ORIENTATION GUIDE
Contents are a licensed Christ Chapel Bible Church derivative of the original “STEPS” material.
© 2024 Citizens Church
All Rights Reserved.
Original © 2015 The Village Church
Used by permission.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of Citizens Church.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Citizens Church
4501 Legacy Dr
Plano, TX 75024
www.citizenschurch.com
CONTENT AUTHOR: Michael Snetzer
Overview and Expectations
Welcome to Thrive! We're so glad you're here. No matter where you are spiritually, Thrive provides a community where you can be encouraged, be real and be challenged to dig in and experience an extraordinary life. It’s an opportunity for discovering God’s answers for thriving in the difficult parts of life’s journey.
The mission of Thrive, is to bring glory to God through lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Thrive’s intensive discipleship program is comprised of daily Bible study and reflection, assessments, one-on-one mentoring, small group and teaching. Thrive helps us get traction in our relationship with God by addressing unresolved issues from our past, uprooting unhealthy patterns of coping and practicing basic principles of spiritual formation that bring about Christian maturity.
In the Great Commission, Jesus instructs us to make disciples by teaching them to observe, not just know, what He commands. God is looking for heart-level obedience from His children. We believe when the gospel takes root in a person’s life it deeply changes us and how we relate to everything. Thrive provides a structure that encourages us to not just be hearers of the Word of God but doers of it. It is in the application that there is fruitfulness.
MATTHEW 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The work we do in Thrive should not be viewed as attempts to climb a staircase to God through some religious system, but rather steps of obedience in faithful response to what the gospel has already accomplished and promised.
The centrality of the gospel message is the essence of our program. We begin by laying the foundation of what Jesus has accomplished for those who believe, and shift to calling people to live out the invitation to follow Christ on that basis On the foundation of Christ’s work, we begin a process of assessments that seek to apply the gospel to areas of our past and present lives that hinder the abundant life that we are offered in Jesus
JAMES 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PHILOSOPHY
RECONNECTING US TO THE GOSPEL
Thrive seeks to equip the Church with a confidence that the Scriptures are sufficient in addressing the deepest issues of our lives and that the gospel of Jesus is relevant (even superior) to the world’s solutions in addressing these issues. We must recover a right understanding and application of the gospel as the remedy for all that ails us.
COMMUNITY IS YOUR ADVANTAGE
Our desire is that you would understand the change process in the context of church community because God designed us to do life beside each other.
A LIFE OF CONTINUAL TRANSFORMATION
We want everyone to experience the healing and freedom that comes from knowing Christ, so we can all live our lives as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Our hope is not that you remain stuck in a program, but rather, that you grow and move through life in the joy of the Lord!
RECONCILIATION WITH GOD
Reconciliation with God is the goal. Noticing our behavior changing is the by-product. Only Jesus can reconcile us to God, not our good deeds. As our hearts are reconciled to His, His Spirit changes how we relate to everything.
GIVING YOUR ALL
It is a temptation to reduce our walk with the Lord to holiness in one area. If we believe we are “okay” with God because we haven’t sinned in a particular way, we tend toward moralism or legalism, which is merely another form of slavery. Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” The Christian life is about surrendering every area of life to God, every day.
PROGRAMS DON’T HEAL PEOPLE
Thrive or any other ministry or program doesn’t heal. Only Jesus Christ can deliver us from bondage to sin and reconcile us to God. We are not here to exalt a program, but the person and work of Jesus Christ. Fundamentally, sin is the worship of the creation rather than the Creator. When you give yourself to a program instead of Christ, you enslave yourself to a program.
SCOPE & SEQUENCE
Here is a general idea of what to expect this semester. The program is broken up into three main movements:
THE FIVE COMPONENTS
HOMEWORK (3 HOURS PER WEEK)
Bible Study
Throughout much of the program, participants will commit to daily Bible study and reflection. The pattern is six days of digging into God’s Word and stopping on the seventh day to reflect. The questions vary in difficulty and some might even be difficult to understand. It is okay to admit we don’t have all the answers. A right answer is an honest answer.
