Deep Change

June 8, 2017

Deep Change

Daily Reading
2 Timothy 1:8-12
Psalm 8
This week’s sermon text: James 5:1-6

Field Notes
“The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self-all your wishes and precautions-to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call ‘ourselves’, to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and yet at the same time be ‘good’. We are all trying to let our mind and heart go their own way – centered on money or pleasure or ambition-and hoping, in spite of this, to behave honestly and chastely and humbly. And that is exactly what Christ warned us you could not do. As He said, a thistle cannot produce figs. If I am a field that contains nothing but grass-seed, I cannot produce wheat. Cutting the grass may keep it short: but I shall still produce grass and no wheat. If I want to produce wheat, the change must go deeper than the surface. I must be ploughed up and re-sown.”
– C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity”

Questions for the Field

• Have you ever felt ashamed of the gospel?
• How did Christ change you; or how is Christ changing you even now?

Family Field Talk

• What do you think it means to make a deep change in your life?
• Where does that type of change start?

Prayer Guide
God of grace, we admit that we have fallen short of your glory. We have put ourselves before you and your will. Forgive us today, and free us for obedience to your will. Give us deep change in our hearts so that we might do your will. Amen.