Intentional Transformation: Building a Life in Christ
Summary
In this new teaching series, "Practicing the Way: Being Formed by the Rhythms of Jesus," we explore the profound question of what it means to build our lives around the teachings and rhythms of Jesus. This series invites us to reflect on the internal work of God within us as individuals and as a community. Drawing from Romans 12, we are reminded of the call to present our bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, rather than conforming to the patterns of this world. This transformation is not passive; it requires intentionality and a conscious decision to allow Christ to shape us.
The metaphor of a trellis supporting a vine is central to this teaching. Just as a vine needs a trellis to grow healthily and produce fruit, we need a spiritual structure to support our growth in Christ. Without this structure, we risk being shaped by the world, which often distorts our view of God, ourselves, and others through lies. These lies, such as "I am what I achieve" or "I must look a certain way to belong," are pervasive and can lead us away from the truth of our identity in Christ.
In 2025, we are called to be intentional about building a spiritual trellis that supports our connection to Jesus, the true vine. This involves creating rhythms and practices that keep us grounded in our faith, such as regular prayer, scripture reading, and community fellowship. These practices are not just about maintaining a connection to Jesus but about fostering a fruitful and healthy spiritual life.
The importance of community is emphasized, especially during challenging times. Isolation can lead to spiritual vulnerability, but staying connected with fellow believers provides support and encouragement. As we navigate the pressures and expectations of life, we are encouraged to lean on one another and to remain hopeful, trusting in God's sustaining power.
Key Takeaways:
- Intentional Transformation: Every day, we are being shaped either by the world or by Christ. Intentionality is crucial in allowing Christ to transform us rather than conforming to worldly patterns. This requires a conscious effort to renew our minds and align our lives with Jesus' teachings. [06:20]
- The Trellis Metaphor: Like a vine needs a trellis, we need a spiritual structure to support our growth in Christ. This structure helps us develop Christ-centered rhythms that lead to a healthy and fruitful spiritual life. Without it, we risk being weighed down by the world's lies and pressures. [19:47]
- Combatting Lies: The world often distorts our identity through lies, such as equating our worth with achievements or appearances. Recognizing and rejecting these lies is essential to embracing our true identity in Christ and living a life shaped by His truth. [07:21]
- Community Support: Staying connected with fellow believers is vital, especially during difficult times. Community provides the support and encouragement needed to navigate life's challenges and remain grounded in faith. Isolation can lead to spiritual vulnerability, but community helps lift us up. [24:47]
- Hope and Breakthrough: Despite past disappointments, we are encouraged to remain hopeful and seek breakthroughs in 2025. By building a strong spiritual foundation and staying connected to Jesus and each other, we can experience transformation and renewal. [29:14]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:57] - Introduction to the Series
[02:55] - The Trellis and the Vine
[04:20] - Shaping Forces
[05:11] - Romans 12: Living Sacrifices
[06:20] - Transformation vs. Conformity
[07:21] - Lies of the World
[09:54] - Past Experiences and Social Media
[11:37] - Spiritual Opposition
[13:28] - The Potter's Shaping
[15:25] - Intentionality in 2025
[17:50] - Good Intentions vs. Intentional Choices
[18:54] - Connection to the Vine
[19:47] - Building a Spiritual Trellis
[21:11] - The Power of Rhythms
[22:40] - The Weight of Life
[24:47] - Importance of Community
[28:27] - Seeking Breakthroughs
[29:14] - Hope and Sustenance
[30:51] - Building a Firm Foundation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Romans 12:1-2
- John 15:5
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 12:1-2 say about how we should present our bodies and minds to God? How does this relate to the idea of being transformed rather than conformed? [05:11]
2. In the sermon, the metaphor of a trellis supporting a vine is used. What is the purpose of a trellis in the context of spiritual growth? [02:55]
3. According to John 15:5, what is the relationship between the vine and the branches, and what does this imply about our connection to Jesus? [15:25]
4. What are some of the lies mentioned in the sermon that the world uses to distort our identity? [07:21]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being a "living sacrifice" in Romans 12:1-2 challenge the way individuals typically view their daily lives and decisions? [05:11]
2. The sermon discusses the importance of intentionality in spiritual growth. What might be some practical ways to build a "spiritual trellis" in one's life? [19:47]
3. How does the metaphor of the vine and branches in John 15:5 illustrate the necessity of remaining connected to Jesus for spiritual fruitfulness? [15:25]
4. The sermon highlights the role of community in supporting spiritual growth. Why might isolation lead to spiritual vulnerability, and how can community help prevent this? [24:47]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are there any areas where you feel you are being conformed to the world rather than transformed by Christ? What steps can you take to change this? [06:20]
