WEBVTT

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 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

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 holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.

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 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your

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 mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect

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 will. For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you, do not think of yourself more highly

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 than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of

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 faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not

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 all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to

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 all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying,

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 let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve. If it is teaching,

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 let him teach. If it is encouraging, let him encourage. If it is contributing to the needs of

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 others, let him give generously. If it is leadership, let him govern diligently. If it is showing mercy,

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 let him do it cheerfully. This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thank you, Lord.

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 Lord Jesus, we thank you that you have come amongst us as a man, the creator God of the universe,

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 and we thank you that you have laid down your life for our sins, and we thank you that in power your

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 Father has raised you to life, never to die again. And we pray, Lord, that as we come to your word now,

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 that we would sit under your lordship, that we would marvel at who you are, that we would be in

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 submission to you, and that each one of us, Lord, that you would be leading us in your truth and

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 growing us in Christ from the place where we are. Meet us in your word now, speak to us powerfully by

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 your spirit, and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Some of you will have seen Peter Jensen, our Archbishop on Q&A on the ABC last Monday night. You can see it

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 online if you missed it. He engaged in a very difficult debate with one woman in particular who

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 unashamedly declared herself atheist. And it was an intimidating struggle between outspoken unbelief and

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 unapologetic faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And it wasn't merely a battle of intellect and reason, it was a

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 spiritual battle that required considerable grace and wisdom in seeking a hearing on issues where people were

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 not eager to listen. Sam preached on Romans 1 a few weeks ago, and he showed us that when we reject God, we choose a

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 miserable path which is deathly. So Romans chapter 128 says,

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 furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a

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 depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed,

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 and depravity. They're full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters,

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 insolent, arrogant, boastful. And they invent ways of doing evil. They disobey their parents. They're senseless,

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 faithless, heartless, heartless, ruthless. And although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such

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 things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but also to approve of those who

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 practice them. And it defies reason. People will choose death over life. And in this bizarre manifestation of

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 evil, that people actually get comfort of taking other people to death with them.

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 We've had a great time in Romans. It explains God's gospel in the most magnificent way, and it's God's

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 response to our deathly situation. The first eight chapters address many issues, God's anger with people,

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 with men and women, why his judgment is just, why trying to keep the Ten Commandments and the rest of

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 the Old Testament law can't make us good enough for God. It tells us why faith pleases God and how true

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 peace and joy come through faith in Jesus Christ. Helps us to make sense of our ongoing struggle with sin.

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 And then in chapter 8, verse 1, this magnificent expression of God's mercy, that there is now no

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 condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And at the end of chapter 8, verse 39, that nothing,

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 nothing at all in the entire universe is able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.

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 And so in Christ, we have received extraordinary mercy from God.

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 Chapters 9 to 11, they're a bit different, they're really substantial, but they're like an excursus or an

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 excursion into the place of the Jews in God's plan of salvation. But chapter 12 brings us to where I'm

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 preaching today and it begins with these words. And I'm not going to get past these two verses.

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 Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

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 holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the

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 pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and then you will be able to

00:06:45.819 --> 00:06:52.339
 test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will. I heard the great

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 British Bible teacher, John Stott, preach on this passage. In my early days of being a believer,

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 he spoke to an Easter service at the University of New South Wales just before the Billy Graham

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 crusade in 1979. And he explained that the therefore is a terribly important little word,

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 it's a turning point in the letter, it is a hinge. Everything that's gone before in Romans links now to

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 what follows. It's where the rubber hits the road. We move from theory to practice, from what the good

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 news is to how the good news transforms the lives of people who believe the gospel.

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 God's action brings transformation. And so he says,

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 therefore I urge you, brethren, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

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 holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. That's the NIV.

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 God's disposition towards us, God's disposition towards people is one of mercy. And it's a particular

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 type of mercy, it's gut-wrenching pity and compassion. God knows the predicament that we're in,

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 he knows our predicament better than we see it for ourselves and he responds to it with his gut-wrenching

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 pity and compassion. I actually think chapter 12 verse 1 picks up from Romans 8, 38, 39.

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 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present

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 nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation will be able

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 to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So the first eight chapters

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 of Romans reach this crescendo in the unquenchable love of God which is shown to his people.

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 And it's the most amazing thing that God loves his creation and his heart goes out in pity

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 and compassion to his people. And then he says to us, in view of God's love, in view of God's mercy,

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 in view of God's compassion, offer yourselves, offer your bodies as living sacrifices.

