Embracing Our Bodies: A Journey of Surrender

 

Summary

In this Advent season, we journey towards Christmas, reflecting on the profound mystery of the incarnation—God becoming flesh. This divine act of embodiment invites us to radically accept our own bodies as gifts from God. Today, we explore the concept of offering our bodies as living sacrifices, a call from the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. This act of surrender is not just a spiritual exercise but a holistic one, involving the renewal of our minds and the transformation of our lives.

We often find ourselves on a spectrum of acceptance regarding our bodies, ranging from condemnation to full embrace. Society frequently dictates that only certain body types are worthy of acceptance, often idolizing Hollywood standards. However, our bodies are divine gifts, not barriers to God's blessing. The incarnation of Jesus is a powerful affirmation of the body and physical existence. Jesus, fully human, experienced life in a body like ours, underscoring that our physical form is not a hindrance to divine blessing.

In a world that often idolizes or despises the body, we are called to a different path—one of gratitude and surrender. By offering our bodies to God, we acknowledge them as sacred spaces where God's spirit dwells. This act of surrender involves every part of our being, from our thoughts and senses to our actions and desires. It is a holistic offering, recognizing that our bodies are not just physical entities but integral to our spiritual journey.

As we engage in this practice, we are reminded of God's mercies, expressed most profoundly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Our bodies, like Jesus', are meant to be vessels of God's love and grace. By surrendering our bodies, we invite God to transform us, to inspire us, and to use us for His purposes. This Advent, let us embrace our bodies as gifts, offering them back to God in gratitude and love.

Key Takeaways:

- Radical Acceptance of the Body: Embracing our bodies as gifts from God is a profound act of worship. Society often imposes unrealistic standards, but our bodies, in all their forms, are sacred and worthy of acceptance. This acceptance is not about idolizing or despising but about gratitude and surrender. [01:59]

- The Incarnation as Affirmation: The incarnation of Jesus is a divine affirmation of the body and physical existence. Jesus' embodiment underscores that our bodies are not barriers to God's blessing but integral to our spiritual journey. [04:50]

- Holistic Surrender: Offering our bodies as living sacrifices involves every part of our being. This holistic surrender acknowledges that our bodies are sacred spaces where God's spirit dwells, inviting transformation and renewal. [07:34]

- Gratitude for the Gift of the Body: Our bodies are divine gifts, not barriers to God's blessing. By embracing our bodies with gratitude, we recognize them as vessels of God's love and grace, meant to be used for His purposes. [11:14]

- Transformation Through Surrender: Surrendering our bodies to God invites transformation and inspiration. This act of offering is a spiritual practice that aligns our physical existence with God's will, allowing us to be vessels of His love and grace. [10:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:25] - Journey to Christmas
- [00:54] - Radical Acceptance and Surrender
- [01:37] - Reflecting on Body Acceptance
- [02:15] - Societal Standards and Body Image
- [03:05] - The Gift of the Body
- [03:57] - The Incarnation and Its Significance
- [04:50] - Jesus' Embodiment and Affirmation
- [05:28] - Humanizing Jesus
- [06:09] - Body as a Place of Blessing
- [07:00] - Offering Our Bodies to God
- [08:13] - Surrendering Our Senses
- [09:10] - The Power of Words
- [10:23] - Embracing Our Physicality
- [11:14] - Gratitude and Acceptance
- [12:01] - Closing and Community Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Embracing Our Bodies as Divine Gifts

Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:1-2 (NIV): "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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."

