Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, open my heart and mind to what you have to say in your word. Give me a spirit of humility that is willing and ready to experience transformation into the image of your son, Jesus Christ.
In His name I pray,
Amen!
Read the following passages:
Revelation 2:12-17
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith[b] even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Romans 12: 1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 Peter 2:9-11
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Consider & Discuss:
The church at Pergamum had compromised aspects of their faith and some in their community had fallen back into unholy habits of their surrounding culture.
Take a moment and consider this cultural moment in 21st century America and how many of our cultural tendencies do not align with our high calling in God’s word.
What are some cultural tendencies that you see yourself being drawn to compromise on? How can you resist this temptation to compromise with culture and replace these areas of sin with acts of worship?
**please post your responses in the comment section below**
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we repent of the sin of attempting to blend into our culture by being complacent in accepting things that go against Your holy design. Though conforming to our culture often seems easier, we pray that we would instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Give us the ability to abstain from the passions of the flesh, and a boldness to seek after Your will and Your ways.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen!!