Formed – Week 1 Notes

• Formed – Week 1 Basic Outline
• John 10.10:   “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
• Life “to the full”
• If that is true, then Jesus’ way of living is the best possible way to live.
• Question is:  Do you trust Jesus?
• We may trust Him to “bless our food” or keep our car running on vacation…
• Do we trust Jesus with our lives?
• If you don’t trust Jesus, you will put your trust in someone or something else.
• “God created man in His image, then man returned the favor.” - unknown
• Rich Young Ruler – Luke 18.18-23
• A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother. ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
• Do we believe that Jesus has the best possible life for us?
• The Rich Young Ruler decided his life was better than the one that Jesus was offereing.
• Do we really trust Jesus with our lives?  That His way is the best way?
• What does Following Jesus look like in our world today?
• Matthew 11:28-30
• Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
• Luke 18:15-17:
• People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
• Matthew 18:1-4
• At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
• 1. “The humility of a child consists of childlike trust, vulnerability, and the inability to advance his or her own cause apart from help, direction, and the resources of a parent” – Michael Wilkins, Matthew NIV Application Commentary
• humility:
• trust:  firm belief in, faith in the other – their ability and strength
• vulnerability – susceptible to attack or harm
• inability to advance your own cause apart from:
• help
• direction
• resources of parent
• When I think of a child the word that comes to mind is Genuine.
• Play-Doh – represents your heart, not physical heart, but the heart that can be broken.  The heart that trusts, hears and experiences joy.
• What if you could reshape your heart?
• Repair the wounds created by experiences, abuse, disappointments, etc.  That would be good.
• But, what if you would give your heart to Jesus and let Him (the creator of your heart) reshape it?  That would be the best.
• “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Prov. 4:23
• Questions:
• Why do we as “Christians” hold onto our hearts and lives so tightly?
• Why do we as “Christians” demand we control our lives?
• FORMED is an invitation for you to allow Jesus to reshape your heart.  Gal 4:19:  ”That Christ be FORMED in you.”