In the conversation for Sunday, January 15, 2017, Pastors Stuart Nice and Kim Nowlin share some introductory principles for starting or continuing a life of spiritual formation as a steward of the life given us by God.
The Stewardship Spiritual Formation
- Don’t Conform, Transform
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2, NLT - Don’t Be a Hearer Only, Be a Doer
Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves. If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like.
James 1:22-24, GW - Live in Love
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Ephesians 5:2, NLT
Sacred Reading
A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading: The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading.
A song by David for going up to worship.
O Lord, my heart is not conceited.
My eyes do not look down on others.
I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.
Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet.
My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother’s arms.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord now and forever.
Psalms 130:8 - 131:3, GW