I'm planning ahead for once! I will have the opportunity to preach on this text and the gospel text at a joint worship service with our congregation (Disciples of Christ) and our neighboring United Methodist church (at their place). This is a service leading into a week of vacation bible school which will be held at our place. Certainly vss. 4-8 lend themselves to celebration of our variety of gifts as well as our unity in ministry. As I begin to develop a sermon that will speak to both congregations, I'd love any insights you might share. Have any of you done something similar? Blessings, Pam in San Bernardino
To Pam in San Bernardino - I love this text. It seems to me that for your joint service, all those who will take place in Bible School that week are following the admonition to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of (their) minds".... By being involved in VBS rather than playing sports or hanging out at the mall for the week,they are following God's values rather than the values promoted by "the world." Hope this helps - good luck! Margaret in Connecticut
This text I am moving to the August 15th service, it was so fitting for our Christian Education emphasis. Right now I am beginning with questions: What is a living sacrifice? How can we live in the world and not be conformed to it? I see in the text a calling to worship God and to express faith not in a private journey but within a community of faith-- Can our minds be renewed and can we really discern the will of God without the benefit of Christian community? bobby b. Tx.
Re 12:1 Professor Warren Carter at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City is fond of saying that the problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar!!!
What a great Text! Paul calls for nothing less than complete renewal of our life... a complete change of your mind." 1. To truly worship and serve God, we must undergo a radical change, not of our outward form, but of our inward. a. Left to ourselves our lives are dominated by human nature at it's lowest. In Christ we live a life dominated by Christ and His Spirit. b. And that means we live not by our self-centered ways, but a Christ-centered life. c. This must happen, Paul says, by the renewal of your mind. 2. The word he uses for renewal is anakainosis. 3. In Greek there are two words for new--neos and kainos. a. Paul here uses a form of kainos which means new in point of character and nature. A person who was once a sinner and is now on the way to being a saint is kainos. b. For Paul Christ is at work making us into new beings. Our minds are different. The mind of Jesus is in us.
August 16
Along with the Gospel, this text shows God's intent to bring about faith within us. This great gift is transforming. It comes as a result of the Abundant mercies in the first 3/4 of this book, and with the ministry of Our Lord.
Clay Valley, NE
I'm toying with the idea that transformation by Christ allows us to live as though the kingdom has already come. Looking forward to next week's reading from Romans (12:9-21), it seems to mean that through the transformation of our minds we can be let love be genuine, etc. Does this make sense? How does this play out? RevD
I find it interesting that most of the contributions so far are focusing on the first few verses. My preaching this coming Sunday is planned to be focused primarily on verses 4 and following.
These verses are obviously meant to convey that we all have different gifts given by God, and that all of our gifts are needed for the worship of God, the building of the church, and ministry to the world.
What particularly interests me in relating to my congregation is in verse 5 -- "we are members one of another". Although we commonly use the terminology of "brother and sister" to refer to fellow Christians, here we are shown to be even more intimately linkes... indeed to be part of one body, needing one another very much and hopefully taking good care of one another.
I'm thinking perhaps of using the case of the conjoined (Saimese) twins made famous by PT Barnum. They were only joined superficially, sharing no organs, only skin and some blood flow. They could have easily been separated surgically, with the only real concerns being stopping the flow of blood and the risk of infection. However, they were never separated, and when one died the other one died also. And to think, these were two barely-joined bodies... and we are ONE body.
I'm also relating it briefly to appreciating our bodies... about how society has an artificial beauty standard (sociobiology not withstanding) and how we need to have an appropriate appreciation for all bodies. This is then related to how we need to appreciate diversity within the body of Christ.
anyway, I'm still thinking on these things.
