Internal Struggles: Formation Through Good, Evil, and Community

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound themes of good and evil as depicted in Tolkien's works, particularly in the "Rings of Power" series. Tolkien's narrative suggests that good and evil are not external forces but internal struggles within each person. This mirrors the Christian understanding that while humanity is created in God's image, there is also a need to acknowledge the depravity within us. This acknowledgment is crucial for spiritual growth and transformation, a process known as formation. Formation is the spirit-driven journey of shaping our inner selves to reflect the character of Christ.

We delved into the concept of salvation, not as a one-time event but as an ongoing process of formation. This involves future living, wholehearted holiness, understanding God as a loving Father, and engaging in community with one another. Future living encourages us to focus on the eternal life promised through Jesus, rather than being consumed by the temporary distractions of this world. Wholehearted holiness calls us to be different, to live lives that reflect God's character in every aspect. Understanding God as a Father invites us to trust in His love and guidance, reframing our perception of His judgment as one of care and provision. Lastly, community plays a vital role in our formation, as loving others and being loved in return shapes us into Christ's likeness.

Peter's exhortation in 1 Peter emphasizes the importance of craving spiritual growth, much like a newborn craves milk. This craving for spiritual formation is essential for transformation. While the church can provide vision and means, the initiative must come from within us. We must desire to be formed into the image of Christ, to taste and see that the Lord is good, and to let this experience fuel our longing for spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Internal Struggle of Good and Evil: Tolkien's depiction of good and evil as internal struggles resonates with the Christian understanding that we are a mix of both. Acknowledging this internal battle is essential for spiritual growth, as it allows us to confront our own depravity and seek transformation through Christ. [01:20]

2. Salvation as an Ongoing Process: Salvation is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of formation. It involves living with an eternal perspective, embracing holiness, understanding God as a loving Father, and engaging in community. This process requires us to actively work out our salvation through spiritual growth. [06:26]

3. Future Living and Wholehearted Holiness: Future living focuses on the eternal promises of Jesus, while wholehearted holiness calls us to live differently in every aspect of our lives. This involves setting our minds on the future and allowing God's character to shape our conduct, making us distinct in the world. [09:32]

4. Understanding God as a Loving Father: Viewing God as a loving Father reframes our understanding of His judgment. It invites us to trust in His care and provision, motivating us to live in a way that honors Him. This perspective encourages us to avoid sin not out of fear, but out of love and respect for our Father. [19:40]

5. The Role of Community in Formation: Community is essential for spiritual formation. Loving others and being loved in return shapes us into Christ's likeness. The church should foster an environment of intimacy and honesty, where the Holy Spirit can work through relationships to form us into the image of Christ. [23:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:20] - Good and Evil in Tolkien's World
- [02:57] - The Danger of Ignoring Our Depravity
- [04:45] - The Reality of Human Nature
- [06:26] - Salvation and Formation
- [08:02] - Future Living
- [09:32] - Wholehearted Holiness
- [11:10] - Living for the Future
- [13:03] - The Meaning of Holiness
- [14:37] - Holiness in Every Aspect
- [16:35] - The Call to Wholehearted Holiness
- [18:12] - Understanding God as Father
- [19:40] - Trusting in God's Love
- [21:45] - Formation Through Community
- [23:37] - The Importance of Loving One Another
- [25:17] - Craving Spiritual Growth

