Well, good-day folks, welcome back to the church.nYC podcast. Thanks so much for joining us.

Wanted to let you know this autumn. We are going to be talking through the idea of spiritual formation.

This series is called Formed. And it is a journey through the key stages of development where someone

goes from being dead in sin into being formed into the image of Jesus. And it's really getting back

to the core concepts that are often overlooked in all the conversations about spiritual formation.

What does election, regeneration, justification, vivification, mortification, sanctification, these big terms,

what do they actually mean for the spirit's work within us, helping us move out of the brokenness

of our sin-stained flesh and into the fullness of life that God has for us?

How do we make sense of our stories in light of the resurrection of Jesus and the kingdom of God?

The word formed, we're taking from Galatians 419,

where Paul talks about being as in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in us.

Romans 8 tells us that we've been predestined to be conform to the image of the sun.

Those are high theological terms and we're going to make them both practical and meaningful

over the course of these series. Thanks for tuning in. We can serve you in any way. Feel free to reach

out. Let's get back to the podcast. Peace.

Today's teaching text comes from the book of Romans, Romans 12 verses 1 to 2. And it says,

therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing

to God. This is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what the

will of God is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks to God.

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