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Let Christ Shape Your Life
“What’s next?”
PART 1 — THE KICKOFF
Have you ever seen a video of a potter at their wheel? They start with a spinning lump of clay that doesn't look like much at all. But with skilled hands, steady pressure, and a clear vision, the potter shapes that formless lump into something amazing — a bowl, a mug, something both useful and beautiful.
The prophet Isaiah uses that picture to describe our relationship with God: “O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isa. 64:8). So when we ask, “What’s next?” after deciding to follow Jesus, the answer is simple: we climb onto the wheel, trusting the hands of the Potter as he begins to shape us.
But before we talk about God re-making us, what's something you like to make — do you like to build or bake, design or decorate — and what do you enjoy about it?
ICE BREAKER QUESTION
PART 2 — LET’S GET INTO IT
Let’s get into it and learn how to let Christ shape your life. The journey ahead is about being intentionally formed into the image of Jesus. It’s a lifelong process of growth, requiring consistency, watchfulness, and an ongoing commitment to learning.
Jesus challenged his followers saying, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). The goal of following Jesus isn't just to be a student who knows a lot about him, but to become a person who lives and loves like him. It’s a hands-on apprenticeship with the master craftsman. But this apprenticeship isn't a short, six-week course. Jesus was honest that it would be a long and sometimes difficult road, warning that his followers would face challenges and should be prepared to “endure to the end” (Matt. 10:22). And so, to be shaped by the Master demands a lifelong commitment to consistency and endurance, trusting the potter’s hands even when the pressure is on.
Daily training as Christ’s disciple leaves us looking more like him every day.
THE BIG IDEA
This transformation isn’t magic; it’s a partnership where we actively participate with God as he shapes us into the people we were created to be.
If you climbed onto the potter's wheel tomorrow, what changes would the Lord make?
REACH OUT QUESTION
PART 3 — INTO THE BOOK
The apostle Peter explains that God has already given us everything we need to live a godly life — our part is to actively and consistently build on that foundation. He describes a process of spiritual construction, urging us to “make every effort” to add goodness to our faith, and knowledge to our goodness, and self-control to our knowledge, and so on. If these qualities keep “increasing,” it will keep us from becoming spiritually stagnant and ineffective. So read 2 Peter 1:3-12 together to see how Peter describes our active partnership in the shaping process, noticing how we add one quality to another. After reading, take some time to discuss it.
Considering Peter’s closing encouragement to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), what does this reading tell you about the importance of consistent, lifelong growth?
TALK ABOUT THE READING
PART 4 — GOING DEEPER
Ready to go deeper? Like a master craftsman, the Lord uses a few key tools to form us. These "tools" aren't mysterious forces; they’re the regular, daily habits we choose to adopt. Just as a potter repeatedly uses water and pressure, God works in our repeated habits to shape us as we engage with his Word, pray, act in faith, and connect with the church. When we intentionally draw near to him, he draws near to us (James 4:8). And so, putting ourselves in the path of his grace, we partner with the Potter to mold our lives.
Get Into the Book — Read and Study
First, we spend time listening to our Teacher to let his teaching shape our thinking. You have to open the blueprint to build the house. To be formed in Christ’s image, we must first let his Word renew our minds (Rom. 12:2). Jesus told his followers, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Abiding in the truth means building our lives on its foundation, allowing it to correct, guide, and shape our worldview until we see things the way God sees them. Making a daily habit of reading Scripture is like sitting at Jesus’ feet to learn from him directly.
So let’s get specific with a few practical challenges:
Start a Truth Journal — Set aside a notebook as you spend time in the Word, recording your notes, questions, and insights. Start by writing out one verse that stood out to you, along with a few sentences about why it matters.
Start with Jesus — Pick one of the four gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John — and spend the next several weeks reading one chapter of it a day. Don’t be afraid to mark your Bible (or create highlights in your Bible app) interacting with the text to note words and verses you find particularly helpful, challenging, or confusing.
Commit it to Memory — Memorize one verse this week that speaks to you. Write it on a sticky note and put it on your bathroom mirror or car dashboard to help you meditate on it.
Spend Time in Prayer and Meditation
Second, we spend time talking with our Teacher to let his values shape our affections. A life change that doesn't include the heart is just behavior modification, and God is after something deeper. Our attitudes and desires are the engine room of our lives. The Bible says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23). In prayer, we grow our relationship with God, aligning our will with his and asking him to renovate our hearts so we not only know what he knows, but we love what he loves.
Again, let’s get specific with a few practical challenges:
Start with Gratitude — As soon as you wake up this week, start thanking God for specific blessings in your life. Watch how focusing on God’s good gifts early starts to rewire your brain for the whole day.
Be Still Before God — After you’ve shared your heart with God, sit in silence for a few minutes and enjoy the peace of God that passes understanding. Don’t try to fill the space. Just be still, listen, and quietly know he’s with you.
Be an Intercessor — Choose one person in your life who’s struggling and commit to praying for them by name every day this week.
Get to Work With Daily Action
Third, we get on the road with our Teacher, letting his actions shape our behavior. Faith has feet. Knowledge that isn’t put into practice is just data. As James bluntly asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? ... So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14, 17). Our daily choices are the chisel marks that reveal what we truly believe. We choose obedience even when it’s hard, trusting that Christ’s way is best as he shapes our behavior to match the faith we say we have.
So how can we put all this into action?
Practice Secret Service — Do one helpful act for someone without them knowing who did it — take out a neighbor’s trash can, leave a positive note for a coworker, or pay for the coffee of the person behind you.
Focus on Integrity — This week, be hyper-aware of the words you use. Make sure you keep every commitment you make, big or small. Let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no'.
Be a Builder — Make it a point this week to not say a single critical thing about another person. Instead, find three opportunities to give someone a genuine and encouraging compliment.
Get Connected With the Church
Finally, let our Teacher shape all your relationships — especially those within the church. We must “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10) — because everyone matters but not all relationships are the same. Those who don’t meet together with the church miss out on that regular encouragement (Heb. 10:23-25). Like iron sharpens iron, the bond we forge with one another sharpens us (Prov. 27:17). So we let God shape how we build up other believers and how we reach out with mercy to those who don’t yet know him.
So let’s get specific with a few practical challenges:
Take the Initiative — Invite someone from church you don't know very well to grab coffee or have lunch this month. The first step to community is an invitation.
Get Involved — Ask a leader in your church, 'Where is there a need I can help with?' Being shaped in community often means serving the community.
Open Up — In a conversation with a trusted Christian friend this week, share one real struggle you're facing and ask for prayer.
Are you ready to make the daily changes needed to continue being shaped by the Lord?
THE BIG QUESTION
PART 5 — WRAPUP
THE CHALLENGE
So let's move from thinking to doing. Through the week, begin taking small steps each day to be in the Word, prayerful, active, and connected to the church.
LOOKING AHEAD
As you look at your life as God’s workshop, the question isn’t about achieving perfection, but about taking the next step in your formation. It’s the simple, daily, lifelong adventure of becoming more like the one who saved you. Begin now building positive momentum towards real change by repeating small, meaningful actions.
If you’re looking for more guidance in developing Christlike character, our “Cross Training” series might make a good next stop on your journey. Find it at biblegeeks.fm/crosstraining.
You’ve covered a lot of ground here in Square One. Not everyone commits themselves like this to working through big questions about life and faith. But God always blesses those who look for him, as Jesus promises: “Seek and you will find” (Matt. 7:7).
CLOSING BLESSING
May you find joy and confidence in knowing you are the work of his hands, and may you trust the Potter as he continues to shape you into a vessel of honor and beauty for his glory.