1	CHRIST RENOVATES THE HUMAN HEART A Conference at St Aldate’s Oxford on Spiritual Transformation unto Christlikeness
2	SESSION ONE Understanding Spirit and Spirituality: A Biblical and Traditional Christian Point of View
3	THE HEART IS THE CENTER & SOURCE OF HUMAN LIFE The wise man said: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for your life comes from it.” (Prov. 4:23) The heart is the executive center of the human self. It is identical with the human will or spirit. God’s intent for human beings is a new heart, and, therefrom, a new life. Heb. 16:1, Jer. 31-33-34. We must understand the place of the heart in the overall economy of the human being.
4	Infinite Environment
5	Infinite Environment
6	"Where Action" Where Action Comes From Renovation of the Heart, pg 40,
7	THOSE WITH A WELL-ORDERED HEART: ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED FOR AND CAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO THE SITUATIONS OF LIFE IN WAYS THAT ARE GOOD AND RIGHT.
8	THE HEART (WILL) DOES NOT STAND ALONE The will or heart is the gatekeeper to transformation of the life. Its primary function in the healthy self is to choose to rely upon, put confidence in, God. Once it does this, its next step is to direct the mind to God and keep it there. This will eventually change all dimensions of the self.
9	ALMOST NOTHING COMES FROM WILL POWER ALONE The will has very little power in itself. Its major power is to guide the mind, to focus the mind upon things, which brings forth more power in action. Our aim must be, not to keep the law or “do the right thing,” but to become the kind of person who keeps the law.
10	WHAT IS SPIRIT? Spirit is unbodily, personal power. Its nature is defined by God’s Nature. It can be in a body, can be embodied, but it is not of the body. The human being is a spiritual being that has an essential relationship to a physical body.
11	WHO IS THE ‘SPIRITUAL’ PERSON? A person is spiritual to the extent his or her activities are accompanied by the presence and action of God. Spirituality is not a matter of doing specific types of external behaviors. The mark of the presence and action of the Spirit and Kingdom of God with a person is that their character and power exceeds what can come from natural human abilities (“the flesh”) alone.
12	YOUR IDENTITY You are an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe. Lewis: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” The New Testament treatment of death: John 8:51-52, 11:26, Phil. 1:20-23, II Tim. 1:10 “When we’ve been there ten thousand years.” Rev. 22:5 The teaching about death reveals the nature of life.
13	YOUR KINGDOM AND GOD’S KINGDOM Your basic nature is to govern for good: creative will. Like God—Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 8:4-8, Hebrews 2:8 Ruined in the Fall, we grow back into our proper role by grace, through discipleship to Jesus: training for reigning. Why there is such an arrangement as prayer. God’s intent for each of us is that we should become the kind of person He can empower to do what we want.
14	WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD (OF THE “HEAVENS”) It is the range of God’s effective will, where what God wants done is done. It is from everlasting to everlasting. (Dan. 4:34) It has a future dimension of realization (Luke 21:31 and 22:18, Dan. 2:44), but is now has drawn near, is available. (John 3:5, Matt. 5:20 & 18:3) The Gospel of Jesus and the Gospel about Jesus is one Gospel, not two. (Acts 8:12, 20:21 & 25, 28:23 &31, Romans 14:17, Colossians 1:13)
15	LIVING IN THIS KINGDOM NOW BY FAITH IN JESUS, This world is a perfectly safe place for us to be. (Matt. 6:25-34, Psalm 23, Phil. 4:6) We never have to do anything wrong to take care of ourselves or fulfill our mission. “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.” (II Peter 1:3 & Psalm 23)
16	ETERNAL LIFE IS: Living in interactive relationship—”knowledge”—of God and His Son. (John 3:17) Christian “spirituality” is the quality of life that characterizes those who in character and action show the presence of a life from above--a life not their own, but given to them from interaction with God by faith. The “saved” person is the one who in day-to-day life is participating in the life Jesus is now living on earth.
17	SESSION TWO Christian Spirituality Means Learning (How) to DO what Jesus Taught and Did— Obedience is the substance of Christian Spirituality. Requiring Discipleship and Disciplines for Grace.
18	THINKING ABOUT THE “SERMON ON THE MOUNT” Two of the greatest questions of life: Who is well off? (Matt. 5:1-19) Who is a genuinely good person. (5:20ff) Jesus really intended that we should become the kind of person who does the things he commanded. (Matt. 7:21-27) Will we be “saved” if we don’t? Discipleship is the path of saving faith.
19	As Jesus’ disciple I am learning from Him how to lead my life as He would lead my life, if He were I. My consciously chosen aim is to learn this; and I am constantly arranging and rearranging my affairs to realize this goal.
20	The Three Main Aspects of Discipleship Learning to do as He did and taught. Learning to handle the ordinary events of daily life within the principles and power of God’s rule. (e.g. a business, a committee meeting, etc.) Learning to act in God’s power.
21	HOW THIS RELATES TO RENOVATION OF THE HEART Transforming the mind and feelings. Transforming the body. Transforming our relations to others. Restoration of the soul.
22	HOW DISCIPLINES GO WITH GRACE IN THIS PROCESS Grace is God acting in our life to accomplish what we cannot do on our own. Grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. If we do nothing it will be without him! Disciplines are activities in our power which enable us to do what is not in our power. The secret of spiritual growth is not trying, but training.
23	SOME MAIN DISCIPLINES Solitude Silence Fasting Frugality Chastity Secrecy Sacrifice Study Worship Celebration Service Prayer Fellowship Confession
24	SOME EXAMPLES OF INNER TRANSFORMATION Anger and contempt. (Matt. 5:21-26) Cultivated lusting. (Matt. 5:27-32) Verbal domination. (Matt. 5:33-37) Etc, etc, etc.
25	Covetousness as Example The covetous person is the one who ‘lusts’ for the goods of another—perhaps just their reputation—and would take it if they could. He is an idolater, Paul says (Eph. 5:5)—and who is the ‘God’ in this case? Himself!!!! In the Kingdom Person this is ruled out by thankfulness to God that the other person has good things.
26	SESSION THREE Kingdom Presence and Spirituality is for Every Aspect of Life
27	SPIRITUALITY IS NOT SOMETHING “RELIGIOUS” Though our religion should also be spiritual in the sense here explained. Our great blessing: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Col. 3:17) “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Cor. 10:31)
28	ALISTER McGRATH ON “REFORMATION SPIRITUALITY” Grounded in Scripture Study Founds Human Identity in Relation to God Implies the Priesthood and Calling of all Believers in Their Everyday Life. (Spirituality in an Age of Change, 42-57)
29	INTIMATE RELATIONS All wrong-doing, violence, repression and falsehood removed by acting in love, In dependence upon God to accomplish the good we hope for for others. The spirituality of intimate relations is “speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), and Holding persons and issues in the presence of God through prayer. Never giving up.
30	WORK AND CALLING IN THE KINGDOM We do all our work for Christ alone. Col. 3:23-24 We aim high morally and practically. We never say “Business is Business.” We leave outcomes to God. We expect God to act with us, enabling us to accomplish things far beyond our power.
31	AGING AND DEATH IN THE KINGDOM We grow stronger in spirit and in the Spirit as our body grows weaker. (II Cor. 4:16) We understand that the far greater and better part of life lies ahead of us. (Phil. 1:21-23) Our attention is absorbed in the Glory of God—What He has done and will yet do. (Isa. 26:3-4, 64:4) “And we shall live and reign with him through ages of ages.” (Rev. 22:5)
32	"NOW MAY THE GOD OF..." NOW MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, THAT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (Rom. 15:13)