Living Nonconformity: Embracing a Transformed Christian Life

Devotional

Day 1: Genuine Love in Action

Genuine love for others is foundational to Christian nonconformity. It requires us to act in love even when we don't feel it, trusting that our emotions will follow our actions. This sincerity is a testament to the transformative power of God's love in our lives. True love is not just a feeling but a commitment to act in the best interest of others, even when it is difficult. This kind of love stands in stark contrast to the superficial and often self-serving love promoted by the world.

In Romans 12:9-21, we are called to love sincerely, without hypocrisy. This means our love should be genuine and not just a facade. It involves caring deeply for others, even those who may be hard to love. This kind of love is a powerful witness to the world of the transformative power of God's love in our lives. It shows that we are different, that we are not conforming to the patterns of this world but are being transformed by the renewing of our minds. [13:23]

1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you show genuine love to them today through your actions, even if you don't feel like it?

Day 2: Standing Firm in Morality

Hating what is evil and clinging to what is good demands discernment and courage. In a culture that often blurs the lines between right and wrong, Christians are called to stand firm in their moral convictions, even when it leads to conflict. This requires a deep understanding of God's Word and a commitment to live by its principles, regardless of the cost.

Living a life of moral integrity is not easy in a world that often values tolerance over truth. It requires us to make difficult choices and to stand up for what is right, even when it is unpopular. This kind of moral courage is a powerful testimony to the world of the transformative power of God's Word in our lives. It shows that we are different, that we are not conforming to the patterns of this world but are being transformed by the renewing of our minds. [15:02]

Ephesians 5:11 (ESV): "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have been compromising on your moral convictions. What steps can you take today to stand firm in what is right, even if it leads to conflict?

Day 3: Zeal and Hope in All Circumstances

Maintaining spiritual fervor and joy in hope, even in mundane or difficult times, reflects our trust in God's sovereignty. This consistent zeal and hope are powerful witnesses to a world often characterized by hopelessness and apathy. It shows that our faith is not dependent on our circumstances but on our trust in a sovereign and loving God.

In Romans 12:11-12, we are called to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, and to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. This means that our zeal for the Lord should not wane, even in difficult times. Our hope in the Lord should give us joy, even in the midst of trials. This kind of unwavering faith is a powerful testimony to the world of the transformative power of God's presence in our lives. [19:17]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge or mundane task in your life. How can you approach it with renewed zeal and hope, trusting in God's sovereignty?

Day 4: Generosity and Hospitality as a Lifestyle

Extending love to those in need and to strangers demonstrates God's inclusive love. Generosity isn't limited to financial giving but includes our time, presence, and experience, making a tangible impact on those around us. This kind of generosity and hospitality reflects the heart of God and shows the world that we are different.

In Romans 12:13, we are called to contribute to the needs of the saints and to seek to show hospitality. This means that our love for others should be practical and tangible. It involves opening our homes and our hearts to those in need, and being willing to share our resources with others. This kind of generosity and hospitality is a powerful testimony to the world of the transformative power of God's love in our lives. [21:17]

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV): "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Reflection: Identify someone in your community who is in need. How can you extend generosity and hospitality to them today, not just financially but with your time and presence?

Day 5: Radical Service to Enemies

Serving our enemies, as radical as it sounds, is a profound act of nonconformity. It mirrors Jesus' sacrificial love and challenges the world's retaliatory mindset, showcasing the transformative power of grace and forgiveness. This kind of radical service is a powerful testimony to the world of the transformative power of God's grace in our lives.

In Romans 12:20-21, we are called to feed our enemies if they are hungry and to give them something to drink if they are thirsty. This means that our love for others should extend even to those who have wronged us. It involves showing kindness and compassion to our enemies, and being willing to serve them in practical ways. This kind of radical service is a powerful testimony to the world of the transformative power of God's grace in our lives. [29:17]

Proverbs 25:21-22 (ESV): "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you."

Reflection: Think of someone who has wronged you or whom you consider an enemy. How can you serve them in a practical way today, reflecting the radical love and grace of Jesus?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we delved into Romans 12:9-21, a passage that paints a vivid picture of what it means to live a Christian life marked by nonconformity. This chapter is a call to live differently from the world, embodying the essential beliefs and behaviors that define true followers of Jesus. The essence of this nonconformity is captured in the command to "not conform to the pattern of this world" (Romans 12:2). Instead, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, which allows us to discern and live out God's will.

