Conformed

This powerful message takes us deep into Romans 8:26-30, confronting us with a truth we often resist: we are weak. In a culture obsessed with self-improvement, organizational planners, and New Year's resolutions, we're reminded that genuine transformation doesn't come from our strength but from our surrender. The passage reveals that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don't even have words to pray, when life feels insurmountable, and when our weakness is most evident. What's revolutionary here is the understanding that God's ways are not our ways—His plan for salvation didn't involve us climbing up to Him through good works or self-effort, but Him descending to us in the form of a baby in a manger. The sermon challenges our consumer Christianity, where we want church on our terms, faith that's comfortable, and a God who serves our agenda. Instead, we're called to embrace the stunning reality of foreknowledge and predestination—not as scary theological concepts, but as the beautiful truth that before time began, God knew us, called us, justified us, and will glorify us. This Christmas season, we're invited to shift from asking 'What can God do for me?' to 'What does God want to do through me?' The missionary story woven throughout reminds us that this isn't about our comfort zone—it's about conforming to the image of Christ and allowing His purposes to become our priority.

**Sermon Notes:**

**Introduction:**

- Speaker: Pastor Will from Hope.

- Call for congregation to accommodate latecomers by scooting in.

- Announcement about children's events: CentraKid and Fuge camps.

- Mission update from Steve and Kim Bradley, missionaries in Malawi, highlighting their work, challenges, and the opportunity to build a preschool to reach Muslim communities.

- Church's support: $50,000 pledged for the school development.

**Main Sermon - Romans 8:26-30:**

- **Theme: Weakness and God's Sovereignty**

 - Our Weakness: 

  - We are inherently weak and live in a world obsessed with self-fixation.

  - As believers, we experience tension between faith and sin.

  - We struggle in knowing how to pray; the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

- **Intercession of the Holy Spirit:**

 - The Spirit helps in our prayers, understanding our hearts beyond words.

 - Highlights the need for prayer aligned with God's will, not personal desires.

- **God's Sovereignty:**

 - Emphasis on Romans 8:28 – Misinterpretation risks focusing on personal benefit rather than God's purpose.

 - Illustration using God's plan for Jesus' birth demonstrates His ways are superior to human understanding.

- **Concept of Foreknowledge and Predestination:**

 - Foreknowledge and predestination discussed as concepts that can be challenging but are crucial for understanding God's sovereignty.

 - Explanation that God knew who would choose Him and orchestrated a plan accordingly.

 - Focus on being conformed to the image of Christ through justification and glorification.

**Practical Applications:**

1. **Recognize Weakness:** Accept and embrace your weakness as a believer. Depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength.

2. **Align Desires with God's Will:** Regularly check if your desires align with God's purpose. Focus on serving His kingdom rather than personal dreams.

3. **Trust in God's Plan:** Have faith that God’s plans are higher than your own, especially in challenges.

4. **Be Open to God’s Calling:** Reflect on where God might be calling you to serve more significantly, whether locally or abroad.

**Discussion Questions:**

1. What are some recent situations where you felt your personal weakness, and how did you witness the Holy Spirit's help?

2. How can Romans 8:28 be misinterpreted in today's Christian culture? In what ways can it be correctly applied?

3. How can you ensure your prayers and desires are in alignment with God's will rather than personal wants?

4. Discuss a time when you saw God's plan work out differently and better than what you had planned. What did it teach you?

The sermon underscores the importance of focusing on God’s sovereignty and the Holy Spirit’s work in aiding believers through weaknesses, aligning with divine purposes over personal aspirations.