when he died in his early 60s, it was a very tragic death. [00:48:56]

On the other hand, the profession or statement of intentions is a primary way of negotiating one ways through life, regardless of whether or not the intention professed is really there. And I know a lot about this. You could ask my wife Nancy when our three children were very small, all of them preschool age. [01:02:15]

If the genuine intention is there, the deed reliably follows, but if it is not there, the deed will most likely not be there either. So now I stand with you at the crossroads. You know of the vision that Jesus has set before that is unincomparable as an opportunity for human life. [01:11:44]

There is often a gap, Haze notes, between our professed intention and our actual behavior. The way to fill this gap is to choose to do things for no other reason than you said you would do them. At one time in human history, this was a common practice and was considered a kind of moral training. [01:21:28]

Examples might include getting up and going to bed in an early hour just because you said, forgoing favorite foods for a period of time just because you said, fasting just because you said, wearing an uncomfortable shirt they used to do this in the Middle Ages as a spiritual discipline just because you said. [01:29:32]

G.K. Chesterton, a great Christian thinker, once wrote a fabulous essay called In Defense of Rash Vows, and he noted that often in times when great ones follow Jesus, they love to make commitments that would bind themselves. In our day, very often we avoid doing that. We don't want to burn the ships. [01:35:16]

The man who makes a vow, Chesterton wrote, makes an appointment with himself at some distant time or place. This is who I will be. This is what I shall do. This is the vision I shall live. I close with this quote asking this question: Have you made the intention, the decision that you will have the life that Jesus offers whatever it takes? [01:44:14]

There are thrilling moments doubtless for the spectators and the dabblers and the uncommitted among us, but there is one thrill that is known only to the soldier who fights for his own flag, the artist who starves himself for his own illumination, the lover who finally makes his own choice. [01:52:56]

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Transcript
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