COUPLES FOR CHRIST

CHRISTIAN LIFE PROGRAM

TALK NO. 12 – TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST

GOAL:

To encourage people to live out actively the new life in the power of the Holy Spirit, and to excite them
about becoming a part of the CFC community.

CORE MESSAGE:

This talk marks the end of the Christian Life Program. But it is not really the end, but just the beginning.
The Lord has laid the foundation for our transformation throughout the Christian Life Program. Our
transformation, and what we have gone through, may be likened to the story of the man born blind in
the Gospel of John 9:1-38. To continue our transformation, we need to grow in holiness and discipleship
and have a greater commitment to service. This we can attain in Couples for Christ. Christ could have
restored the sight of the man born blind by merely saying the words “be healed”. But Jesus has chosen
to go through a “process” of making mud paste with spittle, rubbing it on the eyes of the blind man, and
sending him to the Pool of Siloam. In the same way, Jesus could have transformed us and opened our
eyes to his plan by some other means. But he has chosen to open our eyes and transform us through
the “process” of the Christian Life Program. Let us thus praise and thank the Lord for calling us, for
opening our eyes, and for starting the process of our transformation in Christ.

EXPANDED OUTLINE

A. Introduction

1. Today marks the end of our Christian Life Program. But it is not really the end, but just the
beginning. We have before us a whole new life with God and with one another. It is exciting!

2. The Lord has laid the foundation for our transformation throughout this Christian Life Program.

a) In the first module, we learned the basic truths about Christianity, and the most basic truth
is that God loves us. He revealed his love by sending his only Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem
us. We learned who Jesus Christ is. He is the Son of God who suffered on the cross and
died so that we may have eternal life. Thus we follow him as our Lord, we become his
disciples, we become Christians. To be a Christian is to have a personal relationship with
Jesus. And we respond to everything that he has done for us by our repentance and faith.

b) In the second module, we learned how to live an authentic Christian life; that the Christian
ideal is to love God with all our strength, with all our heart, and with all our mind, and that
we should love our neighbour as God loves us. We learned how to live as a Christian family,
which can only happen if we live a life in the Holy Spirit.

c) In the third module, we received the power to serve when we were prayed over in the Holy
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Spirit. We learned how to grow in the Holy Spirit. We learned the vision and mission of
Couples for Christ.

3. We need to allow the Lord to continue the process of our transformation in Christ. The Holy
Spirit is at work so that we can grow to know, love and serve God more.

B. Our Transformation: Story of the Blind Man

1. Our transformation, and what we have gone through during the past weeks, may be likened
to the story of the man born blind in the Gospel of John 9:1-38. This story gives a lesson on
the blind man’s transformation in Christ.

a) Here Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind, and he did it through some sort of a process
or ceremony. Instead of just saying “be healed” as he had done in his other miracles, in this
particular incident, Jesus made mud paste, placed it on the blind man’s eyes and asked him
to wash it.

b) The first time the blind man was asked on who cured his blindness, he responded by saying that
he was cured by “the man called Jesus”. His answer revealed an element of unfamiliarity and
remoteness. It was obvious that he did not know who Jesus was—that man, whom I do not know
but people call him Jesus, yes, he was the one who cured me.

c) The second time he was asked on who cured him, he responded that the man was a
prophet. This is a significant transformation. From “a man called Jesus”, a statement that
reveals unfamiliarity, the blind man now professes “he is a prophet”. The blind man has
now started to recognize him, and has progressed to the level of admitting that Jesus is a
prophet.

d) Towards the end of the story, the transformation has come to its fullest. From the unfamiliarity
of a statement like “the man called Jesus”, to a recognition of what is good in “he is a prophet”,
the blind man has been transformed into a believer in his final statement, “Lord, I believe.”
The blind man’s eyes and mind were opened and he progressed in his knowledge of Jesus
from “that man” to “prophet” to “my Lord”.

2. As we come to the end of the Christian Life Program, we should ask ourselves, have we
achieved this transformation? From one who only remotely knows “the man called Jesus”, are
we now ready to proclaim him as “my Lord”?

C. Continuing our Transformation

1. To continue our transformation in Christ, we need to grow in holiness and discipleship

and have a greater commitment to service.

a) Growth in holiness (1 Pt. 1:15-16). It is not an accident that you joined the CLP.

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 God called you. And as God who called you is holy, you are also enjoined to live in
holiness.

b) Growth in discipleship (Mt. 16:24). To be disciples of Jesus, we have to carry our own
crosses. We have to be like Christ who embraced the cross for others. We must listen
to the language of the cross and live out its parabolic meaning.

c) Greater commitment to service (1 Pt. 4:10). Our transformation through a greater

commitment to service is achieved by serving God, neighbour, society, Church and country.

2. As we grow and are transformed, God wants us to raise up families in the Holy Spirit
that will renew the face of the earth.

a) For the fulfilment of God’s plan (Eph. 1:10).

b) For the fulfilment of the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20).

D. Transformation Through Couples for Christ

1. It is a great privilege to be where we are now—to have a personal relationship with Jesus
and have the support of a vibrant community like Couples for Christ. This happened through
no worth of our own but through God’s mercy and grace. We ought to respond with gratitude
and humility.

2. In Couples for Christ, we can continue our transformation in Christ.

a) We will continue to grow in personal holiness through our regular prayer time and
Scripture reading, reflection and study; through our faithfulness to the covenant of
Couples for Christ; and through the CFC Formation Program.

b) As a member of Couples for Christ, there will be numerous opportunities to render service.

c) In Couples for Christ, we will develop a greater commitment to evangelization. Evangelization

is the global mission of Couples for Christ. Every CFC member is an evangelist. We must
endeavour to bring others to CFC to meet Christ.

E. Conclusion

1. If Christ so wished, he could have restored the sight of the man born blind by merely
saying the words “be healed” or “open your eyes.” But Jesus has chosen to go through
a “process” or a “ceremony” of making mud paste with spittle, rubbing it on the eyes of
the blind man, and sending him to the Pool of Siloam.

2. We are that blind man whom Jesus has chosen to be transformed. Jesus could have
transformed all of us and opened our eyes to his plan by some other means. But he has
chosen to open our eyes and transform us through the “process” of the Christian Life
Program.

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3. Yes, the Lord has chosen you. He has chosen to open your eyes so that you will begin to see
God’s plan for you. His plan is to bring you to his heavenly kingdom.

4. Let us all rejoice and be glad. Let us praise and thank the Lord for calling us, for opening our
eyes, and for starting the process of our transformation in Christ.

DEDICATION CEREMONY

1. The leader explains the commitment ceremony.

2. The leader invites everyone to stand. A song of offering oneself is sung (e.g., Here I am
Lord, Amen Our Hearts Cry).

3. The leader invites everyone to read out the covenant of the Couples for Christ. They all read
out loud together.

4. The leader prays over the newly committed brothers and sisters, inviting the old members to
pray in their heart with him. During this time of prayer, it is appropriate to insert one solemn
song (e.g., Spirit of the Living God).

5. The leader welcomes the new brothers and sisters to CFC and invites the old members
to express acceptance by means of one big applause. This is followed by spontaneous
greeting and welcoming of the new members by the old members. The music ministry plays
“Welcome to the Family” and other lively songs.

6. Fellowship follows.

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