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First Principles – Cultivating Habits of the Heart

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This past Sunday, I began teaching BILD International’s First Principles, Series 1, Book 4, Cultivating Habits of the Heart.  (I’m teaching this to students and adults at 9AM on Sundays at Crestview).  The description of the class is challenging:

In this booklet, participants will take a radically different approach to the habits of the heart. God never intended our lives to be based on a set of individual daily habits, but rather on a whole life orientation that grows out of family and community life. We are not to gain insights from the Word fundamentally in isolation but from disciplines in all spheres of our lives. God carefully designed these habits to guide each believer into a life in which Christ can richly dwell in our hearts, resulting in our entire lives being transformed by our calling.

It’s particularly challenging for those who aren’t resisting the rugged individualism thrust upon them by our culture.  Because, in American church life, in particular, we believe that if it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.  But, the New Testament speaks of a different way: people who have denied themselves, taken up their cross, and followed Jesus.  These people follow Jesus in community with others.  We hope this curriculum helps build a heart for disciplined living.

SS Recap – Making A Defense of the Faith

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I posted last week a brief update on the Sunday School class I’m teaching at Crestview.  This class is studying BILD International’s First Principle book, Participating in the Mission of the Church.  In the three lessons in this particular book, we’ve noticed the strategy of the early church: proclaim the Gospel, plant churches, establish leaders and move on.  Then, we saw the role of having good deeds to back up the message we’re proclaiming.  In week 3, we saw how we should speak to make the Gospel attractive and invite opportunities with those who are outside the faith.  In this lesson, the focus was on making a defense, using 1 Peter 3:8-17 as our springboard.

I pointed to Tim Keller’s writings on Defeater beliefs as well as Barry Cooper and Paul Williams’ book If You Could Ask God One Question.  On the whole, though, what stuck out to me wasn’t so much about being ready to get an answer out as much as living in a compelling way that accentuates the defense.  It might be the case that if we were prepared to answer with gentleness and humility rather than know it alls who don’t need others, we’d be able to give a more compelling defense.

SS Recap – God’s Will and Direction in Our Lives

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Was privileged to teach adult Sunday School at Crestview yesterday and wrap up our summer series on the Fundamentals.  We ended thinking of God’s Will and Guidance, so I took time to lead people through a Bible Intensive time of Psalm 16.  And, we ended with this particular Ask Pastor John episode on How Is God Directing My Life.  This is an excerpt from a sermon entitled, the Path To Full and Lasting Pleasure.  Here’s the video… (the excerpt I showed begins at the 27:28 mark).  If you missed Sunday School and would like a Psalm 16 to mark up, stop by my office.  I have some extra copies.  Enjoy!