Personal Renewal Pt 5 - Servant

Reading Specific to Renewal as a Servant

• Bible – Matthew, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Rom, Gal, *Philippians, James, Philemon, Hosea

• Humility by CJ Mahaney

• Generous Justice by Tim Keller

• Total Church by Steve Timmis

• Radical by David Platt

• The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn (Specifically for issues of Money/Worldliness)

Personal Renewal Pt 4 - Learner

Reading Specific to Renewal as a Learner

• Bible – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Eph, 1-2 Tim, 1 John, , Psalms, Isaiah

• Basic Christianity by John Stott (Great starting place for presenting Jesus to people)

• Basic Christian Beliefs (And Corresponding Workbook) Great for new Christians

• Doctrine by Mark Driscoll

• Death by Love by Mark Driscoll

• Prodigal God by Tim Keller

• The Trellis and the Vine by Marshall and Payne

Personal Renewal Pt 3 - Worshiper

Reading Specific to Renewal as a Worshiper

• Bible – John, Rom, Gal, Eph, Col, Heb, Rev, Genesis, Deut, Psalms, Isaiah

• Knowing God by J.I. Packer

• What is the Gospel by Greg Gilbert

• Desiring God by John Piper

• Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller

• The Jesus Story Book Bible by Sally Llyod-Jones

GIVE 10 - SAVE 10 in 2011

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. – 2 Cor 8:9

The Reason We Give

• We are commanded to give as worship – to honor God with our first fruits

• We are commanded to give to further the ministry and mission of Gods church

• We’re called to give to keep our hearts from loving money, things and the world more than God

• We are called as Christians to be radically generous with our money to express the counter cultural kingdom the gospel creates within a world that does not know God

• We are called to be people of restoration and renewal in a world where money is an answer to many physical needs. We use our resources to create culture and counter the darkness

The Way We Give

• We give to our church. We partner with God’s people as a family and community of worshippers and missionaries to collectively do the most good in the world. Our primary giving is to the church we belong to. A people of one mind and one mission in the places God has placed them. All Christians should be members of a local church where they are confident that the leaders are stewarding well the collective resources of its members, motivated by the gospel, without reproach and with much prayer and wisdom for God’s glory.

The church is God’s primary means of reaching the world so the work of ministry and mission should flow from and through churches so that Jesus’ church is glorified above any other organization, individual or agenda.

• We given to charity. We want to live content lives not trying to keep up with the world. This means simplified lives that allow us to be radically generous. We strive to give 10% to our church and above and beyond through the church and other areas of opportunity God presents us with in the world.

The Challenge to Give

• Commit to trusting Jesus in all things; seeking to live a life content with Christ as your greatest treasure, living below your means and prayerfully asking God for a generous and joyous heart.

Give 10 Save 10 in 2011

• Commit to Tithing 10% of your “first fruits” monthly – Plan for and Pursue Generosity

- If you are already giving 10%, prayerfully ask God to show you how much to challenge yourself to give above the tithe

- Include Other Christians from Mystery in your decisions and plans

• Commit to Saving 10% of your income monthly – Plan for & Pursue Freedom with money

- Set Goals for things you would like to accomplish for the kingdom in the future

- Set goals for ways to enjoy God’s blessings in ways that bring joy to you and others

- Include Other Christians from Mystery in your decisions and plans

Personal Renewal Part 2

This is a first of a series of posts listing some of our Relevant Reading that corresponds to the Personal Renewal Plans we are engaged in as a church this semester. Read the previous post for an explanation of how to use these resources.

General Reading on Renewal

• You Can Change by Tim Chester

• The Cross Centered Life by CJ Mahaney

• A Praying Life by Paul Miller

• A Quest for More by Paul Tripp

• Renewal as a Way of Life Richard Lovelace

Personal Renewal

We began the new year talking about an emphasis of Renewal this year. In the book of Ephesians (Our Current Sermon Series) Paul teaches that the new life of a Christian flows from a spirit of renewal in our minds (Eph 4:23). Putting on the new self and growing in the gospel is a process of ever increasing understanding of the knowledge of God, our selves and the person and work of the gospel. When we find ourselves dry, stagnant and lifeless its because we have forgotten the gospel and are failing to apply it to our selves and situations. (2 Pet 1:9).
This month we gave PRPs or "personal renewal plans" to everyone attending Mystery. (You can download a printable PDF here) The purpose of the PRP is to assess where we are in our gospel Identity - Worshiper, Learner, Servant, Missionary and Family, and begin to address our deficient areas with Gods Word and with Gods people in gospel communities throughout the week.

This series of posts will include relevant reading and resources to help you, alongside others, best address the "flat spots" in your PRP wheel. There are bible readings, basic books and books to for those who want to dig deeper.

When it comes to your area, select a resource, discuss it with your CG leaders and those in your group. Ask someone in the group to read the same resource with you. Set aside a time once a month where you can meet and process what you are learning together. Look for ways in which what you are learning directly apply to the steps you have committed to taking in your 120 days of renewal and pray for the Holy Spirit to transform you more and more to be like Jesus.