Sanctification: The Gospel at Work in Us
Published: Fri, 08/15/25
Updated: Fri, 08/15/25
Sessions Include:How People Change, Lesson #1 How People Change, Lesson #2 How People Change, Lesson #3 How People Change, Lesson #4 How People Change, Lesson #5 How People Change, Lesson #6 How People Change, Lesson #7 How People Change, Lesson #8 How People Change, Lesson #9 How People Change, Lesson #10 How People Change, Lesson #11 How People Change, Lesson #12 How People Change, Lesson #13 How People Change, Lesson #14 How People Change, Lesson #15 How People Change, Lesson #16 Why Study Books?My church recently transitioned to using books as curriculum in our Sunday School. The reason is simple. My life has been profoundly influenced by the reading of books. I don’t think my life has ever been changed by any curriculum piece I have ever read. Ever. I have actually surveyed a number of groups I have taught over the years, asking: Has your life ever been changed by any curriculum? The most common response is for people to laugh out loud. Our first study was the Bless book by Dave and Jon Ferguson. It is a great study on relational lifestyle evangelism. About half-way through the the study, we did a survey to help determine what we would study next. No one wanted to go back to the curriculum. Not. One. Person. The #1 choice for what to study next was a tie:
We will be studying these two books over the next year and a half or so. Here is what Amazon says about Ortberg’s book: The Me I Want to Be will help you discover spiritual vitality like never before as you learn to "live in the flow of the spirit." Why does spiritual growth seem so difficult? God's vision for your life is not just that you are saved by grace, but that you also learn to live by grace, flourishing with the Spirit flowing through you. And this book will show how God's perfect vision for you starts with a powerful promise: All those who trust in God "will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Pastor and best-selling author John Ortberg first helps gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be. Then he provides detailed tasks and exercises to help you live in the flow of the Spirit, circumventing real-world barriers - pain and sorrow, temptations, self-doubt, sin - to flourish even in a dark and broken world. As you start living in the flow, you will feel:
God invites you to join him in crafting an abundant and joy-filled life. The Me I Want to Be shows you how to graciously accept his invitation. I have just completed a new, 22-week study of John Ortberg’s book, The Me I Want to Be that we will be using in my church. (I had previously done a 7-week study.) I have always thought that using books as a curriculum would be a good idea, and I have written a lot of book studies over the years. One of the things that actually using books as curriculum caused me to realize has to do with cost. By writing a study on every chapter of this book, instead of my previous study that had a lesson for every section, the cost drops to below what we were paying for curriculum. Better curriculum. Cheaper cost. Win. Win.
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Sanctification: The Gospel at Work in Us
Sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ, is at the heart of Paul David Tripp and Timothy S. Lane’s book How People Change. This process is often misunderstood as mere behavior modification—trying harder, following rules, or doing more. But Tripp and Lane offer a refreshing perspective: sanctification is not about what we do to change ourselves but about what God is doing in us through the gospel. At its core, sanctification is about heart transformation. The authors explain that lasting change doesn’t come from addressing surface-level behaviors; it comes from addressing the deeper issues of the heart. Our actions, attitudes, and struggles are always rooted in what we believe, desire, and value most. Sanctification happens when the gospel reshapes those core beliefs and desires, enabling us to live out the truth of who we are in Christ. One of the key insights in How People Change is the recognition that life’s challenges—what Tripp calls the “heat” of life—are not obstacles to sanctification but tools God uses to shape us. Difficult circumstances, conflicts, and trials reveal what’s really going on in our hearts. Do we respond to “heat” with sinful “thorns” like anger, fear, or despair? Or do we bear the “fruit” of the Spirit, trusting God and reflecting Christ’s character? The authors emphasize that sanctification is not about trying harder to bear fruit but about abiding in Christ. The gospel reminds us that our identity is secure: we are loved, forgiven, and empowered by God’s Spirit. This assurance frees us to confront our sin honestly, without fear of condemnation, and to rely on God’s grace for change. Tripp and Lane call this process “gospel transformation”—change that begins with the heart and flows outward into every area of life. Sanctification also requires a shift in how we see ourselves. Many Christians approach sanctification as a self-improvement project, believing that their worth is tied to their performance. But Tripp and Lane challenge this mindset, showing that sanctification is not about proving ourselves to God. Instead, it’s about surrendering to His work in us. The gospel frees us from striving and invites us to rest in the reality that Christ’s work is enough. Another essential element of sanctification highlighted in How People Change is community. Tripp and Lane argue that God never intended for sanctification to be a solo endeavor. The church is a vital context for growth, where believers speak truth into one another’s lives, offer encouragement, and confront sin with grace. Honest, gospel-centered relationships are crucial for helping us see blind spots, apply Scripture, and stay accountable in the pursuit of Christlikeness. Finally, Tripp reminds us that sanctification is a process. It’s not instantaneous or linear but a lifelong journey of becoming who God created us to be. The good news is that God is committed to this work. Philippians 1:6 assures us that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” In How People Change, Tripp and Lane offer a rich, gospel-centered vision of sanctification: a heart-level transformation fueled by grace, shaped by God’s Word, and sustained in community. Sanctification isn’t about what we do—it’s about what God is doing in us through His Spirit, for His glory. If you would like to explore this new study, it is available on Amazon, as well as part of Good Questions Have Groups Talking |
