How People Change: A Gospel Approach
Published: Wed, 12/24/25
Updated: Wed, 12/24/25
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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How People Change: A Gospel-Centered Approach to Transformation Change is one of the most sought-after goals in life. Whether it’s breaking bad habits, cultivating healthier relationships, or growing spiritually, people want to change. Yet, lasting change often feels elusive. In How People Change, Paul David Tripp and Timothy S. Lane offer a profound insight: real transformation isn’t about trying harder, following a formula, or improving behavior. It’s about the gospel—the power of God to transform our hearts and lives from the inside out. At the heart of the book is the assertion that most attempts at change fail because they focus on external actions rather than internal realities. Tripp and Lane explain that our behaviors flow from our hearts—the place where desires, beliefs, and motivations reside. True change, then, must address the root issue: what our hearts worship. The gospel speaks directly to this, reshaping our hearts by revealing who God is, what He has done, and how His grace meets our deepest needs. One of the book’s central themes is the connection between the gospel and everyday struggles. Many Christians see the gospel as the message that saves us from sin but fail to apply it to the challenges of daily life. Tripp and Lane argue that the gospel is not just the starting point of faith; it is the foundation for ongoing transformation. The gospel reminds us of our identity in Christ—we are loved, forgiven, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This identity frees us from the need to find worth in things like approval, success, or comfort, which often drive unhealthy behaviors. The authors introduce a helpful framework for understanding how people change: the "heat, thorns, and fruit" model. Heat represents the circumstances of life—the trials, temptations, and pressures we face. Thorns are the sinful responses that emerge from our hearts, such as anger, fear, or selfishness. Fruit, by contrast, is the godly character that the gospel produces, such as love, patience, and trust in God. The key to transformation is not escaping the heat but allowing the gospel to shape how we respond. One of the most striking aspects of How People Change is its emphasis on community. Tripp and Lane argue that God designed change to happen in relationships. Gospel-centered community provides a space where believers can be honest about their struggles, confront one another in love, and encourage each other to grow. The church becomes a living example of the gospel, where grace is both experienced and extended. The book also highlights the role of perseverance in the process of change. Sanctification is not instantaneous; it’s a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ. The gospel sustains us in this process, reminding us that God is committed to completing the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6). In How People Change, Tripp and Lane offer a vision of transformation that is deeply rooted in the gospel. It’s not about self-effort or quick fixes—it’s about God’s grace working in our hearts, shaping our desires, and producing lasting fruit. For anyone longing for real change, this book provides a clear path forward: trust the gospel, walk in community, and let God’s power do the work. If you would like to explore this new study, it is available on Amazon, as well as part of Good Questions Have Groups Talking |
