1. Key Questions to Ponder

2. Who Am I?
“Repetitio mater studiorum est” – “Repetition is the mother of all learning.”
I am God’s image-bearer (Genesis 1:26).
I am a cracked image-bearer; I am incurvatus in se (Genesis 3). I am “turned in on myself.”
Christ wants to straighten me out. He invites me to become a real human being!
The call on my life is to be ever more deeply formed into the image of Christ, for “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15ff).
By God’s grace and wise living, I am being transformed into Christ’s image. “And we. . .are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory. . .” (2 Cor. 3:18)
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col. 3:9-10).
What are the practices of my old self?
What are the new things I need to know? And to practice?

3. Some Interesting Statistics
75% of the people who go into service ministry of some kind are burned out after 5 years. Why? (NY Times)
90% would go into some other work if they could find a different job. Why? (NY Times)
Issues of physical fatigue: how tired are you?
Issues of emotional fatigue and stress: how high would you rate the stress level in your life?
Issues of spiritual stress and fatigue.
Areas of encouragement with God?
Areas of disappointment with God?

4. Some Initial Questions
How does a normal work day go? What actually happens, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep?
If Jesus were living his life through my mind, body, and spirit, how might my work day be similar or be different?
Are there identifiable patterns to how Jesus lived on a daily basis?
What are the patterns for living that I have chosen to follow? Why?
Who are the Masters in living that I have chosen to imitate? Why?
What and who is forming me?
Remember that everyone is spiritually formed.

5. More Questions! Particular points of success and joy?
Particular points of frustration?
Particular points of struggle?
Particular points of suffering?
Particular points of temptation?
When I get tired or frustrated, what temptations appear?
When I succeed, what temptations appear?
Particular points of sin? What are the sins that I habitually commit?

6. We can describe human character as the way we habitually live from day to day.
How did I live this past week?
This past month?
This past year?
What are the habit patterns that characterize my life at work, my life at home, and my life when I’m alone and no one is watching?
Physical habit patterns?
Emotional habit patterns?
Spiritual habit patterns?
Would those who know me best agree with these evaluations?

7. How are things going with my family?
With my friends?
Who are my enemies? Why? What happened?
How tired am I?
How discouraged am I?
What am I afraid of?
What is encouraging me?
What brings me joy?
What do I like to do just for fun?
What are my top 5 temptations?

8. The Importance of Imitation in the Spiritual Life
1 Corinthians 4:15-16 – “. . .in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
Ephesians 5:1 – “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children ”
Philippians 2:5 – “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus ”
Philippians 3:17 – “Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.”
Philippians 4:9 – “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”