Holy Habits: Growing in Grace - Mike Woodruff скачать в хорошем качестве

Holy Habits: Growing in Grace - Mike Woodruff

As we begin the season of Lent—a time of reflection on our brokenness that led Christ to the cross—we launch a new six-week series called "Holy Habits." This series is for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and thought, "I thought I'd be better by now." Using the powerful opening of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables as a backdrop, we explore the difference between trying harder and truly growing. This message introduces a spiritual spectrum to help us honestly assess where we are and, more importantly, how to take the next step toward becoming more like Christ. Discover the vital partnership between God's grace and our intentional effort—because we are saved by grace, but we are called to grow. Key Points: Lent is a Season for Honest Reflection: Lent is designed to help us sit with our own brokenness—not to earn God's favor, but to position ourselves for heart transformation. It's a time to own that Jesus didn't just die for "the world," but for our specific sins: anger, lust, pride, selfishness. The Problem: We're Not Who We Hoped to Be: Most of us, if we're honest, are frustrated that we aren't wiser, kinder, or more patient than we are. We've "tried harder" to change, only to find that willpower alone doesn't work—at least not for long. The Spiritual Spectrum: We all have a soul, formed by everything we've done and that's been done to us, and we exist somewhere on a spectrum between being far from God and being fully in His presence. We Start in Negative Numbers: Scripture is clear that "all have sinned" (Romans 3). We are born broken. We cannot reach up to God; He must reach down to us. Justification: The Moment We Cross the Line: We move from negative to positive numbers not by our effort, but through faith in Christ's work. This is the "great exchange"—we give Jesus our sin, He gives us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). It's a gift. Sanctification: The Journey Forward (A Partnership): After we cross the line, we are called to grow. This is a partnership. As Augustine said, "We cannot do it on our own, and God will not do it on His own." We move forward through spiritual habits and disciplines that position us for God to change our hearts. The Danger of Stalling: Many people reach the starting line (salvation) and stall. Years later, they are still spiritual infants, not having grown in character, peace, or Christ-likeness. This is both a loss and a disobedience to the command to "grow in grace" (2 Peter 3:18). The Equation is Not Faith + Works = Salvation: The correct equation is Faith = Salvation + Works. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. Genuine faith will always produce growth (James 2). Spiritual Growth is Its Own Reward: As we become more like Christ, we increasingly bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5). Life simply works better when we are growing. The Call: Assess and Act: We must honestly ask ourselves two questions: Where am I on the spectrum? What is my next step to move closer to God? Key Scriptures Referenced: 2 Peter 3:18: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Philippians 2:12: "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: The athletic metaphor—running the race with intention and self-discipline. Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21: The great exchange—Christ became sin for us so we might become the righteousness of God. Hebrews 5:12-14: The rebuke for those who should be teachers but still need milk, not solid food. Galatians 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit, the evidence of genuine growth. James 2:17: "Faith without works is dead." Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome & The Season of Lent 4:30 - Les Misérables: The Bishop's Grace and Our Formation 10:15 - The Honest Question: "I Thought I'd Be Better By Now" 15:40 - Introducing the Spiritual Spectrum 22:00 - Justification: How We Cross the Line (Salvation by Grace) 28:30 - Sanctification: The Partnership of Growth 35:15 - The Problem of Stalling: Why Many Don't Grow 42:00 - The Correct Equation: Faith = Salvation + Works 48:30 - Two Questions for Honest Assessment 52:00 - Time for Reflection & Next Steps 56:00 - Closing Prayer