Sermon Outline 6.29.25

TEXT: Rom 12:1-2
TITLE: Living Worship: How Mercy Rewrites the Whole Story
THEME: Because of God’s mercies, we offer our whole selves in worship, not to be shaped by the world but transformed by the renewing of our minds, learning to walk in the beauty of God’s will.

Paul has spent 11 chapters laying a deep foundation for justification, showing us the problem (sin), the rescue (Christ), & God’s mercy:
Chap 1–3, truth about us—we’re not good, not neutral, not okay. All have sinned. No one is righteous.
Chap 4–5, he shows us we are made right with God not by trying harder but by trusting in Jesus.
Chap 6–8, what it means to live free from sin—not by our strength, but by the Spirit who dwells in us.
Chap 9–11: God’s sovereignty in His mercy means His word & promises never fail & ends with worship:
Chap 12-16: we know truly when we live corporately. READ TEXT ALOUD TOGETHER.

INTRO

I. Mercy Moves Us to the Altar (v. 1)
A. The Gospel Grounds the Call: “Therefore… by the mercies of God…”
B. Give God Your Everything: “present your bodies as a sacrifice…” (LSB)
C. Sacrifice Is a Lifestyle, Not a Ceremony: “living, holy, pleasing…”
D. This is Your Reasonable Response: “which is your rational service…”

II. Don’t Be a Deepfake—Be Transformed (v. 2)
A. Reject the Pattern of this Age: “Do not be conformed…”
B. Renew Your Mind for Real Change: “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”
C. Rejoice in the Will of God: “…so that you may approve what the will of God is…”

CONCLUSION: Don't Be a Deepfake—Be the Real Thing