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 Now the people he's writing to are very familiar with animal sacrifices. They wouldn't have been

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 shocked by some of the animal videos on our television when animals are slaughtered in Indonesia

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 and other places. Whether it was the temple in Jerusalem or the meat markets in Rome, animals

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 were slaughtered ritually and in the name of their God all the time. People saw animals killed,

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 they saw where their food came from. And people were also used to the idea of substitution,

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 an animal sacrificed in place of you. Not a bad deal. Not such a great life to be a sacrificial

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 animal. You don't choose to be a sacrifice. Someone chooses you. Your body is put on the line

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 for others. Your throat is cut and your body is burnt. The animal dies a death representative

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 of the death that we deserve. Romans chapter 5 and 8 speak about Jesus' death as a sacrifice.

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 In chapter 8 verse 3 it says,

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 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did

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 by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.

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 And Romans 12 verse 1 tells us that the only appropriate response to what God has done

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 is to become a sacrifice. Fortunately for us it's a living sacrifice. It's a whole of life commitment.

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 I urge you brothers in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and

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 pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.

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 When I became a believer I was 18, about to turn 19.

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 And I was already attending church.

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 And within a few months of coming to Christ I joined a group that met in a friend's house.

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 two-bedroom cottage, fibro cottage.

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 Hardly a small group.

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 And we worked through Luke's gospel verse by verse for a year.

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 The groove was quite a contrast to church.

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 We had a loving pastor

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 dressed in black, just like Brian was this morning.

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 See Brian this morning?

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 Full collar, boy.

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 And

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 he smoked a pipe

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 He was known as Puffing Billy.

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 But he was absolutely committed to seeing people saved.

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 And at the same time he was very stern.

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 He was formal.

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 He was a pretty lousy preacher.

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 We had a sung robed choir.

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 Members walked in every Sunday night at 7.15

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 wearing their academic hoods.

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 We had boring sermons.

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 Chanted responses.

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 I liked going

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 but I grew

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 and was nurtured in the house church.

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 The leaders loved Jesus

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 and his word.

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 And they were

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 really careful to try to teach it truthfully.

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 and they worked hard at submitting

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 to what they were learning.

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 And so for me

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 in the same place

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 two very different

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 experiences of Christians

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 gathering to worship.

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 In the house church

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 we began to study

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 this passage in Romans.

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 This is year two.

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 Year one was Luke.

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 Year two was Romans.

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 Took us all year.

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 And we got to chapter 12

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 verse 1

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 Therefore I urge you brethren

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 in view of God's mercy

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 to offer your bodies

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 as living sacrifices

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 holy and pleasing to God

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 this is your spiritual act of worship.

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 And it was really difficult for me

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 because I had been taught

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 that worship was what you did on Sunday

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 and you might have been taught that too.

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 Some of our younger people

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 may well just think

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 that worship is singing

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 because it's used like that as well.

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 But this passage

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 that we are in this morning

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 talks about the whole of life

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 as worship.

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 Everything that we do

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 whether we're here in church

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 this morning

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 or outside somewhere

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 through the week

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 everything that we do

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 is a response

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 to who God is.

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 And I remember

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 going to the rector

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 to talk about it

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 because I was confused

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 and it threw it up for me

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 and he said to me

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 don't worry about it my boy

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 church on Sunday

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 is true worship.

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 All these other groups

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 well they're

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 then things

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 they're okay

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 but they're not true worship.

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 Church on Sunday

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 is where you need to be.

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 Well of course you need to be

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 at church on Sunday

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 it's a great place

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 to gather with God's people

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 and encourage one another.

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 And I've spent a lot of time

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 wrestling with that

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 over the years.

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 I gave you verbatim

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 of what he said.

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 I loved him

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 and he's with the Lord now

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 but I think he was wrong

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 and I think he was wrong

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 in two ways.

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 Both those gatherings

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 of Christ's church

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 were true

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 and valid expressions

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 of devotion

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 to Jesus.

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 One of them

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 was very formal

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 and the other

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 was very informal.

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 Both involved

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 believers

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 coming together

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 to encourage

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 each other

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 in Christ

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 and learn from his word

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 both involved

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 worship

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 or service.

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 And the second error

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 is to define

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 worship narrowly

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 as merely

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 coming to church

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 on Sunday.

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 and a group

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 or two

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 through the week.

00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:28.059
 Romans chapter 12

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 verse 1

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 says it is

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 a whole of life

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 commitment

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 a whole of life

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 response to Christ

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 a whole of life

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 response to the gospel.

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 And listen to the force

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 of these words

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 I urge you

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 I implore you

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 the great apostle

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 pushes his point

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 to the max

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 in view of God's mercy

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 in view of God's gospel

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 in view of Romans

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 chapter 1

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 to Romans chapter 11

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 in view of what God

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:55.860
 has done

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 we must respond.