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 1:13-25

Observation Questions:
1. How does Tolkien's depiction of good and evil as internal struggles relate to the Christian understanding of human nature? [01:20]
2. What does Peter mean by "preparing your minds for action" in 1 Peter 1:13, and how does this relate to future living? [09:32]
3. How does Peter describe the role of community in spiritual formation in 1 Peter 1:22? [23:37]
4. What is the significance of viewing God as a loving Father in the context of spiritual formation? [19:40]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does acknowledging our internal struggle with good and evil contribute to spiritual growth and transformation? [01:20]
2. How does the concept of "future living" challenge the way individuals prioritize their daily lives and decisions? [09:32]
3. What does "wholehearted holiness" mean in practical terms, and how does it differ from common perceptions of holiness? [13:03]
4. How does the understanding of God as a loving Father influence one's motivation to avoid sin and pursue holiness? [19:40]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you experienced an internal struggle between good and evil. How did you address it, and what might you do differently in the future? [01:20]
2. What are some practical steps you can take to focus more on future living and less on temporary distractions? [09:32]
3. Identify an area of your life where you can practice wholehearted holiness. What specific changes can you make to reflect God's character in that area? [13:03]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God as a loving Father, especially in areas where you struggle with fear or doubt? [19:40]
5. Think of a person in your community who has helped shape your spiritual journey. How can you express gratitude to them this week, and how might you support someone else in their formation? [23:37]
6. What is one way you can actively participate in your church community to foster an environment of intimacy and honesty? [23:37]
7. Reflect on your current spiritual cravings. What steps can you take to deepen your desire for spiritual growth and formation? [30:01]

Devotional

Day 1: The Internal Battle Within
In Tolkien's works, the struggle between good and evil is portrayed as an internal conflict within each individual, reflecting a profound truth about human nature. This mirrors the Christian understanding that while we are created in God's image, we also possess a capacity for depravity. Acknowledging this internal battle is crucial for spiritual growth, as it allows us to confront our own weaknesses and seek transformation through Christ. By recognizing the presence of both good and evil within us, we can begin the journey of spiritual formation, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us into the likeness of Christ. This process requires honesty, humility, and a willingness to face our inner struggles head-on. [01:20]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you feel the tension between good and evil. How can you invite God into this struggle to help you grow spiritually?

Day 2: Salvation as a Journey
Salvation is often misunderstood as a one-time event, but it is, in fact, an ongoing process of spiritual formation. This journey involves living with an eternal perspective, embracing holiness, understanding God as a loving Father, and engaging in community. It requires us to actively work out our salvation through spiritual growth, continually seeking to align our lives with the character of Christ. By focusing on the eternal promises of Jesus, we can avoid being consumed by the temporary distractions of this world. Embracing holiness calls us to live differently, reflecting God's character in every aspect of our lives. [06:26]

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to live with an eternal perspective, focusing on the promises of Jesus rather than the distractions of this world?

Day 3: Living for the Future
Future living encourages us to set our minds on the eternal life promised through Jesus, rather than being consumed by the temporary distractions of this world. Wholehearted holiness calls us to be different, to live lives that reflect God's character in every aspect. This involves allowing God's character to shape our conduct, making us distinct in the world. By focusing on the future, we can live with purpose and intentionality, seeking to honor God in all that we do. This perspective helps us to prioritize what truly matters and to live in a way that reflects our identity as children of God. [09:32]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you are tempted to conform to the world. How can you allow God's character to shape your conduct in this area today?

Day 4: Trusting in God's Love
Understanding God as a loving Father reframes our perception of His judgment. It invites us to trust in His care and provision, motivating us to live in a way that honors Him. This perspective encourages us to avoid sin not out of fear, but out of love and respect for our Father. By viewing God as a loving Father, we can experience His guidance and provision in our lives, trusting that His plans for us are good. This understanding helps us to live with confidence and assurance, knowing that we are deeply loved and cared for by our Heavenly Father. [19:40]

1 John 3:1 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision or action. Did you make it out of fear or love for God? How can you shift your motivation to be more love-centered?

Day 5: Community as a Catalyst for Growth
Community plays a vital role in our spiritual formation. Loving others and being loved in return shapes us into Christ's likeness. The church should foster an environment of intimacy and honesty, where the Holy Spirit can work through relationships to form us into the image of Christ. By engaging in community, we can experience the transformative power of love and support, allowing us to grow in our faith and become more like Christ. This requires vulnerability and a willingness to be open with others, trusting that God will use these relationships to shape us into His image. [23:37]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Think of someone in your church community who you can encourage or support this week. How can you intentionally invest in this relationship to foster spiritual growth for both of you?

