Embracing Transformation: A Journey with God
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound theme of transformation, focusing on three pivotal questions: What is transformation? What facilitates it? And what obstructs it? Transformation, as depicted in the Bible, is a real, practical, and palpable change, akin to the metamorphosis of a butterfly. Romans 12:2 urges us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This renewal involves a complete overhaul of our thinking, leading us to discern and approve God's will.
We delved into the two conflicting ways of living: conforming to the world or being transformed by God. Conforming is easy because it aligns with the cultural stream around us, but transformation requires a radical change in our mindset and values. This transformation is facilitated by spending time with God, contemplating His glory, and allowing His nature to shape ours. 2 Corinthians 3:18 emphasizes that as we meditate on the Lord's glory, we are transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory.
We also discussed the importance of listening to God, as highlighted in Matthew 11:28-30 and John 10:22. Being with God and listening to Him are crucial for our transformation. Additionally, we must participate with God, especially when learning is difficult. Suffering and conflict are significant avenues through which God transforms us. Suffering tests our faith and deepens our reliance on God, while conflict sharpens us, much like iron sharpens iron.
Community plays a vital role in our transformation. Being in genuine, honest relationships with others helps us grow and prevents isolation. However, several obstructions can hinder our transformation, including a lack of relationship with God, pride, and spiritual lethargy. Pride can manifest as thinking we don't need transformation or feeling undeserving of it. Spiritual lethargy, or apathy, dulls our spiritual senses and prevents growth.
In conclusion, transformation is a journey that requires active participation with God. Despite our weaknesses and failures, God invites us to His table, offering grace and renewal. Let us embrace this invitation and commit to the transformative process through His Holy Spirit.
### Key Takeaways
1. Transformation vs. Conformation: Romans 12:2 presents two conflicting ways of living: conforming to the world or being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Conforming is easy because it aligns with the cultural stream, but transformation requires a radical change in our mindset and values, leading us to discern and approve God's will. [21:45]
2. Contemplating God's Glory: 2 Corinthians 3:18 emphasizes that as we meditate on the Lord's glory, we are transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory. Spending time with God, contemplating His nature, and allowing His character to shape ours is crucial for our transformation. [26:29]
3. Listening to God: Matthew 11:28-30 and John 10:22 highlight the importance of listening to God. Being with God and learning to listen to His voice are essential for our transformation. This involves regular time in prayer, worship, and silent moments with God. [29:17]
4. Suffering and Conflict: Suffering and conflict are significant avenues through which God transforms us. Suffering tests our faith and deepens our reliance on God, while conflict sharpens us, much like iron sharpens iron. These challenges help us grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. [33:50]
5. Community and Obstructions: Genuine, honest relationships within a community are vital for our transformation. However, obstructions like a lack of relationship with God, pride, and spiritual lethargy can hinder our growth. Pride can manifest as thinking we don't need transformation or feeling undeserving of it, while spiritual lethargy dulls our spiritual senses. [38:48]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[18:55] - Opening Prayer
[19:52] - Introduction and Announcements
[20:40] - What is Transformation?
[21:45] - Romans 12:2: Conforming vs. Transforming
[23:06] - Cultural Influence and Transformation
[24:13] - Renewing of the Mind
[25:18] - God's Wisdom in Transformation
[26:29] - 2 Corinthians 3:18: Contemplating God's Glory
[27:27] - Facilitating Transformation: Being with God
[28:15] - Importance of Worship and Prayer
[29:17] - Listening to God
[30:21] - Matthew 11:28-30: Learning from Jesus
[31:05] - Personal Story: Shepherding in Israel
[31:59] - Participating with God in Difficult Learning
[32:45] - Suffering as a Path to Transformation
[33:50] - Conflict as a Path to Transformation
[35:54] - Personal Stories of Suffering
[37:21] - Conflict and Spiritual Growth
[38:48] - Importance of Community
[40:33] - Obstructions to Transformation
[42:02] - Types of Relationships with God
[43:36] - Pride and Spiritual Lethargy
[45:10] - Call to Active Transformation
[46:55] - Invitation to God's Table
[48:23] - Closing Prayer and Communion
[50:05] - Invitation to Receive Communion
[01:00:44] - Passing the Peace
[01:06:59] - Communion Instructions
[01:08:53] - The Lord's Prayer and Communion
[01:11:15] - Final Blessing and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
2. 2 Corinthians 3:18 - "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
3. Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 12:2, what are the two conflicting ways of living mentioned? ([21:45])
2. How does 2 Corinthians 3:18 describe the process of transformation? ([26:29])
3. What does Jesus promise to those who come to Him in Matthew 11:28-30? ([29:17])