Assessment
We first examine the fruit in our lives. As we move through the assessment process, we will uncover the roots of any ungodly fruit that drive our ungodly thoughts, actions and emotions. We are seeking to examine and rid ourselves of those things that hinder the freedom Christ intends for His people. There are six separate assessments that will be discussed and prayed through with Mentors.
ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING (AVG. 2 HOURS PER WEEK)
Participants should schedule time each week to meet with their mentor to review their Mentor Prep sections of homework, or walk through their assessments at the appropriate time of the semester. The amount of time varies depending on what is covered each week.
WEEKLY LARGE GROUP (1 HOUR)
Each week there is a comprehensive lesson rooted in the Scriptures, aimed at the heart with the gospel of Jesus Christ exhorting the greatest command. This time will be accompanied by corporate worship music and host content personalized for your semester.
WEEKLY SMALL GROUP (1 HOUR)
Community is an important aspect to Thrive. Each person will be assigned a small group led by a qualified leader to shepherd the group through the process. The group leaders will ask good questions, keep the conversation moving, and make group time an easy place for you to share. This gives participants the opportunity to learn and be encouraged by others.
How the components fit together:
FRI-THU –
THURSDAY –
Homework (observe Scripture)
Large Group with Worship & Lesson
Small Group (review teaching)
COST/COMMITMENT & BENEFIT
Mentor Meeting (apply Scripture)
Begin new theme/week
FRI-THU
Homework (cycle repeats)
The level of commitment for completing Thrive as it is designed requires an average of seven hours per week: one hour for the weekly small group, one hour for the teaching, three hours for homework (Bible study or writing assessments) and two hours for meeting with a mentor. It is similar in commitment to taking a college course. Financially speaking, the benefits might be considered equivalent to this low-cost local example:
$2,500 + $500 = $3,000
17 hours of coaching or counseling at about $150 per hour
ENCOURAGEMENT
Tuition for a typical semester-long course
Value
This is a brave thing you’re doing! Remember that every step you take, no matter how difficult, is a step toward growth. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed at times – that’s a sign you’re venturing out into new territory and learning to trust God in ways you didn’t expect. Take it one step at a time, and don’t forget to celebrate each small victory along the way. God’s got this! You and He together will make a great team.
MATTHEW 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Thrive Prep Work
Before the thirteen weeks of Thrive can officially begin, you must attend orientation weeks and complete the following checklist. This is to ensure you are well prepared prior to committing and being accepted into the program!
Once completed, you will have the opportunity to sign the Participant Commitment and complete the online registration for Thrive. Along with your materials payment, this step will officially complete your Thrive application. You will then wait to hear about acceptance into the program this semester, as well as other important information regarding the following week’s meeting.
PRE-THRIVE CHECKLIST:
ü Attend all Orientation meetings. If you missed, watch video for large group content.
Read or re-read through each week’s lesson content provided after large group.
Identify a Mentor using the provided guide. (below)* If you already have a mentor, have them apply to Thrive Leadership. (my.ccbcfamily.org/registration/thrive-mentor)
Work through a sample of the Thrive daily homework. (p. 15 of this packet)
Listen to the podcast: “How to Tell Your Story.”¨
Prepare to share your story.
Sign the “Participant Commitment” (on p. 13) with your Group Leader at the final Orientation small group meeting
* Identify a M entor
Identifying a mentor can be a challenge in and of itself. Perhaps you have already identified someone to mentor you. If you don’t have a mentor, we suggest letting those you are in a relationship with know you are going through Thrive and are looking for a mentor. Consider asking two or three people, and don’t be discouraged if your first choice cannot commit. Mentors must be in place prior to the start of Thrive.
A “qualified” mentor is someone who …
ü has completed Thrive in the past
ü is someone whose mentor would also recommend them to mentor
ü is currently in a good place spiritually and has completed the Thrive mentor training
A mentor from outside of Thrive is not necessarily unqualified but simply has not completed Thrive. They may be qualified in every other way to mentor but may not be familiar with the content and scope of Thrive as it is laid out at our church Please reach out to us with questions!
A mentor is committed to meeting weekly with you throughout the semester, completing the required training sessions offered, and joining the final large group Celebration. They are also responsible for working with mentees on an aftercare plan. Mentors are expected to commit an average of two hours a week.
