Living Sacrifices: A Journey of Continuous Transformation
Summary
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul calls us to respond to the gospel by becoming living sacrifices. This response is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of transformation. The essence of being a living sacrifice is to offer our entire lives—our thoughts, actions, and desires—as an act of worship to God. This is not about legalism or earning salvation, but about living out the gratitude for the mercy we have received through Christ. Our salvation is a gift, not a result of our works, and our response should be a life dedicated to God, reflecting His love and grace.
Paul emphasizes that we live in two worlds: the present world, which is temporary and often pulls us away from God, and the eternal kingdom of God, which we are called to be part of. We must resist conforming to the patterns of this world, which are fleeting and often contrary to God's will. Instead, we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds, allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us, shaping us into the likeness of Christ. This transformation involves an active participation in our spiritual growth, engaging with God's Word, and allowing it to guide our lives.
Being transformed through a holy mind requires us to engage intellectually and relationally with God. We are called to learn about who God is, His plans, and what He expects from us. This knowledge is not just for pastors or theologians but for every believer. As we grow in understanding, we are to put our faith into action, demonstrating our beliefs through our deeds. This journey of transformation leads to greater Christ-likeness and dependence on Him.
As living sacrifices, we are to respond in every aspect of our lives, not compartmentalizing our faith but allowing it to permeate all areas. This means engaging in a lifelong battle against sin, supported by a community of believers who encourage and uplift one another. We are to live with the hope and assurance that Christ has already won the ultimate victory over sin and death, and we await the fulfillment of His promise of a new heaven and earth.
Key Takeaways:
1. Continuous Response to the Gospel: Our response to the gospel is ongoing, not a one-time event. We are called to live as living sacrifices, offering our entire lives as worship to God, motivated by gratitude for His mercy. This is not about earning salvation but living out the gift we have received. [48:12]
2. Two Worlds in Conflict: We live in a world that often pulls us away from God, but we are called to be part of His eternal kingdom. We must resist conforming to the temporary patterns of this world and instead focus on the eternal promises of God. [59:43]
3. Transformation Through the Holy Spirit: Our transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit within us. We are justified by faith and called to actively participate in our sanctification, becoming more like Christ as we grow in our faith. [01:07:15]
4. Engaging the Mind in Faith: Spiritual growth requires engaging our minds to learn about God, His plans, and His expectations. This knowledge is essential for every believer, leading to a deeper relationship with God and a more mature faith. [01:13:22]
5. Living Sacrifices in All Areas: We are called to be living sacrifices in every aspect of our lives, not compartmentalizing our faith. This involves a lifelong battle against sin, supported by a community of believers, as we live with the hope of Christ's ultimate victory. [01:21:28]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [48:12] - Responding to the Gospel
- [50:32] - The Mercies of God
- [54:23] - Living Sacrifice Explained
- [56:51] - Spiritual Worship
- [59:43] - Two Worlds in Conflict
- [01:02:33] - Avoiding Conformity
- [01:04:35] - The Kingdom of Heaven
- [01:07:15] - Transformation by the Spirit
- [01:10:10] - Active Participation in Faith
- [01:13:22] - Engaging the Mind
- [01:16:24] - Christ-Likeness and Dependence
- [01:18:53] - Knowing the Word
- [01:21:28] - Living Sacrifices in All Areas
- [01:23:53] - Assurance in Christ's Victory
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:1-2
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- Philippians 2:12-13
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean by "living sacrifice" in Romans 12:1, and how does it differ from the traditional understanding of sacrifice? [54:23]
2. According to the sermon, what are the two worlds Paul refers to in Romans 12:2, and how do they conflict with each other? [59:43]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the transformation of believers? [01:07:15]
4. What is the significance of engaging the mind in faith, as discussed in the sermon? [01:13:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being a "living sacrifice" challenge the way believers typically view their daily lives and actions? [54:23]
2. In what ways might the "patterns of this world" influence a believer's life, and how can they resist conforming to these patterns? [59:43]
3. What does it mean to be transformed by the renewal of the mind, and how can this transformation be seen in a believer's life? [01:10:10]
