Western Bible ConferenceWestern Bible Conference

Renew Our SoulsRenew Our Souls

Sunday’s Theme: Renewed Sunday’s Theme: Renewed MindMind• A disposition which guides all of life A disposition which guides all of life

into the “ways” which God revealsinto the “ways” which God reveals

An orientation of my being An orientation of my being

By revelation – I Cor 2 mysteryBy revelation – I Cor 2 mystery

By self-giving – Phil 2 self-By self-giving – Phil 2 self-emptyingemptying

By attention – Col 3 things By attention – Col 3 things aboveabove

Monday’s Theme: Renewed Monday’s Theme: Renewed PassionPassion

• Loving as the essence of reality (Dt. 6/Mk Loving as the essence of reality (Dt. 6/Mk 12)12)– My doing must arise from His beingMy doing must arise from His being– Holiness is inseparable from LoveHoliness is inseparable from Love– Perfect Love is what He desires to fill our Perfect Love is what He desires to fill our

hearts withhearts with

Spirit Renewal or Spirit Renewal or His Forming of the Soul His Forming of the Soul

• Me and Spiritual Disciplines Me and Spiritual Disciplines – The ‘tension’ in preparationThe ‘tension’ in preparation– Years of concern over “prayerlessness”Years of concern over “prayerlessness”

• Bad (theological) ArithmeticBad (theological) Arithmetic– He bestows His MindHe bestows His Mind– He sheds His Love abroad in my heartHe sheds His Love abroad in my heart– Now…It’s all up to me!Now…It’s all up to me!

What is the new in What is the new in renewing?renewing?

The Image of God (Gen 1-2)The Image of God (Gen 1-2)

1.1. LIFE IS HIS ALONE TO CREATE, DEFINELIFE IS HIS ALONE TO CREATE, DEFINE

2.2. INTIMACY INSEPARABLE FROM GLORIFYING INTIMACY INSEPARABLE FROM GLORIFYING HIM HIM (POTENTIAL HINDRANCES MUST BE FACED)(POTENTIAL HINDRANCES MUST BE FACED)

3.3. CREATED FOR FELLOWSHIPCREATED FOR FELLOWSHIP

4.4. HE HAS MADE US FOR FRUITFULNESS HE HAS MADE US FOR FRUITFULNESS

5.5. FULLNESS OF LIFE MEANS THAT ALL HUMAN FULLNESS OF LIFE MEANS THAT ALL HUMAN FELLOWSHIP MUST REFLECT TRIUNE INTIMACYFELLOWSHIP MUST REFLECT TRIUNE INTIMACY

Personhood as the key to Personhood as the key to realityreality• No worship, No Law, No mediators…No worship, No Law, No mediators…

• He is not after my performance He is He is not after my performance He is wants to fill my heart (wants to fill my heart (living soulliving soul Gen Gen 2:7)2:7)

• Relationship takes mutual Relationship takes mutual commitment:commitment:– Conversation with understandingConversation with understanding– Learning about the other’s “ways”Learning about the other’s “ways”– Desiring to please in a healthy mannerDesiring to please in a healthy manner– Willing to sacrifice for the other’s sakeWilling to sacrifice for the other’s sake

Re-Formation to Counter Re-Formation to Counter De-FormationDe-Formation

Gen 3Gen 3

• Intimacy DestroyedIntimacy Destroyed

• Self-Glorification Self-Glorification

• We vaunt ourselves – Individualization We vaunt ourselves – Individualization

• The “other” is deemed as a means to my end The “other” is deemed as a means to my end

• Hindrances (desires, passions apart from Him) Hindrances (desires, passions apart from Him) become our ‘gods’. We become what we become our ‘gods’. We become what we worshipworship

Gen 4 – an act of worship becomes a place of Gen 4 – an act of worship becomes a place of murder murder

At base what the Spirit wants At base what the Spirit wants to form in me (soul)to form in me (soul)

