What Love Does-Love Transforms 

Ice Breaker: What was the biggest change for the better, that you can describe in a person you have known?  Or what (besides becoming a Christian) has caused the biggest change in your life? 

1.Pastor Brian began his sermon with an illustration about houses that had been weathered and neglected, and needed to be transformed.  How are our lives weathered and been neglected and in need of transformation?  

Luke19:1-8 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

2. Who was Zacchaeus, and why do you think it was unusual that Jesus would stay with him?  

3. What is the difference in how Jesus looked at Zacchaeus and the way the people looked at Zacchaeus? (Luke 19:7) How do religious people sometimes treat secular people without love? 

4. What was Zacchaeus’ reaction to the love and acceptance of Jesus? (Luke 19:8) 

5. What should the verse, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” mean to us who know Jesus as our savior? 

Zacchaeus began a transformational journey when he met Jesus.  

6. What evidence in the passage indicates the sincerity of Zacchaeus’ heart/repentance? 

Romans 12:2  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from  the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

7. How are we conformed to the pattern of the world?  In what ways do you think the Church, (universal) conforms to the pattern of the world? (Colossians 2:21-23)

Colossians 2:21-23  “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. 

Strong’s Concordance for Transform.: 3339 metamorphóō (from 3326 /metá, “change after being with” and 3445 /morphóō, “changing form in keeping with inner reality”) properly, transformed after being with; transfigured.  

8. How does God transform us? What does it mean to have our minds renewed? How does this happen? (Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12)  

Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  

2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

9. What is the difference in real transformation, versus following a list of rules, or just appearing to restrain desire and trying hard to do good? 

10. How is love involved in your transformation? How is love involved in the transformation of others?  (1 John 4:19) 

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. 

11. What was your life like before you met Jesus? 

12. How has your life been transformed since you met Jesus? 

13. In what areas is God continuing to transform you into the likeness of Christ? (Review Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18) 

Pastor Brian said, “Transformation is about getting closer and closer to God, so He can transform us from the inside out, into what He created us to be.”