Take a Bow Week 4

Changing…

Change is something that all face.

For some of us, change is welcomed and embraced. It is a chance for us to start new.

For some change is scary and the unpredictability of change makes it hard to cope with it.

Either way, change is something that happens to all of us.

I’m curious, raise your hand if you like change…

What is it about change that you like?

As we wrap up our series “Take a Bow” in which we have been talking about occupying the space that God has us in, I wanted to pivot a little bit and talk about how where we are and the method we use will change.

Section 1: Change means Sacrifice

The first thing is that change means sacrifice

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Roman 12. Today we are going to be looking at the whole chapter which breaks up into three parts that for me encapsulate what change should mean in our lives.

If you have your bibles turn to Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

1 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. 2 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.

It says therefore, in view of what?

God’s mercy. With the context of the mercy God has for us. This isn’s something to just gloss over. When we consider what God has in store for us or even when we consider the things we desire for our own lives, oftentimes, we don’t stop to consider God’s mercy. It is because of HIS mercy that are even able to offer our bodies as sacrifice.

So as we view who we are and where we are through the lense of God’s mercy, we should be aiming to be transformed.

When we think about change, we think about the world around us and how it is being impacted or how we are being impacted by things that are constantly changing. Or when you consider the space you are in and the possibility that it can change and the discomfort that comes from that, we start to feel that we are losing control. But here it says that when we conform to the things that the world tells us we need to conform to, we completely lose sight of what kind of change we should be aiming for.

So I ask you, what are you not willing to sacrifice to allow tranformation (change) to happen in your life? What are the things that are still holding you down and conforming you to this world?

Change means sacrifice.

Section 2: Change requires humility

#2 is that change requires humility.

Let’s talk about my favorite/least favorite character trait.

Romans 12:3–8 NIV

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

When we talk about occupying the space that God has for you, this is one of the most important questions to ask. What role do I play? What are the circumstances surrounding the gifts that I have or what I have to offer.

STORY ABOUT FAILING WITHOUT STUDYING.

What your role is will change as you change.

Transformation is a continuous process. you don’t just “arrive” and call it a day. You are constantly being moved and molded into who God created you to be. That means that the role you play in the functioning body of Christ will change too. You know what you need to accept that change? HUMILITY.

What you do and who you are based on how God has gifted you only sees its full potential when you are humble enough to accept it.

GIVE EXAMPLES OF THIS IN CHURCH

What about you? What are some areas you feel like you struggle to humbly accept that it may not be where God wants you?

Change requires humility

Section #3: Change is lead by love

Which leads us to love. How do you love someone? what does it look like to let love lead.

Romans 12:9–21 NIV

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The love being described here is counter-cultural love. It is a love that says regardless of circumstance or what you have done or what someone does to you, you are going to care for those people.

This kind of love is only possible with transformation. With accepting change.

Imagine a world where love is driven by us humbly accepting that in order to be transformed, we have to sacrifice our selfish desires on this earth.

TIE THIS BACK INTO ANALOGY.

Conclusion:

As we end 2024 for small groups, as we enter full force in Christmas and think about where we want to be and what we want to accomplish 25, remember that transformation is our aim. As a individual, a youth group, a church… and it requires us to sacrifice what is in the way of that, to be humble and recognize that occupying the space God has for us means being willing to take a back seat or change something, and to love in a way that is so countercultural that people are drawn to it.

Let’s pray