We Are Formed | Romans 12_1-2

Sermon on Christian Formation by Jonathan Shradar

Romans 12:1–2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV)

The gospel transforms us to be more like Jesus in community.

Living things are shaped by their context.

Jen Oshman tells the story of being on a hike in Colorado’s famous Garden of the Gods and how her brisk pace was halted by a tree. She saw it when she emerged from the woods. A solitary evergreen jutting out of the expanse of redstone.

On one side of the tree were all of its limbs, all pointing decidedly to the east. The west side of the tree was barren, its gnarly and ringed trunk fully exposed. Like a Picasso painting the evergreen did not grow straight, but rather in an incongruent spiral, curving unexpectedly this way and that.

The exposure of daily and steady winds - and the absence of other trees to break the wind - determined how this tree would grow.

This scene, like so many others, proclaims an obvious but often ignored truth: living things are shaped by their context.

This truth applies to you and me too. We are shaped by the winds that blow around us.

For Oshman, who tells the story of the tree in an essay about our age of the omnipresent smartphone, the winds that shape us are online or “in the air.” These are certainly “prevailing winds” among others.

Just read Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (1985). His thesis centers around a concern for the way we have allowed entertainment to influence all categories of life…

It is nearly impossible to not be discipled by media; algorithms tailoring what we see, giving our itching ears exactly what they crave…

Outpaces by hours the influence of friends, family, trusted people in our lives. Informing how we live and think.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom.12:2). “Capture every thought for obedience to Christ” (2 Cor.10:5). “Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit” (Rom.8:5). “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” (Phil.4:8).

“nothing is more daily, automatic, important, and transforming than our thinking process—all of these verses make that undeniably clear. And we don’t live in a quiet library of possible thoughts, but in a whirlwind of snake-oil salesmen, fear-mongers, thought-thieves, and mind-manipulators.

Quite honestly, it’s discipleship—whole life formation. Whoever or whatever is capturing our imagination, minds, convictions, and affection is determining pretty much everything about us. These disciplers come to us in the form of bombastic broadcasters and social media voices, peers we envy and artists we enjoy. But we also have a community of powerful disciplers living inside us. They are our loudest fears, deepest insecurities, treasured idols and unresisted lusts.” Scotty Smith

We, like the tree, can find ourselves windworn and out of place, misshapen. Or we can be firmly rooted with other healthy trees in the forest. Growing to the heavens, thriving, as we should be.

Keep this in mind as we endeavor to catch the vision for how the Christian lives in Christ, made new, increasingly like Jesus.

The gospel transforms us to be more like Jesus in community.

Week three of our “We Are” series. What it means to be a follower of Christ. Free, Fearless, and now Formed.

What we know of the gospel - if you have never heard of Jesus this is a good intro! Jesus, as God, who gave himself to save humanity to pay the penalty for sin of all who believe, he welcomes you, loves, chooses, claims, does what’s necessary for, and calls you his own as you are in your truest self.

People hear of religion and think that you have to be transformed first, clean up your act, then Jesus would save you! Nope. You could never be clean enough! Salvation, your justification before God is based on his righteousness.

Then comes sanctification, transformation, living for different outcomes, following Jesus’ commands, your nature changing, less influenced by the wind and waves of the world.

In Christ, we are meant for transformation.

Romans 8:28–29 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (ESV)

Philippians 2:5 “Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.” (MSG)

1 John 2:6 “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (ESV)

Galatians 4:19 “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” (ESV)

So how do we get there?

Using Romans 12, which is the hinge in the letter to the church, follows glorious doctrine, the transition to practical living in light of the truth.

“The ethical vision of these later chapters of Romans flows from the grand vision of divine grace in the first 11 chapters. Giving glory to God (11:36) is worship, and that is what the gospel enables (12:1) as people present their whole selves and lives completely to God. Part of this is a break with “this world” in its negative aspects, allowing renewal and discernment (v. 2), resulting in life that is “good and acceptable and perfect” (that is, “complete,” fulfilling God’s purposes).

We are formed in the gospel

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God…”

Paul is making the appeal based on what has come before in the letter to the Christians in Rome.

It was the good news of Jesus.

Romans 1:16–17 “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. [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (ESV)

Romans 3:21–26 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—[22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (ESV)

Romans 5:1–5 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (ESV)

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

The rational response to this is to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, committing your whole self, to God, your true and proper worship. “The aim of the gospel is not merely doctrinal truth but lives that connect with God, delight in his will, and further his interests in glad communion with him.” GTB

You do have a choice. It is significant, and many miss out on the joys of sanctification because they don’t go all in.

But it's also important to notice that Paul is not telling the church to change themselves.

He calls us to refuse to be discipled or formed, aligned to this world and instead be transformed.

Rome in the first century was not unique in what was on display, luckily they didn’t have technology like we do, but conforming enticements were exactly the same. Rejection of God, elevation of self, sensuality, greed, violence.

Garbage in, garbage out. Freedom in, freedom out.

Colossians 3:1–4 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (ESV)

“Spiritual formation for the Christian basically refers to the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself.” Dallas Willard,. Renovation of the Heart

We will become more and more like our Lord the more and more we behold him.

He promises.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (ESV)

Ephesians 5:25–27 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (ESV)

Japanese square watermelons. Grown in a plastic box. Only like 20% work. Here though, all that are presented to Christ, before God are sanctified. It is Jesus who began a good work and will bring it to completion.

