Transformative Hope: Embracing Change Through God's Grace

 

Summary

Change is possible. This is the central thought to carry with you today. Transformation into the person God intended is not just a dream; it is a reality that can be achieved. This transformation is rooted in a foundational hope that transcends circumstances, a hope that is not found in politics, economics, or education, but in the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 3:18, speaks of being transformed from glory to glory, a process that is stewarded by the Spirit of the Lord. This hope is not political; it is spiritual and eternal, offering a vision of human character that is glorious in truth, courage, moral beauty, love, and joy.

However, many have lost confidence in this transformative power due to the failures of Christian leaders and the shallow state of Western Christianity. The visible failures of leaders often lead to doubt about the possibility of true transformation. Yet, the real spiritual need and change occur within, in the hidden areas of life that only God can see. The journey of transformation is a gentle but rigorous process initiated and sustained by God's grace. It is not about changing behavior superficially but about a deep inner transformation.

Dallas Willard warns against "miserable sinner Christianity," the belief that no one truly changes. While we all have a spark of evil within us, transformation is possible through daily spiritual maintenance and grace. We are not condemned to remain as we are; we can grow and change through grace. This journey is not undertaken alone; it is a communal effort, supported by God's grace and the fellowship of believers.

In our daily lives, we can experience God's grace in simple ways, like praying for the sweetness of an orange. This experience-based confidence in God's love and care is how we taste and see that the Lord is good. From one moment to the next, we are being transformed, not by our own strength, but by God's power. So, let us seek His goodness in every moment, trusting in His transformative power.

Key Takeaways:

1. Foundational Hope: True transformation is rooted in a foundational hope that transcends circumstances. This hope is not found in politics or economics but in the teachings of Jesus, offering a vision of human character that is glorious and eternal. [02:13]

2. Inner Transformation: Real change occurs within, in the hidden areas of life that only God can see. This transformation is a gentle but rigorous process initiated by God's grace, not by superficial behavior changes. [07:24]

3. Failures and Doubts: The visible failures of Christian leaders often lead to doubt about the possibility of true transformation. However, these failures highlight the need for deep inner change rather than mere behavior modification. [05:13]

4. Miserable Sinner Christianity: The belief that no one truly changes is a misconception. While we all have a spark of evil within us, transformation is possible through daily spiritual maintenance and grace. [08:13]

5. Experiencing God's Grace: We can experience God's grace in simple, everyday moments, like praying for the sweetness of an orange. This experience-based confidence in God's love and care is how we taste and see that the Lord is good. [10:29]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:34] - Change is Possible
- [01:01] - Foundational Hope
- [01:47] - Transformation from Glory to Glory
- [02:43] - Beyond Politics
- [03:20] - The Church's Contribution
- [04:06] - The Possibility of Transformation
- [05:02] - Untransformed Leadership
- [06:10] - Inner Reality and Denial
- [07:24] - Graceful Inner Transformation
- [08:13] - Miserable Sinner Christianity
- [09:40] - Growing Through Grace
- [10:02] - Experiencing God's Goodness
- [11:01] - Fellowship of the Withered Hand
- [11:18] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Corinthians 3:18

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says we are being transformed "from glory to glory" in 2 Corinthians 3:18? How does this transformation occur according to the sermon? [02:13]
2. In the sermon, what are some reasons given for why people might doubt the possibility of true transformation? [05:13]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of God's grace in the process of inner transformation? [07:24]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "foundational hope" differ from the "little hopes" mentioned in the sermon? Why is this distinction important for spiritual transformation? [01:23]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the impact of untransformed leadership on the perception of Christianity's transformative power? [05:02]
3. How does the sermon challenge the idea of "miserable sinner Christianity," and what implications does this have for personal spiritual growth? [08:13]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have lost hope in the possibility of transformation? How can you renew your foundational hope in God's transformative power? [02:13]
2. Consider a time when you were disappointed by a Christian leader's failure. How did it affect your faith, and how can you focus on your own inner transformation despite such disappointments? [05:13]
3. The sermon mentions experiencing God's grace in simple moments, like praying for the sweetness of an orange. What are some everyday moments where you can seek to experience God's grace more fully? [10:02]
4. How can you engage in daily spiritual maintenance to foster transformation, as suggested by the sermon? What specific practices can you incorporate into your routine? [08:13]
5. Think about a specific area in your life where you desire transformation. What steps can you take to invite God's grace into that area and work towards change? [07:24]
6. How can you contribute to a communal effort of transformation within your small group or church community? What role can you play in supporting others on their journey? [09:40]
7. Reflect on the idea of tasting and seeing that the Lord is good. How can you cultivate an experience-based confidence in God's love and care in your daily life? [10:29]

Devotional

Day 1: Foundational Hope in Christ
True transformation is rooted in a hope that transcends worldly circumstances. This hope is not found in politics, economics, or education, but in the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament. It offers a vision of human character that is glorious in truth, courage, moral beauty, love, and joy. This hope is spiritual and eternal, providing a foundation for real change. It is a hope that is not shaken by the failures of human systems but is steadfast in the promises of God. [02:13]

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking hope from worldly sources? How can you shift your focus to the eternal hope found in Christ today?


