Living a Life of Surrendered Worship
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound and often misunderstood concept of worship. Worship is not merely a genre of music or a Sunday morning activity; it is a lifestyle of surrender. Romans 12:1 teaches us that true worship involves offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This means surrendering every aspect of our lives—our hearts, minds, wills, and actions—to Him. Worship is a continuous journey of transformation, requiring us to renew our minds with God's truth rather than conforming to worldly patterns.
We examined the story of a speaker who was invited to stay in a luxurious home but was restricted from using many of its features. This story illustrates how we often invite Jesus into our lives but limit His access, holding back certain areas from His influence. True worship demands that we give God full access to every part of our lives, surrendering our will, time, resources, and relationships to Him.
Luke 9:23 reminds us that following Jesus requires denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily. Worship is about relinquishing control and allowing God to lead us according to His will, not ours. This act of surrender is not a loss but a gain, as Jesus invites us to exchange our burdens for His peace, as stated in Matthew 11:28-29.
We are called to lay everything at the foot of the cross, trusting Jesus with our struggles, sins, and fears. True surrender means allowing Jesus to rearrange our lives and trusting Him completely. In view of God's mercy, we are urged to live a surrendered life, recognizing that before we can offer anything to God, we must first receive from Him. The breath of life He gives us is a reminder of His mercy and grace.
As we approach Easter, let us reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. He went to the cross willingly, with each of us in mind, to restore our relationship with God. Today, we are invited to lay down our burdens and surrender all to Him, living a life of worship that extends beyond Sunday mornings into every aspect of our daily lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Worship is a lifestyle of surrender, not just a Sunday activity. It involves offering our entire selves—heart, mind, and will—as living sacrifices to God. This continuous act of surrender is the essence of true worship. [00:30]
- We often invite Jesus into our lives but restrict His access, holding back certain areas from His influence. True worship requires giving God full access to every part of our lives, surrendering our will, time, resources, and relationships to Him. [20:30]
- Following Jesus means denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily. Worship is about relinquishing control and allowing God to lead us according to His will, not ours. This act of surrender is not a loss but a gain, as Jesus invites us to exchange our burdens for His peace. [23:18]
- True surrender means laying everything at the foot of the cross, trusting Jesus with our struggles, sins, and fears. In view of God's mercy, we are urged to live a surrendered life, recognizing that before we can offer anything to God, we must first receive from Him. [24:52]
- Jesus went to the cross willingly, with each of us in mind, to restore our relationship with God. We are invited to lay down our burdens and surrender all to Him, living a life of worship that extends beyond Sunday mornings into every aspect of our daily lives. [27:26]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Definition of True Worship
- [03:15] - Worship as a Lifestyle
- [05:45] - Renewing the Mind
- [08:20] - Story of the Luxurious Home
- [12:00] - Full Access to God
- [15:30] - Denying Ourselves
- [18:45] - Laying Burdens at the Cross
- [20:30] - Trusting Jesus Completely
- [23:18] - The Breath of Life
- [24:52] - Receiving Before Offering
- [27:26] - The Sacrifice of Jesus
- [31:36] - Invitation to Surrender
- [35:00] - Living a Life of Worship
- [40:42] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:1-2
- Luke 9:23
- Matthew 11:28-29
---
Observation Questions:
1. According to Romans 12:1, what does it mean to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, and how is this related to true worship? [49:33]
2. In the sermon, a story was shared about a luxurious home where guests were restricted from using many features. How does this story illustrate our tendency to limit Jesus' access to certain areas of our lives? [20:30]
3. What does Luke 9:23 say about the requirements for following Jesus, and how does this relate to the concept of worship as a lifestyle of surrender? [23:18]
4. How does Matthew 11:28-29 describe the exchange Jesus offers us when we surrender our burdens to Him? [23:18]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of worship as a lifestyle of surrender challenge common perceptions of worship as merely a Sunday activity? [49:33]