We explored how this nonconformity manifests in various aspects of our lives, including sincerity, morality, affection, honor, zeal, hope, generosity, hospitality, blessing, empathy, harmony, humility, and service. Each of these elements contributes to a life that stands in stark contrast to the world's values and behaviors. For instance, sincerity in love means genuinely caring for others, even when it's challenging. Morality involves hating what is evil and clinging to what is good, a stance that often requires discernment and courage in a culture that values tolerance over truth.

Affection and honor call us to a familial love and respect for others, lifting them up above ourselves. Zeal and hope remind us to maintain our spiritual fervor and joy, even in mundane or difficult times. Generosity and hospitality extend our love to those in need and to strangers, reflecting God's inclusive love. Blessing those who persecute us and empathizing with others in their joys and sorrows demonstrate a radical, counter-cultural love. Harmony and humility require us to seek peace and lower ourselves, associating with people of all social standings. Finally, service, especially to our enemies, encapsulates the ultimate act of nonconformity, mirroring Jesus' sacrificial love on the cross.

By fixing our eyes on Jesus and following Him, we can embody this nonconformity. His life, death, and resurrection provide the perfect example and the power we need to live out this transformed life. As we place our faith in Him, His ways become understandable, desirable, and ultimately doable through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Key Takeaways

1. Sincerity in Love: Genuine love for others is foundational to Christian nonconformity. It requires us to act in love even when we don't feel it, trusting that our emotions will follow our actions. This sincerity is a testament to the transformative power of God's love in our lives. [13:23]
2. Morality and Discernment: Hating what is evil and clinging to what is good demands discernment and courage. In a culture that often blurs the lines between right and wrong, Christians are called to stand firm in their moral convictions, even when it leads to conflict. [15:02]
3. Zeal and Hope: Maintaining spiritual fervor and joy in hope, even in mundane or difficult times, reflects our trust in God's sovereignty. This consistent zeal and hope are powerful witnesses to a world often characterized by hopelessness and apathy. [19:17]
4. Generosity and Hospitality: Extending love to those in need and to strangers demonstrates God's inclusive love. Generosity isn't limited to financial giving but includes our time, presence, and experience, making a tangible impact on those around us. [21:17]
5. Service to Enemies: Serving our enemies, as radical as it sounds, is a profound act of nonconformity. It mirrors Jesus' sacrificial love and challenges the world's retaliatory mindset, showcasing the transformative power of grace and forgiveness. [29:17]
### [29:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:02] - Introduction to Romans 12:9-21
[04:44] - The Concept of Nonconformity
[06:13] - The 1984 Apple Commercial Analogy
[08:14] - Reading Romans 12:9-21
[10:03] - The Picture of Christian Nonconformity
[11:41] - Prayer for Transformation
[13:23] - Sincerity in Love
[15:02] - Morality and Discernment
[16:55] - Affection and Honor
[19:17] - Zeal and Hope
[21:17] - Generosity and Hospitality
[23:08] - Blessing and Empathy
[24:45] - Harmony and Humility
[27:53] - Service to Enemies
[29:17] - Avoiding Retaliation
[32:46] - Transformation through Jesus
[35:19] - Eugene Peterson's Paraphrase
[36:31] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Romans 12:9 say about the nature of love? How is this different from the world's view of love? [13:23]
According to Romans 12:10, how should Christians treat one another? What specific term is used to describe this type of love? [15:02]
In Romans 12:12, what three attitudes are Christians encouraged to maintain? How do these attitudes reflect trust in God? [19:17]
What radical action does Romans 12:20-21 suggest we take towards our enemies? How does this contrast with the world's approach to enemies? [29:17]

