Living Sacrifices: The Urgency of Good Deeds
Summary
In today's continuation of the "Good Deeds" series, we explored the profound impact of living a life dedicated to doing good for God. Drawing from Romans 12:1, we are reminded of the immense blessings God has bestowed upon us, urging us to offer our lives as living sacrifices, which is the true form of worship. This call to action is not about earning our way into heaven but about responding to the grace we've received by doing good deeds that reflect our heavenly citizenship. We delved into the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, where Jesus emphasizes that His nourishment comes from doing God's will and finishing His work. This work, as Jesus demonstrated, involves winning souls and bringing people into God's family.
Jesus' conversation with His disciples highlights the urgency of the spiritual harvest. He challenges us to lift our eyes and see that the fields are ripe for harvest now, not in some distant future. This means recognizing the spiritual needs of those around us—our family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors—and taking action to share the gospel with them. The joy of bringing someone to eternal life is shared by both the sower and the harvester, and God promises to reward those who labor in His fields.
Furthermore, we discussed the importance of mentoring and discipling new believers. Just as Paul imparted spiritual gifts to the early Christians, we are called to invest in others, helping them grow in their faith and become more like Christ. This process of teaching and mentoring is not limited to church leaders but is a responsibility for all believers. By passing on what we have learned, we participate in God's strategy to win cities and nations for His kingdom.
Ultimately, the call is to make disciples, teaching them to obey all of Jesus' commands. This Great Commission is a viral movement, spreading the message of Jesus from one person to another, transforming lives and communities. As we engage in these good deeds, we align ourselves with God's purpose and experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from being part of His redemptive work in the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Living Sacrifices for God: Our lives should be a response to God's grace, offering ourselves as living sacrifices. This is the true form of worship, not to earn salvation, but to reflect our heavenly citizenship. By doing good deeds, we align ourselves with God's purpose and experience His blessings. [01:48]
2. The Urgency of the Harvest: Jesus calls us to lift our eyes and see the spiritual harvest around us. The fields are ripe now, and we must recognize the spiritual needs of those in our circles and take action to share the gospel. This urgency is a call to move beyond our personal concerns and focus on God's mission. [06:36]
3. Joy in Winning Souls: Bringing someone to eternal life brings joy to the sower, the harvester, and God. This joy is a profound reward, and God promises to bless those who labor in His fields. Winning souls is one of the greatest deeds we can do for God. [15:03]
4. Mentoring and Discipling: Beyond winning souls, we are called to mentor and disciple new believers. This involves imparting spiritual gifts and helping others grow in their faith. By investing in others, we participate in God's strategy to transform lives and communities. [29:01]
5. The Great Commission: Making disciples is a viral movement, spreading the message of Jesus from one person to another. This involves teaching new believers to obey Jesus' commands and empowering them to do the same. As we engage in this mission, we fulfill God's purpose and experience the joy of being part of His redemptive work. [36:26]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:48] - Living Sacrifices for God
- [03:06] - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
- [04:29] - The Nourishment of Doing God's Will
- [05:51] - The Urgency of the Harvest
- [06:36] - Recognizing the Ripe Fields
- [07:39] - Lifting Our Spiritual Eyes
- [09:41] - The Call to Action
- [10:43] - God's Love and Drawing
- [11:17] - The Reward for Harvesters
- [12:11] - Eternal Rewards for Winning Souls
- [13:29] - The Joy of Bringing Souls to God
- [15:03] - Sharing Your Story
- [16:10] - The Power of Personal Testimony
- [17:22] - Starting the Conversation
- [18:40] - Maintaining Perspective
- [20:01] - The Importance of Perspective
- [21:14] - Sharing Your Story with Others
- [22:41] - The Power of Invitation
- [23:42] - The Impact of Starting Conversations
- [24:34] - Steps to Sharing Jesus
- [25:29] - The Role of Personal Relationships
- [26:34] - Bringing Others to Church
- [27:34] - Mentoring and Discipling
- [29:01] - The Reward of Mentoring
- [32:39] - The Call to Save Your World
- [34:04] - The Teaching Ministry of Believers
- [34:53] - God's Strategy for Winning Cities
- [36:26] - The Great Commission
- [37:20] - The Role of Discipleship
- [39:16] - Conclusion and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Good Deeds Series
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:1
- John 4:34-38
- Matthew 28:19-20
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Romans 12:1, what is the true form of worship, and how does it relate to the concept of living sacrifices? [01:48]
2. In John 4:34, Jesus mentions His nourishment comes from doing the will of God. What does this imply about the importance of spiritual work in our lives? [04:29]