Beginning? Gen 5:1-3 > 4:26Beginning? Gen 5:1-3 > 4:26SPIRITUAL FREEDOMSPIRITUAL FREEDOMPERSONAL TRUSTPERSONAL TRUSTOPENNESSOPENNESSFRUITFULNESS/SELFLESSNESSFRUITFULNESS/SELFLESSNESS““WALK” (22), “REST” (29)WALK” (22), “REST” (29)

“TO BE IS TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP”“TO BE IS TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP”

The ‘forming’ of a people Ex. The ‘forming’ of a people Ex. 19:4-619:4-6

(1) "Brought you to myself"

Redemption/Deliverance(2) "If you obey"

Authority/Obedience

(3) "Kingdom of Priests“ “Nation”

Communal/Fellowship(4) "Kingdom of Priests"

Outreach

(5) "Holy Nation"Character/Growth

The Spirit’s Formation in the Family Dt. The Spirit’s Formation in the Family Dt. 6-76-7(1) "Brought you out of Egypt“ 6:12,21

Redemption

(2) “These words shall be on your heart“ 6:6Authority/Obedience

(3) “Teach them diligently to your sons in your house“ 6:7 Communal/Fellowship

(4)”Write on the posts and gates 6:9 “Brings you in…gives you“ 6:10 Possession of Promise “Show your love for the alien’ 10:19

Outreach

(5)”Love with ‘all’, hand, forehead, 6:5,8“For you are Holy“ 7:6 Character/Growth

Formation of the “New Israel” Mt 4:17-Formation of the “New Israel” Mt 4:17-2222

(1) “Repent“ 4:17 Redemption

(2) “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” 4:17 “Follow me“ 4:19

Authority/Obedience

(3) “left and followed“ 4:20, 22

Fellowship(4) “Fishers of Men“ 4:19

Outreach

(5) “Follow Me" “Be ye perfect, even as Your Father in Heaven is perfect”Character/Growth

Great Commission Matt 28:18-Great Commission Matt 28:18-2020

(1) “Baptizing them“ 28:19 Redemption/Deliverance

(2) “All authority” 28:18 “Teach them to observe all I command you“ 28:20

Authority/Obedience

(3) “Make disciples” 28:19

Communal/Fellowship(4) “Of all nations“ 28:19

Outreach

(5) “In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" Character/Growth

Formation of the Church Formation of the Church Acts 2Acts 2(1) “Repent“ 2:38 Redemption/Deliverance

(2) “Apostle’s teaching” 2:42Authority/Obedience

(3) “house to house“ 2:42,46 Communal/

Fellowship(4) Nations present 2:37ff.

Outreach

(5) “Shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit“ 2:38 Character/Growth

FORMED IN BEING AND FORMED IN BEING AND DOINGDOING

REDEEMED/RECREATED REDEEMED/RECREATED BEINGBEING

OBEYOBEY DOINGDOING

RELATERELATE DOINGDOING

SHARESHARE DOINGDOING

CHARACTERCHARACTER BEING BEING

OBJECTIVES - MEANS - OBJECTIVES - MEANS - GOALSGOALS

INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUSINTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS/ \/ \

REDEMPTIONREDEMPTION DISCIPLESHIP SANCTIFICATN DISCIPLESHIP SANCTIFICATN/ \/ \

SHARINGSHARING MEANS/ GRACE MEANS/ GRACE ACCOUNTABLEACCOUNTABLE

||SELF-GIVINGSELF-GIVING MIND OF CHRIST HOLINESSMIND OF CHRIST HOLINESSServingServing ThinkingThinking CharacterCharacter

||GLORIFY THE TRIUNE GODGLORIFY THE TRIUNE GOD

Me and the “donkeys”Me and the “donkeys”

• Tell me about your quiet timeTell me about your quiet time

• What are you reading?What are you reading?

• Who are you discipling?Who are you discipling?

• When were you filled with the Spirit?When were you filled with the Spirit?

Three ‘areas’ I have to Three ‘areas’ I have to watchwatch

• Relationship over FunctionRelationship over Function

• What Prayer really isWhat Prayer really is

• A definition of graceA definition of grace