Day 2: Inner Transformation by Grace
Real change occurs within, in the hidden areas of life that only God can see. This transformation is a gentle but rigorous process initiated and sustained by God's grace. It is not about changing behavior superficially but about a deep inner transformation. This process requires surrendering to God's work in our lives and allowing His Spirit to mold us from the inside out. It is a journey of becoming more like Christ, reflecting His character in our daily lives. [07:24]

"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." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: What hidden areas of your life need God's transformative touch? How can you invite His grace to work in those areas today?


Day 3: Overcoming Failures and Doubts
The visible failures of Christian leaders often lead to doubt about the possibility of true transformation. However, these failures highlight the need for deep inner change rather than mere behavior modification. It is important to remember that transformation is a personal journey with God, not dependent on the actions of others. By focusing on our own spiritual growth, we can overcome doubts and embrace the transformative power of God's grace. [05:13]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: How have the failures of others affected your faith? What steps can you take to focus on your personal transformation with God?


Day 4: Rejecting Miserable Sinner Christianity
The belief that no one truly changes is a misconception. While we all have a spark of evil within us, transformation is possible through daily spiritual maintenance and grace. We are not condemned to remain as we are; we can grow and change through grace. This journey is not undertaken alone; it is a communal effort, supported by God's grace and the fellowship of believers. [08:13]

"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: In what ways have you accepted the lie that you cannot change? How can you actively pursue transformation through God's grace today?


Day 5: Experiencing God's Grace in Everyday Moments
We can experience God's grace in simple, everyday moments, like praying for the sweetness of an orange. This experience-based confidence in God's love and care is how we taste and see that the Lord is good. From one moment to the next, we are being transformed, not by our own strength, but by God's power. By seeking His goodness in every moment, we can trust in His transformative power. [10:29]

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to experience God's grace in the small moments of your day? What simple act can you do today to remind yourself of His goodness?

Quotes


Change is possible. Transformation is possible. Being reformed, remolded, reshaped into a person who looks like God intended when he first thought me up, that actually is a possibility. I was with Michael Ware last evening. We all got to talk with him not too long ago on one of our videos. [00:00:28]

What is the foundational hope? There has never been any like the one expressed by Jesus and his followers in the New Testament. And Paul puts it like this, Dallas quotes this on page 77 of Renovation of the Heart: "But we all with unveiled faces, beholding is in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed." [00:01:38]

The transformation of human lives into a character, a spirit that is glorious in truth and courage and moral beauty and love and joy, and there is nobody else that stewards this hope. There is no political vision for this. There is no political legislation or party or program or leader who can stand before any nation and say. [00:02:34]

The best contribution the church can actually make to the political realm is to offer people who are being shaped that way, and whose eternal life will far outlast any political system. There is no economic system that will produce that. There is no educational curriculum that will produce that. [00:03:18]

We have lost confidence that the way of Jesus is the way to produce transformed human beings. And Dallas talks about a couple of reasons before getting into which we will do, but not today, before getting into the pattern, the framework that makes transformation possible. We have to address why do we think it can't happen. [00:04:42]

Real spiritual need and change, he writes, as we have emphasized, is on the inside, in the hidden area of life that God sees and that we cannot see even in ourselves without his help. Indeed, in the early stages of spiritual development, this is really amazing. [00:05:56]

Without the gentle but rigorous process of inner transformation initiated and sustained by the graceful presence of God in our world, the change of personality in life clearly announced and spelled out in the Bible, explained and illustrated throughout Christian history, is impossible. We don't only admit it, we insist upon it. [00:07:24]

The transformation of our inner selves is not something based on how well leaders may happen to do. It is not closed off to us because we're condemned to be never anything more than as miserable as we are right now who cannot change. And then also it's very important to understand we don't do this on our own. [00:09:25]

I was talking to a friend yesterday at lunch, and he'd been speaking with a woman, not a Christian leader, not well-known, very simple person, very quiet person, and they were talking about prayer. And she said, "I pray about everything," and he was wondering if that was kind of a cliche. [00:09:46]

The psalmist said a long time ago, "Taste and see that the Lord is good," and the way that we do that is from one moment to the next as we experience his care, which is his grace in our lives. That is experience-based confidence in God's love and care. It is possible. [00:10:24]

So today, from one moment to the next, God, make the oranges taste sweet to me. God, let me find your goodness in this moment, in this food, in that sunlight, in this person's face, in that person's word, in this thought, for we are being transformed in the fellowship of the withered hand. [00:10:50]

God make the oranges sweet. See you next time. [00:11:18]

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Transcript
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