The process of salvation may seem like an exclusively personal one, after all, it does begin with an individual decision. The gift of prevenient grace empowers each individual to engage with the Holy Spirit and experience justifying grace. The community may be present but is not necessary for the initial decision to take place. Since the process begins with an individual the natural tendency is for human beings to believe that the journey will follow suit. 

On the contrary, the individual act that often comes when one figuratively and/or literally bows the knee before a mighty God is not only the beginning of a relationship with God but a relationship with all of God’s sons and daughters.  

After one takes the leap and accepts the justification of Jesus Christ, the process of sanctifying grace begins. The amazing thing about this plan is that God does not intend for each believer to grow individually. This communal sanctifying grace is the spreading of life, light, and growth to one another. While one can grow individually in sanctifying grace, the process of growth is must greater within the context of community. One helps another to learn to study, worship, pray, and fish for men. 

Specific means of grace contribute to the communal growth experience. As time goes on a perfect picture of cooperative growth perpetrates a deeper level of commitment to Christ, a journey in holiness. Mutual accountability, Bible study, and communal engagement in acts of mercy all paint a metaphorical picture of the process of corporate sanctifying grace.

The journey may start with one person experiencing justification and new birth, but it continues with the Body of Christ learning and growing together. That mystery of kingdom math reveals the greatness and intended plan of an intentional and communal God. 

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. -Lao Tzu

The journey of any spiritual life begins with one step. However, spiritually speaking most would understand that step to be taken on the part of human response to God’s invitation. The trouble with this thinking is that it recognizes humans as the originator of their own spiritual freedom. To be sure, the first step is taken by God as he offers his gift of prevenient grace, or grace that comes before grace. And the wonderful thing about life is that one’s spiritual journey is not simply a step, but in fact a journey, and what’s more a journey filled with “milestone” steps. Each milestone can be recalled and celebrated, each milestone is a reflection of God’s grace and one’s response in obedience. 

One such milestone is that of justification. The gift of justification is God’s pardoning of sin and therefore grants freedom to those who experience it. This photo is one I took of my son, starting down a hiking path in our home town. I believe it encapsulates the promise and posture that justifying freedom produces in those who receive it. Furthermore, the “spring” in his step resembles that of a man free from sin.

Fortunately, the journey does not end with a simple pardoning. Instead, one’s path leads to a supernatural transformation, what the Apostle Paul refers to as a new creation.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

New birth is preceded by justification. It is a moment of adoption and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. This photo is one taken from a video of my daughter’s baptism in 2018. It is a symbolic representation of the new birth that takes place in the life of one who is transformed and made new in Christ. 

As the journey continues one finds that justification and new birth open the door to a life of sanctification. We are not simply justified and then waiting for the next life. Instead, God has redeemed us and then invites us into a process of taking on the nature and character of his son, Jesus. 

My final picture is yet another Warner original. I took this photo of my youngest son next to a measuring stick. The photo is a clear representation of his continued growth process. Sanctification is the process by which humans become holy, like Christ. Of the three milestones shared, this step can be the most difficult to identify with an exact time, as it is often a process. However, this is a celebration step none the less!  

In a deeper sense, this last photo also represents that there is a relationship between my son and God, on this growth journey. My son can make decisions to promote healthy growth through diet and exercise, among other things. While at the same time God’s perfect-will response is to continue to grow and develop Sawyer in his healthy Christlike nature. The amazing thing about God’s love is that he has granted his creation with the gift of free-will. He does not merely force us to love and follow him, we are embraced with a choice. 

He has extended the invitation and the grace for your journey, will you take the step?

Heavenly Father, 

We thank you for your grace, we thank you for your power, we thank you for the love you have for your creation, to pursue us, your creation even before we responded to your sacrifice. 

In the beginning, you created us in your image, with self-determination^[2] and the gift of free-will. 

We fell from grace and have brought separation between creation and the creator. 

This morning as we gather in this place we sing your praise, we worship your name through song. We sing of your glory and your love. 

As we continue in this worship service we ask that you would continue to transform us, that our lives would not be content with mere salvation. Instead we ask for your continued transformation of our lives, we ask that you make us more like you. We pray that you would bring our human nature into relationship with your perfect nature. 

No matter how we entered this space today, if we entered as a beginner or a child in the faith we ask that you would continue to pursue us and make us bring us to yourself.^[4] For those in our midst who are growing in their faith may you continue to aid them in taking their next step in faith, a step toward full union through love toward others and love toward you.^[5]

As we continue to worship through the giving of our tithes and offerings, we ask that you take those gifts and use them to glorify yourself. May they be a tool of your grace, used to reach lost people before they even know what you are up to, used to build the faith and disciple those who have already received you as their savior. May you become Lord of our lives. God as we give our treasures may you transform our obedient hearts. May you bless each gift and multiply it, but may you also transform the heart of our congregation as we sacrifice a portion of what you have granted us to steward for your eternal kingdom. 

