God's Way
Ethics of a Life Transformed by Christ
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Focusing on one chapter of the Bible during the entire summer gives us the opportunity to really think about what we're doing - and to learn from our mistakes!
Each week there will be a brief blog post to get your thinking started. Then you just focus on living out those words in the midst of your relationships - while working, camping, golfing, shopping, swimming, ... You get the picture.
Because of the popularity of the number 12 in the Seattle area, because of the "12th Man" fan base of the Seattle Seahawks football team, we've made a shameless connection to the 12th Man flag. As the Seahawks begin training camp, we'll be training in practical Christian ethics...and improving our relationships with others.
Each Monday during the summer I'll post a "Transformed for Good" weekly thought for a renewed mind on this blog.
July 14
Focus on the theme of giving in Romans 12:3-8
(For the remainder of the summer, we'll focus on bite-size pieces of Paul's practical words of guidance in verses 9-21)Focus on the theme of giving in Romans 12:3-8
July 21
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Verses 9-10)
July 28
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Verses 11-12)
August 4
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Verse 13)
August 11
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. (Verses 14-16a)
August 18
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. (Verse 16b)
August 25
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Verses 17b-18)
September 1
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Verses 17a, 19-21)
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Sermon 1 of 3
Transformed for Good. Part 1: Renewing
http://northcreekpres.org/#/home/sermons
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.
Can we really live God's way in the real world? It takes a foundational mind shift, made possible by what God has already done in Christ.
The key to our transformation is the renewing of our minds as an act of worship, dedicating both our minds and the body moved by our minds to God. In the process our minds focus more and more on God's mercy. God's mercy is what Paul has been teaching about in Romans 1-11, about the new life given to us in Jesus Christ.
As an exercise in renewing your mind in view of God's mercy, read Romans 6, and consider the connections to Romans 12:1-2.
Christian ethics amounts to living the change that Jesus makes. It's something only Jesus can empower, but we can count on that power to enable our acts of cooperation as we dedicate ourselves to God's purposes, oftentimes in contrast to the world around us.
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