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 He has brought us

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 from death to life

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 if we have put

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 our faith

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 in the Lord Jesus Christ

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 he has forgiven

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 everything.

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 He's wiped away

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 sexual indiscretion

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 he's taken our lies

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 he's taken our

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 unfaithfulness

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 he's dealt with

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 our dishonest

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 dealings

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 he's working

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 on our hate

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 everything that

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 gets in the way

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 of us relating

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 to him

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 Christ has dealt

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 with at the cross

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 and you see

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 that this

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 mercy of God

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 is just enormous

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 and so in Christ

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 we have a new

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.400
 beginning

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.880
 this is God's

00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:38.019
 momentous news

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 and it's great news

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 for anybody

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 who is humble

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 enough to listen

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 and to respond

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 absolutely liberating

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 God deals with

00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:47.340
 our sins

00:17:47.340 --> 00:17:48.420
 he sets us free.

00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.700
 Twelve chapters

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.380
 of Romans

00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:56.299
 is summarised

00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.180
 by three verses

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.039
 in Ephesians

00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:01.580
 so if you want

00:18:01.580 --> 00:18:01.920
 to learn

00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.720
 Romans chapter

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.840
 1 to 12

00:18:03.840 --> 00:18:04.519
 off by heart

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.360
 go to Ephesians

00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:06.000
 chapter 2

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.660
 8 to 10

00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:08.420
 for it is by

00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.220
 grace you have

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.000
 been saved

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.040
 through faith

00:18:11.040 --> 00:18:12.040
 and this not

00:18:12.040 --> 00:18:12.720
 from yourselves

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.600
 it is the gift

00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:14.200
 of God

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.740
 not by works

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.600
 so that no one

00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:17.259
 can boast

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:19.980
 for we are

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.840
 God's workmanship

00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:22.259
 created in Christ