Father, through the sacrifice of your Son and the power of your Holy Spirit we pray for you to touch lives and transform hearts and minds for you during the reading of the Scriptures and the preaching of the Word. We pray that we would not only clearly hear your voice but that we would also act upon it.^[6] God bless us and direct our steps. 

We pray that at the conclusion of the service as we go from this place that we would not simply forget your teaching but be eternally changed as a result of it. May we live our lives like you.

May our nature reflect your nature. May we become selfless, loving, and grace-filled.

We place this in your hands and ask for your continued guidance. 

It is in the name of your Son we pray because of his great sacrifice he made that destroyed the works of the devil^[8], and because of the power of you Holy Spirit that we can be in the presence of a Holy God. 

And all God’s people said…

AMEN

Sermon

Below is the sermon outline for the sermon that would accompany the pray above. This sermon highlights the relationship between the Son and the Holy Spirit, while calling listeners to respond to the truth of the gospel. This is a simple call to Christ, salvation message. Further, the nature of God is on display as it reveals the power of the Holy Spirit glorifying the son, Jesus. 

Disciple Maker Series

Truth of the Disciple / Week 6

Three Deadly Errors // The Spirit Brings Truth 

John 16^[9]

1. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin. (v. 9)

Implication: A refusal to believe in the power of Jesus is the sin that blocks forgiveness for all other sins. 

• The Holy Spirit brings forth the opportunity to see the righteousness of Jesus. (v. 10)

Implication: We only experience salvation through the power of the true righteous one, JESUS. 

3. The Holy Spirit would conclude that the prince of this world now stands condemned. (v. 11)

Implication: Jesus’ crucifixion has toppled the power of the prince of this world. We can experience freedom! 

Response to the Truth 

“I told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

Declare with your mouth and believe in your heart. (Romans 10:9-13)^[10]

Implication: The truth sheds light on authentic joy. The disciple experiences authentic joy.

Bibliography

“Amazon.com: EuroGraphics Creation of Adam by Michaelangelo Puzzle (1000-Piece): Toys & Games.” Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & More. Accessed February 2, 2020. https://www.amazon.com/EuroGraphics-Creation-Michaelangelo-Puzzle-1000-Piece/dp/B0019N32PM.

“Art and the Empty Tomb: 3 Lessons for Our Creative Lives from Luke 24.” Lexham Press. Last modified April 22, 2019. https://blog.lexhampress.com/2019/04/22/art-and-the-empty-tomb-3-lessons-for-our-creative-lives-from-luke-24/.

Brandyberry, Joni. February 1, 2020. https://brightspace.indwes.edu/d2l/le/content/99073/viewContent/1613438/View.

Goggin, Jamin & Strobel, Kyle. Reading the Christian Spiritual Classics: A Guide for Evangelicals. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2013.

Maddox, Randy L. Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Practical Theology. Kingswood Series, 1994.

Version, Bible E., and International B. Staff. Holy Bible. NIV, 2010.

“Wesley Center Online.” The Wesley Center Online: Home. Accessed January 28, 2020. http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-62-the-end-of-christs-coming/.

“YouTube.” YouTube. Accessed February 2, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drICCe7PN48.

---

^[1] “Amazon.com: EuroGraphics Creation of Adam by Michaelangelo Puzzle (1000-Piece): Toys & Games,” Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & More, accessed February 2, 2020, https://www.amazon.com/EuroGraphics-Creation-Michaelangelo-Puzzle-1000-Piece/dp/B0019N32PM.

^[2] Randy L. Maddox, Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Practical Theology (Kingswood Series, 1994), 66.

^[3] “YouTube,” YouTube, accessed February 2, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drICCe7PN48.

^[4] Jamin Goggin and Kyle C. Strobel, Reading the Christian Spiritual Classics: A Guide for Evangelicals (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2013), 83.

^[5] Jamin Goggin and Kyle C. Strobel, Reading the Christian Spiritual Classics: A Guide for Evangelicals (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2013), 83.

^[6] Joni Brandyberry, , February 1, 2020, https://brightspace.indwes.edu/d2l/le/content/99073/viewContent/1613438/View

^[7] “Art and the Empty Tomb: 3 Lessons for Our Creative Lives from Luke 24,” Lexham Press, last modified April 22, 2019, https://blog.lexhampress.com/2019/04/22/art-and-the-empty-tomb-3-lessons-for-our-creative-lives-from-luke-24/.

^[8] “Wesley Center Online,” The Wesley Center Online: Home, accessed January 28, 2020, http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-62-the-end-of-christs-coming/.

^[9] Bible E. Version and International B. Staff,  Holy Bible (NIV, 2010), 901.

^[10] Bible E. Version and International B. Staff,  Holy Bible (NIV, 2010), 944.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

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