Live Like Jesus

Life Is a Highway Pt 2

1.9.11  Bud Wrenn

‘….that we are made to become like Christ….’

Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

God’s Third Purpose for Me:  Growth involves becoming like Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NLT) ⁵ In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. ⁸ The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Drilling Deeper:  Stages of Growth

1) Orientation – Responding to the love of Christ.

John 9:15 (NLT) ¹⁵ The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”

Growth requires an investment of time. 

Impact Idea:

Schedule a daily time with God.

Consolidate activities.

Bible reading plan, i.e. YouVersion

m.youversion.com/mobile

Prayer Plan: Wisdom, Cleaning, Protection, Healing

Spiritual Pathways:

Activist

Servant

Creationist

Intellectual

Contemplative

Relational

Worshipper

2) Internalization - Developing a core belief system.

John 9:17 (NLT) ¹⁷ Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

Growth is an interactive process. 

Impact:  Keep a written spiritual journal.

i.e. PD Life Journal

www.biblegateway.com

www.rockbridgeseminary.org

3) Transformation - Creating a desire for the changes needed in my life.

John 9:24-25 (NLT) ²⁴ So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” ²⁵ “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) ⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Real growth will always challenge your current lifestyle. 

Impact Idea:  Fasting from an unhealthy behavior.

4) Multiplication – Establishing an outward perspective.

John 9:26-27 (NLT) ²⁶ “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” ²⁷ “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”

It will usually contradict popular culture.

Impact Idea:  Commit to  radical generosity.

Questions to Ask Yourself This Week:

What is your schedule for Jesus?

What are you learning about Jesus?

How are you becoming different because of Jesus?

Who are you touching for Jesus?