Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
Week 8: Chapter 7 — Transforming the Social Dimension
Read Chapter 7 of Renovation of the Heart. Key passages: Romans 12:9-21; John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 13.
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We are not formed in isolation — our relationships are both a primary arena of transformation and a primary resource for it, which means the community we choose matters enormously.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Willard argues that the 'social dimension' of human life — our relationships, communities, and social identities — is one of the six dimensions that must be transformed, not just the context in which transformation happens. How does recognizing this change how you think about church, friendship, and family?
2.He observes that many of our deepest character flaws — pride, envy, contempt, defensiveness — only reveal themselves in relationship with others. Can you identify a relationship in your life that has been particularly effective at surfacing things in you that need transformation? What did it reveal?
3.Willard discusses the way a group or community can have a collective spiritual formation — either toward God or away from him. Think about the communities you belong to (church, workplace, family, social circles). Which ones are forming you toward Christlikeness, and which ones are forming you in other directions?
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