Observation Questions:
1. What does the Apostle Paul mean by offering our bodies as a "living sacrifice"? How is this described as an act of worship? [01:10]
2. How does the sermon describe the societal standards of body image, and what impact do these standards have on our acceptance of our own bodies? [02:15]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' incarnation affirms the value of our physical bodies? [04:50]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of holistic surrender involving every part of our being? [07:34]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the idea of offering our bodies as living sacrifices challenge societal norms about body image and acceptance? [02:15]
2. What does it mean for our bodies to be "sacred spaces where God's spirit dwells," and how does this understanding affect our daily lives? [07:34]
3. How does the sermon connect the incarnation of Jesus with the affirmation of our physical existence? What implications does this have for how we view our own bodies? [04:50]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that gratitude for our bodies can lead to transformation and renewal? [11:14]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current level of acceptance of your body. Where do you find yourself on the spectrum from condemnation to full embrace? What steps can you take to move towards gratitude and acceptance? [01:37]
2. Society often imposes unrealistic standards of beauty. How can you resist these pressures and embrace your body as a gift from God? What practical steps can you take this week to affirm your body? [02:15]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of holistic surrender. What specific part of your being (thoughts, senses, actions) do you find most challenging to surrender to God, and how can you work on this area? [07:34]
4. How can you incorporate the practice of offering your body as a living sacrifice into your daily routine? What changes might you need to make to align your physical existence with God's will? [10:52]
5. Consider the ways in which you can use your body as a vessel of God's love and grace. Identify one action you can take this week to serve others and reflect God's love through your physical presence. [11:14]
6. The sermon invites us to see our bodies as places of blessing. How can you cultivate a mindset of gratitude for your body, and what impact might this have on your spiritual journey? [06:09]
7. Reflect on the idea that our bodies are not barriers to God's blessing. How can this perspective change the way you view your physical limitations or imperfections? [05:42]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Bodies as Divine Gifts
Our bodies are often subjected to societal standards that dictate what is considered acceptable or beautiful. However, the truth is that our bodies, in all their forms, are divine gifts from God. Embracing our bodies as they are is a profound act of worship and gratitude. This acceptance is not about idolizing or despising our physical form but about recognizing the sacredness of our bodies. By doing so, we acknowledge that our bodies are not barriers to God's blessing but integral to our spiritual journey. This Advent season, let us reflect on the radical acceptance of our bodies as a way to honor God. [01:59]

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: What is one aspect of your body that you struggle to accept? How can you begin to see it as a gift from God today?


Day 2: The Incarnation Affirms Our Physical Existence
The incarnation of Jesus is a powerful affirmation of the body and physical existence. Jesus, fully human, experienced life in a body like ours, underscoring that our physical form is not a hindrance to divine blessing. This divine act of embodiment invites us to radically accept our own bodies as gifts from God. The incarnation is a reminder that our bodies are integral to our spiritual journey and that they are sacred spaces where God's spirit dwells. As we reflect on the incarnation, let us embrace our physical existence as a vital part of our relationship with God. [04:50]

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, ESV)

Reflection: How does the incarnation of Jesus change your perspective on your own physical existence? What steps can you take to honor your body as a sacred space?


Day 3: Holistic Surrender of Our Bodies
Offering our bodies as living sacrifices involves every part of our being. This holistic surrender acknowledges that our bodies are sacred spaces where God's spirit dwells, inviting transformation and renewal. It is not just a spiritual exercise but a holistic one, involving the renewal of our minds and the transformation of our lives. By offering our bodies to God, we invite Him to transform us, to inspire us, and to use us for His purposes. This Advent, let us commit to a holistic surrender of our bodies, recognizing them as vessels of God's love and grace. [07:34]

"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." (Romans 12:1, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to surrender to God? How can you begin to offer this part of your life as a living sacrifice today?


Day 4: Gratitude for the Gift of the Body
Our bodies are divine gifts, not barriers to God's blessing. By embracing our bodies with gratitude, we recognize them as vessels of God's love and grace, meant to be used for His purposes. This act of gratitude is a spiritual practice that aligns our physical existence with God's will. As we engage in this practice, we are reminded of God's mercies, expressed most profoundly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Let us cultivate a spirit of gratitude for the gift of our bodies, acknowledging them as sacred and worthy of acceptance. [11:14]

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can express gratitude for your body today? How can this gratitude transform your relationship with God and others?


Day 5: Transformation Through Surrender
Surrendering our bodies to God invites transformation and inspiration. This act of offering is a spiritual practice that aligns our physical existence with God's will, allowing us to be vessels of His love and grace. By surrendering our bodies, we invite God to transform us, to inspire us, and to use us for His purposes. This Advent, let us embrace our bodies as gifts, offering them back to God in gratitude and love. As we do so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and grace in our lives. [10:52]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you desire transformation? How can you invite God to work in this area through the surrender of your body and spirit?

