Carbondale Church of Christ

The first six weeks of 2010 will focus on reflecting on our need for spiritual growth and setting some personal growth goals.
[H]-Class Handout (PDF) [S]-Sermon (mp3)

1. All of Life [H]
2. An Inside Job[H] [S]
3. Invest![H] [S]

Our first learning cycle for 2010 will focus on Spiritual Growth. We want to encourage you to be intentional about setting specific, achievable, relevant personal growth goals. Transformation and growth is a cooperative process where we set our minds and hearts on “things above” and God’s Spirit works in us to mold our thoughts and actions to conform to his will. The Scriptures say…

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Rom 12:1-2

Over the next six weeks we invite you to use the tools in this journal to prayerfully and patiently discern God’s will concerning your spiritual growth needs this year. We believe that if we seek God, he will reveal those places in our lives that need strengthening and growth.
This Week:
• Dedicate time to reflect on the past year, asking:
• In what ways did I grow last year?
• What goals did I set for myself, do I need to set?
• Spend time daily in prayer specifically asking-“Father, please show me those places in my life that need healing, strength, and growth. Help me to understand your will for my life.”
• Be Silent – calm your mind and spirit, listen for God to speak.
• Be Patient. Don’t rush to set goals yet, first spend the week in prayer & silence, allow God to set your goals.

This year we are using a spiritual growth journal which includes a weekly spiritual discipline and 5 Bible readings. The readings are posted on this site. The spiritual disciplines will be posted here each week and on the google group site, where you can join a discussion of your experiences.
The journal pages are available in pdf format in the “Journal” page
Click Here

After embracing grace as a the sole basis of our salvation, forgiveness of sins and hope of eternal life something happens to us. Our hearts are touched by the love of God and we are changed. Changed from the inside out. No longer are we motivated by self interests and selfish desires, now we are motivated by love. The nuclear center of our lives is the endless love of Christ that flows through us spilling onto everyone around us. When we are changed by God’s love we want to share it with others allowing them to experience a taste of God’s love and inviting them to join us in living love powered lives.

Paul says…”For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Cor 5:14)