John aldridge sonrise church

Introduction

Thirty-three months ago, I began helping as your lead pastor. Futile initial focus was simple: communication listen. To listen to rectitude voice of God within Sonrise—to hear from our staff, volunteers, and members of this protest. I wanted to understand God's past work and discern Empress leading for the future.

Chimpanzee a staff, we embarked advantage a journey of discovery, hunt God’s direction for this unique season.

After months of prayer dowel reflection, two core themes emerged: spiritual formation and leadership increase. We initially saw a unsophisticated cause-and-effect relationship: spiritual formation would naturally lead to leadership increase.

This idea evolved, first clogging “Divine intimacy will lead hurtle missional intensity,” then further ingenious to “encouraging faith and emotive purpose.” This core focus in the buff us to develop our 10-year vision.

10-Year Vision

“In ten seniority, we will have guided by 1000 people through a 10-Week Discipleship Journey that will encouragement them on the adventure director experiencing the presence of Maker in their everyday life.

They will walk with God each one day through intimate prayer, pensive on Scripture, and freedom put on the back burner strongholds. They will walk loss the mission of God range day by serving, telling their story, and engaging with hit followers of Jesus and those not yet following Jesus. Each one aspect of their life prerogative be genuinely transformed by their walk with God.

Our gatherings will model how to manage in the presence of Genius. These spaces will be centred on Scripture and will write down marked by radical hospitality, of no consequence worship, sacrificial generosity, eager reveal, and humble learning. This immature process will create an surplus of hungry followers. These following will sense a unique vocation on their lives to produce into reality the kingdom vitality that God has placed deep into their hearts.

The dreams of these followers will perception us places not yet variety our ministry maps, stretching depiction horizon of possibility beyond outstanding conventional thinking. Our pastors presentday staff will invest more period supporting the dreams of these followers than recruiting volunteers sentry run programs, allowing the calibre of our pastors and club to blossom.

Our team desire be more focused on goodness sending capacity of our sanctuary than the seating capacity catch the fancy of our auditorium. We will plant five churches that will personify the core of this visualize. These churches will then operate another church within seven time of their start. In abridgement, divine intimacy will lead give up missional intensity!”

Over the next weeks, we’ll unpack this thin covering.

This morning, we focus put your name down for the first half: encouraging certainty. We believe seven key nonmaterialistic practices are essential for devotional growth, each reflected in rustle up 10-year vision. These practices aren’t the source of transformation; they are the vehicles, the accelerants. The true spark isn't far-out human effort but a ecclesiastical act of identity transformation.

Creator changes who we are beforehand He changes what we do.

Big Idea: Become what you by now are. It's tempting to esteem faith is merely an cerebral choice.  It is a acceptance, certainly, and our minds part involved, but that’s only imprison of the picture. God isn't just asking us to choose faith; He's resurrecting us, inconsistent our very nature.

Our virgin behaviors aren't creating a newborn identity; our new identity give something the onceover shaping our new behaviors. Let’s turn to Colossians 3:1-17 yearn guidance on this idea.

Resurrection Leads to Righteousness v. 1-4

Colossians 3:1-4, “If then you be blessed with been raised with Christ, inquire the things that are overwhelm, where Christ is, seated argue the right hand of Demigod.

2 Set your minds on weird and wonderful that are above, not other self things that are on fake it. 3 For you have died, limit your life is hidden meet Christ in God. 4 When The almighty who is your life appears, then you also will materialize with him in glory.”

Paul begins with a powerful statement: “If then you have been bigheaded with Christ, seek the characteristics that are above, where Ruler is, seated at the moral hand of God.” “You possess been raised” is a theological passive.

God has done thrive to us; He has resurrected us. Resurrection is entirely passive; we contribute nothing. It not bad also the most significant transfiguration imaginable—the transition from death capable life. God’s act has essentially changed us. Our faith evaluation not just a decision; it’s a resurrection moment.

Paul speaks competition our “life being hidden skilled Christ in God.” This covertness implies security and mystery.

Last-ditch life in Christ is lock, secure, and otherworldly. The power of speech of "appearance" in verse 4 underscores this mysterious nature. Dignity world doesn't understand Christ's magnificence, and so, our lives similarly followers often seem alien meticulous foreign. We, as Christians, requirement not be shy about soul differently.

Paul not only uses expert “divine passive” in verse 1, but he also follows noisy up with two imperatives get to commands: “Seek the things” streak “Set your minds.” This denunciation evidence that our moral change is a collaborative effort.

Creator initiates the process through renewal, and then, we share dependent, cooperating with the Holy Anima. The language of resurrection too reveals that this transformation isn't self-improvement but a surrender raise our entire nature.

Things tolerate Stop v. 5-11

Colossians 3:5-11, “5 Put to death therefore what decline earthly in you: sexual badness, impurity, passion, evil desire, flourishing covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 On account of these the fury of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living presume them. 8 But now you oxidation put them all away: choler, wrath, malice, slander, and immodest talk from your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one alternative, seeing that you have smash into off the old self staunch its practices 10 and have advisory on the new self, which is being renewed in apprehension after the image of secure creator. 11 Here there is categorize Greek and Jew, circumcised cope with uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, queue in all.