2. In what ways might individuals restrict Jesus' influence in their lives, and what are the potential consequences of doing so? [20:30]
3. How does the act of denying oneself and taking up one's cross daily, as mentioned in Luke 9:23, reflect a deeper understanding of worship? [23:18]
4. What does it mean to lay everything at the foot of the cross, and how does this act of surrender lead to experiencing God's peace, as described in Matthew 11:28-29? [23:18]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have invited Jesus in but are still holding back from giving Him full access? What steps can you take to surrender these areas to Him? [20:30]
2. Consider the concept of worship as a lifestyle. How can you incorporate this understanding into your daily routine beyond Sunday services? What specific changes might you need to make? [49:33]
3. Identify a burden or struggle you are currently carrying. How can you practically lay this down at the foot of the cross and trust Jesus with it? [23:18]
4. Think about a time when you tried to control a situation instead of allowing God to lead. What was the outcome, and how might you approach similar situations differently in the future? [23:18]
5. As Easter approaches, how can reflecting on Jesus' sacrifice on the cross inspire you to live a more surrendered life? What specific actions can you take to honor His sacrifice in your daily life? [27:26]
6. In what ways can you remind yourself of God's mercy and grace in your life, and how can this awareness influence your worship and surrender to Him? [24:52]
7. Identify one relationship or resource in your life that you have not fully surrendered to God. What steps can you take this week to offer it to Him as an act of worship? [20:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as a Lifestyle of Surrender
Worship is not confined to a specific time or place; it is a continuous lifestyle of surrendering every part of ourselves to God. Romans 12:1 calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, which means dedicating our hearts, minds, and actions to God in every moment. This act of worship is not just about singing songs on a Sunday morning but involves a daily commitment to live in a way that is holy and pleasing to God. It requires a transformation of our minds, aligning our thoughts and actions with God's truth rather than conforming to the patterns of the world. [00:30]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can begin to live more fully as a living sacrifice to God today?
Day 2: Giving God Full Access
Often, we invite Jesus into our lives but restrict His influence, holding back certain areas from His control. True worship requires us to give God full access to every part of our lives, including our will, time, resources, and relationships. This means allowing God to lead and guide us in all aspects, not just the ones we are comfortable with. By surrendering these areas to Him, we open ourselves to His transformative power and experience a deeper relationship with Him. [20:30]
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you have been holding back from God? How can you begin to give Him full access to it today?
Day 3: Denying Ourselves and Taking Up Our Cross
Following Jesus means denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily. This involves relinquishing control and allowing God to lead us according to His will, not ours. It is a daily decision to put aside our desires and ambitions in favor of God's plans for our lives. This act of surrender is not a loss but a gain, as Jesus invites us to exchange our burdens for His peace and guidance. [23:18]
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)
Reflection: What is one desire or ambition you need to lay down today to follow Jesus more closely?
Day 4: Trusting Jesus with Our Burdens
True surrender means laying everything at the foot of the cross, trusting Jesus with our struggles, sins, and fears. In view of God's mercy, we are urged to live a surrendered life, recognizing that before we can offer anything to God, we must first receive from Him. This involves trusting in His mercy and grace, knowing that He is capable of handling all our burdens and transforming our lives. [24:52]
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, ESV)
Reflection: What is one burden you are carrying that you need to lay at the foot of the cross today?
Day 5: Living a Life of Worship Beyond Sunday
Jesus went to the cross willingly, with each of us in mind, to restore our relationship with God. We are invited to lay down our burdens and surrender all to Him, living a life of worship that extends beyond Sunday mornings into every aspect of our daily lives. This means allowing the sacrifice of Jesus to transform how we live, work, and interact with others, making worship a part of our everyday existence. [27:26]
"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine beyond Sunday services? What specific actions can you take today to make worship a part of your everyday life?