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.380
 Jesus to do

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.160
 good works

00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:24.880
 which God

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.960
 prepared in advance

00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.860
 for us to do

00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:31.600
 so God saved

00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:31.960
 us

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:34.420
 and now there is

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.279
 much that we can

00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:35.940
 do for him

00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:39.539
 we enter

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:39.920
 into the

00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.660
 king's service

00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:42.380
 we are his

00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.740
 Romans chapter

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.640
 6 describes

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.360
 this as becoming

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:45.900
 a slave

00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.400
 to a new

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:46.860
 master

00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:48.240
 we're all

00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:48.660
 slaves

00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:49.100
 the issue

00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:49.640
 is who

00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:50.200
 is your

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.559
 master

00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:55.920
 and so

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.620
 our spiritual

00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:57.440
 act of worship

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:57.840
 that's the

00:18:57.840 --> 00:18:58.640
 NIV again

00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.380
 or service

00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.600
 is total

00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:01.160
 it's whole

00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.620
 of life

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.180
 it's nothing

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.480
 more

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.000
 it's nothing

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.360
 less

00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:04.039
 it's not

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:04.740
 about bottoms

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.340
 on seats

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.019
 on Sunday

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.500
 it's about

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:06.959
 living for

00:19:06.959 --> 00:19:07.419
 Jesus

00:19:07.419 --> 00:19:10.619
 choosing to

00:19:10.619 --> 00:19:11.159
 live Jesus

00:19:11.159 --> 00:19:11.439
 way

00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:12.279
 making conscious

00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:12.859
 decisions

00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.599
 day by day

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.220
 moment by

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.599
 moment

00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:16.079
 to do and

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.759
 respond to

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.319
 what Jesus

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.039
 wants and not

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.459
 what we are

00:19:18.459 --> 00:19:19.359
 naturally inclined

00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:19.859
 to do

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:24.779
 we will have

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:25.420
 all carry

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.259
 different burdens

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.920
 and struggles

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.099
 to this

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:28.579
 morning

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:32.700
 how do we

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.480
 honour Christ

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.259
 in the midst

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.720
 of those

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.099
 struggles

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:35.700
 what does it

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.240
 mean to

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:36.859
 trust him

00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.799
 what does it

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.240
 mean to be

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:38.819
 faithful to

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:39.119
 him

00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:43.220
 therefore I

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.619
 urge you

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.259
 brothers and

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:44.619
 sisters

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.639
 in view of

00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:46.319
 God's mercy

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:49.139
 to offer your

00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:49.839
 bodies as

00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.980
 living sacrifices

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.779
 holy and

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.660
 pleasing to God

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.259
 this is your

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:54.160
 spiritual act

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.680
 of worship

00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:57.180
 and I want

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.600
 to come back

00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:57.880
 to that

00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:58.220
 I want to

00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.580
 say to you

00:19:58.580 --> 00:19:59.160
 that spiritual

00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.660
 act of

00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.180
 service

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:01.580
 which is

00:20:01.580 --> 00:20:01.880
 what the

00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:02.820
 NIV has

00:20:02.820 --> 00:20:03.640
 is a very

00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.279
 unhelpful

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.960
 translation

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.700
 because it

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.480
 actually says

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.080
 this is your

00:20:09.080 --> 00:20:10.100
 logical act

00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:10.620
 of worship

00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:12.100
 this is your

00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:13.100
 reasonable act

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:13.600
 of worship

00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:15.259
 it is the

00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.120
 most reasonable

00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:16.740
 it is the

00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.500
 most rational

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.400
 thing to do

00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:20.420
 and it's

00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.160
 really interesting

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.720
 because I

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.680
 think we

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.080
 ought to be

00:20:23.080 --> 00:20:23.780
 about feelings

00:20:23.780 --> 00:20:24.380
 and emotions

00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:24.880
 it ought to be

00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.360
 part of our

00:20:25.360 --> 00:20:25.820
 worship and

00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:26.300
 who we are

00:20:26.300 --> 00:20:26.860
 in Christ

00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:27.759
 but it is

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.500
 really clear

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.040
 that this is

00:20:29.040 --> 00:20:29.640
 much more than

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.160
 feeling good

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.560
 about the

00:20:30.560 --> 00:20:30.960
 gospel

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.800
 Paul has

00:20:32.800 --> 00:20:33.660
 taken pages

00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.280
 and pages

00:20:34.280 --> 00:20:34.840
 and chapters

00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:35.320
 and chapters

00:20:35.320 --> 00:20:36.040
 to explain

00:20:36.040 --> 00:20:36.720
 his gospel

00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.740
 and now in

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.460
 one verse he

00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.120
 calls us to

00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:39.780
 good thinking

00:20:39.780 --> 00:20:43.680
 God does not

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.259
 ask us to

00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:44.960
 throw away our

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.400
 minds to

00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.180
 believe in him

00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:46.880
 we are to

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:47.740
 use our minds

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.200
 and to see

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.519
 that the

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.359
 most logical

00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.099
 response to

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.539
 what God

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:50.960
 has done

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.400
 is to give

00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:51.940
 ourselves to

00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.180
 him

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:55.339
 he's proved

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.039
 his love

00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.240
 respond to

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.240
 it it defies

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.440
 logic not to

00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:04.859
 atheism works

00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.980
 furiously to

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.700
 deny God

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.920
 and do you

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.339
 know what

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.079
 they have to

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.220
 because if

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:13.140
 God is as

00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:13.960
 good as the

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.799
 scriptures say

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.480
 he is

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.759
 then we are

00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.720
 absolute fools

00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.440
 to reject

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:18.799
 him

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:25.100
 the other

00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:25.640
 part of this

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.279
 passage says

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.640
 do not

00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.240
