He is Risen! We are Transformed!
This past Sunday, we continued our Easter series, “He Is Risen,” and reflected on what it means to live in the power of the resurrection—not just one Sunday a year, but every single day.
“He is risen!” → “He is risen indeed!”
You’ve probably heard this joyful exchange on Easter morning, but here’s the good news: It’s not meant to be seasonal—it’s meant to be a way of life. Jesus is alive, and that changes everything.
We kicked things off with a fun story from the early days of marriage and how you have to change your life, and we drew a parallel: Just like a close relationship can transform your daily life, so can a vibrant relationship with Jesus.
Main Teaching: Becoming a Living Sacrifice
We looked at Romans 12:1–2 and saw how Paul encourages us to live differently because of God’s mercy:
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice… this is your true worship.”
Instead of bringing physical sacrifices like in the Old Testament, we now offer ourselves—our choices, time, and lives—to God as worship. It’s a daily surrender, a daily decision to live for Him.
Key Takeaways:
True worship is more than singing; it’s how we live.
God doesn’t want perfection—He wants surrender.
Renewing our minds through Scripture helps us know God’s will.
We were reminded of Judges 13, where Manoah offered a sacrifice and witnessed God’s power in an amazing way. Now, as living sacrifices, we’re invited to offer our lives daily and trust that God will do something amazing with them, too.
Living Counter-Culturally
Jesus prayed in John 17 that His followers would stay in the world but not be of it. That’s our calling—to live among people, to love our communities, but not to be shaped by the patterns of this world.
“We don’t have a permanent city here, but we are looking for the city that is still to come.” – Hebrews 13:14
We’re not home yet. That truth shifts how we live today. Our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and we’re called to live in light of eternity.
Your Thoughts Matter
Our thoughts shape our lives. In Romans 12:2 and Philippians 4:8, Paul emphasizes the importance of what we fill our minds with:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble… think on these things.”
If we want to live transformed lives, it starts with renewing our minds with God's truth. We also talked about the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17) as protection for our thought life. What you think about shapes what you believe—and what you believe shapes how you live.
Weekly Challenge:
As we approach Easter Sunday, here are a few ways to apply the message:
Offer your day to God each morning as a living sacrifice.
Fast from one worldly influence and replace it with time in the Word.
Ask God to renew your mind—then guard it by focusing on what is pure and true.
Reflect on your eternal home. What are you building your life on?
Let’s Keep Walking Together
Jesus is risen—and that resurrection power is available to us every day. Let’s live like it!