Thrive Mentor Application: (my.ccbcfamily.org/registration/thrive-mentor)
¨ Prepare to Share your S tory
Why should I share? Everyone has a story. Your story is important. It provides the context to who you are today. Your story is unique and needs to be told. Your story is filled with shaping influences (both positive and negative) and ways you responded to those influences. These influences shape how we think about the world around us, including God, self and others.
As you write your story consider pain points in your life. Consider the high and low markers in your life and how you were changed or shaped by them. Consider how you responded to these events or people. Consider how your view of self, others, God and your circumstances changed. Change can be for better or worse.
Visit this QR code to get more specific guidance on how to tell your story in Thrive.
How to Tell your Story in Thrive: (share.transistor.fm/s/0e7a9fec)
As you prepare to share, you should think about how you will fit your story into about 30 total minutes as you sit with your mentor during your first meeting. You’ll get to hear their story when you meet, as well!
Thrive Small Group Ground Rules
The following characteristics will contribute to a safe and successful Thrive small group experience.
1. Successful small groups have a balance of each person getting to contribute and share without any one person dominating the group’s time and attention. So, don’t talk too little and don’t talk too much.
2. Avoid the temptation to try to fix one another. Safe and successful small groups are characterized by support rather than advice-giving. Trying to “fix” someone else is usually a sign that we don’t want to deal with our own stuff.
3. Share with honesty and authenticity. Sharing our struggles openly demonstrates our desire to pursue growth and freedom in Christ.
4. Do not romanticize your sin. It is tempting in group settings to compare struggles or take pride in things that grieve the heart of God. We do not celebrate sin; we celebrate repentance.
5. Scripture calls us to refrain from gossip. Please operate under the direction of God’s Word in the handling of information shared within the group. In order to provide a safe environment for your group, you must commit to NOT share information about one another outside the group, except in rare circumstances, such as:
o Potential harm to self or others
o Reports of abuse or potential abuse to a child, the disabled, or an elderly person
Leaders sometimes share information with Soul Care Leadership and Mentors for the ongoing growth of leaders and the health of the group and its members.
6. In Thrive, each person should be allowed to share without interruptions. However, like most other successful conversations, others are free to contribute with comments or observations only to the extent that it is helpful for the person that is sharing. Counsel must be biblically rooted.
Thrive Participant Commitment
After prayerful consideration, I believe that God is leading me to participate in this season of Thrive. I understand that by being in this study, I am committing to the following:
To be at the meetings each week, prepared, having read through, thought through, prayed through, studied and thoroughly completed each lesson, as well as any other homework
To not just answer the questions, but to diligently seek to apply these biblical principles to my daily living
To complete this process, setting aside these next few months to work on my relationship with God and others
To establish and maintain open and honest communication with my group leader, mentor, and any staff leadership
To be teachable and follow the leadership in the Thrive program
To uphold the Thrive Small Group Ground Rules (see next page)
To be on time to the meetings each week
By signing below, I am agreeing to the above commitment and understand that the church acts as a church, not a counseling center. Therefore, we are not acting as professional counselors but as ministers of the gospel of Jesus. By signing here, you are acknowledging that you have read this statement and agree to adhere to the group guidelines, have completed the Thrive prep work and are desiring to participate in the biblical counsel and community outlined in this packet.
SIGNATURE OF PARTICIPANT
WITNESS/GROUP LEADER
Date:
Date:
Thrive Sample Homework
Day One
Day 1 Sample Homework
INTRODUCING THE CREATOR
To know God is to love God. (He is that good!) To love God is to trust God. To trust God is to obey God. Therefore, let us introduce you to God.
In the beginning, God laid the foundation of the world with precision and in an awesome display of His immeasurable power, to His glory.
PSALM 8:1
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
READ GENESIS 1:1–2:3
HEBREWS 1:10
You Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
1. Who is the central character introduced in the creation narrative? Who is ultimately inspiring the writer to write? What does this tell us about our Creator’s desire for us to know Him?