Quotes

1) "At the heart of Tolkien's writings is the fundamental truth about good and evil that exists. So in all of his writings, he really describes and depicts good and evil as not like an out there problem, but an in here one. Like a matter of the heart. Or the world is not made up of, in Tolkien's world, good people and bad people, but rather people that have messy mixture of both good and bad in their hearts. And in my opinion, one of the beauties of Rings of Power is it actually achieves this in ways that some of the other movies have not. Instead of there just being a villain and a good guy, we see the messy mixture of both occurring in all of the characters." [01:20] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Many Christians and non-Christians alike navigate the world believing in the essential goodness of humanity. That humans just aren't that bad. That at their core, they're really good. And this is not altogether wrong. In fact, there's a lot of truth at the heart of this. For we are all created in God's image. Whether we intentionally mean to or not, we all reflect his image in some way. Whether that's through creativity or the way that we love others. Or through our work, or our intelligence, or even through our laughter, our tears, our full breadth of emotions." [02:57] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "And so, the question remains, kind of, what do we do with this, right? Because, let's be honest, this is really depressing. Either we bury our hands in the sand, we resign our life to evil, we don our evil capes to become the villain of our own story, we assume the worst of everyone else around us, or we choose something different. And I think Christ actually invites us into a reality in which we can learn a different way. But that way does ironically start by first acknowledging not the good of humanity, but also the depravity or the bad stuff that exists in here. For we can only change or move gradually towards the good, the perfection of Christ, if we first acknowledge that which needs to be changed." [06:26] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Contrary to popular modern belief, salvation, is not just simply raising a hand, or saying a prayer, or a get out of jail free card. It's a very long and slow process of forming our human self into Christ himself. And this is what Peter instructs the individuals, his audience, to do once they have received salvation. He instructs them to work that salvation out through formation. And he says this formation comes through four things. First one is future living. The second is wholehearted holiness. The third is a father. And the last one is one another." [08:02] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Peter here is actually warning his audience not to be distracted by the world around them, its stressors, its temptations, and preoccupation with material things, but rather to concern their minds with the world to come. To take the cover or the veil of worldly things off of their mind. Scott McKnight says it this way, live for the future. If we are being saved to something, Jesus's resurrection of us and the world, then focus not on what you're being saved from, but what you are being saved to. Another way of saying it. This future type of living, this future living really is the backbone for formation." [09:32] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Holiness in our modern day context has come to mean something not entirely helpful when it comes to the biblical text. Many associate holiness with purity, perfection, haughtiness, and this is kind of where we get that phrase holier than thou. But that's not the meaning or the intended purpose of the word holy in the biblical text. The word holy actually is the word hagios. And its root meaning in the English is the word different. So this is why the temple in the scriptures is called holy because it's a different type of building or it's different than the other buildings around it. This is why the Sabbath day is called holy in the scriptures because it's a different kind of day. It's different than the other days around it." [13:03] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Peter says that salvation is more than just a prayer being prayed or a decision being made, but it's the slow work of formation. And that formation, is accomplished through that future living wholehearted holiness of Father and through the people sitting in this room, one another. For those who are following along, you're like, wait a second, you forgot six verses. No, I didn't. I'm here. We're still doing it. So picking up back in verse 23, Peter writes this. Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and abiding word of God for all flesh is like grass, and its glory like the flower of grass, and the grass wither and the flowers fail, but the word of God remains forever." [25:17] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "Dallas Willard in his book, Renovation of the Heart, talks about the process of spiritual formation consists of what we call vision, means, and initiative. As a church, we can provide you with the vision. We can preach sermons. We can open up the scriptures. We can sing songs together. We can cast a vision for a life with Jesus. As a church, we can provide the means. We can give you a spiritual practice every single week. We can surround you with people cheering you on, holding you accountable. We can give you resources and tools to help you live those things out. But here is what we cannot do. We cannot give you initiative. We cannot give you desire. We cannot give you the craving. The only person who can do that is you." [30:01] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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