Embracing Sacrifice: The Path to Spiritual Growth

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that being part of God's family means embracing hard things. We began by reflecting on the story of Abraham, who was called by God to leave his homeland and later asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. This narrative illustrates the challenging nature of faith and the difficult decisions that often accompany it. Abraham's journey is a testament to the fact that God sometimes calls us to do things that seem impossible or illogical, yet these are the moments that shape our faith and character.

We also discussed the cultural shift away from embracing challenges. Historically, our society has achieved great feats by taking on difficult tasks, but today, there seems to be a reluctance to engage in anything that requires significant effort or sacrifice. This mindset can seep into our spiritual lives, leading us to avoid the hard paths that God might be calling us to walk. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to a different standard. Jesus himself promised that we would face trouble in this world, and it is through these trials that we are refined and strengthened.

The concept of being a "living sacrifice" was emphasized, drawing from Romans 12. This means offering our entire lives to God, holding nothing back, and being willing to place everything we have on the altar. Whether it's our families, possessions, or personal ambitions, we are invited to trust God with all that we hold dear. This act of surrender is not about losing what we love but about prioritizing our relationship with God above all else.

We concluded by considering the role of sacrifice in spiritual awakening. Historically, revivals and movements of God have been fueled by individuals willing to make significant sacrifices. As a community, we are challenged to consider what hard things God might be calling us to do for the sake of His kingdom. This could involve financial sacrifices, lifestyle changes, or stepping out in faith in new ways. Ultimately, embracing hard things is about aligning our lives with God's purposes and trusting Him to work through our obedience.

Key Takeaways:

- Embracing Hard Things: The story of Abraham teaches us that God often calls us to do hard things that test our faith and obedience. These challenges are opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God. Embracing difficulty is part of our spiritual heritage and essential for our formation. [02:26]

- Cultural Shift: Our society has moved away from embracing challenges, preferring comfort and ease. As Christians, we are called to a different standard, recognizing that true growth and transformation often come through trials and difficulties. [05:25]

- Living Sacrifice: Being a living sacrifice means offering our entire lives to God, holding nothing back. This involves trusting God with our families, possessions, and ambitions, prioritizing our relationship with Him above all else. [21:27]

- Role of Sacrifice in Awakening: Spiritual awakenings and revivals are often fueled by individuals willing to make significant sacrifices. We are challenged to consider what hard things God might be calling us to do for the sake of His kingdom. [41:44]

- Trusting God with Everything: Placing everything we have on the altar is an act of trust, acknowledging that God is the ultimate owner of all we possess. This surrender is not about loss but about aligning our lives with God's purposes. [30:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [02:26] - Abraham's Call and Challenge
- [04:15] - The Vision of Faith
- [05:25] - Embracing Hard Things
- [07:34] - The Cost of Faith
- [09:27] - Stories of Sacrifice
- [12:59] - Faith and Hardship
- [16:35] - The Test of Sacrifice
- [20:08] - Isaac's Journey
- [21:27] - Living Sacrifice
- [22:08] - Spiritual Formation
- [24:27] - Trusting God with Family
- [28:16] - Financial Sacrifices
- [30:47] - Surrendering Possessions
- [41:44] - The Role of Sacrifice in Awakening
- [45:20] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 12:1-2
- Genesis 22:1-14
- Romans 12:1

Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-2, and how did it challenge his current life situation? [02:26]
2. In Genesis 22:1-14, what specific command did God give to Abraham, and how did Abraham respond to it? [20:08]
3. According to Romans 12:1, what does it mean to be a "living sacrifice," and how is this concept illustrated in the sermon? [30:47]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac illustrate the concept of faith being tested through difficult circumstances? [21:27]
2. What cultural shifts away from embracing challenges were discussed in the sermon, and how do these shifts impact our spiritual growth? [05:25]
3. How does the idea of being a "living sacrifice" challenge modern views of comfort and self-preservation? [32:41]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was calling you to do something difficult. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [07:34]
2. In what areas of your life might God be asking you to trust Him more fully, similar to how Abraham trusted God with Isaac? [24:27]
3. How can you actively resist the cultural tendency to avoid hard things and instead embrace challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth? [05:25]
4. Consider your current lifestyle and possessions. What might it look like for you to place these on the "altar" as a living sacrifice to God? [30:47]
5. What specific sacrifices might God be calling you to make for the sake of His kingdom, and how can you take a step towards making those sacrifices this week? [41:44]
6. How can you encourage others in your community to embrace hard things and trust God through difficult times? [12:59]
7. Identify one area in your life where you can practice being a living sacrifice this week. What practical steps will you take to prioritize your relationship with God in that area? [32:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Impossible

The story of Abraham is a powerful reminder that God often calls us to do things that seem impossible or illogical. Abraham was asked to leave his homeland and later to sacrifice his son Isaac, both of which were monumental challenges that tested his faith and obedience. These moments of difficulty are not just tests but opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God. Embracing hard things is part of our spiritual heritage and essential for our formation. As we face our own challenges, we are invited to see them as opportunities to strengthen our faith and character, trusting that God is with us every step of the way. [02:26]

Genesis 22:1-2 (ESV): "After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' He said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.'"

