Being Formed and Transformed

Play Dough Game

Have a boy and girl complete to make something that their group can guess what it is first.

3 Rounds

Eagle/Bird

Pair of Shoes

School Bus

Each round wins prize

Challenge for the New School Year

How will you be formed this school year?

What are the main things that form the way we think, act, and feel?

People we are around.

Things we read, watch, and listen to

Things we spend time doing (sports, studying, church…)

Personality (intro/extroverted, quiet or loud…)

Romans 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Starting with the second verse.

Paul is challenging the people he is writing to to not be conformed to the ideas, attitudes, values, and priorities of the world.

He is challenging them to not let social pressures, fitting in to the crowd, the attitudes and motivations that drive our world, and the influences around us to form who we are.

Instead he challenges us to be “transformed” by the “renewing of our minds”

Letting God form and shape us through His Word and through His Spirit.

And by doing so, we will be able to understand (discern) what is good, pleasing and perfect in God’s eyes, and thus is what is best and more satisfying to our lives.

Now the first verse is really how we accomplish the 2nd.

“In view of the mercies of God” is pointing back to verses like Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 CSB

8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 CSB

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:1 CSB

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,

Romans 10:9 CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Thinking about all God has done for us in Jesus, present yourselves to Him to form you and shape you how He desires.

So what does this look like?

Thinking of every area of our lives, how can we present ourselves to God in order for Him to shape us/form us?

Categories

Spiritual lives

Church, Personal spiritual disciplines, FCA, accountability and encouragement from Christian Friends.

Social Lives

Building good friendships, serving others, being kind and generous with everyone, not gossiping or slandering others, not letting social media dominate our lives.

Private Lives

What we watch, what we listen to, how we spend our time when no one is looking.

Home Lives

Loving and serving family, spending time well, taking responsibility...

Any other areas of life?

Take 5 minutes to consider at least 2 things in each of the categories and write some prayers and/or goals for this school year in each.