Why this course?

There are lots of great studies available for believers. A recent IDENTITY participant shared with her group a reading she had stumbled upon. It encapsulates the heart of the IDENTITY course. It is written by Sharon Hodde Miller.

Sharon writes, "I have always loved this backstory about the Philippian church, because Lydia was such a faithful, intelligent, and entrepreneurial woman of God. Her life inspires me. I also love this backstory because it offers women, in particular, a very different narrative than we are often given.

"Too often we are taught a small, human-centered gospel. Women are pelted with Christian messages about how special we are, how beautiful we are, and how happy Jesus wants us to be. This message is all over the place in books, blogs, and Instagram posts. After a while these messages begin to distort the gospel communicating the idea that Christ died mostly to help us like ourselves. These popular messages are thinly veiled self-help words whose greatest ideal is high self-esteem. “Joy in Christ” is about enjoying the lives we have, and not a whole lot more.

"Enter Lydia. For both Lydia and Paul, the joy, hope, and freedom they found in Christ was the starting point, not the goal. It freed them from the captivity of self, and spurred them on to change the world. Their legacy was not “healthy self-esteem,” or even contentment in Christ; their legacy was bigger than that.

"Lydia’s and Paul’s legacy was a life lived radically and ruggedly for Christ with an abundant harvest to show for it. Their legacy was the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church.

"This legacy is the natural result of true Christian joy: to spread it. Every now and then we need a reminder that the end point is larger than ourselves. God doesn’t give us joy to hoard and keep at home. He wants us to take it to the world."

From Defiant Joy: A Study on Philippians by Sharon Horde Miller A 10 day devotional on Youversion

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/15838-defiant-joy-a-study-on-philippians

This sums it up. Over our 6 weeks together, you will learn a lot about yourself. We will even "pump up your tires," but it isn't so you can "live your best life" or increase your self esteem. We will guide you through this journey so you can start to build your legacy by living "radically and ruggedly for Christ with an abundant harvest to show for it." This is what you have longed for and you were made for this!

Enjoy the journey.