Dan near Philly
Paul reminds us that we need to see ourselves as one body with many different, gifted members. In this day of celebrated individuality and of emphasis on individual triumph, it is worthwhile reminding ourselves that we are meant to be in community, bound together by Christ. All that we do must be as a "living sacrifice." In other words, we must live as we say we believe. Springboro Joe
To Pam in San Bernardino - What a wonderful text to preach in an ecuminical setting. Most of us have enough trouble grasping the idea that through Christ we are linked to those who share the same building with us on Sundays (and other times). but to expand that idea that we are linked, through Christ, to the Church where ever it meets. Different individuals as well as different denominations bring different gifts to the Body. A pastor friend says "If I had the eternal security of the Baptist; the Sanctification of the Methodist; the original sin of the Lutherans; the original righteousness of the Catholics; the Holiness of the Pentecostals; and could sing like those folks at the Assembly -- I be a real Christian. Fisher in TN
I am focusing on the concept of being a "living sacrifice." I have three ideas I'm toying with to develop this. 1)Being on fire without being burnt out. 2)Being transformed and not conformed. 3)Being united without being uniform. I would be interested in ideas on how you all are fleshing this out, if you are thinking along similar lines. I think there is a danger in interpreting this text too much around the self. There is a big "therefore" in verse 1 which refers to the preceding 11 chapters of Romans, which point to God's saving action through Christ. "Therefore" leads to how we can respond to Christ's saving grace. What I'm thinking is burn out comes from self reliance, but being on fire occurs when we let the Holy Spirit lead. "Be transformed" (passive) relies on God to transform us, otherwise we will naturally conform ourselves to the world. United w/o being uniform seems to flow logically from verses 4 and following. Thanks for putting up with my rambling. Blessings, Jeff in NY
With the upcoming Fall season and a return to the regular schedules, I think I am going to focus on the "renewing of our minds". Bible study, Sunday School and other teaching/learning times sometimes go begging. I would like to help motivate folks to "renew their minds" and get into the Bible!
RP in OH
Jeff in NY, Thank you! I think you may be onto something. What is needed to be transformed (passive on our part, active on the Spirit's part?) Prayer. The presence of the Holy Spirit. Reliance on the Spirit. Trust in the Spirit. I am not sure where I'm going with this, but just thinking out loud. RevD
Verse 2. I think it is the Philip's translation that goes something like: Don't let the world squeeze you into it's mold.
How do I renew my mind? Or how is my mind renewed?
I'm thinking of addressing the type of worship that God desires. Is it praise music, traditional, high church, low church? I think that Paul understands that worship is what we do with our lives (time, talent, finances, interests) after the weekly worship service. Living in Christ-likeness is worship.
John near Pitts.
I agree with RP. It is a great text to use to renew one's spirit. I will be using it as the text for our rededication service this Sunday. A time to rededicate our lives to God, each other and as members of the church and what all that entails. Truly God is at work since it happened to fall on the Sunday that has been in the planning stages for quite a while. Obviously, there is a need to "remind", "renew" and "rededicate"
I agree with RP. It is a great text to use to renew one's spirit. I will be using it as the text for our rededication service this Sunday. A time to rededicate our lives to God, each other and as members of the church and what all that entails. Truly God is at work since it happened to fall on the Sunday that has been in the planning stages for quite a while. Obviously, there is a need to "remind", "renew" and "rededicate"
WF in NC
This is a great passage. It troubles me that most of the visitors to this site gravitate to the gospel passages. Obviously the gospels are extremely important but there's great ffod for thought elsewhere. The thing I'm focusing on here is v. 2, not conforming to the world but being transformed. I see it as the difference between passively allowing the world's standards and prejudices shape us, and allowing Christ to transform us. If we don't renew our minds/spirits then how can we discern God's will? If we can't discern God's will, how can we understand what it is to live in Christian community, which is not based on hierarchy but on mutual cooperation. This is the connection I see here. Any thoughts? Craig in Maine
This is a great passage. It troubles me that most of the visitors to this site gravitate to the gospel passages. Obviously the gospels are extremely important but there's great ffod for thought elsewhere. The thing I'm focusing on here is v. 2, not conforming to the world but being transformed. I see it as the difference between passively allowing the world's standards and prejudices shape us, and allowing Christ to transform us. If we don't renew our minds/spirits then how can we discern God's will? If we can't discern God's will, how can we understand what it is to live in Christian community, which is not based on hierarchy but on mutual cooperation. This is the connection I see here. Any thoughts? Craig in Maine
Thanks Craig in Maine. I've thought this nearly every week. Why don't we discuss more connections between the readings--which all point to the gospel. I enjoy the Serendipity Bible for Groups and the way it helps 'unlock' the texts to our experience and the way God is active in our lives. Lately I've used an old Testament story for the children's message as a 'tie-in' to the meaning of the New Testament readings. I think we all enjoy it. Peace SinNEr
Jeff in NY: Thanks! That clarified the thoughts I was having, and now my sermon is coming together nicely! I am using the gospel and this passage to talk about: "Who is He? and Does it Matter?", which naturally flows in to: what do we do about it. We MUST believe, because that is the basis of faith. (John 3:18) By believing, we are a part of the Body, and this MUST change our lives! Janet in NY
Hello all! What great reflexion you've been doing.
