01 Oct My Dwelling Place #3 “Changes Me” Pr. Paul Hohman

Dwelling With God Overview

Pastor Paul Hohman delivers a transformative message about spiritual formation through divine dwelling in his third sermon of the ‘My Dwelling Place’ series. Drawing from Psalm 91, he emphasizes that our habits and devotions fundamentally shape who we become. When we dwell with God through prayer and Scripture reading, we naturally become more like Him – embodying His compassion, grace, and mercy. Hohman challenges believers to examine their daily devotional practices, stressing that authentic Christianity begins with personal transformation rather than trying to change others. He illustrates how children mimic parents and teenagers adopt peer behaviors, applying this principle to spiritual growth. The pastor emphasizes that our sphere of influence reveals whether we’re impacting others for Christ or being influenced by worldly patterns. Using Romans 12:1-2, he calls for believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, allowing God to renew their minds and transform their character. This powerful message reminds us that genuine devotion to God’s Word produces lasting change from within.

Dwelling With God Outline

• 0:00 – Introduction: Habits Shape Identity: Opening thoughts on how our devotions and habits determine who we become
• 3:30 – Dwelling with God to Become Like Him: The importance of spending time with God to develop His character traits
• 8:15 – Prayer and Opening Scripture: Pastoral prayer and introduction to the main biblical text
• 12:00 – Mimicking What We’re Around: How children copy parents and we copy what we’re devoted to
• 18:45 – Daily Devotional Habits: Practical steps for consistent Bible reading and prayer life
• 25:20 – Sphere of Influence: Either we impact others for Christ or they impact us worldly
• 32:10 – Church Attendance and Commitment: The importance of consistent fellowship and devotion to God’s house
• 38:50 – Romans 12:1-2 – Living Sacrifice: Offering our bodies as holy gifts and letting God transform our minds

Scripture References

Psalm 91:1, Romans 12:1-2, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs (discipline passage), Ephesians 3:20, 1 John 4:18, Hebrews 13:5

Key Takeaways

• Our daily habits and devotions fundamentally shape who we become as people and believers.
• Dwelling with God through Scripture and prayer transforms us to reflect His character of love, grace, and mercy.
• Genuine devotion requires consistent daily time in God’s Word, not just casual Bible reading.
• If we’re not impacting our sphere of influence for Christ, then worldly influences are changing us instead.
• Personal transformation must come first before we can expect God to change our circumstances or relationships.
• Regular church attendance demonstrates our devotion and commitment to spiritual growth.
• Living as a sacrifice to God means allowing Him to renew our minds and transform our daily actions.

Dwelling With God Notes

Pastor Paul Hohman’s compelling message on spiritual transformation begins with a fundamental truth: we become what we devote ourselves to. This principle operates universally, whether in positive spiritual growth or negative worldly conformity. When we establish consistent habits of dwelling with God through prayer and Scripture study, we naturally begin reflecting His divine character traits of compassion, love, grace, and mercy.The pastor emphasizes that knowing God intimately should be our primary pursuit since the Bible declares that only God is truly good. If we don’t understand goodness from God’s perspective, we lack the proper foundation for righteous living. This knowledge comes through dedicated time in God’s Word, approached not as casual reading but as seeking divine revelation and personal transformation.Hohman illustrates this principle through everyday examples, noting how children naturally mimic their parents’ speech and behavior, often revealing family dynamics through their innocent repetition. Similarly, teenagers adopt the language, interests, and values of their peer groups or social media influences. This same mimicking principle applies powerfully to our spiritual lives – we inevitably become like whatever we consistently focus our attention and devotion upon.The message challenges believers to evaluate their sphere of influence honestly. If we’re not positively impacting others for Christ in our workplaces, families, and communities, then worldly influences are likely changing us instead. This doesn’t mean becoming judgmental or carrying around oversized Bibles to beat people with truth, but rather demonstrating Christ’s love through consistent godly character that naturally draws others toward Him.Pastor Hohman addresses the practical reality that many people claim Christian faith yet neglect regular church attendance and consistent devotional practices. He argues that authentic devotion to God naturally produces faithful church participation, not from legalistic obligation but from genuine love and commitment to spiritual growth. The pastor humbly admits his own need for continued transformation, emphasizing that everyone, regardless of position or maturity, must continually seek God’s changing power.The sermon’s climax focuses on Romans 12:1-2, where Paul urges believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God. This isn’t about becoming church slaves but about recognizing our identity as servants in God’s kingdom, working together as the body of Christ. True worship involves allowing God to transform our minds and actions, moving away from worldly patterns toward divine character. The pastor encourages practical expressions of Christ-like behavior through simple acts of kindness, consideration for others, and compassionate responses to people’s needs. This transformation begins internally through consistent dwelling with God but manifests externally through changed behavior and attitudes that reflect Heaven’s values in earthly situations.

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