Creekside Church, Sunday, January 9, 2022
What Comes First?
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Unstuck series – about change, moving forward, creating better habits, getting unstuck
Today – Where to Begin
Before it’s about change, it’s about acknowledging that you’re stuck. Stuck in the same patterns of thinking, daily habits, routines
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Atomic Habits, James Clear brings to us some of the best scientific findings around change and creating better habits for ourselves and he suggests that we often start in the wrong place.
Three levels at which change can occur:
1. Outcomes – changing results. Most of our goals are associated with this level.
2. Processes – changing your habits and systems; new routines, decluttering your desk, new meditation practice, buying healthier food, downloading the newest productivity app
3. Identity - deepest layer. Changing your beliefs, your worldview, self image. Focus is on who you wish to become.
**This is where the power to get unstuck begins.
Who is it that you want to become? Stand for? Principles and values?
Begin with results you’re looking for – work backwards
“Ask yourself, “Who is the type of person that could get the outcome I want?”
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Christianity has taught this since the beginning.
In Paul's letters, he's constantly imploring his audience to recognize that when you give your life to Jesus, when you repent and trust him with your life, He gives you a new identity. And your behaviour should now change because your identity has changed.
New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is here!
Spirit Dwells within us
Rom 8:11- And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
1 Cor 6:19 - Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
Children of God
Romans 8:16 - The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…
Gal 3:26 - For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Created to do Good Works
Eph 2:10 - For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Who do you want to be?
Do you want to root your getting unstuck in your identity as a child of God?
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Works in reverse too. If you believe negative things about yourself, that will keep you stuck.
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“Behavior that is incongruent with the self will not last.” - James Clear
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Homework for Next Week
1 - Come with your identity written out. How would you use the verses above to articulate who you are in Christ and what gifts and passions do you have that you can use to do good works for God?
2 - Come ready to commit to a process, a journey, a system.
One of the things that Clear talks about in his book is not to focus on setting goals, but on systems. To fall in love with the process of becoming.
Next Week - We’re going to talk about how to build systems of identity based habits.
---
John 4:39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
Getting unstuck is something God wanted for you long before you even knew you were stuck.
Today – Where to Begin
Before it’s about change, it’s about acknowledging that you’re stuck. Stuck in the same patterns of thinking, daily habits, routines
---
Atomic Habits, James Clear brings to us some of the best scientific findings around change and creating better habits for ourselves and he suggests that we often start in the wrong place.
Three levels at which change can occur:
1. Outcomes – changing results. Most of our goals are associated with this level.
2. Processes – changing your habits and systems; new routines, decluttering your desk, new meditation practice, buying healthier food, downloading the newest productivity app
3. Identity - deepest layer. Changing your beliefs, your worldview, self image. Focus is on who you wish to become.
**This is where the power to get unstuck begins.
Who is it that you want to become? Stand for? Principles and values?
Begin with results you’re looking for – work backwards
“Ask yourself, “Who is the type of person that could get the outcome I want?”
---
Christianity has taught this since the beginning.
In Paul's letters, he's constantly imploring his audience to recognize that when you give your life to Jesus, when you repent and trust him with your life, He gives you a new identity. And your behaviour should now change because your identity has changed.
New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is here!
Spirit Dwells within us
Rom 8:11- And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
1 Cor 6:19 - Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
Children of God
Romans 8:16 - The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…
Gal 3:26 - For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Created to do Good Works
Eph 2:10 - For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
---
Who do you want to be?
Do you want to root your getting unstuck in your identity as a child of God?
---
Works in reverse too. If you believe negative things about yourself, that will keep you stuck.
---
“Behavior that is incongruent with the self will not last.” - James Clear
---
Homework for Next Week
1 - Come with your identity written out. How would you use the verses above to articulate who you are in Christ and what gifts and passions do you have that you can use to do good works for God?
2 - Come ready to commit to a process, a journey, a system.
One of the things that Clear talks about in his book is not to focus on setting goals, but on systems. To fall in love with the process of becoming.
Next Week - We’re going to talk about how to build systems of identity based habits.
---
John 4:39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
Getting unstuck is something God wanted for you long before you even knew you were stuck.