Yours are the eyes through which He looks with compassion on this world.

Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands

through which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the

feet, yours are the eyes, you are His body. Christ has no body now on earth

but yours."

- Teresa of Avila

Transformed service is COMPASSION IN ACTION. God ignites a deep care for another person in us, which is tangibly expressed in our meeting their needs. | Mark 1:40-45

We practice transformed service when we set aside SECURITY and SELF for the sake of another.

What are the MEANS of Transformed Service? | Acts 3:1-10

Transformed Service is personal (3:4).

Transformed Service gives whatever it has (3:6).

Transformed Service happens anywhere and everywhere (3:8).

What fears keep my hands clenched as fists?

In my life, when were my hands open to be a recipient of transformed service?

How can I extend my hands to another this week, practicing transformed service?

Read Matthew 20:20-28 & John 13:1-16.

What is one way you can tangibly serve someone this week?

one, you cut your risk of dying over the next year in half. It is difficult to

imagine anyone not wanting to do that. That is why our new motto at

church is, 'Join a group or die."

- Robert Putnam

Harvard Professor and Social Scientist

Being alone will leave a mark on our lives. We become more isolated from others, more detached, more disconnected, and lonelier.

Digital friendships, transactional friendships, and one-dimensional friendships are not any better than no friendships; the results are still isolation, loneliness and fear.

Being alone in times of crisis only accentuates the pain.

- The Apostle John; John 13:33-14:18

The divine solution for humanity's isolation, loneliness and detachment is first and foremost God's presence with us through the Holy Spirit. However, there are times that we cannot get everything we need directly from God...we need real friends.

What impact has social media had on your friendships? Why do you think so many people gravitate toward digital friendships?

In a time of crisis or transition, how did deep friendships (or lack of) affect the situation?

Read Mark 1:45-50, Acts 3:1-10, & Matthew 25:31-46.

What is one practical step you can take this week towards deepening a friendship in your life?

"...might become partakers of the divine nature." - 2 Peter 1:4 (NASB)

"...enable you to share His divine nature." - 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT)

"...and to share in God's essential nature." - 2 Peter 1:4 (J.B. Phillips NT)

The possibility of sharing in the divine nature | 2 Peter 1:2-11

The problems that challenge sharing in the divine nature | Romans 7:15-18;21-24

The process of sharing in the divine nature | 2 Peter 1:4-11

In what ways does a transformed mind influence your character? Give an example of how a renovated imagination helps to change your character.

If "trying harder" doesn't lead to transformed character, what does? How have you seen character transformed in your own life or someone close to you? (partner with the Spirit, share the divine nature)

Read Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, Hebrews 10:19-25, & 1 John 4:7-21.

On any given week, where do you spend most of your time? How can you partner with the Spirit in that place to live as Jesus lived?

- The Apostle Paul, Romans 12:2

The imagination (before God) is a blank canvas upon which our surroundings, culture, religion, education, and experiences in the world paint their distorted masterpiece which, in turn, shapes our lives.

Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

When you think, is it with information, ideas or images? Which one dominates your thought landscape?

The imagination (after God) is no longer covered or blinded to the truth of God and is uniquely equipped to see what He sees!

Ephesians 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 3:16

The role of the imagination, or renewed mind, is to access reality as God sees it and thereby be shaped/transformed by it.

John 5:19; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13

What factors have influenced your imagination (mind) the most: culture, religion, education, or personal experiences? Can you express one way this has influenced the way you think?

As a group, imagine what the world could be like if it was fully transformed by God. How does that look different than the present? In this scenario, how would your own life look different?

Read 2 Peter 1:1-11 & Romans 7:14-25

Are there aspects of your experiential identity that do not align with God's truth about you? What are they? How do they make you feel? How can they be changed?

"To encounter God is to change." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Our misconceptions on transformation cause us to downplay grace and choose behavioral modification, rather than a total adoption of the lifestyle of Christ.

When Jesus call us, He calls ALL of our being.

Luke 9:57-62

At some point on the transformation journey, we stop asking "what would Jesus do" and begin to ask, "how would Jesus live".

A lifestyle of transformation is characterized by: VISION, INTENTION, and MEANS.

Isaiah 6:1-13

Have you ever set out to change something about yourself? What was it and how did it go?

Of the three common misconceptions for transformations, which are you most prone to believe? (Bootstraps, Miserable. WWJD)

Based on what you know of Christ' life, what are some of the habits present in Him? What would it look like for you to adopt "the lifestyle of Christ"?

Of the three lifestyle characteristics, which one hangs you up most in the transformation process? What is one step you can take this week towards VISION, INTENTION, or MEANS?

For more info on small groups or to get connected, check out vcno.org/smallgroups

Humanity is wired for community.

Genesis 1:27

Community is made not found.

Transformation happens in community.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

Transformed communities transform the world.

John 13:34-35

Read Ecclesiastes 4:7-12. In your own words, why is community a vital aspect of the Kingdom life?