4. What are some of the obstructions to transformation mentioned in the sermon? ([40:33])
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "renew your mind" as stated in Romans 12:2, and how can this lead to transformation? ([21:45])
2. How does contemplating the Lord's glory, as described in 2 Corinthians 3:18, facilitate transformation in a believer's life? ([26:29])
3. In what ways can suffering and conflict contribute to our spiritual growth and transformation? ([33:50])
4. How can pride and spiritual lethargy obstruct our transformation process, and what steps can we take to overcome these obstacles? ([43:36])
### Application Questions
1. Romans 12:2 talks about not conforming to the world. What are some specific ways you find yourself conforming to the world's patterns, and how can you actively work on renewing your mind? ([21:45])
2. Reflect on a time when you felt transformed by spending time with God. What practices helped you during that period, and how can you incorporate them into your daily routine now? ([26:29])
3. Jesus invites us to take His yoke and learn from Him in Matthew 11:28-30. What burdens are you currently carrying that you need to bring to Jesus, and how can you practically take His yoke upon you? ([29:17])
4. Think about a recent conflict or suffering you have experienced. How did it challenge your faith, and what did you learn about God and yourself through that experience? ([33:50])
5. Community is vital for transformation. Are you currently in a genuine, honest relationship with others in your church community? If not, what steps can you take to build such relationships? ([38:48])
6. Identify one area of pride in your life that might be hindering your transformation. How can you humble yourself and seek God's help in overcoming this pride? ([43:36])
7. Spiritual lethargy can dull our senses. What specific actions can you take this week to reignite your passion for God and avoid spiritual laziness? ([45:10])
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation vs. Conformation
Description: Romans 12:2 presents two conflicting ways of living: conforming to the world or being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Conforming is easy because it aligns with the cultural stream, but transformation requires a radical change in our mindset and values, leading us to discern and approve God's will. This transformation is not just a superficial change but a profound, internal shift that affects our entire being. It involves a complete overhaul of our thinking, enabling us to see and understand God's will more clearly. [21:45]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you currently conforming to the patterns of this world? How can you begin to renew your mind to align more closely with God's will today?
Day 2: Contemplating God's Glory
Description: 2 Corinthians 3:18 emphasizes that as we meditate on the Lord's glory, we are transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory. Spending time with God, contemplating His nature, and allowing His character to shape ours is crucial for our transformation. This process involves regular engagement with God's Word, prayer, and worship, allowing His presence to permeate our lives and bring about lasting change. [26:29]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more time for contemplating God's glory in your daily routine? What specific practices can you adopt to focus more on His nature and character?
Day 3: Listening to God
Description: Matthew 11:28-30 and John 10:22 highlight the importance of listening to God. Being with God and learning to listen to His voice are essential for our transformation. This involves regular time in prayer, worship, and silent moments with God. By tuning our hearts to His voice, we can better understand His guidance and direction for our lives, leading to deeper spiritual growth and transformation. [29:17]
John 10:27 (ESV): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
Reflection: What steps can you take to improve your ability to hear God's voice? Are there distractions in your life that you need to eliminate to create more space for listening to Him?
Day 4: Suffering and Conflict
Description: Suffering and conflict are significant avenues through which God transforms us. Suffering tests our faith and deepens our reliance on God, while conflict sharpens us, much like iron sharpens iron. These challenges help us grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. Embracing these difficult experiences with a heart open to God's work can lead to profound personal and spiritual growth. [33:50]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think of a recent trial or conflict you have faced. How can you view this experience as an opportunity for growth and transformation? What is God teaching you through this challenge?
Day 5: Community and Obstructions
Description: Genuine, honest relationships within a community are vital for our transformation. However, obstructions like a lack of relationship with God, pride, and spiritual lethargy can hinder our growth. Pride can manifest as thinking we don't need transformation or feeling undeserving of it, while spiritual lethargy dulls our spiritual senses. Engaging in a supportive community and addressing these obstructions can help us stay on the path of transformation. [38:48]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Are there any obstructions in your life that are hindering your spiritual growth? How can you actively engage with your community to overcome these challenges and support each other's transformation?