Fisher: thanks for the ecumenical quote--I plan to adapt and use it.
Jeff: I'm also working on the THEREFORE. In fact I toyed with using that as my sermon title, but backed off. Paul calls us to respond to God's gracious gift through Christ Jesus, and I'm going to explore how we respond, not just as an individual, not just as a congregation, but as Christians working together as the body of Christ.
An example comes to mind as I sit and ponder of how many Christians are coming together to provide aid to Turkey this week. Organizations such as ACT and Church World Service call on resources from many Christian denominations. The American Red Cross is also supported by individual Christians. The enormity of the tragedy in Turkey can overwhelm any of us; it is more than we can handle. But like in the smaller tragedies in our lives, there is much that we can do by working together. (these are unformed thoughts, but maybe some of you are thinking about similar ideas.)
SinNEr: I appreciate your comment about using both passages. I try to encorporate two of the lectionary readings whenever I can into my sermon. In this case, since I'm preaching to an ecumenical group, the primary thought from the Gospel is Peter's confession. It is our confession that Jesus is the Christ which ties each of to the body of Christ. Our practices, our ways of expressing our faith, our specific doctrines may vary greatly, but our faith is in God, and in Jesus Christ.
God bless all of you as you approach this coming Sunday with peace of mind and with inspiration. Pam in San Bernardino
My sermon will focus on the progression in the passage: I. v. 1-2 present yourselves to God Don't be conformed--be transformed! II. v.3-8 don't think too highly of yourselves--exercise the faith God has given you by being part of a community of faith based not on hierarchy or egos but on what we have in common-gifts ("graces") given to us by God. This is where we learn what it is to be transformed. III. v. 9-12 Mission!! is how we act out of our transformation. Craig in Maine
Pam in San Bernadino,
I greatly appreciated your words "It is our confession that Jesus is the Christ which ties each of [us] to the body of Christ. Our practices, our ways of expressing our faith, our specific doctrines may vary greatly, but our faith is in God, and in Jesus Christ."
Amen and amen...
Rick in Va
Hi all.
I have been enduring a rather painful period lately in my ministry. This text speaks to it, but I am a bit hesitant to use it in the way I would like, simply because I fear I would be scolding certain members (the dragons in the group!), and not preaching Good News.
My struggle is simply put: I do not possess all the gifts that previous pastors have possessed. Therefore, some people are calling into question everything I do, saying I really shouldn't be a pastor, etc.
Sure, it's probably a smoke screen, avoiding the real issues I have been trying to raise. Sure, I know the verses about keeping going, preaching in and out of season, planting the seeds, etc, etc.
I want to scream, "We all have DIFFERENT GIFTS!!! Don't you GET IT??? Simply because I have been ordained, does NOT mean I will be the great member-getter that other pastors were!"
But of course, that would be dismissed as excuse-making.
Forgive me for dumping. I am back from 3 weeks of relaxing vacation, and getting back into the groove is not easy when facing a constant barrage of negativities from members of the Body of Christ, with whom I am joined and for whom Christ also died.
Rick in Canada, eh?
Dear Rick in Canada:
Keep the faith, Man. Comparisons are so painful. I think all you can do is just keep using those gifts God has given you and seek out others who have the gifts you know you lack. Ministry is a "team sport" and it isn't only the ordained who need to play. By the way, I often appreciate your words on this site. Blessings, Pam in San Bernardino
The problem with living sacrifices is that they tend to crawl off the altar!
ml in pa
Rick you didn't go there to take ayone's place but yours! God called you to be there. List your gifts for them and get your best leaders to fill in the gaps. God is with you friend. Let them be transformed by the renewing of their minds!
Ran from DFW
Rick you didn't go there to take anyone's place but yours! God called you to be there. List your gifts for them and get your best leaders to fill in the gaps. God is with you friend. Let them be transformed by the renewing of their minds!
Ran from DFW
Rick in Canada,
Probably too late as it's Sunday a.m. but maybe it would be helpful just to focus on vss. 1 & 2. I like Paul's "in view of God's mercies." Maybe thinking on God's mercies to you and your response to God might help you through this period. God bless you. Remember the One who called you is faithful!
Grace and Peace, John near Pitts.