 conform any

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:27.779
 longer to the

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.140
 pattern of

00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:28.600
 this world

00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.059
 but be

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:30.000
 transformed by

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.539
 the renewing

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:30.839
 of your

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:31.319
 mind

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:34.440
 and then you

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:34.940
 will be able

00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.700
 to test and

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.339
 approve what

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.160
 God's will is

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:37.799
 his good

00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.579
 perfect and

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.360
 pleasing will

00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.019
 see the minds

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.519
 are still in

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.059
 action in the

00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:41.819
 second verse as

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.140
 well

00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:46.120
 conformed or

00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:46.800
 transformed

00:21:46.800 --> 00:21:47.759
 the words

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.840
 presume that

00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:49.460
 the usual

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.520
 ways conformity

00:21:50.520 --> 00:21:52.759
 to be pressed

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.740
 or moulded into

00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.520
 the ways of the

00:21:54.520 --> 00:21:54.860
 world

00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:56.880
 the word is

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.600
 age it's not

00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.100
 world

00:21:58.100 --> 00:22:00.440
 conformed to

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.759
 the ways of

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.520
 this age

00:22:02.520 --> 00:22:04.180
 there's a

00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:05.080
 contrast between

00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:05.800
 this age in

00:22:05.800 --> 00:22:06.440
 which we live

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.019
 in the age

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.620
 which is yet

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.120
 to come

00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.740
 when Christ

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.420
 will be seen

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:10.940
 as king

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:13.600
 and the

00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.220
 bible's very

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.840
 clear that we

00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:15.320
 live in an

00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:15.920
 age which is

00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.559
 coming to an

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.180
 end it is

00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.140
 temporary we

00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:19.680
 become resident

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.700
 aliens with

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.660
 visitor permits

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:24.540
 old christian song

00:22:24.540 --> 00:22:25.120
 is right when

00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:25.800
 it says that

00:22:25.800 --> 00:22:26.660
 this world is

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.300
 not our home

00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:27.779
 we are only

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.840
 visiting this

00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:29.180
 planet

00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:33.940
 we are temporary

00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:35.259
 residents of

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.900
 this age

00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:38.700
 and we are

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.259
 heirs of the

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.000
 age to come

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:43.800
 we still live

00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:44.160
 with the

00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.180
 pressure of

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.900
 life here

00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:48.860
 we see the

00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.560
 same media

00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:50.620
 we're subject

00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:51.279
 to the same

00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.279
 temptations as

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:52.940
 everybody else

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.460
 is subject

00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:53.839
 to

00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:57.799
 I think it's

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.379
 foolish to

00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:58.879
 pretend that

00:22:58.879 --> 00:22:59.180
 we're not

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.680
 drawn by

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.980
 sin and

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.660
 affected by

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.000
 sin

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.740
 it's better to

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.339
 be honest than

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.059
 not to hide our

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.519
 struggles

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:08.420
 and too many

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.180
 christians get

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:10.039
 caught out saying

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.619
 one thing and

00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.319
 living completely

00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:11.879
 differently

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:14.779
 it's hypocrisy

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.359
 which brings

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:16.940
 shame on the

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.359
 name of the

00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.039
 lord jesus

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:22.099
 so the gospel

00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:22.940
 calls us to

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.619
 break with our

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:24.200
 past to

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.299
 reject conformity

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:27.480
 to be

00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.420
 transformed in

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.059
 our minds to

00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.920
 be transformed in

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.200
 our thinking to

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.000
 think differently

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:35.140
 the ongoing

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.920
 transformation is

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.660
 envisaged it's

00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.339
 not like we just

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.019
 arrived we don't

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.440
 have to do

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.140
 anything anymore

00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.000
 this is ongoing

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.200
 the work of

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.099
 christy spirit in

00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.559
 our lives

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.980
 the christian life

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.759
 is a journey where

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.579
 we are constantly

00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.599
 learning how to

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.440
 think differently

00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:52.279
 romans chapter 8

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.920
 talks about

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.619
 mindset

00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:55.339
 verse 5

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.000
 those who live

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.680
 according to the

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.619
 sinful nature have

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.980
 their minds set

00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.200
 on what that

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.220
 nature desires

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:03.779
 but those who

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.500
 live in accordance

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.160
 with the spirit

00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:05.920
 have their minds

00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.779
 set on what the

00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.640
 spirit desires

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:13.680
 transformed is a

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.819
 wonderful word in

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.779
 the original language

00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.640
 it's the word that

00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.980
 we get metamorphosis

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.400
 from

00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:21.019
 so to be

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:22.180
 transformed is to

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.279
 be metamorphosed

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:26.539
 the caterpillar spins

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.400
 its cocoon

00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:29.000
 goes to sleep

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.120
 and it goes through

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:32.060
 the process of

00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:33.019
 metamorphosis

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.700
 it changes

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.759
 it emerges from

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.720
 the cocoon

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.440
 transformed

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.759
 into the most

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.940
 magnificent moths

00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:41.380
 and butterflies

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.460
 it's changed from

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:42.980
 a creature

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.480
 that crawls on

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.220
 its belly to a

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.680
 creature that

00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.120
 flies

00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:48.080
 it goes through

00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:49.400
 radical regeneration

00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:55.060
 same word is used

