Less So much more…

1) Limitless 2) Fearless 3) Powerless 4) Imageless 5) Selfless

Because of the cross of Christ It's OK to not be OK

Because of the cross of Christ It's OK to not be OK It's not OK to stay that way

Because of the cross of Christ It's OK to not be OK It's not OK to stay that way But we don't want to shine the outside We want to grow

How do we measure growth?

How do we measure growth? Just create an image? Do a lot of religious actions?

The Measure: - Sweet and Nice and Good

The Measure: - Sweet and Nice and Good - Knowledgeable - - -

The Measure: - Sweet and Nice and Good - Knowledgeable - Memorization - -

The Measure: - Sweet and Nice and Good - Knowledgeable - Memorization - Good Theology -

The Measure: - Sweet and Nice and Good - Knowledgeable - Memorization - Good Theology - Long-time Believer

If I don't have the right target I won't arrive at the right destination

The Measure: - Sweet and Nice and Good - Knowledgeable - Memorization - Good Theology - Long-time Believer

The Measure: - Sweet and Nice and Good - Knowledgeable - Memorization - Good Theology - Long-time Believer *Christ-likeness

Jesus didn't die on a cross to make me a better person

Jesus didn't die on a cross to make me a better person but to make me a new person through second birth

Predestined to be conformed To the Image of Christ - Romans 8:29

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose - Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose - Romans 8:28 In the absence of definitions, we create our own

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose Definitions should come from: the original meaning and the immediate context

Whose purposes are ultimate?

Whose purposes are ultimate? Do I trust that God’s purposes for me are best?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified - Romans 8:28-30

And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified God: Foreknew and predestined (Will) Called to himself (Action) Declared righteous (Legal Standing) Made sinless and perfect (Secure Future)

God: Foreknew and predestined (Will) Called to himself (Action) Declared righteous (Legal Standing) Made sinless and perfect (Secure Future) *Made like Jesus

In Christ, I have been (past tense): -Chosen -Called -Declared Righteous (approved by God) -Glorified = Made like Jesus

So why am I trying to shine the outside Of what God has already declared clean?

So why am I trying to shine the outside Of what God has already declared clean?

The Clay Disagrees…

How much beauty (Christ’s image/righteousness and glory) I experience is contingent upon my cooperation with the Potter

I am clean I am righteous I am loved I am perfect

I am clean I am righteous I am loved I am perfect *in his sight

Where we see God sees

How much beauty (Christ’s image/righteousness and glory) I experience is contingent upon my cooperation with the Potter

Tullian Tchividjian

Tullian Tchividjian (is not a Greek cuss word)

A Christian trying to get right with God Is like a leper trying to have a skin disease

Obsess over your sin And you'll become a neurotic narcissist

Obsess over your sin And you'll become a neurotic narcissist Obsess over your Savior And you'll become free

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us - Ephesian 1:6

Why do we spend so much time Trying to get to where we already are?

Growth in Christ does not come By behaving better But by believing better

Growth in Christ does not come By behaving better But by believing better And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified

A Christian trying to get right with God Is like a wife Trying to be married

Sometimes obedience to God is bad

Sometimes obedience to God is bad When it comes from the wrong motive

The hard work of sanctification Is found in daily going back to The reality of our justification

The Motive Changes from earning to living in from needing to walking in the power of from paying back to gratitude for the price that was paid

God is greedy. Selfish, even. He wants more than obedience- he wants the right motives behind the obedience. "Dinner because I have to…" God wants obedience born out of love, trust and childlike faith. Go figure...

The only people who really get better Are those who know God will Love them if they never get better

Because fear and guilt (religion) Will only motivate for so long

Then why pray and repent?

Cooperation with the Potter…

Then why pray and repent? Cooperation with the Potter… Into the Image of Christ

How much beauty (Christ’s image/righteousness and glory) I experience is contingent upon my cooperation with the Potter

Life will happen- I have no control over it (all things work together for good) How much I grow from it is up to me

So what do I do?

Disciplines of Grace: - Pray - Spend time with God's Word - Fellowship - Worship * Not to earn

Adjust my life to his desires for me "…for I always do what pleases him”

Remember that: I'm already acceptable to God I'm already accepted by God I'm already clean and pure in his presence I'm called to cooperate in becoming what I already am by his grace

"His"