sermon: Conversion: Turning to God
Changing Our Conduct
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Given 18-Aug-12; Sermon #1116; 109 minutes
Description: (hide)
Richard Ritenbaugh, reminding us that America is a land of immigrants, observes that this country still has a broadly distributed higher per capita income and standard of living than any other country in the world. Strangely, the majority of new immigrants have no desire to become Americans or assimilate into American culture; the melting pot has been replaced with a salad bowl. Most immigrants today cling to the culture of the country of their origin, many of these cultures antithetical to American values. Some immigrants, especially those fleeing from Communist Cuba, are quick to glom onto American culture—especially freedom and independence. We are new immigrants to the Kingdom of God; we still carry our traits and quirks of our country of origins. As we become baptized and have hands laid upon us, we must turn from the traits of our country of origin, repenting and taking on or transforming into the characteristics appropriate for the Kingdom of God. God's Law and instruction has the power of turning around a life, making it whole. God's instruction will turn our entire life around, from sinful and perverse to godly and holy, as demonstrated by Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus, and David's psalm of repentance. Christ rebuked the disciples for having a selfish attitude, demanding that they turn they submit to having their attitudes turned around (by the power of God) to the innocent, humble mindset of a child. We have to change our minds and turn around, being transformed into the image of Christ.
Topics: (show)
Acts 3:19; 15:3 American citizens American standard of living Attitude Be converted Be turned around Breathing spaces Citizens of God's Kingdom Citizens of Heaven Conversion of the Gentiles Conversion Converting the soul Dependence Dialects Epi-strefo Episodes of conversion Exhaustive Faith I Corinthians 5:1-5 I Thessalonians 1:8-9 Foreign accents Forgiveness Galatians 6:1 Greek Orthodox Church Humility Immigrants Matthew 18 Melting pot Metanoia Music My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) Pretentious ambition Psalm 51:12-13; 119:7-11 Religion Repent and be converted Restored Russian Orthodox Church Salad bowl Season of rest Presence of God's spirit in our lives Seasons of coolness II Corinthians 2:3-5 Seeking after personal glory Shub Srefo Times of refreshing Transforming over time Turn around Turn Turning Twisting Way of life
|
(To download, right-click on the icon for the format of your choice and select "Save target as...") |
The transcript for this audio message is not available yet.
If you would like to be notified when this transcript is available, please enter your email address in the space below and click the button.
