8.30 Holy Communion One Romans 12.1-8 TNIV page...

8.30 Holy Communion One

Romans 12.1-8 TNIV page 1075

Matthew 16.13-20 TNIV Page 930

Conform or be transformed: the daily question facing each of us who are in the world of today: it is always the same, whenever we live we have to face this day, this era's problems.

It may be a diffetrent challenge for you or for me, for the old days or today's days, but the option is the same: conform to the world's standards around you, or be transformed by a work of God.

humility

we live in a world which thrives on the bold, the audacious, the forthright personality: we are in awe of those who behave as if they are God's gift. To conform to that model means that we in the church should commend the arrogant, promote the proud, and ridicule the modest. But to be transformed?

Surely that means we in the church should "not think of ourselves more highly than we ought": use proper judgment rather than inflated egos. It is how we think about ourselves.

service

we live in a community which idolises the person with the most servants, the most lackies, the most fans: we are in awe of those with the biggest staff. To conform to that model would means that we in the church would value the biggest church, the most extravagant staff numbers, and laugh at the struggling little church. But to be transformed?

Surely that means we in the church should honour the leader who serves well, the person who uses their gifts sacrificially. It is how we think about serving

identity

we live in a christian world which focusses on our denomination, our outlook, our theological standpoint: we are in awe of the church with the most loyal adherents. To conform to that value system means that we in a local church would be proud of our distinctive character, our separateness, and pity the church with the blurred edges. But to be transformed?

Surely that means we in a local church should see strength only in how much we are together in Christ. "in Christ we, though many, form one body" and see the strident independence of all denominations as a weakness.

diversity

we live in a society which wants us all to have the same stuff: iPods, modern cars, mobile phones, similar styles of hair, similar lengths of clothes, popularity. Young people seem more susceptible to peer pressure than their elders, but none of us is beyond seeing what our neighbour has or does and wondering should be be the same? That is conforming. But to be transfromed?

Surely that means celebrating the diversity of life: of nationality and favourite sports and teams, of worship style or dress style, of gifts of one form or another.We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us (Ro 12:6).