Opening Prayer
Last Week
What was valuable, or what stuck with you from last week?
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 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.[1]
Therefore … what is it there for?
In view of - because of – through
Mercies, Sympathy, Compassion, Pity
Present your bodies as a sacrifice – modified by three words
(a participle and two adjectives)
-
Living
-
Holy
- Acceptable/Pleasing to God
This is your reasonable/rational worship/service.
This makes
sense.
“There are more people in worship on any given Sunday … than are at all the football games or on the golf links or fishing or taking walks in the woods. Worship is the single most popular act in this land.” – Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Our First Imperative Verbs
Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world/age
Penultimate
v. Ultimate
Conformed –
molded – shaped
We are called to live in opposition to the world’s values, even as we live for the world’s benefit.
Be transformed by the renewal of the mind
Romans 8:5-8 - 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
So that you [will be able] to examine/test/approve/discern what
the good and pleasing and perfect will of God [approves].
How does
the world know how a Christian should act?
How do you
know how a Christian should act?
[1]
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used
by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered
trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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