by Rev. Dr. Dezo Schreiner
Our scripture comes from Romans 12:1–2, and these verses mark a turning point in Paul’s letter.
For eleven chapters, Paul describes the mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ—the forgiveness of sin, the gift of new life, and the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Then Paul begins chapter twelve with one very important word:
“Therefore.”
That word matters.
Paul is telling us that everything he is about to say grows out of everything God has already done. The Christian life is not about earning God’s love. It is about responding to God’s mercy.
So Paul writes:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
(Romans 12:1)
Paul is inviting us to respond to mercy with surrender.
More Than Giving Something Up
During the Lenten season, many of us try to practice surrender. We give up something—chocolate, sweets, maybe we fast for a few hours. These practices are meaningful spiritual disciplines. They help us slow down and become aware of God.
But Paul is asking for something deeper.
In the ancient world, sacrifice was common. People brought animals to the temple and placed them on the altar as offerings to God.
But Paul says something unexpected.
Instead of bringing an animal sacrifice, we bring ourselves.
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.”
This means our worship is not limited to a Sunday service. Worship is not just songs, prayers, or moments inside the sanctuary.
Worship becomes the offering of our whole lives.
Our decisions.
Our relationships.
Our work.
Our time.
Our resources.
Our compassion toward others.
Every part of life becomes an offering to God.
And notice Paul calls it a living sacrifice.
A living sacrifice is not a one-time act. It is ongoing. Day after day, we place our lives in God’s hands.
Faith is not something we believe once. It is something we continually offer.
The Pressure to Conform
Paul continues with a warning:
“Do not be conformed to this world.”
(Romans 12:2)
That is difficult for us, because this is the world we live in.
Every day we are surrounded by voices telling us who we should be, what success looks like, and what matters most.
Sometimes those voices push us toward competition instead of compassion.
Sometimes they push us toward self-interest instead of generosity.
Sometimes they teach us to measure our worth by status, wealth, or influence.
Without realizing it, we begin absorbing those patterns. We begin thinking the way the world thinks and valuing what the world values.
Paul calls that conformity.
To conform means to be pressed into a mold.
And the world has many molds ready for us.
But Paul says: do not let the world determine your shape.
Instead, he offers another path.
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
What Spiritual Transformation Really Looks Like
The word Paul uses for transformation is where we get the word metamorphosis.
It is the same word used to describe a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
This is not a surface change.
This is deep change.
Spiritual transformation happens when God begins renewing the way we think, the way we see the world, and the way we understand ourselves and others.
I know this personally.
The way I understand myself today was not always the case.
The way I understand the world today was not always the case.
The way I treat people today was not always the case.
But gradually, the mind of Christ begins shaping our lives.
And we begin seeing people the way Christ sees them.
Seeing Others Through the Eyes of Christ
When we begin seeing people the way Christ sees them, something changes within us.
We start responding to conflict with patience instead of anger.
We begin choosing generosity over fear.
We start seeking justice where there is injustice.
Transformation changes not only what we believe—but how we live.
But let me be clear about something.
Transformation is not instant.
It is a process.
It happens as we:
Pray
Worship
Study scripture
Serve others
Walk together in faith
Over time, our minds are renewed. And as that happens, we begin discerning what Paul calls “the will of God–what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Discernment grows when our lives are aligned with Christ.
The more we offer ourselves to God, the more clearly we recognize God’s direction.
Transformation Happens in Community
Paul was not writing only to individuals.
He was writing to a community of faith.
The transformation Paul describes is not meant to happen in isolation. God is forming a people.
The church becomes a place where people learn a different way of living.
A place where:
Love replaces fear
Mercy replaces judgment
Generosity replaces scarcity
We live in a world that often values power. The church should practice humility.
We live in a world that rewards division. The church should practice reconciliation.
We live in a world that promotes self-centeredness. The church should practice sacrificial love.
When the church lives this way, it becomes a living sign that transformation is possible.
Offering Our Whole Lives to God
Let me invite you into something this Lenten season.
Offer your life to God.
Not just a small part.
Not just giving up something temporarily.
Offer the whole of who you are.
Maybe you write in a journal during Lent. Maybe you spend time in prayer reflecting on your life.
Ask yourself:
Where is the world shaping me?
Where is Christ calling me to something different?
The world will always try to mold us.
But Christ calls us to a different pattern of life.
A life of welcoming.
A life of loving.
A life where we see one another as siblings.
The Question That Matters
God is still renewing minds.
God is still shaping hearts.
God is still forming communities that reflect the love of God.
The question is not whether transformation is possible.
The question is this:
Are we willing to place our lives on the altar and trust God with the process?
Because when we do, something beautiful begins to happen.
Lives change.
Communities change.
Our country can change.
Even this chaotic world can begin to change.
And the world will start to see–even if only in glimpses–what the Kingdom of God looks like.
May we be transformed.
Amen.
Summary Q&A
What is Romans 12:1–2 about?
It calls believers to respond to God’s mercy by offering their whole lives as a “living sacrifice” and experiencing transformation through the renewing of the mind.
What does “living sacrifice” mean in Christianity?
It means offering our daily lives–our actions, decisions, relationships, and service–as an ongoing act of worship to God.
What does it mean to not conform to the world?
It means resisting cultural pressures that prioritize status, power, or self-interest and instead living according to Christ’s teachings.
What is spiritual transformation?
Spiritual transformation is a deep inner change where God renews our thinking and shapes our character to reflect the mind and love of Christ.
How does transformation happen?
Through spiritual practices such as prayer, worship, studying scripture, serving others, and walking in faith within a community.
Why is the church important for transformation?
The church forms a community where people learn to live differently–practicing love, reconciliation, humility, and generosity.
What is the central question of the sermon?
Are we willing to surrender our lives to God and trust the transformation process?