Christianity 101

As promised, the sermon notes from Sunday 5/02/12
It's incomplete cause it was too emotional a sermon to take proper notes but I hope this does it some justice. Hopefully later I can put a link to the podcast for people to listen to the whole thing.


Edge Adelaide City Campus. Preacher: Ps Jonathan Fontanarosa
Romaans 12 verse 1

Christianity has been complicated in the west. It has been made into something that has too many part, functions, rules and regulations. It needs to be simplified and stripped down to the basics. Child like faith not childish.

Jesus At The Centre is our theme for 2012. It gives us a goal to:
Make disciples just like Jesus did.
Make followers of Christ not just church attenders.
Not teaching that informs but transforms.
Not just good music but worship.

Key Verse: Rom 12 v 1: (KJV) I beseech you therefore, bretheren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(NET) Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice- alive, holy, and pleasing to God - which is your reasonable service.

When Paul says "I beseech you brethren" it's Not a command or an order because God doesn't force but an endearing term inviting them to take the steps to a life that is different. He doesn't force but invite.


1. Present your bodies.
The word translated present is a voluntary exercise. It's personal and a choice not something that is done under compulsion.
The word "body" refers to the whole person. Everything that u are. Body, mind, spirit, dreams, ideas, desire, plans, visions, philosophies, talents. Everything that you are and present it entirely to God. Not to choose what you want to give and what not to but give your entire self.

2 . As a living sacrifice
It's living. Not dead or dying. It's a sacrifice that leads to life not death. It will not lead to loosing but a victory and hope and a fulfilment of life.
Gen 22 v 1 v 13 - Abraham was required to sacrifice his dreams and promise and hopes in his son Isaac to god. That's the kind of sacrifice required of us. A complete sacrifice of EVERYTHING WE ARE AND HAVE AND BELIEVE. A living sacrifice. And god will honour it by providing a substitute for the sacrifice.

Gal 2 v 20 - no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me.

3. Holy
Separated from sin and consecrated to God. It's not our current situation. Its not about ur do's and donts. It's about consecration. Don't try to find out what boundaries we can push or how far we can go and still have Jesus love us, but to see where we can't go to be able to please God. It's a life wanting to serve God, not legalism. It's Not just about going to church every Sunday but giving our lives every other day to serve god in our worlds, workplaces and schools and universities. Holiness is not about legalism or following rules but realising the sacrifice that was made for us and not deliberately sending Christ back to the cross just for our convenience. Giving god prime place in our lives and not going anywhere, doing anything that would take us away from His presence.

4. Acceptable to god
Your sacrifice is acceptable to god. He loves you no matter what. But when there's a submission of ourselves to god as a sacrifice. Not to compromise, not playing with fire but completely living a life of serving and loving God. To please god to be our goal.

5. Reasonable service
Some people might consider this level of commitment extreme. That these are the kinds of people books are written about and people have died because of this kind of commitment to God. But it's not extraordinary or exceptional. It's not martyrdom. It's just ordinary. It's simple faith. It's the basic requirement. Doesn't mean you have to give up your job or business or studies but to take god with you to your those things and to the community.
Reasonable - logikos
It just makes sense.
Service - latreia
Service as an act of service to god.

This is what being a Christian is about.