2. Consider the metaphor of the trellis. What specific spiritual practices can you implement to support your growth in Christ, and how can you make these practices a regular part of your life? [19:47]
3. Identify a lie that you have believed about your identity. How can you combat this lie with the truth of your identity in Christ? [07:21]
4. Think about your current community of believers. How can you strengthen your connections with them, especially during challenging times? What role can you play in supporting others in your community? [24:47]
5. In what ways have past disappointments affected your hope for the future? How can you seek breakthroughs in 2025 while maintaining hope and trust in God's sustaining power? [29:14]
6. How can you intentionally create space in your life for regular prayer, scripture reading, and fellowship? What changes might you need to make to prioritize these rhythms? [21:11]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt weighed down by life's pressures. How did community support help you during that time, and how can you offer similar support to others now? [28:27]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Intentional Transformation: Choosing Christ Over Conformity
Description: Every day, individuals face the choice of being shaped by the world or by Christ. This transformation is not passive; it requires a conscious effort to renew one's mind and align life with Jesus' teachings. Romans 12 calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. This intentional transformation involves rejecting the patterns of this world and allowing Christ to shape one's identity and actions. It is a daily decision to choose Christ over conformity, requiring vigilance and dedication. [06:20]
Bible Passage: "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." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What specific worldly pattern do you find yourself conforming to, and how can you intentionally choose to let Christ transform this area of your life today?
Day 2: The Trellis Metaphor: Building a Spiritual Structure
Description: Just as a vine needs a trellis to grow healthily and produce fruit, believers need a spiritual structure to support their growth in Christ. This structure helps develop Christ-centered rhythms that lead to a healthy and fruitful spiritual life. Without it, individuals risk being weighed down by the world's lies and pressures. Building a spiritual trellis involves creating rhythms and practices that keep one grounded in faith, such as regular prayer, scripture reading, and community fellowship. These practices are essential for maintaining a connection to Jesus, the true vine. [19:47]
Bible Passage: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4, ESV)
Reflection: What spiritual practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to build a stronger spiritual trellis and support your growth in Christ?
Day 3: Combatting Lies: Embracing Our True Identity in Christ
Description: The world often distorts identity through lies, such as equating worth with achievements or appearances. Recognizing and rejecting these lies is essential to embracing one's true identity in Christ and living a life shaped by His truth. These lies can lead individuals away from the truth of their identity in Christ, causing them to seek validation in worldly measures. By grounding oneself in the truth of God's word and the identity given in Christ, believers can combat these lies and live authentically. [07:21]
Bible Passage: "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a lie you have believed about your identity. How can you replace this lie with the truth of who you are in Christ today?
Day 4: Community Support: The Strength of Fellowship
Description: Staying connected with fellow believers is vital, especially during difficult times. Community provides the support and encouragement needed to navigate life's challenges and remain grounded in faith. Isolation can lead to spiritual vulnerability, but community helps lift individuals up. In times of pressure and expectation, leaning on one another and trusting in God's sustaining power is crucial. Community is a source of strength, offering a space for shared experiences, prayer, and encouragement. [24:47]
Bible Passage: "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." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to for support or offer encouragement to today, and how can you strengthen your connection with them?
Day 5: Hope and Breakthrough: Building a Strong Spiritual Foundation
Description: Despite past disappointments, believers are encouraged to remain hopeful and seek breakthroughs in 2025. By building a strong spiritual foundation and staying connected to Jesus and each other, individuals can experience transformation and renewal. Hope is a powerful force that sustains believers through challenges, and breakthroughs are possible when one remains rooted in faith. Trusting in God's promises and His ability to bring about change is essential for experiencing spiritual growth and renewal. [29:14]
Bible Passage: "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, ESV)
Reflection: What area of your life are you seeking a breakthrough in, and how can you build a stronger spiritual foundation to support this hope and transformation?
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Quotes
So this morning we're going to kick off and introduce a new teaching series, which is going to take us right through to Easter, and if you've been around HBC for a while you know that we have a very simple way of trying to remember and living out a sort of in and a focus on the out dimensions of our lives. And so last term we're going to be reflecting on the word encounter, and looking at different encounters that biblical characters had with God, and thinking about the up dynamic. And this term we're going to go into the in, and think a little bit about the work of God in us as individuals and as a community, and we're going to call this Practicing the Way. [00:00:28] (60 seconds)
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercy of God, of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. [00:05:27] (36 seconds)
and recognize and it's this that the world is seeking to shape us primarily through lies that distort us from our view of god our view of ourselves and our view of others let me give you a few examples i think of some of the lies that seek to sort of distort these views the first one is this i am what i achieve i am what i achieve that's a lie secondly i'll never measure up that's a lie i'm defined by my past mistakes that's a lie a lie i must look or act in a certain way to belong that's a lie these lies come from different sources that we are continually pressured and molded by by just living in the world that we live there are cultural norms where society equates and value with success possessions or appearance and that has been bombarded to and that's why i've come to this world and i know that there's a GPS and the its the only one and the only way i know what my future's gonna look like [00:07:45] (101 seconds)
So if you're going to engage with social media, and I think we do need to, so don't, I don't personally believe that we ought to just not engage with it, because it's got such a powerful place in our world. But what we don't do enough is train and prepare ourselves by the way that we're going to be shaped by social media. This conforming, this comparison, this feeding the lie that we're not enough. We're not enough. That's the lie that social media is continually speaking over you, that you're not enough. If only you did this, did that. [00:12:21] (44 seconds)
to be formed by Christ and not conformed by the world means that we have to embrace intentionality we have to be intentional and again if you've been around HPC for a number of years you'll know that that word was a word that we we repeated and thought about a lot in 2015, 2016, 2017 that we were beginning to think about what does it mean to be disciples of Jesus? But I want to remind you as you go into 2025 that you need to be intentional in 2025. [00:16:49] (49 seconds)
There are certain things I need to develop my own relationship with God, which includes praying to God on a regular basis, talking to God. There are certain things that I needed to build into my life and to give time to as I structured my week and my time that would help me stay, not only be connected to the vine, but to be fruitful in my life. And I have to say, over the years, I've had an ebb and flow of those things. There have been parts of my life where certain aspects of life... ...of rhythms have been really strong for me to help me stay connected and to be healthy and to be, hopefully, fruitful. [00:22:40] (54 seconds)
I'll be honest with you I'm a bit biased because I'm a pastor of a church I really believe it's important to meet with other Christians one of the things that frustrates me the most I'll be honest with you this morning and I've seen it time and time again with people who at one point were full on for Jesus Christ following Jesus and then something happens in their lives and it does happen things happen stuff happens that challenges our faith let's be really honest we're not a church that says come to Jesus and all your problems go away but sometimes churches can say that we know that we have problems but the difficulty is that when we start to have problems, when we start to have struggles when we start to have difficulties you know what normally happens and I see this time and time again is people disengage with the rest of the church they disengage with their Christian friends they disengage and become isolated and then they wonder why they're struggling then to find the next step in their journey because actually they at one level I understand why they can do this because it's painful but we need to stay connected to one another particularly in the hard times Sue and I's life some of you will know Sue and I's life the things that we've gone through over the 36 years of our marriage and as you can imagine in 36 years there's been the good, the bad and the ugly of unmarried life [00:24:47] (97 seconds)
and I can honestly say that God has got us through but God has got us through through friends who are Christian friends who've just walked with us day in day out and some of you in the room who've known us for those 36 years or 30 years or 25 years or even the last 5 years but we need those people, we need people around us and I know it's not just, it's not the organisation of the church, I get that and I think sometimes people have been hurt and disappointed and controlled by the church, the institution of the church but don't lose that connection with one another [00:26:23] (52 seconds)
That's not just to ignore that. Let's process any disappointments that we have. Let's be honest about the fact that we put our hands up in 2024 for breakthrough. And I think 2024 was a worse year than 2023 for some people. Bless you people. It's true, isn't it? Let's be honest with one another, but let's not lose the hope as Sue started us off in Romans 15 verse 13, which could well be a good verse for the church. It may be if we pray into it. But that hope in one sense is, if we lose hope, that's probably the worst place to be in. If we lose hope. [00:29:14] (46 seconds)
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