We are in week 2 of our Refresh series. Last week we looked at who we are in Christ. This week we take this a step

further – becoming more and more like Christ.

Earlier in the service we heard a story told via video by Liz Dyson – a story that described her adventure with her

sister and 2 teenage sons, swimming thought the breakers (big waves) at Boomer Beach. In it we heard about

transformation – as they struggled individually together and made it through to the other side – of the beauty they

experienced while there – of the change in each of them through this experience. A change they would not have

gone through if they hadn’t taken that first step into the water.

Our reading today was from Romans - Paul was writing to a Christian believers in Roman. People going through some

tough times – people being hit by some breakers and being scattered and knocked apart rather than united as one.

Chapter 12 is part of a section that is about faithful living before the faithful God – where Paul teaches the Romans

to live lives shaped by the cross. There is this term “cruciform” – that is ‘in the shape of the cross’, or ‘cross-like’. This

section is all about ‘cruciform’ living – living a life of holiness and hospitality that is deep-rooted in the cross.