1. Less So much more…

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

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

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

8. 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

9. How do we measure growth?

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

11. The Measure: - Sweet and Nice and Good - - - -

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Whose purposes are ultimate?

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

27. 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.

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

29. 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)

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

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

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

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

34. The Clay Disagrees…

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

36. I am clean I am righteous I am loved I am perfect

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

38. Where we see God sees

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

40. Tullian Tchividjian

41. Tullian Tchividjian (is not a Greek cuss word)

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

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

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

45. 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

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

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

48. 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

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

50. Sometimes obedience to God is bad

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

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

53. 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

54. 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...

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

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

57. Then why pray and repent?

58. Cooperation with the Potter…

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

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

61. 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

62. So what do I do?

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

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

65. 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

66. "His"