Quotes
"Many people will worship with their lips, but hold back their hearts. They talk a good talk, but their walk doesn't quite match up. Paul says in this verse to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, he says offer. This is something that I do. This is a choice. It's an action. In order for me to offer my body, I must offer everything that encompasses my body, my heart, my mind, my will, all of me, because true worship begins with a surrendered life. See, biblical worship requires surrendering all, laying everything down before God. Paul calls us in this passage to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. It's not a one and done. It's a constant, continual thing that we do. This is true worship." [00:15:35] (53 seconds)
"Did we give worship to the king? Absolutely, but that is not defined in its totality of what worship is. Worship is a lifestyle of surrender, and if it's a lifestyle of surrender, then how do you live that sort of a lifestyle? I'm so glad you asked, because the answer is in Romans 12, 2, do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Again, this is not just a one-time thing. It's a lifelong journey of continually renewing our minds with the truth, but be careful. It's not your truth." [00:16:40] (39 seconds)
"I want to ask you this morning, are you giving him full access or are you holding back parts of your life from God? We've got to wrestle with this question because true worship means offering or surrendering everything to him. Our will, time, resources, relationships, dreams, struggles, addictions, finances, entertainment choices. We've got to take inventory. And I've got to do it for me. You've got to do it for you. And I can't do it for you. And you can't do it for me." [00:20:42] (34 seconds)
"Worship is about letting go of our control and allowing God to lead. Lead the way he wants to lead. Not the way we want him to. See, when he entered in Jerusalem, they wanted him to lead in a certain way. We've got to let him lead the way he wants to lead. We cannot worship God fully while still holding on to selfish desires. True worship begins with a surrendered life. True worship requires denying ourselves. And true worship requires laying everything down at the cross." [00:21:37] (35 seconds)
"Are you weary? Carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you'll discover that I'm gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. Jesus invites us to bring our burdens to him in exchange for his peace. Wow. Many of us try to worship while still carrying sin, worries, fears, and control. But worship is an act of trust." [00:22:12] (39 seconds)
"True surrender means laying it all at Jesus' feet. Allowing him to rearrange our lives and trusting him completely. Wow. You might ask, why would we want to surrender all to Jesus? What causes you to go all in? Give up your way for his? Well, let's go back to Romans 12 because Paul says, therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy. There it is right there. In view of God's mercy." [00:23:25] (35 seconds)
"Before I have anything to offer him, I must first receive from him. That's good. That's good. The God who breathed life into Adam now breathes the life of his son, Jesus, into us as he freely gives us all of Christ's benefits. Filled with that breath, we can't help but exhale the thanks and praise that flow from a cleansed heart. This is where true worship begins. Yes." [00:24:52] (30 seconds)
"So He sent His Son to the cross because in order to have sin be taken care of, in order for there to be a payment for sin, man sinned, so man had to die. But He said, I'm not going to put that on you. I'm not going to put that on my creation. I'm going to put it on my Son. And the Son went to the cross willingly for each and every one of you. Now, I know when He went to the cross, not a single person in this room was even born yet. But can I tell you, you were a thought on His mind and you were in His heart?" [00:27:02] (41 seconds)
"if I was the only one out of all humanity that chose him he still would have went to the cross I think we look at it in this big huge vast way that he went to the cross for the masses but I want to tell you today he went to the cross for you for you personally because he wanted a restored relationship with you personally maybe it's been a while since you've approached the cross and maybe you've never approached it see when we approach the cross the foot of the cross we come face to face with who Jesus is and what he did and in him we believe and accept his free gift of salvation but there's something more that happens when we approach the cross he calls us to not just believe but to lay down everything and follow him have you laid it all down are you following him is it on your terms" [00:28:31] (68 seconds)
"I want you to live unhindered. I want you to live the life that Jesus paid too high a price for us to not surrender all to him and live for him. So as they sing this song this morning, I want you to just get up and approach the cross on either side of the stage. And whatever it is, whatever those things are, I want you to surrender it to him at the foot of the cross. Some of you might need to linger. Some of you might need to do some business with the Lord today. And this altar is open. You can get down on your knees. You can do business with him today." [00:31:08] (39 seconds)
"Father, we thank you so much for what you have done in this place today. Lord, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are and have been stirring something within this place. And that just as we said that we've felt it this morning. In order for us to go where you want us to go, it's... is gonna require full surrender. So Father, the things that we laid down today, whether it be a struggle, whether it be a hurt, unforgiveness, trusting you in our finances, sexual sin, relationships that we know that we should let go of, but we just can't or couldn't and haven't. We've come before you today. We've come before the foot of your cross and we've surrendered it. We've laid it down." [00:40:00] (70 seconds)
"We worship you with our whole lives, not just with our words, but with our whole lives, not just with our lips, but with our whole hearts, not just on Sunday morning, God, but Monday through Saturday in our decision-making and how we spend our money and how we spend our time in our entertainment choices, in all of our preferences, we surrender all to you and we live a lifestyle of worship unto you. In Jesus's mighty name and all of God's people in this place said, amen, amen." [00:41:32] (39 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Apr 13, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?