Management experts Cummings and Worley state that transformational change occurs in response to, or anticipation of, significant changes in an organization's environment or technology.

 

Some of you may know that I had another life.  I’ve been a lawyer for 25 years but a chunk of that – some 20 years - was spent in executive and legal banking roles.  This is what led us to move the Sydney in the first place – nearly 20 years ago.  

 

I’ll share more on my banking experience some other time.  For now I can say that I was the business owner for a number of transformational change programs in banking including:

 

1. Consolidating the banking licence between CBA and Bankwest – which turned Bankwest into a division of CBA;

 

2. Product remediation programs for BOQ that led to 130k customers being refunded for 25 product failures;

 

3. Introduction of a new AML / CTF program as well as an operational risk and compliance program for BOQ.

 

During these programs I learnt a lot about transformational change at a business level.

 

The biggest take away was that just changing systems and process wasn’t enough.  Lots of changes are made by banks that don’t actually stick.  Systems are implemented that staff don’t want to use and actively avoid.

 

So all our programs employed change managers.  Staff that were experts at implementing change.  

 

Change managers had the role of ensuring that staff and customers actually bought into the change.  In other words, the real challenge was to change the hearts and minds of the staff and clients being impacted by the change.

 

Only then would the change be transformational.  Only then could it impact and change the culture of the bank.

 

So for me transformational change is not a new concept.  

 

But starting life as a Christian, I’ve had to ask myself – “what does transformational change mean for my life, for my family and for those around me?”

 

“How do I transform my life?”

 

 

Part 2 – The Apostles – Our First Change Managers

 

In Matthew 10:1–4, Mark 3:13–19 and Luke 6:12–16 we see Jesus commissioning the twelve Apostles from among His disciples:

 

In Matthew 10:1–8 we hear:

 

“Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles:

first, 

Simon (also called Peter),

then Andrew (Peter’s brother),

James (son of Zebedee),

John (James’s brother),

Philip,

Bartholomew,

Thomas,

Matthew (the tax collector),

James (son of Alphaeus),

Thaddaeus,

Simon (the zealot),

Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

 

Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: 

 

“Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”

 

So here we see the first reference being made by Jesus to appointing “apostles”.

 

The term Apostle comes from the Greek word apóstolos which means "one who is sent out".  The word “apostle” also described a person who had the authority to act much the same way an ambassador represents his government to another government. 

 

It means an envoy sent to do business on behalf of the one who sent him.

 

In Jesus’ time, this term was most commonly used by Rome as a name for a General that would come after a barbarian city was conquered.  The role of the Apostle General was to bring with him experts and tools needed to transform that city into one that closely resembled the culture and technology of Rome.  They would bring with them writers, artists, architects and engineers.  The goal of this General was to ensure that Caeser would feel at home should he visit a conquered city.  This would be the mark of his success.

 

So the use of the term apostle was no mistake.  This is because Jesus required his apostles to spread His culture and His teachings to the world.  To extend His Kingdom to the world.

 

Now I ask myself, would Jesus feel at home if he visited my home.  Would he feel at home if he visited my workplace?

 

 

 

Part 3 – From Saul to Paul

 

It is in the areas we could improve where transformational change is needed.

 

One of the best examples of a transformational change in the Bible was Saul when he converted.

 

We all know the story of Saul who was a persecutor of Christians. One day he was off to Damascus (to persecute some more Christians) when he was suddenly blinded by a bright light. This event, and those that followed, resulted in one of the most well known accounts of conversion in the bible and a change in the course of the new Christian Church.

 

So what does Paul, the great Change Manager, say about transformational change?

 

1 Corinthians 15: 51-52

 

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

 

So right now in the living, in the blink of an eye we can be transformed!

 

Romans 12:1-2 NLT:

 

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

 

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  He didn’t say transform you into a better person.  He said a new person.  New!

 

That’s transformational change.

 

 

Part 4 – Transforming My Life

 

Paul goes on to also give us the keys of how to transform our lives.

 

Romans 12:3-14 NLT:

 

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. So it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 

 

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

 

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”

 

So I must measure myself by the faith I have.  I must use my gifts God has given me. I must love deeply and honestly and genuinely.  I cannot be lazy and I must serve the Lord enthusiastically.

 

As I reflect on the above, I wish I had known all this when I was managing transformational change for banks.  I’m sure I would have made better decisions and been more effective.  I would have measured all my decisions against the above criteria and the degree each decision glorifies His name.

 

I can’t change the past but I can choose to change how I think now and what I focus my life on now.  To transform my life to extend God’s kingdom into all parts of my life at home, at work and in my community.

 

 

 

 

Prayer Point 2 – brothers, as we pray think about how much at home would Jesus feel in our lives.  How have we bought the Lord’s Kingdom into our home, our family, our work place, our community?  Where are we going strong?  Where could we improve?