Reflection: What is one challenge in your life that seems impossible? How can you trust God to guide you through it today?

Day 2: Counter-Cultural Faith

In today's society, there is a noticeable shift away from embracing challenges, with a preference for comfort and ease. This cultural mindset can seep into our spiritual lives, leading us to avoid the hard paths that God might be calling us to walk. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to a different standard. True growth and transformation often come through trials and difficulties. Jesus himself promised that we would face trouble in this world, and it is through these trials that we are refined and strengthened. Embracing challenges is not just about enduring hardship but about aligning ourselves with God's purposes and trusting Him to work through our obedience. [05:25]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: In what ways have you been avoiding challenges in your spiritual life? How can you begin to embrace them as opportunities for growth?

Day 3: A Life on the Altar

Being a living sacrifice means offering our entire lives to God, holding nothing back. This involves trusting God with our families, possessions, and ambitions, prioritizing our relationship with Him above all else. It is an act of surrender, acknowledging that God is the ultimate owner of all we possess. This surrender is not about losing what we love but about aligning our lives with God's purposes. By placing everything we have on the altar, we demonstrate our trust in God's plan and His ability to work all things for our good. [21:27]

Romans 12:1 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: What is one area of your life that you are holding back from God? What would it look like to place it on the altar today?

Day 4: Sacrifice and Spiritual Awakening

Throughout history, spiritual awakenings and revivals have been fueled by individuals willing to make significant sacrifices. These sacrifices often involve financial commitments, lifestyle changes, or stepping out in faith in new ways. As a community, we are challenged to consider what hard things God might be calling us to do for the sake of His kingdom. Embracing hard things is about aligning our lives with God's purposes and trusting Him to work through our obedience. By being willing to make sacrifices, we open ourselves up to the possibility of being part of a greater movement of God. [41:44]

2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV): "But the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."

Reflection: What is one significant sacrifice you feel God might be calling you to make for His kingdom? How can you take a step towards that today?

Day 5: Trusting God with Everything

Placing everything we have on the altar is an act of trust, acknowledging that God is the ultimate owner of all we possess. This surrender is not about loss but about aligning our lives with God's purposes. By trusting God with everything, we demonstrate our faith in His plan and His ability to work all things for our good. This act of surrender invites us to prioritize our relationship with God above all else, knowing that He is faithful and will provide for our needs. [30:47]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What is one possession or ambition you find difficult to trust God with? How can you begin to surrender it to Him today?

Quotes

1) "We are in the push for 10X, where we have a dream of having Crossroads being 10X, the influence in the kingdom of God and the size as we are right now. And we're pushing not just for that to happen over the next 10 years, we're pushing all of us, we're pushing all of us to say, hey, do you want to spiritually grow? Do you want to go deeper with God? Do you want to have a peace that passes understanding?" [00:10] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "I meet many people who think that if it's hard, then God must be in. I mean, many people who think that if it's hard, then something has gone wrong somewhere. No, sometimes things are just hard. And people in the family of God understand this is part of our family history. People like Abraham have done hard, incredibly hard things. And this is who we are. It's what we do." [06:45] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Every move of God comes on the back of someone doing something hard. Every story in the bible that inspires us is of an individual doing something hard that is hard under the authority of God they often aren't hearing directly from God to do it but they embrace the suck and they move forward in faithfulness." [09:27] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Maybe the shot in our arm that our faith needs is a swift kick into a hard place where it is dark and hard. We're here because someone before us did something hard. Jesus died a hard and painful death. Our parents may have made hard choices to raise us in the faith or a friend made the hard choice to share their faith and maybe get judged." [12:59] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "There are times where God is going to do this to you. He's going to intentionally have you go through something hard. One, because that's how you're formed. Because you're not spiritually formed when you go to the beach on vacation. It's wonderful. It's great. But we all know this. We're spiritually formed through those times where we got ripped through a knot hole." [21:27] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "The exercise of putting our lives on the table is an exercise of saying, do I love God or do I love this? Do I want God or do I want this? Is my biggest fears losing these things or is my biggest fear losing a relationship with God and connection with God?" [22:08] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "I tell you what, do we get like that with God? When we see somebody come to know Christ, when we see somebody have a spiritual breakthrough, when we see a healing, we understand how God has done hard things for us and died on a cross and resurrected. And the same Spirit that gives." [41:44] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "The reason we think that is because that's hard. It's hard and we don't want to think that we want to think all I have to do is is pray we want to think all I have to do is think nice thoughts well we want to think that the mega church over there crossroads they'll they'll handle hey guess what the mega church over there is us is us and god pulls us together his family together and he asks us do you will you be part of the lineage that does hard things." [41:44] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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