St Mary's Church Almondsbury
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“Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People” Sermon Series
Sermon 1: It’s Morphing Time	Do not be conformed to this world, ^*but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
Choose the age to come Christians are people who live in this world but belong, by God’s grace, to the new age that is to come. We are here to witness to eternity, not conform to a passing phenomenon. 1. Dedication – transformed not conformed In our character and conduct we can have one or two continuing attitudes: · We can be conformed to the world (or this age) - this earthly age of the prevailing culture which is passing away. This is like the hypocrites of our gospel reading. · Or we can be transformed to the image of Christ; God’s will. Just as Jesus was transfigured – a complete change inside and out. These two attitudes are incompatible: · The pleasure principle of self-fulfilment (not self sacrifice), · What I deserve (not sinners relying on grace) · Customer choices ‘I choose not accept challenge, but have spirituality on my own terms’ (rather than accepting the challenge of the Bible). · Live for earth (not heaven) We are not helpless victims of this age – we choose. 2. Discernment - choose with a renewed mind We are to keep going back to our original commitment, reaffirming its necessity and legitimacy. We need a renewed mind to make God-choices - change the way we think, our value systems. To be loosened from the bonds of egocentricity so we think objectivity. ‘The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbeliever, to keep them from seeing the light of the glory of the gospel of God’ (2 Cor 4:4). The pressure to conform is always present; it is strong and insidious. Our mind is renewed by a combination of the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Then we can discern, recognise and embrace God’s will. Jesus said that he had come to do God’s will (John 6:38). Every ordinary Christian has the potential of a renewed mind to know God’s will. 3. Delight – the result of transformation Good – in character and beneficial in effect. The ethical fruit of the spirit (not necessarily exciting). Acceptable – to God, goodness is defined by God’s revelation, not human opinion. It is obedience to God’s commands. Perfect – complete or reached its end or final maturity. This never happens this side of heaven. In this life we can never perfectly fulfil it. But as we are transformed to God’s will, we become closer. A Christian always has to confess that, to a large painful extent, their life is conformed to this age. Instead of being content and complacent they need to yield to the direction of the Spirit of God. Allow yourself to be continually remoulded and remade to exhibit the age which has already come in Jesus Christ.^*
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