Session Three, Exercise 1:
“shortcuts make for long delays”
Background:
The theme of the previous exercise was “the illness that does not lead to death”. When faced with setbacks and delays such as illustrated in the story of Lazarus, one often wants to give up or cut one’s losses. Whether it’s a journey or remedy, we are tempted to go for the quick and painless ones without thinking what might be lost in doing so. It was only because Jesus delayed and the setback of Lazarus’ death that an amazing miracle and the wonderful truth of God’s glory was demonstrated to Jesus’ disciples.
We may be impeding our progress toward holiness by unwittingly believing that our faith doesn’t require us to make changes or to undergo testing, or just be patient. Peter says that trials come so that “your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Much cannot be known and enjoyed of God’s riches and glory unless we follow the path of sanctification. Taking "shortcuts make for long delays” (Tolkien).
The intent of this exercise is to gain wisdom on living with a faith that is dynamic and growing, and not meant to be left as a one-time wonder.
Instruction:
There are many greatly treasured parables and stories that demonstrate Jesus’ love and pursuit for the “lost” and how through God’s power people come into His Kingdom. A lot of attention given to the parables and stories are on the “entrance into faith”. But these and others also have messages for “staying in the faith”; Jesus does have messages for the “prodigal’s older brother” or the “ninety-nine sheep that remained”.
Read some of Jesus’ parables and illustrations and write down what you hear being said to you regarding an ongoing and living faith. A list of some of these parables is provided separately.
You may find it helpful to even re-examine some of the parables most often associated with “new faith”. In this case, consider the following:
Lastly, do not neglect to survey the garden from where you picked the bloom; allow the situation that surrounded Jesus’ giving of the parable or illustration to guide your thoughts as well.
Session Three, Exercise 2:
Personal Practices
Consider doing one or more of the following exercises.
God has the right image of you. Habits (or practices) form who we are, and are based on the image we see of ourselves. Christians are called to develop new habits (i.e. character) based on God’s image of us. To do so, we daily need to turn from the tarnished and corrupted image we grew comfortable with (the sinner, the sloth, the enemy we know, etc) and we need to see and grow into the perfect and incorruptible image given to us by God’s grace.
Athanasius gives an illustration that the human race became a painting of God’s image (at creation) but became stained and ruined and it took the original model (Jesus) to come and “sit” again for a new painting but still used the original canvas (man’s body). Meaning God’s Image for us includes the flesh as well as the spirit.
We want to fix ourselves upon the new (or original) Image and not the old stained one (Read Hebrews 12:1-4).
1. Select one or two of “New Image” verses to read out loud to yourself each morning and evening this week. See the attached sheet for verses regarding this new image.
2. Also consider sharing these words of truth to others such as your spouse, children and friends. Even if they do not have faith, let them know this is how God views them. God has made them worthy, they are called to accept and consider themselves worthy of such a new and eternal life (cf. Acts 13:46).
Read John 7:1-8. You have known Jesus since you were born; he is your older brother. You grew up in the same house and worked together in the carpentry shop. But he is acting crazy, going around the countryside healing people and preaching to crowds and making outlandish claims. Yet Jesus wants to keep out of the public eye. How do his actions make you feel? Do you feel ashamed? Proud? Angry? Jealous? Willing to side with his enemies? Do you share some of the doubt Jesus’ brothers did? If so, ask Jesus to help you overcome it.
(this exercise comes from Renovare’s Spiritual Formation Workbook)
Some of the Parables that can be used in Exercise 1 of Session 3
The Sower [The Four Soils] (Mt 13:3-9,18-23)
The Wheat And Tares (Mt 13:24-30,36-43)
The Mustard Seed (Mt 13:31-32)
The Leaven (Mt 13:33)
The Hidden Treasure (Mt 13:44)
The Pearl Of Great Price (Mt 13:45-46)
The Dragnet (Mt 13:47-50)
The Householder (Mt 13:51-52)
The Unmerciful Servant (Mt 18:21-35)
The Laborers In The Vineyard (Mt 20:1-16)
The Two Sons (Mt 21:28-32)
The Wicked Vinedressers (Mt 21:33-46)
The Wedding Feast (Mt 22:1-14)
The Wise And Foolish Virgins (Mt 25:1-13)
The Talents (Mt 25:14-30)
The Growing Seed (Mk 4:26-29)
The Two Debtors (Lk 7:41-43)
The Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37)
The Friend At Midnight (Lk 11:1-13)
The Rich Fool (Lk 12:13-21)
The Barren Fig Tree (Lk 13:6-9)
Taking The Lowest Place (Lk 14:7-11)
The Great Supper (Lk 14:15-24)
The Lost Sheep (Lk 15:1-7)
The Lost Coin (Lk 15:8-10)
The Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32)
The Unjust Steward (Lk 16:1-15)
The Rich Man And Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31)
The Unprofitable Servants (Lk 17:7-10)
The Persistent Widow (Lk 18:1-8)
The Pharisee And The Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14)
The Minas (Lk 19:11-27)
Some New Image verses for Exercise 2.1 of Session 3
Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth
Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world
John 1:12 You are a child of God
John 15:1,5 You are part of the true vine
Acts 13:46 You are worthy of eternal life
1 Corinth. 3:16. 6:19 You are a temple of God, and dwells in you
1 Corinth 6:19-20 You are not your own, you were bought by God for a price.
2 Corinthians 5:17 You are a new creation (the old has gone, the new has come)
2 Corinthians 5:18 You are reconciled to God through Christ, and you are his ambassador
Galatians 3:26-27 You are a child of God, you have been clothed with Christ.
Galatians 3:28 You are accepted through Christ and not through gender, social status or race.
Galatians 3:29 You are a heir of the promises of God
Ephesians 2:10 You are the workmanship of God – meant to do his work
Ephesians 4:24 You have been given a new self, to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
1 Thess. 2:12 You have been called into God’s kingdom and glory and urged, comforted and encouraged to live according to this worthy position
1 Peter 2:5 You are a living stone in the temple being built up in Jesus Christ
1 Peter 2:9-10 You are part of the chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people owned by God
Can you take some of your favorite verses and reword them as “New Image” verses?