EFFORT NOT EARNING

We’ve spent this week unpacking the seven Spiritual Practices that our church has identified as a helpful guide toward becoming more engaged in our life of discipleship to Jesus. We have reflected on:

• Worship, what it means to give praise to GOD, and why it is important to develop this through Daily Rhythms of Scripture and Prayer
• The importance of Baptism into His way of resurrected living
• Why Serving and participating in faith community through discipleship Groups has such profound implications 
• How Generosity and sharing our transformed life through Outreach will deeply impact our souls as we journey through faith with others

As we wrap up this week it’s important to note that these are not the only practices that can draw us more deeply into Kingdom life. We’ve talked about and practiced others in prior series and Jesus demonstrated many in his life and ministry. So, this is by no means an exhaustive or exclusive list. 

Similarly, and perhaps more importantly, if you’ve started to become overwhelmed by the prospect of figuring out how to incorporate all of these, let us put your mind at ease. Remember Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. He is most concerned with your heart. There will be days and seasons when we have to dig deep to engage practices that don’t come as easily to us, but as we find ourselves Being with Jesus IN the practices, we will Become more like Him, and Doing the things He did will come with less effort. 

The goal is not to check off a bunch of ‘to dos’ or meet unreasonable expectations. The goal is life with GOD. The great modern theologian Dallas Willard said it this way, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.” What a shame it would be to come to the end of our lives and find that like the Pharisees (the religious teachers of Jesus’ day) we exhausted ourselves keeping the law and missed Jesus Himself. May our action flow out of a heart full of love for Jesus and joy-filled participation in His Kingdom

Let’s end the week as we began by reflecting on the same questions we answered on Sunday.

• What practices are easy for you to engage (downstream practices — like swimming with the current)? Did your perception on any of the practices change after unpacking them more fully this week?
• What practices are challenging, even difficult for you (upstream practices — like swimming against the current)? Do any seem less intimidating after unpacking them more fully this week?
• What practices do you think you most need to settle into, develop and interact with? Have your thoughts around prioritizing next steps changed this week? 
• What is one next step you could take at the end of this week to intentionally engage a new practice? 
• Write a simple prayer asking GOD to help you find your way into a sustainable rhythm for the practices HE is inviting you to engage.