Quotes


"we are on this journey in the advent season to christmas to remembering the incarnation, how god came in bodily form, and so we can be radically accepted by god and we can radically accept his love for us and our own life and other people what goes on in our hearts and our minds and today we're going to talk about radically accepting our bodies and in fact offering our bodies surrendering our bodies because at its core this idea of radical acceptance of saying yes to life is really surrender to god saying yes to god" [00:00:19]

"i want to begin by thinking again about that scale of acceptance and asking you to reflect for a moment as you think about your own body, where are you when you think about your body, at the bottom of the scale is the idea of condemning my body rejecting it within the next level up resisting it i don't really like it that leaks out sometimes or i've learned to tolerate it this is kind of me neutral or now i accept that i recognize that god made my body and that's a good thing and there's some gratitude for it all the way up to actually embracing receiving my body as a great gift from god" [00:01:30]

"what's important is to recognize how do i think and feel about my own body and how do i come to accept it and receive it as a gift from god that i can offer back to him because here's the truth about my body i did not manufacture it it is a gift for me to receive i didn't make it in the early years of my life i could not care for it i will not be able to save it when it comes to the end of my life" [00:02:52]

"when jesus became in the flesh was incarnated among other things that was god's great statement of affirmation for the body and physical existence jesus really did have one of those if i could give a little tweak to one of our famous christmas carols that i love it would probably be the line you know way in the manger you might remember that one that goes the cattle are lowing the poor baby wakes but little lord jesus no crying he makes well that's not actually in the bible" [00:04:40]

"your body is not a barrier to your being blessed by god and this is part of why accepting our bodies moving out of body rejection or condemnation is so important because we live in a world that paradoxically idolizes the body very often unless you have a body that's beautiful fast quick strong smart whatever if it ages if you're too fat if you're too bald if you're too unattractive if you don't have the right teeth then you cannot have the blessed life" [00:05:40]

"your body my body is a gift from god and it is the place of god's blessing and there is nothing about our bodies that is a barrier to the blessing of god despite all of the body shaming and the body hatred in our world so now we're going to offer our body to god you can do this on a longer version i i've done this before where i'll take quite a while several hours to do this but we're going to do it briefly now" [00:06:14]

"in light of god's mercies because god is a merciful god who is gracious and forgiving and deeply loving and has expressed his love most deeply in the bodily life and death and resurrection of jesus in view of god's mercies present your body a living sacrifice to god god here is my body now to sacrifice the body doesn't mean that it ceases to exist to sacrifice in the ancient world is to transfer into the realm of the spiritual" [00:07:14]

"god take my thoughts let them belong to you today let them return to you today as i am aware of my eyes god thank you for my eyes thank you for the gift of seeing if i have that gift i surrender my eyes to you let me see what you would see when i look at the world today let me see the beauty of it and be filled with gratitude when i look at people let me see your image in them" [00:08:08]

"i offer my mouth take my voice and let me sing ever only for my king let the words that come out of my mouth be a blessing to other people i surrender my mouth would you free it from the need for gossip or cursing make it a source of blessing my shoulders if there's tension in your shoulders right now just let them rest in god god i sacrifice i offer my shoulders give them the strength to bear whatever i need to today" [00:08:56]

"thank you for my lungs thank you that i keep breathing life-giving air that reminds me of that somehow is the presence of your pneuma your spirit to inspire me maybe i be inspired physically and spiritually today my stomach my appetites i surrender my sexual organs my sexuality i thank you for that and i surrender all the way down to my feet take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee" [00:09:46]

"what a great gift it is to have a body a little kingdom where i can exercise dominion god i thank you for my body give me the grace to accept and embrace it not to idolize it not to despise it to be grateful for it to not worry about it i offer my body to you today we do this god in the name of our embodied savior jesus christ amen" [00:11:07]

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Transcript
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