[Then comes the positive command: “. . . but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Again the language is graphic. “Transformed” sounds like “metamorphosed” in the original and is the word from which we get metamorphosis, the change from one form to another, as in the transformation of the tadpole to the frog or the caterpillar to the butterfly. But the full meaning is even richer, as the other three uses of the word in the New Testament indicate. In Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 it is used to describe the transfiguration of Christ—when the Lord’s glorious inner essence was allowed to show through his body so that his face radiated like the sun and his clothing was white with light. We experience such transfiguration in Christ. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 (using the very same word):

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”]

So we bank on the promises of it but we don’t neglect the truths behind them, the good news of Jesus, the ancient promise of the anointed One to come and establish a kingdom forever, to bring peace, liberty… the teaching of Jesus, “you have heard it said, but I say…” as the ethic we abide by, the unfolding of his kingdom through the birth of the church and welcome of all who will believe. Knowing nothing but Christ and him crucified. His word living and active, his Spirit that gives life.

Rich nutrients to grow on, renewed minds, transforming work in us by the gospel.

Pray as Scotty does, “Jesus, rescue us, free us—consume and compel us with your love. Only you are worthy of our attention, allegiance, affection, and adoration. By the work of the Holy Spirit, may your beauty, goodness, and truth be the most treasured and transforming realities in our lives. You aren’t a worldview, philosophy of life, political party, or means to any end. You are our Creator, Redeemer, and King—our righteousness, peace, and joy … the meaning of everything, the sovereign over all things, and the glorious hope of all history.” Scotty Smith

Then we can test what is right, live by what is good and God’s will. But it is not done alone.

The gospel forms us in community

All of what I have said could happen alone. But it’s not meant to. “Quiet times” have done a disservice to discipleship, in that they have so individualized, privatized our pursuit of Jesus and being like him. Discipleship by its very definition is meant to be in community.

We have to keep reading.

Romans 12:3–8 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. [4] For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, [5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. [6] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; [7] if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; [8] the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (ESV)

All of what was written, all of Romans, is for the church, To be lived out by the church. To experience renewal of minds as iron is sharpening iron, to be formed by the gospel as we have brothers and sisters reminding us of the truths of Christ.

The gospel does not produce perpetual spectators but mobilizes hearers to make a difference for others as God has made a difference in them. We love as he has loved us (Eph. 4:32–5:2). We serve as he has served us (Mark 10:45).” GTB

All the unique and diverse gifts put to work to grow the trees of the church. (Pic)

“Our God-given strengths (vv. 6–8) may involve gifts of a “public” nature (prophecy, teaching, exhorting), or we may find ourselves using our gifts in a more non-public way (serving, contributing, leading, showing mercy). In either case, God has assigned each believer a faith-capacity that begs for expression in serving God and others.”

In the modern era we have assumed thinking of the body and its parts meant someone was gifted to work lights, another to play the guitar, someone could preach, and someone could hand out bulletins. It became about a program. What is in mind in this text though is the building up of the people that are the church, filling in for the weaknesses of the others, training up from the expertise of another, learning from the experience of the few, everyone breathing life into the forest of the church!

To push back against the prevailing conforming to this world and discern together what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And to get there the church needs to repent. About the focus on production and the outsourcing of discipleship.

I have had to repent for neglecting your formation. Allowing a desire to give plenty of time for healing from difficult experiences there has been a hesitancy to present healthy expectations.

“Your local church embodies the unity of the Spirit – one Lord, one faith, one baptism – and the diversity of gifts given to each of us according to Christ’s gift. It is there, in the local church, God has given us shepherds and teachers to equip us for the work of ministry, “building up the body of Christ, until we attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” It is there that we find the solid ground to no longer be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” It is there that we learn to speak the truth in love, grow up into Christ, and build one another up in love.” Skyler Flowers

So we will use our gifts.

Formation Framework. We believe the more we are like Christ, the more His kingdom will go forth in our city. To that end we are establishing a clear framework for members of Reservoir to grow together. A trellis for the vine of the church to grow on… a forest for the trees to flourish in.

Categorized in five relationships, many of which already exist for some of us.

Formational Friendship - Two or three same gender peers meeting regularly for accountability, gospel reminders and growth.

Formational Mentorship - An individual meeting monthly with someone they view as more spiritually mature for sharing life and wisdom in living in light of the gospel.

Community Formation - Small groups, Bible studies, ministry teams. Meeting to remind each other of the gospel and fellowship and do ministry together.

Congregational Formation - Sunday worship gatherings, all-church prayer, special services, classes, where we learn and live the mission of the church as a body.

Future Spiritual Direction - Individual coaching or direction with professional directors facilitated by Reservoir.

Nothing innovative, but intentional. We do not want to take formation for granted and we do not want any of our “trees” to be left in the wind.

Ensuring we present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, discerning together the will of God, stirring one another to love and good works.

That the gospel would do its transforming work in us, for our good and the glory of Christ.

As I was preparing the image of Elijah seeing the prophets of Baal defeated kept coming to mind. Do you know the story?

1 Kings 18:33–38 “And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” [34] And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. [35] And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

[36] And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. [37] Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” [38] Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” (ESV)

We set up the wood, the Lord brings the fire. We offer ourselves in response to the gospel, in community, and he brings the transformation.

The gospel transforms us to be more like Jesus in community.

Commit to the gospel - I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord, it is your rational service! Don’t settle. From the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for you, lean into his promise of sanctification.

Commit to each other - For as in one body we each have many members so we are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. These are our one anothers, Let’s be formed together.

There is something peaceful about being in the forest when the wind is blowing. It doesn’ often reach you. Rarely makes the trees sway. The sound is a steadiness, a unity against the elements.

This is the church committed to the gospel and committed to each other.

May it be so in us.