4. How does the sermon suggest believers should actively participate in their spiritual growth alongside the work of the Holy Spirit? [01:07:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: In what areas do you find it challenging to live as a "living sacrifice"? How can you begin to offer those areas to God as an act of worship? [54:23]
2. Identify a specific pattern of this world that you struggle with conforming to. What steps can you take this week to resist that pattern and focus on God's eternal promises? [59:43]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of engaging the mind in faith. What is one practical way you can deepen your understanding of God this month, and how will you implement it? [01:13:22]
4. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to the Spirit's work in transforming you into Christ-likeness? What specific actions will you take to cooperate with this transformation? [01:07:15]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of community in the journey of transformation. How can you actively seek support and encouragement from your church community in your spiritual growth? [01:21:28]
6. Think about a recent situation where you compartmentalized your faith. How can you integrate your faith more fully into all areas of your life moving forward? [01:21:28]
7. Reflect on the assurance of Christ's victory over sin and death. How does this assurance impact your daily life and decisions? How can you live with this hope more consciously? [01:23:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Living as Continuous Worship
Our response to the gospel is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of transformation. Paul calls us to be living sacrifices, offering our entire lives—our thoughts, actions, and desires—as an act of worship to God. This is not about legalism or earning salvation, but about living out the gratitude for the mercy we have received through Christ. Our salvation is a gift, not a result of our works, and our response should be a life dedicated to God, reflecting His love and grace. As we live in gratitude, our lives become a testament to the transformative power of the gospel. [48:12]
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways can you offer your daily routines and responsibilities as acts of worship to God today?
Day 2: Navigating Two Worlds
We live in a world that often pulls us away from God, but we are called to be part of His eternal kingdom. Paul emphasizes that we must resist conforming to the patterns of this world, which are fleeting and often contrary to God's will. Instead, we are to focus on the eternal promises of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us, shaping us into the likeness of Christ. This involves an active participation in our spiritual growth, engaging with God's Word, and allowing it to guide our lives. [59:43]
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you feel the pull of worldly values. How can you actively resist this and focus on God's eternal promises today?
Day 3: Transformation by the Spirit
Our transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit within us. We are justified by faith and called to actively participate in our sanctification, becoming more like Christ as we grow in our faith. This transformation involves engaging intellectually and relationally with God, learning about who He is, His plans, and what He expects from us. As we grow in understanding, we are to put our faith into action, demonstrating our beliefs through our deeds. This journey of transformation leads to greater Christ-likeness and dependence on Him. [01:07:15]
"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 specific area of your life where you can invite the Holy Spirit to bring transformation today?
Day 4: Engaging the Mind in Faith
Spiritual growth requires engaging our minds to learn about God, His plans, and His expectations. This knowledge is essential for every believer, leading to a deeper relationship with God and a more mature faith. We are called to learn about who God is, His plans, and what He expects from us. This knowledge is not just for pastors or theologians but for every believer. As we grow in understanding, we are to put our faith into action, demonstrating our beliefs through our deeds. [01:13:22]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one new thing you can learn about God today, and how can you apply this knowledge to your life?
Day 5: Living Sacrifices in All Areas
We are called to be living sacrifices in every aspect of our lives, not compartmentalizing our faith. This involves a lifelong battle against sin, supported by a community of believers who encourage and uplift one another. We are to live with the hope and assurance that Christ has already won the ultimate victory over sin and death, and we await the fulfillment of His promise of a new heaven and earth. Our faith should permeate all areas of our lives, influencing our decisions, relationships, and actions. [01:21:28]
"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them." (Romans 16:17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you ensure that your faith is not compartmentalized but influences every decision and relationship in your life today?
