September 2–5, 2011 | Alexandria, Virginia
Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, 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.
Every moment of every day is full of such spiritual possibility – whether at work or at home with our families, in times of happiness or joy, in the middle of struggle or sorrow. For followers of Jesus, this is the hope for our spiritual transformation: that through it all, God does not want us to stay the same.
The 2011 MBB Convention is being held at First Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, over Labor Day weekend. Our guiding theme for this year’s convention is spiritual transformation from a Christ-centered perspective.
The idea behind “spiritual transformation” is that, in Christ, we become like Christ. Because of the grace of the gospel of God and the activity of the Holy Spirit, we can embark on a lifelong process to become more like Christ. This kind of spiritual transformation always involves the whole life; it gives form to the Christian life. And this is something we all desperately want: we want a life in Christ where Christ ties together every loose thread into a single whole – a Christ-centered life.
But what exactly is happening when spiritual transformation happens? What are its intended effects within our personal character? How do these effects translate into the life you are living in your neighborhood and church community? Our convention speakers and guided-discussion sessions will help you go deeper and wider in knowledge, understanding and practical application as we unpack the answers to these significant questions.
Throughout our weekend, Romans 12:1-2 will be the central Biblical text for our community learning. Within these verses, you’ll hear ideas that seem familiar to Islamic themes – the mercy of God; the importance of the will of God; our surrender to the will of God as the ultimate act of worship. But as we’ll discover together, these ideas in Romans have a different meaning through Jesus and through the Holy Spirit whom God has given us. From a Christian approach, we’ll explore spiritual transformation through Jesus and in the power of the Spirit.
Furthermore, through your experience of this convention, we hope that you will grow in seeing the connections between the true knowledge of God, his will, and your spiritual transformation. You will also develop in your ability to distinguish between the world’s system or cultural viewpoints and God’s unfolding story in the world and within our lives. And we will journey together toward a better understanding of the role of spiritual disciplines in our ongoing transformation.
We are excitedly looking forward to the 2011 MBB Convention. We pray, as Jesus did, that God’s kingdom may come more fully on earth – through this convention, within your life, in your church community and by blessing the world with the Good News.