Living Faith: Relationships, Sacrifice, and Urgency

Devotional

Day 1: Surrendering to God's Will

Being a living sacrifice involves surrendering our will to God and living out our faith in every aspect of life. This means prioritizing God's desires over our own, embodying humility, and clinging to what is good. It is the essence of true worship and the Christian life. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, emphasizes that our faith should not be confined to personal piety but should extend to how we engage with the world and others around us. This call to be a living sacrifice is a transformative journey that requires daily commitment and intentionality. [01:13]

Romans 12:1-2 (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. 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."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: Faith in Action

The gospel is not just a transaction but a relationship. Our faith should manifest in how we treat others, emphasizing love, acceptance, and peace. This relational aspect is crucial for living out the gospel authentically. Paul highlights the importance of moving beyond trivial disputes to focus on what truly matters—Jesus Christ and His resurrection. The power of the gospel is realized through our relationships with others, and it is through these relationships that we can share the love and truth of Christ. [04:01]

1 John 4:20-21 (ESV): "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life where you can better demonstrate love and acceptance. What specific actions can you take this week to strengthen that relationship?

Day 3: Urgency in Love

Life is short, and we are on the clock. We must live with a sense of urgency, loving others and sharing the gospel. This urgency reflects the reality of Christ's imminent return and the importance of making the most of our time. Paul urges believers to recognize the brevity of life and to love others with urgency, as this is a vital aspect of living out our faith. The call to love urgently challenges us to prioritize relationships and to be intentional in how we share the gospel with those around us. [03:07]

Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Reflection: Who in your life is waiting to hear about Jesus? How can you intentionally share the gospel with them this week, considering the urgency of Christ's return?

Day 4: The Power of Community

Relationships are the conduit through which the gospel is shared and experienced. The early church was built on the foundation of relationships, and Paul highlights numerous individuals who played significant roles in its growth. This underscores the importance of community in the Christian journey. Personal stories of faith often involve the influence of others, as seen in the transformative power of relationships at a summer camp. Community is essential for spiritual growth, and it is through these connections that we can experience the fullness of the gospel. [25:46]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Reflect on your current community. How can you contribute to building a stronger, more supportive environment that encourages spiritual growth and the sharing of the gospel?

Day 5: Transformative Faith

Faith in Jesus is transformative, impacting every area of our lives. It is not just about believing the right things but living them out in relationship with others. This transformation is evident in how we love and serve those around us. The gospel's power is realized through our actions and interactions, as we embody the teachings of Christ in our daily lives. This transformative faith calls us to be intentional in our relationships and to live out the gospel authentically, allowing others to see Christ through us. [30:06]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: In what ways can you allow your faith to transform your daily interactions with others? Identify one specific area where you can demonstrate Christ's love more effectively this week.

Sermon Summary

In the journey of faith, understanding the teachings of Jesus is only the beginning. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, transitions from explaining the core beliefs of Christianity to illustrating how these beliefs should manifest in our lives. The first eleven chapters focus on orthodoxy—right belief—while chapters twelve through sixteen emphasize orthopraxy—right practice. Paul urges us to become living sacrifices, a concept that involves surrendering our will to God and living out our faith in every aspect of our lives. This is not merely about personal piety but about how we engage with the world and others around us.

Living as a sacrifice means embodying humility, clinging to good, and being a good citizen. It involves loving others with urgency, recognizing the brevity of life, and the imminent return of Christ. Paul also stresses the importance of accepting one another, moving beyond trivial disputes to focus on what truly matters—Jesus Christ and His resurrection. The power of the gospel is not just a transaction; it is a relationship with God that extends to others. Our faith is meant to be lived out in community, not in isolation.

Paul's personal conclusion to his letter highlights the relational nature of faith. He lists numerous individuals, many of whom are women, who played significant roles in the early church. This underscores the importance of relationships in the Christian journey. My own story echoes this truth. Raised in a non-religious household, it was through relationships at a summer camp that I encountered the transformative power of the gospel. It was not the teachings alone but the lived example of others that drew me to Christ.

Our faith is not just a checklist of beliefs but a dynamic relationship with God and others. It is through these relationships that the gospel's power is realized. We are called to share this love and truth with those around us, just as others have done for us. Who in your life is waiting to hear about Jesus? The gospel is the power of God for salvation, and it is meant to be lived in loving relationship with God and others.

Key Takeaways

1. ox2UQI&t=73s'>[01:13]
2. Relational Faith: The gospel is not just a transaction but a relationship. Our faith should manifest in how we treat others, emphasizing love, acceptance, and peace. This relational aspect is crucial for living out the gospel authentically.

3. Urgency in Love: Life is short, and we are on the clock. We must live with a sense of urgency, loving others and sharing the gospel. This urgency reflects the reality of Christ's imminent return and the importance of making the most of our time.

4. Power of Relationships: Relationships are the conduit through which the gospel is shared and experienced. My own journey to faith was deeply influenced by the relationships I formed at a summer camp, highlighting the importance of community in spiritual growth.

5. Transformative Faith: Faith in Jesus is transformative, impacting every area of our lives. It is not just about believing the right things but living them out in relationship with others. This transformation is evident in how we love and serve those around us.

