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A Life Of Change
Illustration: If all of human history compressed into 50 years
Nothing much happened for 45 years 5 years ago man developed primitive writing 2 years ago Jesus walked in Palestine 5 months ago the printing press was invented 20 days ago Ben Franklin proved lightning and electricity were the same 19 days ago the telephone was invented 18 days ago a couple of High School drop outs invented the airplane 10 days ago radio came into being 5 days ago TV was invented 5 minutes ago the jet engine was invented and in the last 45 seconds we created personal computers
We find ourselves with the need to change, but not always the tools to begin the process of change.
Quote: If you always do the things you have always done, you will always get the things you have always got.
Bible is a handbook of change, records the greatest change points of history, documents change in the lives of princes and paupers, prophets and prostitutes.
Change only happens when
Hurt enough to have to change Learn enough to want to change Receive enough to be able to change (Maxwell)
If change was easy we would have all changed already, change is not easy but it can be worthwhile, valuable, achievable and worth the investment of time and energy.
The Steps of Change - Think - Want - Do
1/ Think – Hurt Enough to Have to Change Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[ 26:14 Or Hebrew] 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' Joke: Most of us would rather flog a dead horse (resist change and try anything to avoid change) than bury it, try to find a new one, and risk riding it. Recently I read the 'Top Ten Strategies for Dealing with a Dead Horse'
Interactive Activity: Give volunteers a balloon and ask them to change its shape.
Question: When was the last time you changed something in your life?
· Do you embrace positive change? · How have you voluntarily changed in the last year? · What will you invest in the change…money, time, resources?
Humans are creatures of habit – we create rituals in order to free our mind to concentrate on more important tasks. Once created, these rituals (or habits) become an automatic default. Can be good or can be destructive.
Illus: Habits/rituals allow the brain to complete activities on auto pilot –brain space is freed for other activities. I have a morning routine which has in the past included the use of a can of deodorant spray and a can of hair spray. Sometimes when running on autopilot, I have discovered, to my dismay, that my underarm hair is firmly held in places while the hair on my head has just been covered in deodorant. (I guess that is one way to get rid of stinking thinking)
Declare: Although we need to change, we don’t often voluntarily change. Pain or discomfort presses us toward the change we need.
2/ Want – Learn Enough to Want to Change Illustration: Story of Alfred Noble (1833-1896) who invented dynamite. When Alfred's brother died, a newspaper confused the two men. One morning Alfred picked up the paper and read his own obituary. "Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday," That woke Alfred up, and he went on to fund the Nobel Prize.
Romans 12:1-3 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual[1] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Matthew 28:19-20 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[1] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Question: What will my life become if I don’t change?
Activity: Imagineering - Imagine your favorite place.
Imagine something in your life that would be better when you changed.
Activity: Write your own obituary
Question: What could my life become if I do change?
Declare: Cant change with out a strong desire to change. Life, others, scripture, Holy Spirit, preaching can all teach us that there is something better for us if we are prepared to change.
3/ Do – Receive Enough to be Able to Change Matthew 14:16 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.
Ephesians 4:7-14
7But to each one of us grace has been given as
Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it[1]
says:
Coping with laps / relapse - if you fall off the bike get back on again.
But what if I fail? - John Maxwell calls it ‘Failing Forward’.
If its worth doing its worth doing wrong!
Accountability and support - one of the keys to ‘failing forward’ is to bring someone else in on the game plan. Tell someone else about your decisions to change. Change your play grounds and playmates (A popular saying at Regeneration - a 12 step group)
Declare: Sometimes we cannot change unless we have help. God can help but cannot change for us. He has resources to give us to make us able to change.
Conclusion: A Life of Change
If you always do the things you have always done, you will always get the things you have always got.
Suggested cell or personal study questions. 1/ Do you like change and what was the last change you experienced? 2/ Share a time when you resisted change? 3/ What is one area that you need to change in order to grow to be more like Jesus in character? 4/ Allow time for the group to pray for each group member.
©
2002-2006 John
B. N. Banton
All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible
Society.
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