A Better Change: Learning to embrace change by knowing Jesus, relying on prayer and living in community.
Welcome to this 12-week series where we’ll focus on the topic of change and how we can reset our default response when changes and troubles hit our lives.
Through this series we’ll look at some common responses to change – drowning and running away – in order to better understand our reactions and learn to recognize these in ourselves and others.
We’ll then look at three keys to help us better respond when changes come – knowing Jesus intimately, relying on prayer and living in community.
Finally, we’ll look at alternative ways to respond to change to help us face these trials with more hope, less stress and talk about practical ways to put all this into practice.
Each week, we’ll also do a Bible study from the life of Peter, to examine what he learned about change as he followed Jesus.
Below is an outline of this series which I’ll keep this updated with links to the actual posts as we go, so you can always check back if there’s something you missed or want to read again.
Part 1: Introduction to A Better Change
A Better Change: Reset Your Default Response
“Through faith, we can reset our default response to change.”
“A Better Change requires training. Practice on the small changes, so you’ll be ready for the big ones.”
Lessons from Peter: Peter: Called to Follow (Matthew 4:18-22)
“Jesus called Peter into a life of change, and Peter said “yes,” putting his trust in Jesus to lead him through the transformation.”
Recognizing the types of changes in our lives: changes we choose, changes that happen to us, and God-driven changes
Changing our Default Responses to Change
“Change is what moves us from our present to our future. Learning to accept and embrace the change will only improve the trip.”
Lessons from Peter: Miracles Begin With A Prayer (Luke 4:38-39)
“Are you keeping your needs from God? You miss 100% of the miracles you don’t pray for.”
Part 2: Exploring the Default Response of Drowning
“The more we practice navigating life’s choppy waters, the better prepared we’ll be to sail through the big storms.”
When We Start Drowning in Our Storms
“Drowning in our storms is when we learn we cannot face life on our own. We need God as our life-preserver.”
Lessons from Peter: Where Is Your Focus: On Risk or Reward? (Matthew 10:1-42)
“Change brings both risk and reward. How well you navigate change depends on where you place your focus.”
Your Choice: Drown or Cry Out For Help
“When we begin to drown, we can allow ourselves to be pulled under or we can cry out for help.”
Reaching for God’s Life Preserver
“When change comes, we need God’s life preserver, not worry’s anchor.”
Lessons from Peter: Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus (Matthew 14:22-33)
“Sometimes we have to experience the storm to truly know the saving power of Jesus. Are your eyes on Jesus or on the storms around you?”
Part 3: Key #1 to A Better Change: Knowing Jesus Intimately
What Keeps You From Reading the Bible?
“Why do we so often hesitate to pick up the Bible and read it? Getting on a first-name basis with God and committing His story to your heart is the first step toward A Better Change!”
18 Resources for Reading the Bible
Learning God’s Story Builds Relationship
“Relationships are built on deep knowledge of each other. The Bible is our way to learn God’s story.”
6 Ways to Use Technology For Bible Study
Lessons from Peter: Opening Your Heart To Experience God (Matthew 16:13-17)
“Opening our hearts to experience God will open the power of God’s words to us in the Bible.”
Part 4: Exploring the Default Response of Running Away
Emotionally Checking Out From Change
“Change requires both physical and emotional presence to move us forward.”
“Escape can be an essential tool to cope with life’s challenges, so long as it doesn’t become the focus.”
Lessons from Peter: Jesus Is Waiting, Even When We Fall Away (Matthew 26:31-34)
“Jesus will be waiting for us, not IF, but WHEN we turn back”
When We Take An Alternate Path
“Making choices without prayerful consideration can lead us away from God’s plans for our lives”
Seeking Shelter From The Storm’s Fury
“Seeking shelter from a dangerous storm is survival, not running away.”
Part 5: Key #2 to A Better Change: Living in Community
Lessons from Peter: 
Jesus Loves Us, Even When We Run Away (Luke 22:54-62)
“We’re more likely to run away when we’re alone and afraid of the unknown.”
Life is Better Lived in Community
“Community is more than a social club, more than a study group, more than a prayer list.”
20 Ideas to Build Better Community Today
“20 simple ideas you can do TODAY to enhance an existing community to bring in more elements of Christian community.”
How Community Helps In The Storm
“Community roots us deeper so we are prepared to withstand the storms of life.”
A Challenge to Live More Fully In Community
“Are you fully participating in your community? Are there any any areas where you can do more?”
Part 6: God Can Redeem Any Response
Lessons from Peter: Redemption Begins With An Apology (Luke 24:34)
“No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve gone or how long you’ve wandered, you can always come back to Jesus.”
“When we admit our sin and ask for forgiveness, God forgives us and sets us free.”
Turning Your Ashes Into A Crown Of Beauty
“God will turn our ashes into beauty. Take our mourning and transform it into gladness; turn our despair into praise.”
Lessons from Peter: Finding Redemption By Saying YES to Jesus (John 21:15-19)
“Redemption is the process of allowing God to drive change in our lives.”
Part 7: Key #3 to A Better Change: Relying on Prayer
“Hello, God!” Talking With God Through Prayer
“Prayer doesn’t need any special formula, only that you care about building relationship”
Making Prayer an Every Day Conversation
“Make prayer more accessible by focusing on key elements of good conversation.”
Pray {Especially} When You Have No Words
“In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Souls of prayer are souls of great silence. (Mother Teresa)”
Unanswered Prayers Are Answered {Eventually}
“Unanswered prayers are really just prayers whose answers we can’t yet see”
Lessons from Peter: Experiencing Ground-Shaking Prayer (Acts 4:1-31)
“Prayer renews our resolve and shakes us free from fear”
Part 8: A New Response to Change: Riding Out The Storm
For Hope in the Storm: Call On The Holy Spirit
“By knowing Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit we are better equipped to face change”
For Hope in the Storm: Together in Community
“Community is the battle-ready army God has placed around you”
Lessons from Peter: Say “Yes” to God’s Change In YOU! (Acts 10:1 – 11:18)
“As we become more comfortable handling life’s changes, we open ourselves for God-driven changes”
For Hope in the Storm: Power of Prayer
“Prayer is powerful enough to propel you through any trial”
“Prepare now for “A Better Change”, so you can face life’s trials with more hope, less worry!”
Lessons from Peter: Be Bold and Pray For Miracles! (Acts 12:1-19)
“Believe in prayer; expect God’s miracle. Ask God for deliverance from what imprisons you.”
[callout]I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. (Ephesians 1:18 NIV)[/callout]
I hope this series will speak to you and help you find better ways to face change. Change is HARD! There’s no getting around that, but we can face it with more hope and less stress. It takes practice and being intentional, but it can be done. Let’s walk together toward a better change!
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