Being Transformed

Articles/Bulletins

Kevin Harrington
07/07/13 - Sunday Bulletin

There’s a lot of talk about the “change” that needs to happen when someone becomes a Christian. The term “repentance” is the activity of reviewing one's actions and feeling regret for past wrongs. It generally involves a commitment to personal change. That’s exactly what Jesus asks us to do when we are baptized for the remission of our sins. Peter described being baptized and becoming a Christian as cleansing your conscience before God (1 Peter 3:21). Paul describes it as getting rid of the old and putting on the new man of Christ (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). In each one of these cases, change is necessary to truly devote yourself to Christ. But what does that look like?

This morning we started a brand new adult class in the auditorium. Over the next three months, we are going to look at what it takes to transform our minds. What does change look like? In Romans 12:1-2 it says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

If you haven’t been attending Bible class, now would be a great time to start coming. Many Christians aren’t satisfied with where they are spiritually, but yet they don’t attend Bible class. What better way to start transforming your spiritual life than by coming to Bible class?

Transformation takes…

Time: Don’t expect change in your spiritual life to happen overnight. Just like we can’t expect a newborn baby to grab a form and knife and start cutting into a ribeye steak, we can’t expect a weak Christian to mature over night. Transforming yourself takes time.
Effort: Don’t expect change unless you are willing to put in a little work. Faith requires action. If you think your spiritual life needs help, what are you willing to do to get it to where you want it?

The Hebrew writer had to get onto the Hebrews for not growing and not continuing in their spiritual growth. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). What are you doing to make sure you are eating the solid food of God’s word? What are you doing to make sure you are transforming yourself into a strong Christian?

A caterpillar isn’t much to look at, but with time and effort, a beautiful butterfly emerges. Your spiritual life can be beautiful. Start the transformation now.

~ Kevin