Would you consider yourself to be in community with other Christ-followers? Why or why not?

Reflect on your life over the last year. How has God transformed you? What areas do you desire to see transformed over the next year?

What, if any, experience have you had with small groups? After today's message, would you consider joining a small group for the 6-week Transformed series?

For more info on small groups or to get connected, check out vcno.org/smallgroups

"You are not finished yet. You are 'in the making'. You have the capacity to learn, mature, think, change, and grow. You also have the freedom to stagnate, regress, constrict, and lose your way." - Brian McLaren

"Faith is not a destination, status, holding tank, or a warehouse. It is a road, path, way out of destructive patterns into new and creative ones." - Brian McLaren

"Don't wait for life to happen to you; make life happen in you as you follow Christ." - Phil Jeansonne

"What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" | Luke 18:18

zoein aionian (greek) is usually translated eternal life but a better translation would be "life of the ages"

The radical demand of Jesus and the young ruler's response. | Luke 18:22-23

To enter and grow in the life of the ages requires an orientation of trust and an activation of allegiance. | Luke 18:24-28

For further discussion

Which part of today's talk stands out the most to you? Why?

What are your thoughts about the meaning of eternal life, as discussed in the talk? Did you have a different concept of eternal life before the talk? If so, what was it?

Is it simply semantics or is there a real difference in the two definitions? If so, what are the differences?

Look in detail at the invitation of Jesus to the young ruler and discuss the requirement for entrance into new life. Is the emphasis life of the ages now, in heaven, or both?

How did you understand the "orientation of trust and activation of allegiance"?

What do you need to do to develop and maintain such an orientation and activation?

"You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do."

- Anne Lamott

"Now all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

- Luke 15:1-2

"The Christian Church, in its purest form, is the only society that exists for the benefits of its nonmembers."

- Archbishop William Temple

Jesus is God with us...all good news begins with Jesus, God's show and tell!

John 14:6-9

God has promised a lavish banquet for all peoples

...The promised banquet will take place at the return of Christ

...In between the promise and the fulfillment

...There should be a lot of parties!

Isaiah 25:6-9 (NLT); Revelation 19:7-9 (NLT); Phil

Today's text: Mark 2:13-17 (NLT)

Sometimes it takes a party

to remind us that everyone is invited

...to prove that people matter more than opinions

...for us to expand our "us"

...to re-gift the good news

Where is your greatest opportunity to expand your "us"? Is there anyone in your life who needs to be surprised by warmth and welcome, to be forgiven, to be loved? Who is it and what might be a loving first step?

Discuss and brainstorm this statement: A party is any effort to celebrate, serve, or enjoy each other in a way that adds value to life.

If you were to make parties a priority, what would they look like? Who would you invite? How would it add value to people and life? Would you be comfortable expanding your "us" with neighbors, co-workers, or acquaintances? Who could you serve by hosting a party? What could you celebrate? Could it simply be fun?

"There is something in each human being that reaches out for God, and that reaching

instance comes from God and leads to God."

- Scot McKnight

"Whether consciously or not, humans aspire to something more than this mundane

earthbound existence. Like migratory birds or butterflies with a mysterious homing instinct,

we are compelled to travel. We have a nagging sense that we are made for Something

More."

- Bruxy Cavey

"Everybody needs a place to rest, everybody wants to have a home

Don't make no difference what nobody says, ain't nobody like to be alone

Everybody's got a hungry heart..."

- Bruce Springsteen

Acts 17:16-33

We must regularly fill our hungry hearts with Christ; the good news must first be good news to us!

We must learn to see other's hungry hearts rather than their sin; remember, sin has been taken off the table!

Evangelism is more about listening and learning than it is teaching and talking. We don't listen to get our chance to speak, we listen because people are worth listening to!

Our fundamental call is to love people. At some point it will become natural to say how we got our own hungry hearts filled.

Discuss the illustration of imprinting and describe how your experience with your own hungry heart mirrored that illustration.

What are your thoughts on Phil's statement that, "sin has been taken off the table"?

Why is it so hard to not hold sin against other people and even ourselves?

Why do we get listening and learning mixed up with teaching and talking?

What would the results of love based evangelism be? At best? At worst?

"I am under obligation both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am

not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who

believes..."

- The Apostle Paul; Romans 1:14-17

"Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has

fulfilled the law...you shall love your neighbor as yourself...love does no wrong to a

neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law."

- The Apostle Paul; Romans 13:8,10

The church is God's "Plan A" for regifting the gospel; there is no "Plan B"!

In the cosmic game of hide and seek

...Jesus found us

...loved us

...gifted us and tagged us

...now, we are it!

How do you reconcile Paul's sense of obligation in Romans 1:14 with the obvious truth that salvation is a gift that cannot be earned?

What might cause some recipients of the gospel to be ashamed of regifting it?

Discuss the idea conveyed in Romans 13:8 of owing a debt of love. To whom is the debt owed and repaid? What does that look like in everyday life?

What is it about this talk that excites you, scares you, or bores you?