Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

I Love The Church Because Of The Changed Lives

“Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11.

You know what I love about Northstar more than anything? I have a front row seat to seeing lives changed week after week. I never get over hearing stories of people who have found Jesus and that their lives have been changed for the better. Yes, core values, mission statements, special events, buildings, budgets, and attendance are all valuable, but if lives aren’t being changed for God’s glory, then what’s the point?

The message of Christianity is one of personal transformation.One of the most compelling reasons for people to believe in Jesus Christ is because He promises to change their lives.

The Bible has a lot to say about this subject and makes a few promises. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” 

Probably the most powerful example of the life changing power of Christ is the Apostle Paul. Acts 9 describes the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Saul was so fanatical and passionate about his religion that he felt duty bound to persecute those who in his opinion, were undermining it. He thought Christians were doing so, so he hunted them down and had them imprisoned. You probably know the rest of the story. Paul wrote most of the New Testament and eventually died as a martyr because of his faith in Christ. Paul had this to say in 1 Timothy 1:15-16:

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Paul lived with a daily appreciation for how Jesus Christ had changed his life. The angry, driven and self-righteous Pharisee was transformed into a humble and influential servant of Christ. Jesus changes lives.

God is still in the business of changing lives and is a reason we love the church.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does transformation mean to you?
  2. Do you believe the church is in the life changing business? Why or why not?
  3. Have you seen real life change in your life? What about in others?
  4. What can we do this week to change our life for the better?

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