3. How does Jesus describe the state of the spiritual harvest in John 4:35, and what does this mean for believers today? [06:36]
4. What are the key components of the Great Commission as outlined in Matthew 28:19-20, and how do they relate to the sermon’s emphasis on making disciples? [36:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of living as a "living sacrifice" challenge the way believers view their daily actions and decisions? [01:48]
2. Jesus speaks of the fields being ripe for harvest. What might be some modern-day examples of these "fields," and how can believers recognize them in their own lives? [06:36]
3. The sermon emphasizes the joy in winning souls. How does this joy compare to other forms of joy or satisfaction in life, and why might it be considered a profound reward? [15:03]
4. In what ways does the process of mentoring and discipling new believers contribute to the growth of the church and the fulfillment of the Great Commission? [29:01]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life. In what ways can you offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God this week? Are there specific areas where you feel called to make changes? [01:48]
2. Identify someone in your life who might be part of the "ripe fields" Jesus mentioned. What steps can you take to engage them in a spiritual conversation this week? [06:36]
3. Think about a time when you experienced joy from sharing your faith or helping someone grow spiritually. How can you seek out more opportunities for this kind of joy? [15:03]
4. Consider the people you are currently mentoring or discipling. How can you be more intentional in imparting spiritual gifts and helping them grow in their faith? [29:01]
5. The sermon discusses the importance of starting conversations about faith. What is one practical way you can initiate a conversation about Jesus with someone this week? [23:42]
6. Reflect on the Great Commission. How can you personally contribute to making disciples in your community, and what resources or support do you need to do this effectively? [36:26]
7. The sermon encourages believers to lift their spiritual eyes and see the needs around them. What distractions might be preventing you from doing this, and how can you address them? [07:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Living as a Response to Grace
Our lives are meant to be a response to the grace that God has generously given us. Romans 12:1 calls us to offer our lives as living sacrifices, which is described as the true form of worship. This act of living sacrificially is not about earning our way into heaven but is a reflection of our heavenly citizenship. By engaging in good deeds, we align ourselves with God's purpose and experience His blessings. This alignment is a testament to the transformative power of grace in our lives, urging us to live in a way that honors God and reflects His love to the world. [01:48]
Romans 6:13 (ESV): "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God today, reflecting His grace in your actions?
Day 2: Recognizing the Urgency of the Spiritual Harvest
Jesus calls us to lift our eyes and see the spiritual harvest around us, emphasizing that the fields are ripe now. This urgency is a call to recognize the spiritual needs of those in our circles—family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors—and to take action to share the gospel with them. Moving beyond our personal concerns, we are invited to focus on God's mission, understanding that the time to act is now, not in some distant future. This perspective challenges us to be proactive in our faith, actively seeking opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with those around us. [06:36]
John 4:35 (ESV): "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest."
Reflection: Who in your life is God calling you to share the gospel with today, and what steps can you take to start that conversation?
Day 3: Experiencing Joy in Winning Souls
Bringing someone to eternal life is a source of profound joy for the sower, the harvester, and God. This joy is a reward that God promises to those who labor in His fields, emphasizing the significance of winning souls as one of the greatest deeds we can do for God. The act of sharing the gospel and seeing someone come to faith is a deeply fulfilling experience, as it aligns with God's heart for redemption and transformation. As we engage in this work, we not only bring joy to ourselves and others but also participate in the eternal joy of God's kingdom. [15:03]
Luke 15:7 (ESV): "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced joy in sharing your faith. How can you seek out more opportunities to experience this joy by sharing the gospel with others?
Day 4: The Importance of Mentoring and Discipling
Beyond winning souls, believers are called to mentor and disciple new believers, imparting spiritual gifts and helping others grow in their faith. This process of teaching and mentoring is not limited to church leaders but is a responsibility for all believers. By investing in others, we participate in God's strategy to transform lives and communities, helping new believers become more like Christ. This investment in others is a crucial part of fulfilling the Great Commission, as it ensures the continued growth and maturity of the body of Christ. [29:01]
2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV): "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can mentor or disciple in their faith journey, and what steps can you take to begin this relationship?
