Willard Wednesdays

Quotes from the following sermon that involved John Ortberg, Scotty Scruggs, and Dallas Willard...
sermon link.  I've watched this message at least ten times and don't do it justice with a few random quotes below.  What I'm trying to say is, just watch it!!


*"Spiritual formation is the process of tranforming the person into Christlikeness.  It's not behavior modification.  It's about changing the sources of behavior."

*Ortberg:  How much change, with God's help, are we capable of?
Willard:  "You're capable of walking in all of the things that Jesus said to do.  There isn't anything you can't do by God's grace if you're willing to go through the process of discovering the source of behavior.  If you're stuck on changing behavior, you'll kill yourself, and everyone else will hate you."

*"Confession is very important to discover our soul.  When you confess, you give up splitting the self.  You own up to yourself.  Sin always splits self.   Confession is very deep in the process of discovering the soul."

*Willard "In seeking the Kingdom of God, you have to want it more than anything else."
Ortberg:  What should a person do if they realize they don't want it more than anything else?
Willard:  "We have to identify what defeats us.  I have to look at things and see them for what they are.  That alone can loosen the grip.  What do I seek?  Why do I seek it?  We have to learn to be more open and honest, but religion tends to make you closed and dishonest.  Stepping into the Kingdom means that we begin to feel the redemptive power of the Kingdom moving into all of that and setting us free."

*"Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another.  It isn't just words.  It's the actual putting forth your will for the good of another person.  It always involves God.  When you will the good of another, you realize only God can bring it about."