Christianity / Body of Christ = Transformed People
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ~ 2 Cor 5:17 NASB 1995
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ~ Roman 12:2 NLT
What People Do When They Live Based On Biblical Vision & Values
Intentional Discipleship / Familial Shepherding / Healthy Relationships
Rich Body Life / Empowered Prayer / Humble Servanthood / Authentic Worship
Active Witnessing / Sacrificial Giving / Cooperative Ministry / Abundant Living
Intimate Connection / Kingdom Purpose / Biblical Salvation / God Honoring
Christ desires to transform / sanctify HIS BODY into His image! In doing that He accomplishes HIS kingdom purposes! Our Vision & Values summarize this Christ initiated, Spirit enabled transformation.
Values and Vision are lived out by people; making choices, believing things, acting in particular ways, trusting in specific things, investing in particular things, renouncing particular things. For MIDTOWN CHURCH these things are guided by the Holy Bible the Old & New Testaments.
Bottom Line: Christ bought YOU with His life so He could make You like HIM!
There are FIVE people He want to transform all of us into: Lifelong Trainee / Trusted Sibling / Considerate Servant / Intentional Witness / Ardent Worshiper
Scripture will guide us on how to begin, the basics of attitude and action, and how to keep going
Lifelong Trainee:
#1 Priority… if we do this well , everything else flow from it!
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them,because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” ~ Matthew 9 36-38
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:18-20
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ~ John 8:31-32
Trusted Sibling:
Relationships with other disciples are crucial…and Jesus’ standards are high!
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” ~ John 13:34-35
And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10: 24-25
Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. ~ Hebrews 13:1-3
Considerate Servant:
My experience in The Philippines
But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” ~ Matthew 20:25-28
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” ~ Luke 16:13
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. ~ John 12:24-26
Intentional Witness:
This is our biggest growth opportunity as a body!
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:8
To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. ~ Colossians 1:27-29
So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:15-17
Ardent Worshiper:
‘Ardent‘ = Whole Hearted / Dedicated / Sincere / Committed
‘Worship’ = Exalt / Revere / Glorify / Honor / Adore / Praise / Respect
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:1-2
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” ~ Matthew 4:8-10
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” ~ John 4:23-24 NLT
Application:
What is important to these five people?
What do they experience in their walk with Christ?
What do they do on a regular basis?
What do the people they spend a lot of time with?
Communion:
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26