** [01:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - Living Sacrifice Explained
[03:07] - Urgency in Love
[04:01] - Relational Faith
[04:50] - The Power of Relationships
[05:47] - Sharing Faith Through Relationships
[06:34] - Beyond Transactional Faith
[07:31] - Scaling Faith Through Community
[08:26] - Fruit of the Spirit in Relationships
[09:22] - Personal Conclusion of Paul's Letter
[10:37] - Women in Ministry
[12:52] - Faith and Relationships
[13:41] - Personal Testimony
[19:02] - Encountering Faith at Camp
[25:46] - The Roman Road to Faith
[30:06] - Invitation to Faith

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul mean by urging believers to offer their bodies as a "living sacrifice" in Romans 12:1-2? How does this concept challenge our daily lives? [01:13]
In Romans 15:7, Paul instructs believers to "accept one another." What specific issue was he addressing in the early church, and how does it relate to our interactions today? [03:07]
Romans 16:1-16 lists many individuals who were significant in the early church. What does this passage reveal about the role of relationships in the spread of the gospel? [09:22]
How does the sermon illustrate the importance of relationships in understanding and living out the gospel? [04:50]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of being a "living sacrifice" relate to the idea of surrendering our will to God? What might this look like in practical terms? [01:13]
Why does Paul emphasize the importance of accepting one another and avoiding trivial disputes in Romans 15:7? How does this reflect the core message of the gospel? [03:07]
The sermon highlights the relational nature of faith. How does this perspective change the way we view our interactions with others, especially those who may not share our beliefs? [04:01]
Reflecting on the personal testimony shared in the sermon, how do relationships play a role in one's journey to faith? What can we learn from this about sharing our faith with others? [25:46]

Application Questions

In what areas of your life do you struggle to be a "living sacrifice"? What steps can you take to surrender more fully to God's will? [01:13]
Think of a recent disagreement or conflict you had with someone. How might Paul's instruction to "accept one another" have changed the outcome? [03:07]
Identify a relationship in your life where you can demonstrate the love and acceptance that Paul describes. What specific actions can you take this week to nurture that relationship? [04:01]
The sermon emphasizes the urgency of sharing the gospel. Who in your life is waiting to hear about Jesus, and how can you take a step towards sharing your faith with them this week? [03:07]
Reflect on a time when a relationship significantly impacted your faith journey. How can you be that influence for someone else? [25:46]
How can you incorporate the relational aspect of faith into your daily routine, ensuring that your interactions reflect the love and truth of the gospel? [04:50]
Consider the role of women in ministry as highlighted in Romans 16. How can you support and encourage the diverse gifts and callings within your faith community? [10:37]

Sermon Clips

But therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, in other words, in view of what he did on the cross for you, by grace, through faith, you didn't earn it, you didn't deserve it, he gave it to you as a gift, in view of this mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. [00:01:13] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Living sacrifice, which means what? I surrender myself to God, not my will, but his be done in my life, in every area of my life. That is the Christian life. How do I figure out how to be this living sacrifice? And most of the time, I don't want to sit on the altar. I want to get up and go do something I want to do. But what does that look like? For me, to live in this way, that's what Paul is trying to get across to his readers and vicariously to us in our Christian life. [00:01:37] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

How does it show up in the way that you're living your life? And we had a list based on chapters 13 or 12 and 13, where Paul just goes through a couple of things. This is how it plays out. For example, it looks like humility. You can't be full of God if you're full of yourself. You have to be willing to pour out yourself to receive what God has to give you. It looks like clinging to good and hating what is evil. That sounds really basic, but if you think about that in your day-to-day interaction, what does that look like? He talks about being a good citizen, obeying God first, but being a good citizen in general in your country and with one another. [00:02:12] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

He talks about loving and living with a sense of urgency. We are on the clock. This is the only life we get. There's no dress rehearsals. This is it. God is going to come back. This life is so short. Are you really living it? [00:02:53] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

It always shows up in relationship. Listen, the power of the gospel, this is what he's getting at, isn't just a transaction. It's a relationship. It's always a person on the other end of that. [00:03:50] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The gospel isn't just meant to be transactional about, you know, we get airlifted to the good place when we die. It's a relationship with Jesus Christ that pours out to everybody else. That's why Jesus in the great commandment, remember what he said? What's the greatest commandment, Jesus? And he gave him two. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. [00:06:44] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

We live it as we share and share it through relationships. Together, we feed thousands together. But it's all relational. Without the relationship glue, there's nothing there. [00:07:55] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

The Christian faith isn't just a series of propositions or a series of facts that we believe in. It's always lived in relationship. Think about those, the list of the living sacrifice stuff, you know, humility and clinging to good and being a good citizen. What is all that? Those are all relational things. [00:08:08] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Listen, the point is, like Paul, I can't think about my faith without thinking about the relationships that got me here. [00:28:53] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

So what does this mean for us? What does this mean for you? It means that this faith of ours is meant to be lived together in relationship. It's not just I check off, yes, I believe, yes, I... No, I live it in my life. And that's where the power is. And I wonder, who in your life is waiting to hear who Jesus is? [00:29:05] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

We could believe all the right things about God, but it's meant to show itself in our relationship with one another. [00:29:23] (7 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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