The story and purpose behind this new podcast Little Christs

It means that it's about much more than simply reflecting Jesus' character, which is how most people think about it.

It's about every aspect of his role and relationships.

To quote a writer from the early church, "He became as we are, that we might become as he is." It's about our broken and sinful humanity being replaced and restored and renewed at every point by his perfect humanity, one replacing the other.

It means the complete reproduction in us of the human life of Jesus.

Now, I wonder how you feel about your Christian life right now.

Are you glad you're forgiven, confident you're going to Heaven, and yet, at the same time, rather discouraged, maybe even despairing about your daily living? Maybe you feel you're making little progress, and you're wondering if you ever will.

Well, I, I'd like to try to give you a fresh vision for your Christian life through my thoughts, a vision of being transformed gradually into the likeness of God's Son, who lived among us as a human being, the Word who became flesh.

Now, in a moment, I'm gonna try and mention some of the ways I think my reflections can help.

But first, I want to underline that there will be a cost.

I, I've written, um, 365 reflections, so you're gonna have to be patient and allow the vision to take shape.

There'll also be a cost in thinking, because we're gonna be delving into some deep and potentially difficult issues.

And of course, most of all, it's going to be costly in a deeper way, because I hope that we'll all hear again the call of Jesus to take up the cross, deny ourselves, and follow Him.

There are no gains without pains.

There's no growth in the comfort zone, and there's no comfort in the growth zone.

Change comes at a price.

But I do want to say with all my heart that you will find the dominant note in my thoughts is not that I'm going to be challenging.

The dominant note you're going to hear is the gospel, the good news.

I'm not setting out to give good advice, but to bring you good news.

I'm not gonna tell you you need to try harder.

I'm gonna tell you there's more for you to receive.

So the main message that you will hear is that just as Jesus received first from the Father, and then out of that gave to the world and to us- So the wellspring of a Christ-like life is receiving first and then giving.

I'm not sure that many Christians live that way.

But it's about being and belonging before doing and behaving.

So the paradox is that alongside taking up the cross and following, you're also going to learn how to wear the easy yoke, the well-fitting yoke, and to find deep rest for your souls.

So I've got a practical goal for you.