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Transformers

07/13/2008 - Worship, Selected Scripture

This morning we begin our summer series calledTransformers: Changing us … changing the world. How many of you have seen the movie Transformers? It came out about a year ago and actually was the bestselling DVD of 2007. And because it did so well they're actually filming a sequel up at the old steel plant in Bethlehem called Transformers 2 that's scheduled to be released in June 2009.

But in the original Transformers movie two races of alien robots go to war with each other. The Autobots and the Decepticons battle it out right here on planet earth. It's a classic confrontation between good and evil with lots of action and a smorgasbord of director Michael Bay's special effects.

The movie's called Transformers because the robots can transform themselves into machines and vehicles like cars and trucks and helicopters. Maybe you've seen the action toys that were inspired by the movie. The leader of the good guys, Optimus Prime, can transform himself into a combat ready assault truck that can take on anything and anybody at anytime. And the leader of the bad guys, Megatron, can transform himself into a lethal, cybertron jet helicopter that packs a wicked punch. It's all very impressive.

Now if you didn't see the movie, don't worry about it. It has nothing to do with our summer series except the fact that Tim really liked the font and I liked the cool, little robot figure who is actually the hero, Optimus Prime.

But seriously, what we liked the most is the word "transformers." It's a great word. It's a biblical word. It is actually what God is doing in the lives of his people right now. He is in the process of transforming you and me not into Autobots or Decepticons, but into fully alive people who bear the image and likeness of his Son Jesus Christ. He's out to change us so that we can change the world, which also will transform one day.

The apostle Paul puts it like this in Romans 12:1-2, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is true worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God doesn't want us to live like the rest of the world. He has a different standard for our lives. He wants to transform us and Paul says that starts with the renewing of our mind, changing the way we think about things … like God and ourselves and our relationships and our bodies and our money and our stuff and war and peace and prejudice and our goals and our purpose for living. God wants us to know what his will is in these areas. That's all part of the transformation process.

And the Spirit of God is the one who energizes that transformation. He's doing the work in us.

In another New Testament letter Paul writes this in 2 Corinthians 3:18, And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The Spirit of God is the one who is transforming us. Back in the fall we did a series called Living Inside Out. It was all about the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23.

And we said this is the target on the wall for Christ followers. God wants these characteristics expressed in our lives … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And the Spirit of God is the one who produces this fruit in our lives. That's why they're called the fruit of the Spirit.

But at the same time we need to understand that God's uses certain things to change us, to transform us, it doesn't happen in a vacuum, and that's what we want to look at in this series. That's what we're calling "Transformers."

Worship is a transformer. The Scriptures are a transformer. Prayer is a transformer. Community is a transformer. And we're going to talk about all of these. And as God transforms us we become more like him, a little bit at a time.

And so in this series we're also going talk about holiness and justice and peace and caring for the poor and beauty and love and ways that we can transform this world. God is changing us so that we can change the world.

If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!

"So take my heart and form it.
Take my mind and transform it.
Take my will and conform it.
To Yours, oh Lord, to yours."

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Valley View Community Church, feel free to contact us at info@valleyviewseek.org or call 610.631.2707.