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Scott Worthington
Formation is Inevitable
Formation
Mar 9, 2025Romans 12:1-2
Every single person is being formed, either by the world or by Jesus. In this sermon, Pastor Scott Worthington preached from Romans 12:1-2 and we took a look at how as Jesus followers, we are not to be conformed by this world but be transformed by the renewal of our mind. How do we combat against being conformed by this world? First, we need to know and be aware of the three enemies of our spiritual growth. Check out this sermon to learn more!
Sermon Notes
Formation: Discipleship According to Jesus
Week 2: Formation is Inevitable
“I appeal to 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.” Romans 12:1-2
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Romans 8:29a
“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.” Romans 12:2
Formation is not a spiritual thing.
Formation is a human thing.
“‘A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.’” Luke 6:40
Spiritual Formation is the process of becoming like Jesus through a partnership with the Spirit of God for the glory of God.
THREE ENEMIES OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
1. The Devil
2. The Flesh
3. The World
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3
THREE ENEMIES OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
1. The Devil
“‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.’” John 10:27-28
“There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan.” C.S. Lewis
THREE ENEMIES OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
1. The Devil
2. The Flesh
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Galatians 5:16-17
“The Spirit has landed to do battle with the flesh. So take heart if your soul feels like a battlefield at times. The sign of whether you are indwelt by the Spirit is not that you have no bad desires, but that you are at war with them!” John Piper
THREE ENEMIES OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
1. The Devil
2. The Flesh
3. The World
“For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 John 2:16
What was universally condemned is now celebrated.
What was universally celebrated is now condemned.
Those who refuse to celebrate are condemned.
1. Formation to the World is the Default
We are all being formed by 3 things…
1. Knowledge – What we believe
The story you live in is the story you’ll live out
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” John 8:31-32
“What we give our attention to will shape the persons we become… many of us spend hours every day filling our minds with lies, cutting off our minds from God’s Spirit and truth, and only a few minutes each morning , if that, filling our minds with truth… is it any wonder we often see the world more through the lens of secular theory than Scripture?” John Mark Comer
“Satan devotes 168 hours per week to deceiving you. How can we possibly combat that without countering it with time in the Word of God?” John Piper
We are all being formed by 3 things…
1. Knowledge – What we believe
2. Habits – What we repeatedly do
We make our decisions and then our decisions make us
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” James Clear, “Atomic Habits”
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8
We are all being formed by 3 things…
1. Knowledge – What we believe
2. Habits – What we repeatedly do
3. Relationships – Who we hang out with
Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
2. Formation to the World Must Be Resisted
“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.” Romans 12:2
We are all being formed by 3 things…
1. Knowledge – What we believe
2. Habits – What we repeatedly do
3. Relationships – Who we hang out with
“I appeal to 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.” Romans 12:1
Sermon Notes
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