Interpretation Questions

Why is sincerity in love considered foundational to Christian nonconformity? How does acting in love, even when we don't feel it, demonstrate the transformative power of God's love? [13:23]
How does the call to hate what is evil and cling to what is good challenge the cultural value of tolerance? What does this say about the importance of discernment in a Christian's life? [15:02]
What does it mean to maintain zeal and hope in both mundane and difficult times? How can this consistent fervor serve as a witness to others? [19:17]
How does serving our enemies, as described in Romans 12:20-21, mirror Jesus' sacrificial love? What impact might this have on both the server and the served? [29:17]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you struggled to show sincere love to someone. What steps can you take this week to act in love towards that person, trusting that your emotions will follow? [13:23]
In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to discern and stand firm in what is good versus what is evil? How can you seek God's guidance to improve your moral discernment? [15:02]
Think about your daily routine. How can you maintain spiritual fervor and joy in hope during mundane tasks? What practical steps can you take to keep your zeal for God alive? [19:17]
Identify a person or group you find difficult to bless or empathize with. What specific actions can you take to bless them or empathize with their situation this week? [24:11]
Consider a recent conflict or disagreement you had. How can you seek harmony and humility in resolving it? What might it look like to lower yourself and lift the other person up? [27:53]
Reflect on a time when you were tempted to retaliate against someone who wronged you. How can you apply Romans 12:20-21 in a similar situation in the future? What practical steps can you take to serve rather than retaliate? [29:17]
How can you fix your eyes on Jesus this week to help transform your mind and live out the nonconformity picture described in Romans 12:9-21? What specific practices or habits can you adopt to focus more on Jesus? [32:46]

Sermon Clips

1. "It's a huge testimony to the goodness of God that people would be compelled to leave their home to go and reach other people to share the good news of Jesus. That's really awesome that God is that big and he's that good." [00:33] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Romans is interesting because it is a book of the Bible that is just filled with doctrine, which is a really churchy word, but it means the essential beliefs of the Christian faith. And so if you're here and you're just exploring what faith in God looks like and what it should look like, even as an evaluative tool, Romans is really helpful. Because it gives a picture. These are the essential beliefs of the Christian faith." [01:12] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The Christian life and the picture of the Christian life is intended to look like nonconformity. And this is actually appealing, isn't it? No one here wants to conform. We're nonconformists. We're nonconformists. We're American." [03:57] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Of course, problem is mac computer cannot save people only Jesus can save people and he that sounds cutesy a little bit right but but hear me out jesus is actually here to help us to be truly unique in becoming the godly people we are designed to be i believe every person here god has a plan for your life and i believe every person here has a plan for your life and i believe every person here has a plan for your life and i believe every person here has a plan for your life to be uniquely awesome in this world and it looks like godliness according to your design my design" [06:13] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with one another with people of low position. Do not be conceited." [08:14] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "God wants you to be a secure person. He wants you to be a satisfied person. He doesn't want you to be a dissatisfied person, an insecure person. That's why he has given you everything you need in your relationship with him. That it frees you to empathize with people, both in their successes and in their losses. Amen? We're painting a beautiful picture here. Can you see it? Are you getting a picture of what God's heart is for people? I'm so captured by these verses." [25:37] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God wants something different from his people. He wants his people to be showing harmony and seeking and fighting for harmony. I thought of some questions with harmony. What are people doing that promotes division? Being able to identify those things. And then this, am I participating and perpetuating that division? Can we think in terms of this? Am I participating and perpetuating in division if I post that, if I like that, if I do that, if I say that?" [27:03] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Humility is the other side of honor. Honor is the ability to lift people up, and humility is the ability to personally lower myself. And I'm lowering myself and humbling myself that I'm seeing everyone eye to eye. There is no one who I am standing above. So much so that we can relate and care for and be with and love every person from every social stratus structure. That's what the scripture says. Be willing to associate with people, all people, even those of low position. Do not be conceited." [27:53] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "This is the picture that God is painting for the Christian life in how it is supposed to look. This is nonconformity to the world. Nonconformity looks like sincerity. Necessarity, morality, affection, honor, zeal, hope, generosity, hospitality, blessing, empathy, harmony, humility, service. Look at this amazing picture. And keep these up for a second here. God wants you to receive this. Just let that exist. He wants you to. Receive sincerity from other people. God wants you to receive sincerity, morality, affection, honor, them showing zeal for the Lord, hope, generosity, hospitality, blessing, empathy, harmony, humility, and service. That's what God wants for you." [30:31] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You might say, well, that's a pretty daunting list. And I would agree with you. It's a very daunting list. You might even go as far as to say to live like this. I mean, I would need to be transformed. I would need to be totally different than I am right now. I would need to be transformed. This requires some kind of big personal transformation. God knows. He's not commanding this to set us up to fail. Romans chapter 12, verse 2 says this. Do not conform to the patterns of this world. But, you ready for this? Be transformed. By the renewal. By the renewing of your mind." [32:46] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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