REVELATION 4:11
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created
2. What can be known about God in observing this opening scene?
POINT OF INTEREST: Blurring the distinction between the Creator and the creation lends to all kinds of problems, as He alone is worthy of our worship.
ROMANS 1:25
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
3. How is the creation described in Genesis 1:2?
4. Through what means does God bring light to the darkness, bring order to what is disordered and fll what is empty?
HEBREWS 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
5. Where is God in relation to what He governs?
ACTS 17:26–27
And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and fnd Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us.
6. What is the result when God speaks (vv. 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29)? How might this affect our confdence in God to deliver on His promises or His ability to carry them out?
7. What adjective is used to describe all that proceeds from God (vv. 4, 10, 12, 18, 25, 31)?
8. God is creating with rhythm. He is ordering time, space and matter. He orders work and rest. What work is done between evening and morning each day? What is done on the seventh day?
MARK 2:27
And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
9. How does God create mankind distinct from the rest of His creation (v. 26)? In a world that is searching for identity, what does this tell us about who we are?
POINT OF INTEREST: In a world that is confused about gender, we see God create male and female equal but distinct, of the same kind but different.
PSALM 8:3–6
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fngers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of manthat you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lowert han the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet.
10. Verse 28 is referred to as the cultural mandate. In a world that is searching for purpose, what has God revealed as our purpose?
11. The mandate gives authority (responsibility) to steward God’s creation. As image bearers, who’s character are we to emulate in the stewardship of the creation? How does naming suggest authority?
JOHN 1:1–3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
Orientation 1: Large Group Notes
A Framework for Change
A Framework for Change
Orientation One: Large Group Lesson
Part of biblical discipleship is speaking God’s words with God’s heart to God’s people. The following overview is provided to differentiate the counsel offered from the Bible from that which is offered through the world. Biblical counseling is distinct as it is rooted in the Scriptures, aimed at the heart with the gospel of Jesus, and exhorts us to love like Christ.
TWO KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE
All knowledge can fit into one of two categories:
1. THE WISDOM OF GOD
This is living in God’s world God’s way. This wisdom undergirds how the universe is wired. The fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, recognizes that from Him comes all goodness and He alone is worthy of centering our lives around.
PROVERBS 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(also see Prov. 3:5 & 9:10)
2. THE KNOWLEDGE OF MAN
On the other hand, living apart from God’s way (by the knowledge of man or in the way of the world) is attempting to live in God’s world another way. This understanding comes from the influence of the enemy of God and leads to foolishness.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:20
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
These two worldviews are in opposition to one another. The conflict is not in what can be studied through science (observation), but rather, how we attempt to live based on the understanding of that reality. The wisdom of man or the world is based in speculation, while the wisdom of God is based in revelation. Trying to blend these two sources of wisdom is like trying to mix oil and water.
Whatever is true belongs to God, to His praise and glory. The wisdom of the world has limitations because its understanding is incomplete. It is reductionist in its analysis. We need
God’s Word to rightly understand. In misdiagnosing the extent of the problem, the wisdom of man can merely provide symptomatic remedies. While agreeing with much of what can be observed, we can gain a more robust understanding of human problems through God’s Word than conclusions arrived at through mere observation.
ECCLESIASTES 12:11-12
The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Thrive offers counsel rooted in the Scriptures, as they give us an understanding of how to live in God’s world God’s way. Secular counseling attempts to provide an alternative to this wisdom.
ROOT/FRUIT RELATIONSHIP
JEREMIAH 17:5-8
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
7Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
8He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
As can be seen in this passage, these different sources of wisdom will lead to much different outcomes. One is fruitful and one is unfruitful. The fruit of a person’s life will indicate the root of their life. Trusting God and His Word brings nourishment through the living waters of Christ and will produce good fruit even in difficult circumstances. Those who trust in man (in himself or others) will end up barren and desolate, both internally and eternally.
INTERPRETING OUR REALITY (WORLDVIEW)
Take a look at the above diagram. This is a simple way of understanding the relationship our roots have with the fruits of our lives.
