Sermon

Transformers
More Than Meets The Eye

We have a goal of people worshiping at ICA by the year 2010 : 1,000

I believe if only 1 out of 3 of you would invite a friend that doesn’t know Christ and see that person transformed, we would reach our goals!

2 Corinthians 5:11-21
11 It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we trying to pat ourselves on the back again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart before God. 13 If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them.

Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! 17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. 20 We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
 

1. You will be and have been Transformed
    * Paul talks here about a twofold transformation:
          o One where we get to heaven
          o One right here on earth
    * What will that transformation look like?
          o We no longer live to please ourselves
          o There is the old life new life comparison
    * Our Transformed life should be the first testimony that we have to give to people
    * How do you think about Christ?
    * We are not crazy!!! BUT You may get accused of that but you are in good company.
 

2. God has given us the task to be Transformers
    * We like grace and we are a grace church
    * These verses come on the heals of Paul talking about the judgment seat of Christ
    * People won’t transform on their own
    * So what do we do exactly?
          o Realize that your family wont get saved unless you tell them
          o I’ve thought of doing a journey through hell
          o The consequences of a non-transformation is devastating!

 

 

3. God provided the parts for the Transformation
    * God did the hard part
    * They are the sought more than they are the seekers
    * Salvation isn’t through a church or a mere man
    * The account is paid in full but we need to let people know
    * If you are here today and you haven’t accepted the reconciliation it is available now today
    * Once you say “Yes, I accept it ” the transformation begins

 

 

4. We should consider ourselves ambassadors of Transformation
    * What did Paul mean here by being an Ambassador?
    * Imagine God is speaking through you!
    * Are you so passionate with people that you would plead to them “Come back to God!”
    * The Bible way of story telling is: Beginning end beginning