Little baby SteinbauerBorn Thursday afternoon

6lbs 10 oz

Baby Steinbauer in 6 months

Created to Become Like Christ

The Transformation of Our Lives

God has a plan for us:

To save us… and... to transform our lives

God’s agenda:

Do not conform any longer 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. Romans 12:2

God’s agenda:

Instead…we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head. Ephes. 4:15

God’s agenda:

The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power...and you will be changed into a different person.1 Samuel 10:6

An Unexpected Tool

Trouble…

How frail is man, how few his days, how full of trouble! Job 14:1

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Psalm 22:11

In the world you'll have trouble. John 16:33

God’s Purpose in Trouble

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. - 1 Peter 1:6-7

God’s Purpose in Trouble

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ. - 1 Peter 4:12-13

God’s Purpose in Trouble

Defining

Refining

Aligning

The Heart of ChangeTransformation:

“…be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” - Rom 12.1

“For the word of God is living and active… it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12

The Heart of ChangeNot a change of behavior, but a

change of essence

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 Cor. 5:17

The Heart of ChangeThe change agent is the Holy Spirit

working through God’s word

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. - John 15:3

The Heart of Change

All that God requires from us is our willingness

“Dear Lord, create in me what I cannot create in myself”

The Fork in the Road

Bitterness vs. Betterness

Will we resent or surrender?

Fresh Fruit vs. Fast Food

Will we let go and let God?

The Heart of Change

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28