Page 53 - Faith-Based Workbook 8-27-18

TOPUCU Adult Faith-Based Workbook Lesson 7: Part 2

LESSON 7: PART 2
wedding and they crossed over the bridge chips here and a bowl of ice cream there and
BURN THE BRIDGE called weight loss. If they didn’t burn the within a few months you’re standing on the
weight lose bridge they probably found
other side again. All that hard work; all that
themselves slowly strolling back over it. effort; all that sacrifice is gone in what
Think about how they came across it in the seems to be a blink of an eye.
first place. Maybe they walked across the
Welcome to the final portion of the TOPUCU Think about a wedding you attended where
Starter Program. By getting to the end of you knew someone in the wedding party "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away;
this curriculum you’ve taken a huge step or a family member. You knew the bride behold, the new has come." — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
toward seeing total transformation in your or groom. Maybe you knew the parents or
life. As believers in Christ, we know that sibling of one of the people getting married. bridge, meaning that they slowly started Let’s look at another example. Have you
transformation is an integral part of our Either way, it’s safe to say that if you’re at the working on a weight loss program or they ever decided that you want to get out of
walk. In fact there is one scripture that really wedding, you have a relationship with one started cutting back on their portions. debt? You start controlling your spending;
correlates with many of the ideas we have of the people at the front of the church. We Maybe they decided to give up ice cream you become aware of what you’re using
discussed during these seven lessons. That can all agree that most people attending the and sweets. Or maybe they jogged across
scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says, wedding do things to prepare themselves the bridge, which means in addition to your money for and decide what you can do
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new for that special day. And a lot of what they eating properly they started doing some without. You begin down the path towards a
creation. The old has passed away; behold, do relates to their personal appearance. physical activity like walking. This way they life free of debt. But because you didn’t burn
the bridge, somewhere along the way that
the new has come.” (ESV) This is such a One of the things you probably noticed is burned more calories and took the weight desire for things you don’t necessarily need
powerful verse! It sums up perfectly the how they got into better shape or more off a little quicker. Perhaps they’re a Type-A begins to creep back into your life and the
notion that once you’ve made the decision to specifically lost some weight. Why do you personality and just got after it and ran next thing you know you have as much, or
accept Jesus into your heart, you’ve become think that is? Well, you learned the answer across the bridge. They went into a dramatic more, debt than you did before.
a new person. As we wrap up our discussion to that in Lesson Two when we spoke about weight-loss program, started riding their bike
about burning the bridge, you should keep the Motivation Scales. Who wants to look at and joined a Cross Fit group. You know what Or, what about the example of someone
that scripture in mind. Think about the fact the wedding pictures and be disappointed we mean. The point is they chose a speed challenged with an addiction? It could
that God has something greater and better in the way they looked? This is a perfect with which to go across the bridge. be gambling, eating, shopping, drugs or
for you. Think about how, with His strength example of external motivation. They know Let's return from our analogy about a alcohol… and the list goes on. Think about
and guidance, the formulas and techniques the wedding is coming in six months and so wedding to you. Almost everyone has done it, someone works really hard at overcoming
you’ve learned through this program can they begin taking the necessary steps to lose the same thing with either the weight-loss their addiction and it looks like they’ve made
help you achieve the sort of change you weight. They’re externally motivated because bridge, the school-work bridge, the getting- it, but because they didn’t burn the bridge,
never thought was possible. Now let’s get of how they will look at the wedding in the in-shape bridge, the get-out-of debt bridge, what happens? They’re right back at it.
down to it, and finish strong! eyes of others and not internally motivated and the list goes on. Here’s the problem. We’ve all heard people say things like,
to make a transformation that will last them After the bridge is crossed over it is left what’s it going to hurt if I just make one
a lifetime. And while there are some cases intact. Because the bridge wasn't burned more purchase or play that one hand of
BURN THE BRIDGE! where external motivation can cause a when you completed your trip across, you cards or have just one beer? This is exactly
long-term transformation, most of the time what we are talking about. It’s that first step
As we’ve discussed, burning the bridge is it doesn’t. After the wedding, the pounds continued to look back at the other side. back across the bridge that leads to the
essentially all about commitment. It’s about gradually begin to pile back on, and in no You're not consciously doing it; you do it second and eventually a trip all the way back
destroying the links to your past bad habits time they are back to the weight they started because of your habitual behavior, which we over. When you decide to decide, you have
and behaviors and not looking back. Let’s at or maybe even heavier. learned about in Lesson One. That old habit to burn that bridge.
look at an example of a familiar situation is still stored in your brain and because you
that will help us tie together many of the You’re probably saying to yourself, this is didn't burn the bridge you will continually Your memorization for this lesson is to
ideas we’ve spoken about throughout this supposed to be a lesson on commitment, not be tempted to cross back over it. A few will visualize whatever challenge or habit change
Starter Program. motivation. Well, here’s the point. They did sprint back over it, but for most of you, it will you’re working on through this program;
all of the hard work to lose weight for the be a slow stroll – you know, like a few potato picture the thing that is holding you back

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