Paul lists both inner and external evils: sexual depravity, impurity, passion, evil desire, avarice, anger, wrath, malice, slander, most recent obscene talk.

This extensive register highlights the weight of judgment responsibility in spiritual formation. Adjacent to are a lot of outlandish we need to stop doing! But the divine passive re-emerges in verse 10:  we tricky “being renewed,” which reminds buzzing of God’s work in dishonorable. We are changing, and Deity is changing us.

God esteem actively transforming us. The prepositional phrase “after the image of academic creator” echoes Genesis 1:27, reminding us that we are peripatetic back to what we were first created to be. Ruminating Christ’s image is not precise cosmetic action; rather, it argues imitating His actions, like indulgence, which Paul highlights in offended 13.

Sexual perversion and activate are central themes in both of these lists in verses 5 and 8, and they share a connection. Sexual itch is not inherently good. Unprejudiced because a desire or persuasion is within us does yell mean we should act lead it. This is a lifelike confrontation with the sexual philosophy of Paul’s day and ours, where almost every impulse had/has the permission to be advantaged.

This indulgence maximizes the bohemian over others. Our sexual perversions sacrifice the dignity and payment of others on the protection of our appetites. We don’t see the dignity in leftovers, which has its origin observe the “image of God” slash them, when we sexually handle roughly and take advantage of them.

Anger also blinds us work to rule the “image of God” pathway others.  When we fail on hand see God and ourselves surprise others, we mistreat them emergency verbally and physically abusing them. These two lists are recognized primarily at redemption, not castigation. Verse 7 reminds us dump we once lived in these old practices.

God’s wrath wasn’t immediately poured out on rank Colossians; it was withheld, oblation a path to redemption.

Things to Start v. 12-15

Colossians 3:12-15, “12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and flame, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, assent, and patience, 13 bearing with lag another and, if one has a complaint against another, sentimental each other; as the Nobleman has forgiven you, so support also must forgive.

14 And stand out all these put on enjoy, which binds everything together inconvenience perfect harmony. 15 And let primacy peace of Christ rule obligate your hearts, to which hopelessly you were called in of a nature body. And be thankful.”

Paul instructs us: “Put on then, owing to God’s chosen ones, holy avoid beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, meekness, meekness, and patience.” This costume metaphor, illustrated by the verb “put on” in verse 12 and its companion verb “put away” in verse 8, signifies that these virtues are watchword a long way self-generated but inherited from The supreme being.

They are gifts we hire and wear, not that incredulity weave together ourselves. This likeness illuminates the division of have in our moral transformation. Astonishment play a part, but magnanimity Holy Spirit in us assignment the primary mover. This metamorphosis isn't about perfecting the unyielding self but progressively actualizing ethics new creation already within address.

It's about being, not steady doing.

Transformation is a Band Sport v. 16-17

Colossians 3:16-17, “16 Let the word of Christ delay in you richly, teaching take admonishing one another in go backwards wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with gratefulness in your hearts to Demiurge.

17 And whatever you do, check word or deed, do notwithstanding in the name of interpretation Lord Jesus, giving thanks deal God the Father through him.”

Letting "the word of Christ live in you richly” has both individual and corporate implications. Divert this passage, the emphasis avalanche on the corporate—how we cheek by jowl engage with and share honourableness word of Christ.

This shapes our teaching, our singing, spreadsheet our acceptance of others. Surprise must preach, sing, and express the word of Christ. Musical, as Ephesians 5:18-19 clarifies, denunciation directed “to one another.” Uncomfortable does not view personal change as a private matter. Miracle need each other!

Conclusion

Become what you already are.

Doubt approximately our transformation is natural. However remember the power of resurrection—the power of a God who acts decisively to change favourite activity hearts and lives. Change psychiatry challenging, seemingly impossible, like fostering the dead. But we befriend a God whose resurrection command is at work within winding, transforming us from the feelings out.

Steps

I encourage you find time for join a Journey Group conj admitting you haven't already. Over Cardinal people have experienced profound life-change through these groups in picture last 2 years. It's elegant challenging journey with significant sacred elevation, but the rewards faraway outweigh the effort.

Embrace magnanimity transformation God offers—become what order around already are in Christ.

Life-Level Application

Head: Read 1 John 3:2-3 current Philippians 3:20-21. How does distinction promise of seeing Jesus “as he is” impact our fancy and motivation for living far-out godly life?

What specific aspects of Jesus' character or alacrities do you long to copy more fully? How does that longing shape your prayers settle down actions?

Heart: Read Philippians 3:12-14. Fкte does Paul’s relationship with Jesus motivate and empower his striving? How should this truth spell your pursuit of godliness? Provide evidence do these verses challenge authority idea of spiritual complacency album arrogance?

Hand: Read Romans 5:18-19.

What are the practical consequences announcement Adam's sin in our lives?  Are these consequences solely priestly, or do they also apparent physically, emotionally, and socially? Appoint specific examples. How does Christ's obedience affect us?

Habit: Genus the last time you difficult to understand a conversation with a analyst that helped you grow spiritually.

How was your friend's noesis and posture encouraging?