00:24:55.060 --> 00:24:55.860
 of the lord jesus

00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:56.259
 when he's

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.019
 transfigured in

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:58.119
 his heavenly

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:58.779
 form

00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:00.240
 the disciples

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.940
 get a glimpse

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.559
 of his heavenly

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.059
 glory

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:06.339
 when we become

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:06.960
 christians

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.579
 the change

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.279
 begins

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:10.619
 it begins

00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:11.440
 in our minds

00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:13.920
 it begins

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.819
 with a change

00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.420
 in thought

00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.039
 a change

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.700
 in thinking

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.319
 a change

00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:17.879
 in attitude

00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.759
 towards god

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.339
 and towards

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:19.819
 his son

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.160
 the lord

00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:21.099
 jesus christ

00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:23.359
 but it moves

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.019
 beyond that

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.460
 and paul

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.079
 urges us

00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:25.519
 to allow

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.119
 our minds

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.639
 to dwell

00:25:26.639 --> 00:25:27.059
 in good

00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.619
 places

00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:28.759
 so philippians

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.500
 chapter 4

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:31.599
 finally brothers

00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.119
 and sisters

00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:32.799
 whatever is

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.160
 true

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.859
 whatever is

00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:34.319
 noble

00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.319
 whatever is

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.740
 right

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:37.240
 whatever is

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.680
 pure

00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.519
 whatever is

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.039
 lovely

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.460
 whatever is

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.059
 admirable

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:42.859
 if anything

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.740
 is excellent

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.759
 or praiseworthy

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.379
 think about

00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:46.279
 such things

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:51.119
 our minds

00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.019
 are renewed

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.759
 as we let

00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.539
 them dwell

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.419
 in healthy

00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:55.159
 places

00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:58.880
 and as our

00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.220
 minds

00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.779
 change

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.320
 we too

00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:00.800
 change

00:26:00.800 --> 00:26:01.460
 from people

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.000
 crawling

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.500
 through the

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.160
 mud of life

00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:03.820
 into beautiful

00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:04.540
 new creatures

00:26:04.540 --> 00:26:05.240
 beginning to

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:05.580
 learn to

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:05.920
 fly

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:10.340
 I experienced

00:26:10.340 --> 00:26:10.920
 distorted

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.779
 thinking yesterday

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.420
 probably in

00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:12.779
 a fairly

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.800
 insubstantial way

00:26:13.800 --> 00:26:14.420
 but it was just

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.400
 on my mind

00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.019
 in terms of the

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.680
 message for this

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:16.980
 morning

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.360
 but we had a

00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:18.940
 wonderful day

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.519
 here yesterday

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:21.759
 with community

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.340
 group leader

00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:22.720
 training

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.180
 we were here

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:23.900
 a lot of the

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.140
 morning

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.920
 the afternoon

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.360
 and I went

00:26:26.360 --> 00:26:26.759
 home

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:28.980
 after what felt

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.819
 like a big day

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:31.400
 and it felt like

00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.120
 a really good

00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:32.759
 day

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.240
 and a God

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.920
 blessed day

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:36.220
 and I thought

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.400
 I'll watch a movie

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.180
 and relax for a

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.420
 while

00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.680
 you've earned a

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:39.960
 break

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:43.579
 but the movie

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.360
 affected my

00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:44.799
 mood

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.940
 and my thinking

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:47.200
 in a really

00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.140
 unhelpful way

00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:50.160
 and it wasn't

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.960
 sex or drugs

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.480
 or alcohol

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.000
 or anything

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.360
 awful

00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:52.899
 it was just

00:26:52.899 --> 00:26:53.399
 awful

00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:58.379
 and by the

00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:59.039
 time I finished

00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.419
 watching

00:26:59.419 --> 00:27:00.000
 which was a

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.459
 mistake

00:27:00.459 --> 00:27:02.019
 you know

00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.799
 my feelings

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.439
 were affected

00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.099
 by what

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.699
 I'd given

00:27:04.699 --> 00:27:05.299
 my mind

00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.659
 to

00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:07.079
 in a way

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.699
 that made

00:27:07.699 --> 00:27:08.119
 the whole

00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:08.699
 day feel

00:27:08.699 --> 00:27:09.159
 terrible

00:27:09.159 --> 00:27:15.240
 still don't

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.659
 understand

00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.039
 it

00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:17.679
 I'll tell you

00:27:17.679 --> 00:27:18.039
 afterwards

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.679
 what it was

00:27:18.679 --> 00:27:19.099
 so you don't

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.519
 watch it

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:21.980
 probably

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.240
 probably if I

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.619
 tell you what

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:22.879
 it was

00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:23.139
 you all

00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:23.500
 sit there

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:23.759
 nodding

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:23.940
 yeah

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.279
 did that

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:24.619
 to me

00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:24.960
 too

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:29.900
 tell you

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.139
 later

00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:35.280
 really dear

00:27:35.280 --> 00:27:35.560
 brother

00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:36.240
 challenged me

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.500
 the other

00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:36.940
 day from

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.300
 his own

00:27:37.300 --> 00:27:37.600
 life

00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:37.900
 and he

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.259
 said he's

00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:38.480
 been

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.060
 recognizing

00:27:39.060 --> 00:27:39.520
 similar

00:27:39.520 --> 00:27:39.980
 things in

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.300
 himself

00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:40.900
 he's actually

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.800
 been recognizing

00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:42.920
 that when he

00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.400
 thinks in

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.240
 particular ways

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.700
 it has an

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.180
 impact on

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.759
 relationships

00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.380
 around him

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:46.600
 and his

00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:47.320
 whole disposition

