BULLETIN ARTICLE – 6 August 2017
The commitment to offer our lives to God as a sacrifice of thanksgiving is intended to result in a process of change, of Discipleship Transformation. When the gospel is proclaimed, repentance is required. We are called to holy living, which involves functioning well in every area of our lives. The Hebrew word for worship also means work. The biblical understanding of work is that work is worship. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever. (Betty Scott Stam, 1907-1934).
Unless We Are Transformed, the Unengaged, Unreached Peoples Won’t Hear the Gospel
How do Disciples become Transformed?
Love – be transformed as true Disciples.
Listen – to His voice calling us into Action.
Let Him – be obedient to what He wants from Me.
Learn – good resources readily available to help Us.
Labour – be willing to Pray, Respond, Go, as He Leads.
A holy life of work/worship involves offering ourselves as living sacrifices. Extended trips, late night calls, challenging family/church matters, not having a normal 9 to 5 lifestyle are expected sacrifices in our work as disciples. These sacrifices nonetheless are acceptable to God as offerings. The sacrifices we make in doing our work well contributes to our living out a holy life. Sacrifices by itself are meaningless unless accompanied by transformation “by the renewing of your minds.” We develop a new mindset which sees our entire life as an offering to the Lord and involved as His disciples in extending God’s Kingdom.
The Apostle Paul never started a church in a synagogue or building. He would enter a city and infiltrate the community in a very natural way. Often he goes to the marketplace where people meet. If people get converted, that community of disciples becomes a church. Within 15 years, Paul and his teams were able to ‘fully proclaim’ Jesus in this whole region. This was made possible by entering the rhythms of society, serving as catalysts in raising reproducing disciples, and building biblically reproducing groups. This was all done through the Power of Transformation!
Transformed lives lead to fulfilling the Great Commission
