Well, good-day folks, welcome back to the church.nYC podcast. Thanks so much for joining us.

Wanted to let you know this autumn. We are going to be talking through the idea of spiritual formation.

This series is called Formed. And it is a journey through the key stages of development where someone

goes from being dead in sin into being formed into the image of Jesus. And it's really getting back

to the core concepts that are often overlooked in all the conversations about spiritual formation.

What does election, regeneration, justification, vivification, mortification, sanctification, these big terms,

what do they actually mean for the spirit's work within us, helping us move out of the brokenness

of our sin-stained flesh and into the fullness of life that God has for us?

How do we make sense of our stories in light of the resurrection of Jesus and the kingdom of God?

The word formed, we're taking from Galatians 419,

where Paul talks about being as in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in us.

Romans 8 tells us that we've been predestined to be conformed to the image of the sun.

Those are high theological terms and we're going to make them both practical and meaningful

over the course of these series. Thanks for tuning in. We can serve you in any way. Feel free to

reach out. Let's get back to the podcast. Peace.

Today's teaching text comes from Titus 2, 1114, and also chapter 3, verses 3 to 8.

It says, for the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and the worldly passions,

and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age,

while we wait for the blessed hope that the appearing of glory of our great God and Savior,

Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

At one time, we were too foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved.

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