00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:49.519
 and this is

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.139
 not just about

00:27:50.139 --> 00:27:50.939
 positive thinking

00:27:50.939 --> 00:27:51.279
 stuff

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.059
 this is about

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.939
 trying to be

00:27:52.939 --> 00:27:53.980
 and live in

00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.480
 submission to

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:54.859
 Christ

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:57.220
 and so he is

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.179
 consciously working

00:27:58.179 --> 00:27:59.059
 to recognize that

00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.919
 when he starts to

00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:00.720
 think negatively

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.619
 especially in his

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.399
 marriage and with

00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:03.279
 issues towards his

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:03.759
 wife

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:06.379
 he prays in that

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:07.240
 moment that God

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.139
 would take it from

00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:08.379
 him

00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:10.939
 he prays that God

00:28:10.939 --> 00:28:11.679
 would take it from

00:28:11.679 --> 00:28:11.899
 him

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:14.299
 and in Christ

00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:15.899
 he is striving to

00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:17.200
 think differently and

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.360
 it is helping his

00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:19.180
 relationships

00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:21.820
 another friend once

00:28:21.820 --> 00:28:22.560
 said to me think

00:28:22.560 --> 00:28:23.259
 the best about

00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.120
 someone before you

00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:25.060
 presume the worst

00:28:25.060 --> 00:28:28.500
 I think I know it

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.300
 for myself and you

00:28:29.300 --> 00:28:29.759
 will too

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:31.380
 you know you can

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:33.000
 actually go into a

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:34.060
 brain spiral can't

00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:34.620
 you can think

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.600
 something terrible

00:28:35.600 --> 00:28:36.820
 like just take your

00:28:36.820 --> 00:28:37.640
 spouse or your kids

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.500
 or something and

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.920
 you go all negative

00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.880
 on it and it goes

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.800
 down and down and

00:28:41.800 --> 00:28:42.580
 down and by the time

00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:43.280
 you're finished you

00:28:43.280 --> 00:28:44.600
 are in a real mess

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:46.500
 and the way that

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.199
 you got yourself

00:28:47.199 --> 00:28:48.219
 into that mess was

00:28:48.219 --> 00:28:50.139
 by the way you

00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:50.539
 thought

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:53.899
 your thoughts took

00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.379
 you there

00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:57.879
 your mind affected

00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:59.119
 your whole body's

00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.939
 disposition

00:28:59.939 --> 00:29:07.199
 those who live in

00:29:07.199 --> 00:29:08.000
 accordance with the

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.679
 spirit have their

00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:10.059
 mind set on what

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:11.179
 the spirit desires

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:15.880
 be transformed by

00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.600
 the renewing of

00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:18.500
 your mind and

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.120
 then you will be

00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:20.039
 able to test and

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.000
 approve what God's

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.039
 will is his good

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:23.259
 pleasing and perfect

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.620
 will

00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:27.600
 so coming to

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:28.299
 Christ is the

00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:31.019
 beginning but now

00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:32.000
 that we are his

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.340
 and I hope that

00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:34.039
 that's many of us

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.539
 sitting here in

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.299
 church this morning

00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:38.539
 the change continues

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:40.799
 as we are prepared

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.839
 for life in the

00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.720
 age to come

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:46.680
 and much of the

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.299
 change and the

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:48.740
 transformation begins

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.919
 with our minds what

00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:50.419
 we think

00:29:50.419 --> 00:29:54.119
 heard a lovely little

00:29:54.119 --> 00:29:54.819
 story about a little

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:56.000
 girl I still don't

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.740
 know if this is true

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.879
 or not but church

00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:58.940
 service one Sunday

00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:01.240
 the collection plate

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:03.399
 went around and it

00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:03.919
 came to the little

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.980
 girl and she took

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.660
 it in her hand she

00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.400
 put it on the floor

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.120
 and she stood in

00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:10.840
 it and when the

00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:11.720
 sides person said

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.320
 what's she doing

00:30:12.320 --> 00:30:13.039
 she said well in

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.820
 Sunday school I

00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.820
 learned that I was

00:30:14.820 --> 00:30:15.519
 supposed to give

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.480
 myself to God

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:20.860
 got the point of

00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.400
 the passage

00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:23.320
 applied it maybe a

00:30:23.320 --> 00:30:24.460
 little too concretely

00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:26.860
 but got the point

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:30.080
 therefore I urge you

00:30:30.080 --> 00:30:30.980
 brothers and

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:33.900
 sisters in view of

00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:35.060
 God's mercy to

00:30:35.060 --> 00:30:35.960
 offer your bodies

00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:37.380
 as living sacrifices

00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.680
 holy and pleasing to

00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:40.800
 God this is your

00:30:40.800 --> 00:30:42.720
 logical act of

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:45.720
 worship do not

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.680
 conform any longer

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.400
 to the pattern of

00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:49.960
 this world but be