Quotes
1. "In the Bible, transformation is pretty much replete throughout the Old and New Testaments. The word that's oftentimes used in the New Testament is metamorpho. So, of course, the English word metamorphosis is what we get from that. And so similar. Similar to how a butterfly literally changes its essence, its nature from an egg to a caterpillar to a chrysalis to butterfly, biblical transformation is real, practical, pragmatic, and palpable change from being one person to another person." [20:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When our minds are renewed, they are completely overhauled, completely changed. New ways of thinking and new ways of acting and new values. And verse 2 ends by saying this. When we do so, when we're not conformed, but we're transformed, he says we will be able to test and approve what God's will is. And so if you find yourself confused like I do, if you find yourselves conflicted, unsure about what to do about a relationship, what to do about a big decision, where to go, what major to choose or what program to get into and so and so forth, how to live, how to date, who to marry, how to make good choices, then according to Paul in Romans 12, 2. We must be transformed and transformed and transformed by the renewal of our mind." [24:13] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The world that we have fashioned, so to speak, the life that you and I have created the problems that we have created and the way that we operate cannot be solved by the people, you and me. Who created them. Ergo, not only do we need other people, you and I need God to come in and help us with what are oftentimes fallen perspectives, incomplete and imperfect world views, the dilemmas, the crises, the confusion and the chaos that sometimes either we create or that we encounter." [25:18] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When we contemplate and when we meditate, when we ruminate on the Lord's glory, then we are transformed. When we look at his nature, his character, his deeds, when we meditate on the stories of his goodness and his faithfulness, we become like him. And I think about my kids, I think about how my kids have, for better or for worse, my appearances and my mannerisms. And even some of my expressions, you know, when you hear that some good and not sense, I'm not so good. And as we continue to spend time with the Lord, we begin to reflect him in our mannerisms and our expressions in our values." [27:27] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Suffering is not just a way that Christians transform. It is one of the greatest ways. And how many of you know that your life with God was kind of coasting along and then all of a sudden, you like encounter something really painful, really difficult, like we lost a very, very good friend last week, Happy Seasack. And her family was just blown away. I mean, she was fighting cancer and had been successful and then all of a sudden, she just literally died on the steps of her, you know, of her house. She never regained consciousness from that." [33:50] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Conflict is, again, a major way that God transforms us. There's incredible opportunity for us to grow spiritually, emotionally, and, you know, relationally in conflict. Proverbs 27, I didn't put this on the slide, but Proverbs 27, 17 says, as iron, sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Now, I don't see John Tilton here today, but he's a blacksmith, and he understands what it's like when a hard surface is rubbing against a hard surface. So when iron sharpens iron, follow the analogy here in scripture, it is noisy. It is messy. You got pieces of hot metal shooting all over the place, and the sound, I'm sure, is not very pleasing to the ear, however poetic it might sound like." [37:21] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The question this morning is, are you alone? Do people know you? Do people know the real you? Like the you that doesn't, you know, that you don't like? Do people know that you? Or are you in community? Well, the final question I'd like to ask is, what obstructs it? And some of these are pretty obvious. The first is just a lack of relationship with God. I mean, you can be changed so fast, so quickly, and I have stories in my own life of what God has done, the healing that he has done so quickly. Or you can labor along without God, trying to grow." [40:33] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Pride thinks more about information, and God says, I'm more about transformation. Pride thinks only of us. It says, oh, do I really need this? Instead of saying, hey, how can God use me for other people? Billy Graham says this, when pride controls our lives, we end up thinking we are better than anyone else. So have little love or compassion for others and are only interested in themselves. Most of all, a prideful person thinks they have little need for God. Believing their way is always best. This is why he says, pride is at the root of almost every other sin because we think we can ignore God's ways. No wonder the Bible says, the Lord detests all the proud of heart." [43:36] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Lethargy is apathy, essentially. Apathy is apathos, no feeling, no passion. God says in Revelation that he wishes we were either hot or cold, and I've been thinking about that a little bit. He says, you're lukewarm. I wish you were hot or cold. Why is this? That's so interesting to me. Well, because when something is hot, it shocks you. You pull your hand away, you burn your hand. When something is cold, it also shocks you. It's extremely cold. In fact, extreme cold, if you've ever experienced it, feels like extreme heat, and extreme heat can feel like extreme cold. But lukewarmness is neither. It's not shocking. It just draws you to sleep. Lukewarmness is just dull, and that's the way that some of us live our spiritual lives." [45:10] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "The good news is that this every day god waits patiently inviting us to his table i had a conversation with a person who's not been to worship um in a while and they had run into robin at the grocery store and they said that she was such an encouragement because she didn't look sideways at them she just was like so glad to see them she texted me that about her interaction with robin and i said you know jesus is the kind of person who says who doesn't say you didn't show up five weeks in a row he's the kind of person who says welcome back i'm so glad you are here he invites us back even if we've been the prodigal son and we've done some really stupid things he invites us back if we're like the older brother and we've been there but we're still estranged from the father and so wherever you are as i close whoever you are whoever you've been or whatever the status of your relationship with god we are all on the same level and that's why i love when we kneel to pray that we're all on the same level no longer professors and students no longer rich or poor no longer educated or not educated we are all the same we're all sinners in need of a god of mercy" [48:23] (75 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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