Worship Guide for November 27

November 26, 2022

Prepare for Sunday morning worship by using the guide below.

Romans 12:1-2

¹I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Watch the Sermon

Summary: This week we will wrap up our sermon series on the topic of discipleship. Our key verse this series has been Matthew 22:37 where Jesus says the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." So far we've covered loving God with our strength and with our hearts. This week we will consider what it means to love our God with all our mind. In our passage from Romans 12 we are jumping in right at a transition point in this letter. In the first 11 chapters, Paul has given a dense theology of the sinful state of man apart from Christ, and the promises that are made to those who have trusted in Christ. Now Paul turns to how Christians are to live in light of their salvation. In chapter 12 he starts by calling the church to present their bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewal of their minds. It is this renewed mind that allows Christians to test and discern the will of God. The Bible places a high value on the mind, and the author of Hebrews rebukes his readers for not having made progress in their understanding. The key question to answer is how are we supposed to grow in our knowledge of God.

Review and Apply

What is the significance of being a living sacrifice? How does that differ from the sacrifices of the Old Testament?

Paul says we should not be conformed to this world. What sort of things does Paul have in mind here? (Read Romans 1:18, 25, and 28)

What is the contrast between the mind that is conformed to this world and the mind that is renewed by God?

Why do you think it is important for Christians to cultivate a Christian mind?

What dangers could there be if you do not cultivate a Christian mind?

How do you seek to grow in your knowledge of God? What are some ways you have seen your love for God increase as you have learned about his promises?

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