Transformed, Not Conformed

Week 2                                                                                                                                                    Romans 12
Big Idea: The world wants you pressed into its mold; God demands a living sacrifice, transformed by His Spirit.

I. Introduction – Don’t Get Squeezed Into the Mold

• Culture demands conformity: politics, sexuality, money, identity, speech.
• Paul calls believers to the opposite (Romans 12:1–2).

II. A Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1)

• Everyone sacrifices to something—family for money, truth for approval, integrity for pleasure.
• The real question: to whom will you sacrifice?
• By God’s mercy, offer your whole self as a living sacrifice.
• Worship is not one hour on Sunday—it’s daily surrender.

III. Don’t Be Conformed, Be Transformed (Romans 12:2)

• Conformity is the world’s demand: “Fit in, don’t stand out.”
• Paul commands: Do not be conformed.
• Transformation is the Spirit’s work through the renewal of the mind by God’s Word.
• Renewed minds discern God’s will—what is good, acceptable, and perfect.

IV. Humility and Service in the Body (Romans 12:3–8)

• World is obsessed with self-promotion.
• Paul warns: Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought.
• The church is one body with many gifts: prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, mercy.
• True transformation uses gifts for others, not for self.

V. Genuine Love and Holy Living (Romans 12:9–21)

• Rapid-fire Kingdom commands: countercultural and practical.
  1. Love without hypocrisy (v.9) – Real love hates evil, clings to good.
  2. Zeal in service (v.11) – Be fervent in spirit, not lukewarm.
  3. Patience in tribulation (v.12) – Rejoice in hope, be steady in trial, constant in prayer.
  4. Bless persecutors (v.14) – Culture says “clap back,” but Christ says “bless.”
  5. Overcome evil with good (v.21) – Don’t fight fire with fire; respond with good.

VI. Current Connections

• Politics: Pressure to fully align or be cast out → Don’t conform.
• Identity: “Define yourself” culture → Renew your mind.
• Online culture: Performative love, fake outrage → Genuine love, humility, service.
• Cancel culture: Revenge-driven → Bless those who persecute you.

VII. Conclusion – Which Mold Shapes You?

• No middle ground—either the world molds you or the Spirit transforms you.
• The call: surrender, transformation, humility, service, genuine love.
• Closing Scripture: Romans 12:21 — “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Full Message: