Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to completely be sold out to Jesus Christ.

Would you be weird, a Jesus-freak, so heavenly minded your no earthly good?

What would it look like if your life was completely led by the power and Spirit of God; to have the confidence through Christ to overcome your fears and get over your insecurities, and truly be set free from the sin and weights that so easily control you?

To have the confidence through Christ to overcome your fears and get over your insecurities.

For most Christians today this is a fantasy.

Honestly most Christians don’t even see a necessity in even trying.

We have this idea that Jesus has done the hard part for us of making sure I am saved from my sin so now I just need to stay on God’s good side.

So we don’t really try to mortify or kill the flesh we just want to keep it under control, for the most part.

We are completely content with being forgiven even if we are never transformed.

If this is the story of your Christian life, your missing out on the power of the Gospel.

Jesus didn’t come just to save you, He came to transform you.

The power of the gospel is so much more than the forgiveness of sin or a ticket to heaven.

The Spirit has the will and the power to transform you into the very image of Jesus Christ.

Through the power of the gospel you can take on the image and likeness of God.

So what does it take to literally and completely be transformed into the image and likeness of God?

Preview:

Transform your salvation into a living sacrifice.

Transform your mind from worldly to worship.

Transform your ways to the will of God.

You must prove out the will of God.

Rom 12:

Transform your Salvation into a Living Sacrifice.

Receiving God’s mercy and forgiveness frees us to transform.

God’s love and mercy is calling out to make you something new.

The message of Jesus is to save you in death but to set you free from death so that you might truly live.

A living sacrifice must be resurrected from the dead.

Becoming a follower of Christ requires a voluntary sacrifice of your life.

You present your life on God’s alter so that he might take it up again and use it for his purpose.

At this point, your life is not your own.

It has been set apart or holy to God.

Abraham and his son Issac.

He was obedient to lay his life on the alter at the request of his father.

Rom 6:

Not until you are willing to die can you ever truly live.

God has no interest in helping or saving your sin filled life.

It must be put to death.

What needs to die and be reborn?

Your pride must be reborn in humility.

Your will must be reborn in God’s plan.

Your selfishness must be reborn in selflessness.

Your past hurts, habits, and hangups must be reborn into hopes, holiness, and help for others.

Transform your Mind from “Worldly” to “Worship.”

Renewing your mind is trading your thoughts for God’s thoughts.

Is 55:

Your mind is renewed with the truth and wisdom from God.

The Spirit is the revealer of God’s truth.

Truth about God.

Truth about Yourself and others.

The Spirit is the guide of God’s truth.

John 16:13

You must take captive the lies that come from this world and the lies that come from you.

You must make the decisions to change your course.

You don’t just start acting differently you have to think differently.

Then you begin to speak differently about life.

Then you make better decisions for your life.

Then you act differently.

How do we go from Worldly to Worship.

Create a sacred space and time to read and study God’s word.

Make your quite time a conversation with God and not a check box.

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

The “Bless Me” check list.

(God if I do these things I expect that you are going to bless my life.)

Read something spiritual in the morning.

(Book, devotion, not the Bible because I don’t understand that, podcast, or blog).

Acknowledge God in a short prayer as you are walking out the door or maybe on your commute to the office.

Try to do a good deed for someone throughout the day.

(This is not a requirement for the list but a bonus if it happens)

Pray over meals to show you are thankful.

And say night night prayers when the kids go to bed as you pour your class of wine.

Give the minimal amount required if any to the mission.

If you do these things and God doesn’t give you peace, stability, wealth, and success you feel like God has failed you.

My Worship check list (God because you have done so much this is the least that I can do.)

Have a set time each day to be in the presence of God.

Meditate on God’s Word day and night until it guides my thoughts and paths.

Pour out my heart of love and adoration for God as I make my request known to him.

(this requires time.)

Set myself apart as an image bearer of God almighty and conduct myself as such.

Set my mind on the mission of God looking for divine appointments throughout the day.

Make it a priority to mentor other believers as I was mentored.

Give the maximum amount of my time, talent, and treasure for the furtherance of the kingdom.

Transform your Ways to the Will of God.

Changing your ways starts with changing your mind.

Think differently (This is where the word of God is helpful)

Speak differently (This is where your friends and church are helpful)

Decide Differently (New mind produces new conclusions)

Act differently (Walking in the wisdom of God)

When the trials come you will know the will and way of God.

God’s ways are Good

God’s ways are acceptable.

God’s ways are perfect or complete.

Today’s Challenge:

Be transformed by the gospel and not just forgiven.

Practice a life of worship by getting rid of your worldly check list.

By renewing your mind you will be ready to discern the ways of the Lord through every trial of life.