Anchor Verses:
Matthew 5–7, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 12:2
Focus Statement:
The way of Jesus invites us into a counter-cultural transformation—not by perfecting our methods, but by surrendering our hearts. We are always being formed—by the world or by Christ—and following Jesus means embracing a different way of becoming.
Introduction:
- Good teaching isn’t about repeating methods—it’s about reaching real people.
- The gospel doesn’t change, but how we receive and respond to it must.
- Jesus didn’t hand out worksheets—He called people into a new way of living.
- Scripture isn’t just for information—it’s for formation and transformation.
The Upside-Down Kingdom:
- Beatitudes go against everything we strive for—poverty, meekness, persecution.
- Jesus confronts cultural comfort with spiritual reality.
- “You have heard it said…” introduces his challenge to societal norms.
- Jesus doesn’t cancel the law—He reveals its true heart-level intent.
You Are Already Being Formed:
- No one enters faith as a blank slate—we bring our formation with us.
- Comer: “You are being formed all the time. The question is not, ‘Are you being formed?’ but, ‘What or who is forming you?'”
- Identity isn’t achieved through status or success; it’s received through Christ.
- God isn’t slow—He’s patient (2 Peter 3:9)—holding the door open for deep inner change.
Heaven In You, Not Just You In Heaven:
- Salvation is more than a future promise—it’s present power.
- Comer: “It’s not just accepting the merit of his death but also receiving the power of his resurrection.”
- Jesus’ way is not moral behaviorism—it’s heart transformation that rewires who you are becoming.
Walking it Out:
- Name the Formation
- Each morning this week, ask: “What is forming me today?”
Before you check your phone or get swept into a routine, ground yourself in the Word (try reading just one Beatitude each morning, Matthew 5:3–12).
