Transformers

TRANSFORMERS

“MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE”

Tonight’s chat is going to be interactive. We are going to look at transformation.

Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Q: If you could change something about your spiritual life, what would it be?

Charades: 1. Caterpillar (Butterfly)

2. Tadpole (Frog)

3. Dr. Jekyll (Mr Hyde)

? Do you ever have a sense deep down that something is missing? That you’re not all you were created to be? That God has something more in mind for you? Well he does. It is God’s desire to transform you into something new

One of the things I hear the most being involved in youth ministry is this. “We need to be relevant to the culture”

That statement is true but there is a very fine line that we can cross when we become too relevant that we begin to be transformed by the culture instead of us transforming the culture.

We are called to be ”light” and “salt”

? Matt 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it’s saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp and put in under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in Heaven.

God did not call us to become the culture; He called us to change the culture

? 1 Peter 2:21

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps”

We are called to follow the example of Christ.

God is trying and wants to transform us into his image

? 2 Corithians 3:18

For us to begin to be transformed there are a couple of things we need to do

1. It starts with God

Allot of people want to change but don’t know how.

The thing to realize is that you can’t change on your own

? Galatians 3:3

“Are you so foolish? After beginning with the spirit, are you now trying to attain your goals by human effort?

It is God who works in us and through us.

You have to be willing to change, and willing to ask for God’s help to transform you

You have to be willing to evaluate your life and say bye-bye to the stuff that does not measure up to the example of Christ.

“Now with God’s help I can become myself”

2. You need to have standards

Standard- a level or grade of excellence, attainment, regarded as a goal or measure.

Standards will help you take a stand when things get tough and rough

“If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything”

Jesus had standards in his life. Standards, which He was not willing to sacrifice when push came to shove.

You have to set them and you have to follow them.

EX: Phil and Rayelle

Standards with what you watch, what you listen to, what you read are all-important because Hollywood is trying to transform you, MTV is trying to transform, television is trying to transform you, advertising is trying to transform you and if we are not careful we will be transformed by our culture.

Q: Do you have standards in your life?

3. Develop Spiritual habits, not bad habits

Most of the time God will transform our life through positive spiritual habits/disciplines

Q:What are some positive spiritual habits/disciplines?

When you begin to develop habits like listed you create an atmosphere for God to change and transform us. It is like we get in our own little God made Greenhouse.

A greenhouse is controlled environment that offers the best atmosphere to grow plants in

We can’t change ourselves but we can create an environment around us that will enable God to work on us, to change and transform us from the inside out

The world is desperate for change and they will do just about anything to see it happen. It is time for us as a generation to rise up and be the salt and light that God has called us to be and transform our generation by being transformed by our God

Q: Can people tell you are a follower of Christ

Respond

God is calling us to be separate. People should know that you are different because of Jesus living in you.

? 2 Corithians 2:16

This message is not to condemn but to be an eye opener to us