“As a human being, the way Jesus responded to God in faithful obedience and gave his life in service to other humans-is the pattern for all authentic humanity renewed by the Spirit of God.” WayHumansSpiritHumanityJesusHuman BeingsPatternsObedienceFaithfulService To OthersSpirit Of God Author:Luke Timothy Johnson
“It shouldn't be difficult, then, to make the transposition at this point into the early Christian vision of Jesus and the Spirit and the way in which the material world is both celebrated and renewed through their work. The Jewish basis for the early Christian patterns of belief and behavior is clear. It is important that God's people are embodied, because God made this world and has no intention of abandoning it. The material of creation is a vessel made to be filled with God's new life and glory, even though the transformation may involve suffering, persecution, and martyrdom.” PeopleWorldWayMayMadeImportantChristianSpiritSufferingJesusBeliefDifficultVisionClearCreationThis WorldMaterialsBehaviorGloryBasesTransformationFilledIntentionPatternsPersecutionNew LifeVesselMartyrdomMaterial WorldChristian Persecution Author:N. T. Wright
“The character of Jesus has not only been the highest pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive in its practice, and has exerted so deep an influence, that it may be truly said that the simple record of three years of active life has done more to regenerate and to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists.” YearsMaySaidDoneCharacterThreeJesusSimplePracticeVirtueRecordsInfluenceMankindHighestPatternsPhilosopherActiveStrongestThree YearsIncentivesMoralistActive Life Author:Ravi Zacharias
“Some people are so moral they feel like they have no need for Jesus. True worshippers know they are in deep need of Jesus Christ and are transformed morally by "beholding Jesus" and seeing their lives transformed by the Spirit's power from the inside out rather than conformed to a pattern of religion from the outside in.” PeopleKnowsNeedsFeelsSpiritJesusChristMoralSeeingJesus ChristPatternsTransformedWorshippers Author:Matt Chandler
“In silence all our usual patterns assault us ... That is why most people give up rather quickly. When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, the first things to show up were the wild beasts.” PeopleGivingFirstsShowsSpiritJesusSilenceGiving UpPatternsBeastWildernessUsualAssaultWild Beasts Author:Richard Rohr
“The single most important thread in working through your disappointments is that your heart and mind ponder and grasp what the cross of Jesus Christ is all about. There is no pattern without the cross. There is no Good News without it. That is what the gospel is all about.” MindHeartImportantJesusChristNewsJesus ChristCrossesPatternsDisappointmentThreadGood NewsHeart And MindPondering Author:Ravi Zacharias