Day 5: Embracing the Great Commission
The Great Commission is a viral movement, spreading the message of Jesus from one person to another. This involves making disciples, teaching them to obey all of Jesus' commands, and empowering them to do the same. As we engage in this mission, we fulfill God's purpose and experience the joy of being part of His redemptive work in the world. This call to make disciples is not just a task but a lifestyle, inviting us to live in a way that continually points others to Jesus and His transformative power. [36:26]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to engage in the Great Commission, either by sharing your faith or by discipling someone in their walk with Christ?
Quotes
The fact of the matter is that God has done so much for us. In fact, our last series, we walked through all the things God has done for us, all the things. God has provided for us. He not only gave us the gift of Jesus, but the Bible says if he gave us Jesus, how would he not give us all things? And so God has given us the ability to prosper spiritually and emotionally in our relationships, our profession, so many areas. And because he's done so much for us, we should be doing some good things for him. [00:01:17] (38 seconds)
And I want you to recognize that harvest time is now. You know, those of us who've been in church for a while, we are used to hearing about this great revival that's going to come. We pray for a great awakening, you know, of God in our city and beyond. But part of the challenge with that, there's nothing wrong with that, but part of the challenge with that is that sometimes we're so focused on one day that we miss that today is the day. That revival is now that it happens when we move. [00:06:43] (34 seconds)
When you win someone to Jesus, there is joy all around. Joy for them, joy for you, but most of all joy for God. He's the planter. He sowed this seed. Jesus came, he died, he rose again. God did all of this to get this one person into his family. And when you help him do that, you've done for him the greatest thing you will ever do for him. You gave him another son. You gave him another daughter. They will now be in his family forever. This is one of the best deeds, this is the greatest good deeds you can do for God, is to save your world. [00:14:23] (48 seconds)
Perspective. You've got good things in your life. You might need God to do some things. It might be some things. It might be some things you're struggling with, but keep your perspective. Well, notice what Jesus was saying there and what he's saying to us. You should be sharing your story. Pastor, what does that look like? You know, John chapter nine, verse 24. I'll just give you this example. There was a man who was born blind. Jesus healed the man. This man has been blind clearly for decades. And Jesus had some haters. They had a problem with him. Healing people on the Sabbath day. [00:20:52] (40 seconds)
Who in your life's destiny will change simply because you start the conversation? Who will go from a Cephas to a Peter because you shared your story? There should be somebody at the end of your life, you should have turned many. To righteousness, right? And so that's, that's what we're seeing here is that you need to start the conversation and end with an invitation, right? So, so I gave you four steps to sharing Jesus a couple of weeks ago. I want to revisit these again. It doesn't hurt to talk about things more than once. [00:24:17] (32 seconds)
Paul said to the believers in Hebrews 5, he said, by now you ought to be teachers. See, whether you realize it or not, you have a teaching ministry. That doesn't mean you're necessarily going to stand on a stage with a mic and have a towel in your hand and you're wiping the sweat off while you're teaching somebody. But you're supposed to be teaching somebody. Not just winning, but teaching people that are new in God or even have been established in God, God's ways. [00:34:04] (30 seconds)
Your job is to rescue people far from God, right? So, you're Superman. This is your job. People are going to hell in your family, on your job, et cetera. You're supposed to swoop in and rescue them. But Superman also has Superboy. He didn't know that was coming. He did not know that was coming. There should be a Superboy that you are training up to eventually become Superman. because the things that you have learned you should be teaching others when you do that you're doing a good deed for God. [00:37:28] (77 seconds)
Therefore go and make disciples here's a command to all of us of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you that would include going and making disciples right that's how we know we're supposed to do it and be sure of this I am with you always if you want to do more even to the end of the age I hope that helped you God has an amazing future for you one that is greater than anything you can create for yourself but the way to get to that future is to do things God's way to actually apply what you just heard so I want encourage you to do just that and also I want to encourage you to join us on Sunday mornings at 11 a .m. as our FXNation family comes together be a part of FXNation nation and watch God take you to heights you've never experienced before.
[00:39:17]
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