Prepare for Worship: Notes for services on September 14, 2014
Transformation and Your Relationship with Yourself:
Corey Widmer on Romans 12:1-8
Second Sermon in the Series Transformed Relationships
As we continue our series on Romans 12 and transformation, we turn this week to examine our relationships with ourselves. The contemporary Christian church has rightly put much emphasis on the importance of knowing God, but this has often been at the expense of knowing oneself. But a lack of self-awareness of who you are in Christ can lead to all sorts of problems and relationship difficulties. This week we'll explore what Paul means when he exhorts us to "think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you" (Rom 12:3). Part of what it means to be transformed is to come into a peaceful relationship with who you are in all your brokenness and belovedness before God.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
As we worship God this Sunday, let’s approach it with an awareness of our frailty and His mercy. In light of the sermon our need for transformation is clear, but how does it happen? God transforms us by His Spirit from the inside out. “He makes beautiful things out of us.”
9:00 AM Convergent Worship in the Sanctuary
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Beautiful Things
We Are Called to Be God’s People
11:15 AM Contemporary Worship in the Fellowship Hall
This Is Amazing Grace
Hands to the Heavens
Lord I Need You
Beautiful Things
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
11:15 AM Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
Praise the Lord! O Heaven’s Adore Him
I Then Shall Live
In Christ there is No East or West
We Are Called to Be God’s People