Bible in Life

Dallas willard is famous for saying “grace is opposed to earning; it’s not opposed to effort.” This is important because living for Jesus isn’t gonna happen on accident. It takes effort. Grace will empower the effort, but it will still take wise intentional effort on our part. 

The apostle Paul puts it this way:

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. - 1 Cor 9:27

Living a Jesus centered life presupposes wise intentional effort that trains us to resist the devil and not love the world but rather to draw near to God and live for Him.

Episode webpage: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/podcast-1/Episode-194

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How can a bike wheel help us understand living a more Jesus centered life? 

If living a Jesus centered life means "to live is Christ," then think about your real, actual, everyday life. To live Jesus centered, doesn't only refer to your religious activities. It mostly refers to the stuff you do everyday. So what are the tasks, responsibilities, and roles that make up the days of your life? 

What would it look like for all the stuff of everyday life to be centered on Jesus? 

Picture a bike wheel ... and tune in to this episode. 

 

Episode website: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/podcast-1/Episode-193

 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

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What's the essence of a Jesus centered life?

Paul makes a well-known statement in his letter to the Philippians that really gets at the heart of it. He says “to live is Christ and to die is gain" - Philippians 1:21. 

Jesus = life!

So much so, that even death is gain. 

In Philippians 1, Paul is filling the church in Philippi in on his situation and circumstances and in doing so, he’s providing a concrete pattern for following Jesus. So what’s going on with Paul? How is  “life = Jesus; death = gain” being fleshed out in his life at that moment and what does that teach us about living a Jesus centered life?

Episode website: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/podcast-1/Episode-192

 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

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We all have things that drive what we do in life. 

-we want people to like us

-we want to appear competent

-we want to get ahead in life

-we want to be the best at

-we just want to be happy

-we want to have the freedom to travel 

-We want _____

Fill in the blank for yourself.

If we're going to live a Jesus centered life, what ought to drive us?

In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul gives us a powerful example of the ultimate thing that  drives a jesus-centered life. 

Podcast website: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/podcast-1/Episode-191

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

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We all have life pursuits of some sort… college, career, sports, hobbies, family. 

We might even have dreams, things that if everything worked out, this is what we’d really want from life. 

In a jesus centered life, all these aims and pursuits and goals are united together in one central pursuit, by one overarching goal … one pursuit that actually shapes and governs and influences every other pursuit.

What is the #1 goal of life for a Jesus centered person? Tune in to this episode to find out. 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

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Think of all the different messages you hear everyday ...

-so many different news outlets 

-articles coming through your social media channels

-quotes, ideas, and memes

-friends sharing their ideas and opinions 

In fact, in 2020 on average, people spent 2.5 hrs per day on social media. 

Think of your inbox ... in 2021 there were 320 billion emails sent worldwide everyday!

2021 estimates put the number of ads people see each day between 6-10 thousand!

-There's movies, tv, netflix, hulu… all communicate ideas, values, etc. 

-Youtube, podcasts, etc. 

We are bombarded with information, sales pitches, opinions, images, and ideas tons of which have something to say about what’s important in life, how to do life, what’s a good life. 

Then you have books, magazines, and various forms of print media. 

Voices, voices, voices … all day everyday. 

If we’re going to live a Jesus centered life, we’re going to have to confront this … and discipline  ourselves concerning who we listen to, what we fill our mind with, and how we evaluate various things we hear. 

 

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Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

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Think about your life … 

-what makes up your life?

-who are you? 

-what matters in life?

-where do you get your guidance and instruction for life?

-how do you evaluate the value and success of your life?

We typically think we have the right to determine the answers to these kinds of questions. It's our life, after all. 

But as a disciple of Jesus, all of that changes. Our life is not our own. In fact, we should think of ourselves as dead ... but alive!

This is how Paul describes his view of life once he came to faith in Jesus: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

-Galatians 2:20

If you thought of your life this way, how would it change the way you approach your life?

 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

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"How can my son keep his life centered on Jesus?"

That was what the text said. 

Why would she want her son's life to be centered on Jesus? Because she believed his life would be better if it was.

As Andy Stanley has said, "Jesus makes your life better and makes you better at life." 

So …

What does it mean to live life centered on Jesus?

And how can we do it? 

 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

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Connect with me:

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How do you know what God is like? 

Do we just guess? 

Hope we get it right? 

Give up concluding we could never know?

In this episode, I offer another Christmas reflection by looking at John 1:14: "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

 

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

Connect with me:

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Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.