Quiet Time Coaching Episode 522 | New Creation Series — Part 14 | “New Creation – New Change Part 4” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new creation! I’m Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation’. Today, another model that may help us understand how God changes us. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by Trevor Hudson. His model is a variation on the model developed by Dallas Willard we explored in QTC 521.
Hudson’s take is very similar to Willard’s. We will focus on the key difference – community. However, first a brief comment on what he calls the “Divine friendship with the Trinity”.
“Redeemed people are redeemed to God and to his community. God is Community, and so are his people. We need to recover a proper appreciation for the Trinitarian doctrine of God, and noting how it affects thinking about community.” ‘A Particular People — Toward a faithful and effective Ecclesiology’ — Inagrace T. Dietterich
Bear in mind that this model is no formula.
- In community with individuals
Our closest relationships are the litmus test of our growth.
We love each other by telling each other the truth — in a loving way.
Ephesians 4.14-16
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
“As members of God’s kingdom community, each of us is given a manifestation of the Spirit in our lives for the purpose of the common good. We all have something to offer because of what the Spirit gives to us (1 Corinthians 12.7).” Forgotten God. Francis Chan and Danae Yankoski
1 Corinthians 12.7
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
- In community with the group
The church is a catalyst for change. A place where it is safe enough to be ourselves and allow one another to influence us to stretch towards Christ.
Regular collective worship is vital to our spiritual formation because it reshapes us by reconnecting us to the community of faith.
Hebrews 10.24-25
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Conclusion
“God measures our spiritual health or spiritual dysfunction by the relationships and community and the people around us. (Location 2244)” Wide Awake, Erwin Raphael McManus
For reflection
What does it mean to you to have healthy spiritual friendships? How do you know they are spiritually enriching?
What hesitations do you have regarding devoting yourself to spiritual community, and why?
What do you see as the key ways community can aid your spiritual growth?
What do you believe you have to offer your spiritual community to help other people grow?
Next time we will go on to look at James Bryan Smith’s model of spiritual transformation.
Your brother, Malcolm
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, or practical? Could you send me your questions or suggestions? Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
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“Carpe Diem” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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