Sep 19, 2021
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September 19, 2021
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Holt Venue
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.
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
but God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses.
You are saved by grace!”
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.
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the
parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.”
According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching: if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Holt VenueMSU Venue
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. 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.
There is no place for arrogance and conceit in the Christian faith; none of us deserve the mercy of God and all of us get it. – Noel Jesse Heikkinen
Christian Hedonism is the conviction that God’s ultimate goal in the world (his glory) and our deepest desire (to be happy) are one
and the same, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Not only is God the supreme source of satisfaction for the human soul, but God himself is glorified by our being satisfied in him. Therefore, our pursuit of joy in him is essential. – John Piper, Desiring God
But that is not how you came to know Christ, assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, to take off, your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on, the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in
righteousness and purity of the truth.
What decisions will allow me to live my life for the service of others?
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.”
Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.”
Cru
Intervarsity
Navigators
Generations
His House
HOPE Room
True worship of God involves refusal to be conformed to this age.
True worship of God involves pursuing a life with the benefit of others in mind.
According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching: if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.”
It is instructive to notice that out of the seven charismata referred to in verses 6–8 not less than four…most probably have to do with the practical assistance of those who are in one way or another specially in need of help and sympathy. This fact by itself is a clear and eloquent indication of
the importance of the place of diakonia [‘service’] in the life of the church as Paul understood it. – Colin Kruse, Paul’s Letter to the Romans
As people, we desperately are in need of one another.
As people, we should have the urgency to serve one another.
Prophecy
Service
Teaching
Exhorting
Giving
Leading
Showing Mery
The tension in our present cultural moment of serving in the Church is balancing our mental/emotional/spiritual health and commitment.
MSU VenueREO Town Venue
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.
How does (spiritual) transformation happen?
There is no one righteous, not even one.
There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
… For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
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.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends
on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Our private worlds are in crisis. We see the rise of anxiety and mental health disorders, falling IQ
levels, epidemic loneliness and social disconnection, widespread online bullying, and the
persistence of discrimination, bigotry, and hatred. Addictions to drugs, food, technology, sex, gambling, and relationships are widespread. – Mark Sayers
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.
I have sought you with all my heart;
don’t let me wander from your commands… I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than
he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the
same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.
Spiritual transformation happen when we:
1) are motivated by the mercies of God
2) refuse to conform to this age
3) renew our minds
4) use our gifts for others
According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
REO Town VenueWestside Venue
Therefore…
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
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.
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.
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way, we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.
According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
Westside VenueJust as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. – Matthew 20:27-29
We’re all longing for community and connection, and it is precisely when we serve that we find our place in the Body of Christ and feel knit together. We’d love for you to check out our serve opportunities at Riv and be a part of serving and caring for our church family and community.
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