Sermons

Today, we kicked off the month of September with “Wear Your Colors” Sunday. The garment of the Christian is the white robe that we wear into the waters of baptism. It never leaves us, reminding us of the change that has happened by Christ’s mercy.

As Romans 12 instructs us, God’s mercy enables us to think, behave, and bear fruit like Jesus. We are the image of God showing our world what Jesus looks like. Our bodies are the living temple of the Holy Spirit. As we sacrifice our lives for him, we start a Jesus revolution in our world.

We begin in three ways.

1. Think
   We “abide in the teachings of Jesus,” as 2 John 9 instructs.
   We admit we have unbeliefs and trust Jesus with those doubts.
2. Act
   We live our way into a new way of thinking.
3. Bear Fruit
   God plants the seeds of this fruit when Jesus takes control of our lives. As we grow in him, these fruit begin to be born in our lives.

Think of this process like a bicycle. The wheel, the chain, and the gears all have to move together. No one part can stand alone. Simultaneously, a rider must pedal in order to move.

We are the riders on the journey. We can’t merely read the owner’s manual (the Bible), or watch others riding. We can’t simply think about what the concepts are. We too must get on the bike and ride—like children with training wheels. This humility makes us all beginners in Christ; and our lives change in three ways.

1. Grow
   We grow to become more like followers of Jesus.
   We are able “to discern what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2-3)
2. Belong (Romans 12:4-8)
   We belong to a body with many moving parts.
3. Share (Romans 12:9-21)
   We serve faithfully in the world because of the mercy that Christ has shown to us.