Quotes
"Hopefully, as preachers, we don't come saying a whole bunch of new and exciting things but are instead calling you to do the same things that God has called us to do for generation after generation. But I will say that what I'm going to be talking about today, whether new, whether you know it, whether you have heard this a million times or not, it's big. It's big. We get to hear from Paul how we respond day after day after day to the gospel of Jesus Christ." [00:46:18] (43 seconds)
"You guys have heard for weeks now us go over the gospel, the different intricacies of it, the ways that we should respond, the ways that we should go out and tell the gospel. But now I want to take it and not just say, hey, now after you have accepted the gospel, I want you to think, I have accepted. I continue to respond. These two verses that we read today that Paul wrote many generations ago explain the goal of the Christian life to be a living sacrifice." [00:47:22] (37 seconds)
"The response to the gospel never ends. I want to lay a little bit of groundwork before we get into this point so that you can see what Paul is actually doing with these messages, right? And he even does so himself. This first part is just kind of setting what he's doing. He says, I appeal to you. Appeal. This isn't the kind like, hey, would you please do this? This isn't the authoritative, you must absolutely do this. But this is the man who's speaking, knowing what should be the response to the gospel." [00:48:06] (47 seconds)
"because as we talk about being a living sacrifice he's not saying this is what you must do in order to be saved this is what you must do because you have been saved. So do it. Please. We've got to make sure that as I'm talking today I want you to understand I'm not trying to explain any form of legalism. I'm not trying to say hey you must do all of this to be saved. But what I am saying is that if you look upon the mercies of God this should be your response." [00:51:21] (46 seconds)
"To present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Paul finally makes his appeal known. I want you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice. Now when he's talking about bodies here I want you to understand how he is talking about bodies. He's not saying hey you have to use just your physical body as some living sacrifice to go off. It doesn't matter what you do spiritually it doesn't matter how you treat yourself but as long as you are just going through the pains in order to make sacrifices for God present your body." [00:54:02] (46 seconds)
"Don't fall into that either. When he's talking a spiritual sacrifice, he's talking one that is a living sacrifice. Think of it akin to this. You've got to go back to his words where he says holy and acceptable to God. Those who believe in Christ are made holy by him. By the blood that has cleansed them through the cross, this payment of sins that he has made. But what makes a sacrifice acceptable to God?" [00:56:44] (32 seconds)
"Paul says, right at the beginning of verse two, do not be conformed to this world. What is this world? As you're supposed to go off giving all of who you are, he says don't be conformed to this world. Well, this world is a world with an end date. This world is a world in which we go off time and time and time. No, we're pulled to go against what God says. He's not just saying, hey, this physical... world. He's saying, watch the culture." [00:59:34] (36 seconds)
"You see, when Christ came, he came to deliver us the message of a new kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, that he was going to bring into reality for us. And what a beautiful kingdom that was going to be. He said, I know the way that this world is going. I know the way that you get pulled off from time to time. So we're going to take care of the evil, the sin that works against you. We're going to deliver everyone who believes in me into a new kingdom, the kingdom of heaven." [01:03:42] (46 seconds)
"He says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. It's not just an active or inactive stepping back and saying, Well, I'm just going to step out of the world. I'm not going to let this stuff do anything to me. But there's an active participation in being transformed. We're going to hit that, but before we get that, I want to give you a little bit of a caveat so that you understand this work is not the work that you do. It's the work that the Holy Spirit does within you." [01:06:39] (35 seconds)
"Be transformed through a holy mind. Be transformed through a holy mind. Guys, it takes brains. Sometimes we think, man, we can just sit back and say, hey, I don't have to learn that much. I don't have to do all this. I don't have to be here learning more and more. That intellectual stuff is for the pastors, for the theologians. That intellectual stuff is here. No, that intellectual stuff is something for each and every believer because he has a plan for you to learn." [01:10:31] (34 seconds)
"In every other relationship that we desire and love and dive into, we desire to know more about that person. Each and every day. It's the same thing with God. If you have accepted this gospel, learn about the wonderful one who has saved you. What his plan is. And what he expects of you. So it takes some brains. But also go through and let the brain be changed. Get into his word. Learn of these three things. By doing studies with others. By reading personally on your own." [01:13:10] (39 seconds)
"New believers, this means you begin a war with sin, in which you start to say, man, I'm not living for him here. I'm not living for him here. I'm not living for him here. This is going to be hard. Well, you've got a lot of brothers and sisters around here who want to help you in that endeavor to continue on. And that may mean breaking ties with some who you care about. But man, you're gaining a lot of relationships who also care about you and want to see you live in this kingdom more and more with all of who you are." [01:20:46] (30 seconds)
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