Transformation is the process of our salvation –

the goal of our journey to wholeness, and the goal of our life with God.

We may apply ourselves - make effort - to the process of our transformation by becoming active students of Jesus. As students, we learn from him by reading and applying his teachings and by actually being with him through the presence of His Spirit. We cannot, however, control or program the outcome of our transformation. It is the work of God in us.

We are transformed as we give ourselves to an authentic relationship with God with Jesus as our guide. This relationship becomes increasingly natural and all consuming. Transformation is the by-product of this relationship.

The life experiencing transformation looks more and more like Jesus, as we are changed to be more like him in thought, belief, word and action. The desired goal is to think, believe, and live as Jesus would if he were in our place.

Transformation is intentional, not accidental. We must plan and order our lives in such a way that we may do whatever is necessary, on our end, to be changed, and then do those things. Such actions often come in the form of disciplines, such as (but not exclusively) prayer, meditation, study, reading, worship, and involvement in a community of other disciples.

The focus of the church should be transformation, specifically:

• to make and train students of Jesus.

• to facilitate the transformation process in the context of a community of Christ’s students.
If the church will focus on these things as Jesus commanded (Mat.28:18-20), God will build his church and grow it according to his plan, not ours.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version

Matthew 28:18-20
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing (immersing) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. (New Living Translation) Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…

2 Corinthians 3:18
And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!

Ephesians 2:10
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (New Living Translation) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 4:23-24
to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:10
and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.

2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his won glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.