Season 4 WHO ARE YOU? Series |Chameleon Chapter| Episode 1 DO NOT CONFORM

Shalom FAITH PARTNERS & welcome back to Keeping’ Tha F8th Podcast and a brand New Season! You’re listening to Season 4 of our new mini-series WHO R U? Episode 1 of the Chameleon Chapter- Do Not Conform. The chameleon is the master of disguise. No matter what environment it’s placed in, it will change its color to disguise itself and fit in. One of the fundamental aspects of being a Christian is that we are easily identifiable when placed against the backdrop of the world. Today, we will look at an obvious statement from the Bible regarding our topic: Do Not Conform. Romans chapter 12 & verse 2, written by the Apostle Paul. That tenacious tentmaker from Tarsus. Said, “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 God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” In this sentence, Paul shows us the contrast between fitting in vs. standing out. You may have friend groups that know nothing of your faith or who you are in Christ. Yet, just like we experienced in high school (or other places), these are false communities who only like us for who we’re pretending to be. Are you a great pretender? Who are you? God is calling us as followers of Christ to stand out rather than to fit in. It’s not an easy process, but it’s an important one. Some of the questions we’ll be tackling throughout this chapter of this mini-series are; What does conforming look like in my life? What are the patterns that tempt us as humans to conform? What does true transformation look like in our lives by Christ’s definition? Then, once we know what transformation looks like, what is the purpose behind it? We first have to get a grip on what conforming looks like in our world. The word “conform” means “to assume a similar outward form (expression) by following the same pattern (mold, model). Confronting Your Conforming I wonder how many of us have tried to model our behavior after someone we looked up to or admired. As you grow up, it’s almost like you “try on” others’ characteristics to see what “fits.” But what happens when those patterns and behaviors grow with you and become your habits and traits? What if you don’t like them? What if you don’t like who you’ve become? There must be a confrontation. You see, the path to profound transformation has to begin with confronting the hostile, worldly patterns in your life. Maybe Jesus is trying to call out things in your life that bring no eternal value. Perhaps you have been following the ways of those around you because it is much easier to fit in rather than stand out. Maybe you know you can keep friendships if you just fit in and follow others’ lead. Maybe, just maybe, Jesus is offering you the best way of life, here and now. Just like his encounter with the woman at the well, He provides you with living water and abundant life (John 10:10). What will you do with His invitation? 2. Do You Want to Get Well? In John 5:1-9, Jesus meets a man who has been an invalid for 38 years and is lying at the pool of Bethesda. Actually, to get to this particular man, it appears Jesus must’ve passed by many others who were also sick or handicapped (verse 5:3). So what was so special about this one man, Pastor K? Why didn’t Jesus just heal everyone in the pool that day? I’m not sure I know all the answers to the questions this passage brings up, but I do know it was time for the man to confront his conforming. The World Conforms you; the Bible Transforms you.