Basic Preparation for Transformation
Week 1, Email 1, Monday
Week 1, Email 1, Monday
Introduction: Part One
Growing into the likeness of Jesus Christ
more and more thoroughly
should be our life’s purpose.
Growing into the likeness of Jesus Christ
more and more thoroughly
should be our life’s purpose.
The Crucibles for Transformation that bring exceptional Christlikeness are our inner circles of Christian relationships filled with costly biblical love. The 65 Togethers of Scripture, derived from hundreds of Bible verses and passages, tell us what God wants from Christians when they get together. All 65 Togethers are aspects of loving God and one another. They are best implemented in our smaller, most regular, frequent and important relationships. When implemented within our Christian friendships, families, and marriages, these Togethers produce more and more of the character of Jesus Christ in us.
Therefore, knowing about and implementing the
Togethers opens the door to entering our Crucibles for
Transformation that we might grow more like Christ.
Togethers opens the door to entering our Crucibles for
Transformation that we might grow more like Christ.
Growing in Christlikeness allows Jesus to live in you more and more.
I have been crucified with Christ
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
Gal 2:20
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
Gal 2:20
Being more like Jesus is very advantageous for this life and the life to come.
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col 1:27
Col 1:27
Godliness is the same as Christlikeness, and we are told to put hard training into it, again to benefit this life and the life in heaven.
... train yourself to be godly.
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Tim 4:7b, 8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Tim 4:7b, 8
Christlikeness is everything! Bringing Jesus into this world in each of us individually and in all of us together – is what it is all about. Only God Himself, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are more important, and increasing Christlikeness in us is the best way to put God first.
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(A) Christlikeness is praise. Since worship is reflecting back to God His own character, exceptional Christlikeness is exceptional praise.
(B) Christlikeness is the doorway into the Kingdom of God. In the Lord’s Prayer we ask, “. . . thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” We can help God answer this prayer by living together in the way God has instructed in the Bible. (C) Christlikeness is the way to defeat evil. Not only are we to face temptation together and prevent it from becoming sin, but we are to march against the gates of hell. (D) Christlikeness is the way to prepare for heaven. Anything not like Christ is not going into heaven. We put off the old self of sin and put on the new self that is created in Christ Jesus. In this way we make ourselves more prepared for heaven. (E) Christlikeness opens the door to connection and bonding with God. This will be especially precious in our eternal life in heaven where we hope to have the privilege of walking along with God as He did with Adam and Eve in the unspoiled Garden of Eden. |
Therefore, The 65 Togethers of Scripture as a Blueprint for Becoming Like Christ, are also a Handbook for Kingdom Relationships, a Field Guide for Lifestyle Worship, a Strategic Battle Plan, a Manual to Prepare for Heaven, and a Guide for a More Personal Relationship with God in Eternity.
In our Crucibles for Transformation, our Christian friendships, Christian families, and Christian marriages, we must know and implement the Togethers to significantly grow in Christ and internalize His character. This Crucibles for Transformation into Exceptional Christlikeness curriculum will prepare us to do just that.
Bible knowledge is not enough for the journey now or even in heaven. The eternal life that awaits us requires changed people, not merely knowledgeable believers. Each Together is a spiritual skill that becomes more and more natural as we practice it consistently in our lives here in the sinful environment of earth.
Please consider all the extremely valuable things to be gained by spending the rest of your life before death implementing the Togethers more and more deeply.
Ever increasing practice of these Togethers of Scripture will:
In our Crucibles for Transformation, our Christian friendships, Christian families, and Christian marriages, we must know and implement the Togethers to significantly grow in Christ and internalize His character. This Crucibles for Transformation into Exceptional Christlikeness curriculum will prepare us to do just that.
Bible knowledge is not enough for the journey now or even in heaven. The eternal life that awaits us requires changed people, not merely knowledgeable believers. Each Together is a spiritual skill that becomes more and more natural as we practice it consistently in our lives here in the sinful environment of earth.
Please consider all the extremely valuable things to be gained by spending the rest of your life before death implementing the Togethers more and more deeply.
Ever increasing practice of these Togethers of Scripture will:
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(1) create in Christians the loving essence of Jesus,
(2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide Christians with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to Him through Christlike behavior in relationships, (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer, and (6) defeat evil both in the physical world and in the demonic spirit realm. |
And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will:
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(7) prepare Christians for eternal life in heaven’s relationships,
(8) qualify Christians for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (9) give Christians greater empathy with God for closer relationship-bonding and connecting with Him for all of eternity. |