On the Journey with Jesus

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then…be imitators of me.

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus… to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul…

The Christian Life

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called….

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

Our old pattern of Living will no longer do, VV 17-19

1. Was Futile in thought- “short sighted”, Was caused by a hard heart- “resistant”, 18c 2. Was Darkened in Understanding- “obscured”, 18a 3. Was alienated from the life of God- “non participating”, 18b 5. Led to loose living, a covetous heart, and a clogged Conscience, 19

The New way of Christ is vastly Different, VV 20-23

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

“heard from Jesus” Personal- living in relationship with him. “Taught about Jesus” Institutional- hearing information about him

What is this way of life Jesus and the Church communicates to us?

The Details of this new life are Utterly Transforming, VV

what we say VV 25, 29 how we feel VV 26, what we do V 28 how we think V 30