• Roots = beliefs and motives of the heart that drive us
• Trunk/Branches = patterns and routines that have developed over time
• Fruits = the behaviors that others observe, or that are easy to see for ourselves
We tend to focus mostly on fruit, and how to make it look as good as possible. Yet oftentimes it’s sour or even rotten on the inside. For some of us, it may be nonexistent. We may look more like the desert shrub (v.6) and are instead concentrating on growing thorns to protect us and hurt others.
If you were to label the diagram with your own words to describe your “fruits” or “trunk,” what would you add?
COMMUNITY IS OUR ADVANTAGE
We need help. This change process is difficult to understand on our own. The people around you friends, family, group members or mentors are given by God to support you. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength and wisdom! Most of us are here because we’ve lacked the community (relationships) we need in order to help us truly change and grow. Lasting change only happens when we follow God’s design, and He has shown us that his design is a community project not a solo endeavor.
CHANGE IS GOOD
While all forms of care and counsel are about change, Thrive is about heart change. We’ll get more into that topic next week.
Orientation 2: Large Group Notes
Discipleship Aimed at the Heart
Discipleship Aimed at the Heart
Orientation Two: Large Group Lesson
Last time, we talked about the connection between the “roots” of our lives (our heart) and the outcomes or behaviors we and other witness (our fruit).
Tonight, we’re going to build on that understanding and focus on the heart and why it’s such a powerful, driving force in us. Oftentimes, we can learn from our hearts to see what is causing the disorder in our lives. But it’s not so simple to see into our own hearts. We need help.
JEREMIAH 17:9-10
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 10I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
PROVERBS 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
The Bible has over 800 references to “the heart.” God is deeply aware of how He created our heart to be the wellspring of our lives, and He wants us to guard it carefully. From it comes our thoughts, actions and affections. God is the One who can help us understand our hearts. When we seek counseling, we tend to work on symptoms focused on behavior, cognitions and emotions but fail to address the deeper issues of the heart; namely, issues of pride and idolatry. Treating symptoms has been described as giving aspirin to a person for a headache caused by a brain tumor. It may relieve a headache for a time, but does little to fix a brain tumor. This does not mean that we should refuse the aspirin, but we should not rely on it as a promise to fix an underlying condition that requires more advanced intervention. Therefore, Thrive is a heart-focused biblical discipleship program.
What’s in your “water bottle”?
What comes out when you’re shaken?
How did it get like this? Was it always this way?
WORLDVIEW IS IMPORTANT
PERFECTION
When God created the world, He didn’t create a cosmic mess. He brought order out of chaos. It was good! When He created mankind, He even said it was “very good.” God and His people were fellowshipping so beautifully in the garden. Adam and Eve listened to God, obeyed Him, and valued His counsel. All was pure. All was well. So what happened?
BROKENNESS
The sin of God’s prized creation (man and woman) brought an infection into God’s perfect creation. Adam and Eve listened to the wrong counselor. As recounted in Genesis 3, God’s enemy (Satan) took the form of a serpent and asked a question that insinuated God was not to be totally trusted. It was a lie. And God’s precious children believed the lie, disobeyed God, fell out of perfect fellowship with Him, and the infection of sin began it’s destructive work on every part of God’s perfect creation. We were the ones who created the cosmic mess.
RECLAMATION
But death and decay weren’t God’s endgame. His plan from the beginning was to tell an intricate story about Himself through His people over thousands of generations. Our sovereign and omniscient God uses His enemy’s plans for His own good. God had a plan to send His Son to save His people. That was the plan all along to reclaim what is His. Jesus was sent to pay for us. For all our mistakes. He has made a way back to God!
STRUGGLE
However, the journey on this broken earth is fraught with trouble. (John 16:33) This is probably no surprise to you, as it’s an inherent reality for those knowing they need change. Change is necessary because God commands us to grow and to look more and more like him. (Sanctification, or holiness.)
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER:
Did we disorder our lives? Or were our lives already in disorder?
THE MESS OF OUR LIVES …
In popular terms, many of us have some sort of “disorder.” A few examples are: anxiety, eating, sleep, attention deficit, hyperactivity, narcissistic personality, etc.
Using these man-made constructs suggests a line of differentiation between “healthy” (ordered) people and “disordered” people. Naturally, we seek a remedy for the disease or disorder of our lives. It could be simple things like obtaining organizational bins for an unruly room or closet in your home. Or even more advanced solutions such as taking medications that adjust our neurochemical responses to stimuli.
When we speak about disorder, we need to realize that we ALL suffer from a version of it. It comes from the separated state of our fellowship with our Maker. God’s Word describes this frustrated state that we are in:
ROMANS 8:18-23
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
We wait for order to return to God’s creation. However, we are not immune from disordered thought patterns and the effects of others’ disorder. We mostly struggle to worship rightly.
ORDERING OUR DESIRES …
Worship is what we were made to do. It is the purpose give to us by our Creator. The word worship speaks to the priority of our desires. What is first in our hearts? The design is that God is given His rightful place as the King of our hearts. When we arrange our lives in this
way, we begin to function as intended. This is why God commands our love to point to Him first.
MARK 12:29b-31
“…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
31“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.
We are fundamentally worshipers. The first part of the greatest command is about worship. We worship what is uppermost in our affections (first in our hearts). We were created to worship God. All sin stems from dis- ordered loves. When we sin, we love something more than we love God and give the worship that is rightly His to another. This is called idolatry. We have a bent toward idolatry or the worship of the creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).
The second part of the greatest command is linked to the first. When we are not reflecting God’s heart (love) toward others, it indicates that there is something in our hearts that needs to be given instead to Him.
God reconciles the hearts of His children through the gospel, giving us new hearts, reordering His creation to its intended design and reorienting our hearts to worship him. He is the restorer of what is broken!
As our hearts are reconciled to His, we will progressively reflect Christ in the way that we love others and relate to our selves, our jobs, our friends and family, our bodies, money, sex, food, etc. Thrive intends to lead people to worship and enjoy God and love people. It exhorts the Greatest Command.
When we put these two words together, we see that all chaos and frustration comes from disordered worship. We are valuing the wrong things, and perhaps have been for a very long time which is why change is so difficult.
We all suffer from a worship disorder.
Tim Keller says, “Our worship disorder is the very heart act of refusing to have Jesus Christ as our heart’s functional trust, preoccupation, loyalty, service, fear and delight [security, contentment, joy].”
ROMANS 1:21
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
When our hearts are darkened for a long time, we become the things we don’t want to become. We start looking like those who have hurt us. We become used to rejecting the grace and love of Jesus. Living in the dark makes us repulsed by the light that we so desperately need to cleanse and heal our ailments.
Let’s think back to that heart diagram from earlier. How would a darkened heart produce negative fruit?
(-) THOUGHTS à (-) FEELINGS à (-) ACTIONS
THERE IS ONLY ONE SOLUTION TO OUR DISORDER …
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the unfolding plan of God to redeem His lost creation through the person and work of Jesus Christ. As we come to understand that human suffering ultimately flows from a fractured creation through sin entering the world, any promise of ultimately conquering the problem and the ensuing suffering apart from the gospel falls woefully short of the hope of redemption found in Jesus.
“If nothing changes, nothing changes” is a well-known slogan. Unless we are changed deeply at the level of the heart, we have no hope of flourishing. Jesus came to win our hearts back to God so that we might live fruitful lives. Our message is the gospel, and we believe when it takes root, everything changes. Thrive seeks to connect the truths of the gospel to our everyday struggles so we might flourish as we are changed by Him.
With Jesus as the solution to the disorder of our hearts, we should be living our best lives. However, we must recognize that we are made new but not perfect. There are other influences that impact us every day.
INFLUENCES ON THE HEART
Think back to the water bottle example. The things associated with the rings in the above diagram are influencing your water bottle. When they bump you, they may make some water splash out. They may heat your water up. Or these influences may work the other way and might even make you believe that you don’t need the water in your bottle to be pure. They may produce “additives” to make you believe you’re ok on the inside, because you feel ok in your body, family, friends or culture.
Without Jesus, we must rely on these spheres of influence to cope with the sin and suffering of life. When the circumstances and environment around us are bad, we are bad.
However, with Jesus ruling our hearts, we can thrive no matter the circumstances! He is our Savior and our great Healer!
MATTHEW 8:17b
“He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”