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:51.080
 transformed by the

00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.800
 renewing of your

00:30:51.800 --> 00:30:54.180
 mind and then you

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.180
 will be able to test

00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.960
 and approve what

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.000
 God's will is his

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:58.160
 good pleasing and

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:58.860
 perfect will

00:30:58.859 --> 00:31:01.759
 God's will is his

00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.759
 God's will is his

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.759
 God's will is his

00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.759
 God's will is his

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.759
 God's will is his

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:07.079
 services that where

00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:07.819
 John and Leslie

00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.759
 Hicks live down the

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.199
 road and a few

00:31:09.199 --> 00:31:11.979
 others and I think

00:31:11.979 --> 00:31:13.119
 there's a huge link

00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:14.359
 between what we've

00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:15.299
 been doing in Romans

00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:16.719
 8 1 and what we've

00:31:16.719 --> 00:31:17.619
 been looking at this

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.699
 morning in Romans 12

00:31:18.699 --> 00:31:21.500
 1 because in Romans

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.919
 8 1 and then at the

00:31:22.919 --> 00:31:24.059
 end the gospel declares

00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:25.240
 there is therefore now

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:26.460
 no condemnation for

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.039
 those who are in

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:29.799
 Christ Jesus and what

00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:31.220
 that means is we stand

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.519
 under the mercy of God

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.740
 the judge of all the

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.839
 earth has taken

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:36.160
 condemnation right away

00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:37.599
 from us and we have

00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:38.460
 this magnificent

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.859
 experience of his

00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:41.380
 mercy and we are told

00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:42.240
 that nothing can

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.220
 separate us from the

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.200
 love of Christ which is

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:45.220
 in Christ Jesus our

00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:49.660
 Lord we are

00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:51.140
 recipients of

00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:53.559
 phenomenal mercy

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:56.619
 mercy and so you get

00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:58.139
 the 12 one in view of

00:31:58.139 --> 00:32:00.099
 this mercy in view of

00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:02.980
 God's mercy live for

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:06.139
 Christ your whole life

00:32:06.139 --> 00:32:08.200
 everywhere you go

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:10.019
 everything you do

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:11.399
 everything you think

00:32:11.399 --> 00:32:15.000
 and we applied it the

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.559
 other day and we

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.559
 thought you know renewed

00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.899
 minds leads to renewed

00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:20.799
 relationships and one of

00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.700
 the greatest things that

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.659
 we've received is this

00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:24.420
 experience of mercy from

00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:25.460
 God's hand towards

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:28.019
 ourselves and he has

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:29.279
 put in our hands the

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:31.720
 ability to extend

00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:34.620
 undeserved mercy in all

00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:36.040
 sorts of relationships that

00:32:36.040 --> 00:32:37.460
 we find ourselves in and

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:39.660
 I want to say let's begin

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.100
 at home

00:32:40.100 --> 00:32:43.800
 in the relationships which

00:32:43.800 --> 00:32:46.279
 are closest to us but

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:47.040
 move out from there

00:32:47.040 --> 00:32:47.759
 because we know that in

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:50.060
 our families sometimes we

00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:51.360
 carry deep hurt and

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:52.379
 wounds whether it be our

00:32:52.379 --> 00:32:53.359
 immediate family or

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.219
 families which are a bit

00:32:54.219 --> 00:32:56.979
 further out God has

00:32:56.979 --> 00:32:58.379
 given us in Christ the

00:32:58.379 --> 00:33:00.799
 tools to be full of

00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:03.219
 mercy to one another just

00:33:03.219 --> 00:33:04.619
 as we have received it for

00:33:04.619 --> 00:33:06.059
 ourselves in Christ

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:11.779
 let's pray Lord Jesus we

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.959
 pray that you would help

00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:16.299
 help us to see our whole

00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:22.720
 life as yours and we do

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:25.299
 struggle with sin in this

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:28.779
 age with weakness and

00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:31.500
 failure and sometimes grave

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:35.380
 error in our own lives but we

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:37.420
 experience it Lord in the hope

00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:39.259
 of the enormous mercy that you

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:42.980
 have shown us in Christ and we

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:44.720
 pray that just as you are

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:46.960
 transforming us that we would

00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:49.779
 be transformed in the way that

00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:51.920
 we relate to those around us

00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:55.460
 especially to those who are near

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:57.140
 us in Christ even within our own

00:33:57.140 --> 00:34:01.099
 families please transform us Lord

00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:03.259
 Jesus individually and corporately

00:34:03.879 --> 00:34:06.680
 as the people of God that your

00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:08.220
 name would be glorified in

00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:11.000
 everything we do and we pray

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:12.780
 this in Jesus precious name

00:34:12.780 --> 00:34:13.500
 Amen