Living Sacrifices: Transforming Lives Through Christ
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Impact Church! Today, we celebrated the incredible work God has been doing through our church, both locally and globally. From our recent mission trip to Seattle to our ongoing partnerships with local organizations, it's clear that God is using us in powerful ways. We also took a moment to reflect on the profound gift of salvation, as we concluded our mini-series on Romans 9-11 and began our journey into Romans 12.
Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. This verse serves as a pivotal transition, urging us to respond to the immense grace we've received by living lives that reflect our gratitude and commitment to God. Paul emphasizes that our salvation is not just a ticket to heaven but a call to a transformed life, one that continually seeks to know and love God more deeply.
We explored the concept of a "living sacrifice," which may seem paradoxical but is deeply spiritual. It means dying to our old selves and living a new life in Christ, characterized by sacrificial love and service to others. This new life is not about achieving perfection but striving for it, continually growing in our relationship with Jesus.
Paul also warns against conforming to the patterns of this world. Instead, we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds, allowing us to discern God's will, which is good, acceptable, and perfect. This transformation involves a complete renovation of our inner selves, discarding old, sinful ways and embracing the truth of God.
Finally, we discussed the importance of community in the Christian life. Each of us has unique gifts given by God, meant to edify the church and serve others. There is no place for selfishness in the body of Christ; our gifts are to be used for the common good, reflecting the love and grace we've received.
### Key Takeaways
1. Living Sacrifice: Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices means dying to our old selves and living a new life in Christ. This involves sacrificial love and service to others, reflecting the profound gift of salvation we've received. It's not about achieving perfection but continually striving for it. [34:10]
2. Transformation and Renewal: Paul urges us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This transformation allows us to discern God's will, which is good, acceptable, and perfect. It involves a complete renovation of our inner selves, discarding old, sinful ways and embracing God's truth. [53:27]
3. Community and Gifts: The Christian life must be lived in community. Each of us has unique gifts given by God, meant to edify the church and serve others. There is no place for selfishness in the body of Christ; our gifts are to be used for the common good, reflecting the love and grace we've received. [01:03:08]
4. Knowing God's Will: To know God's will, we must know Jesus. It's not about seeking signs or relying on emotions but understanding who God is through His Son. This knowledge brings true peace, much like a child who knows the love and provision of their parents. [57:25]
5. Striving for Perfection: Our journey with Christ is about striving for perfection, not achieving it. It's about continually growing in our relationship with Jesus, laying down our old lives, and embracing the new life He offers. This ongoing transformation reflects our gratitude for the salvation we've received. [51:03]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[27:11] - Reading of the Word
[29:02] - Seattle Mission Trip Recap
[29:39] - Local Outreach Efforts
[30:29] - Sharing God's Work
[31:13] - Prayers for the Korea Team
[32:01] - Summer of Service
[32:50] - Conclusion of Romans 9-11 Series
[34:10] - Introduction to Romans 12
[35:41] - God's Sovereign Plan of Salvation
[37:17] - Depth of God's Grace
[39:07] - Living Sacrifice Explained
[41:54] - Testimonies from Seattle
[44:52] - New Life in Christ
[47:21] - Spiritual Worship
[48:06] - Worship in Spirit and Truth
[50:03] - Reflection on Salvation
[52:16] - Renewal of the Mind
[55:47] - Knowing God's Will
[57:25] - True Peace in Knowing God
[01:00:44] - Final Thoughts and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- 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."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean by presenting our bodies as a "living sacrifice"? How is this different from traditional sacrifices? [34:10]
2. According to Romans 12:2, what are we instructed not to conform to, and what should we be transformed by?
3. How does Paul describe the will of God in Romans 12:2? What are its characteristics?
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be a "living sacrifice" in the context of daily Christian living? How does this concept challenge our usual understanding of sacrifice? [44:52]
2. How can the renewal of our minds help us discern God's will? What practical steps can we take to renew our minds according to Romans 12:2? [53:27]
3. In what ways does living in community and using our unique gifts reflect the transformation Paul talks about in Romans 12:1-2? [01:03:08]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life: In what areas are you still conforming to the patterns of this world? What specific changes can you make to align more closely with the transformation Paul describes? [52:16]
2. Think about your spiritual journey: How have you experienced the renewal of your mind? What practices or habits have helped you in this process, and what new practices could you adopt? [55:47]
3. Identify your unique gifts: How are you currently using them to serve your church community? Are there new ways you can contribute to the common good and reflect the love and grace you've received? [01:07:02]
4. Consider your understanding of God's will: How can you deepen your knowledge of Jesus to better discern God's will for your life? What specific steps will you take this week to grow in your relationship with Him? [57:25]
5. Reflect on the concept of a "living sacrifice": What does it mean for you personally to live a life that is holy and acceptable to God? How can you demonstrate sacrificial love and service to others in your daily interactions? [34:10]
6. Evaluate your community involvement: How can you foster a sense of unity and selflessness within your small group or church? What actions can you take to encourage others to use their gifts for the common good? [01:03:08]
7. Examine your spiritual growth: Are you striving for perfection in your walk with Christ? What specific areas of your life need more focus and dedication to reflect the new life Jesus offers? [51:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Living as a Living Sacrifice
Description: Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices means dying to our old selves and living a new life in Christ. This involves sacrificial love and service to others, reflecting the profound gift of salvation we've received. It's not about achieving perfection but continually striving for it. [34:10]
Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. This verse serves as a pivotal transition, urging us to respond to the immense grace we've received by living lives that reflect our gratitude and commitment to God. Paul emphasizes that our salvation is not just a ticket to heaven but a call to a transformed life, one that continually seeks to know and love God more deeply.
We explored the concept of a "living sacrifice," which may seem paradoxical but is deeply spiritual. It means dying to our old selves and living a new life in Christ, characterized by sacrificial love and service to others. This new life is not about achieving perfection but striving for it, continually growing in our relationship with Jesus.
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 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: Transformation and Renewal
Description: Paul urges us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This transformation allows us to discern God's will, which is good, acceptable, and perfect. It involves a complete renovation of our inner selves, discarding old, sinful ways and embracing God's truth. [53:27]
Paul also warns against conforming to the patterns of this world. Instead, we are to be transformed by the renewal of our minds, allowing us to discern God's will, which is good, acceptable, and perfect. This transformation involves a complete renovation of our inner selves, discarding old, sinful ways and embracing the truth of God.
This transformation is not a one-time event but a continual process. It requires us to actively engage with God's Word, seek His presence in prayer, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. By doing so, we can better understand and live out God's will in our daily lives.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What specific patterns of this world do you find yourself conforming to? How can you actively renew your mind to align more closely with God's will?
Day 3: Community and Gifts
Description: The Christian life must be lived in community. Each of us has unique gifts given by God, meant to edify the church and serve others. There is no place for selfishness in the body of Christ; our gifts are to be used for the common good, reflecting the love and grace we've received. [01:03:08]
Finally, we discussed the importance of community in the Christian life. Each of us has unique gifts given by God, meant to edify the church and serve others. There is no place for selfishness in the body of Christ; our gifts are to be used for the common good, reflecting the love and grace we've received.
Living in community means recognizing that we are part of a larger body, the church. Our individual gifts and talents are not for our own benefit but for the edification of others. By serving one another, we demonstrate the love and grace that God has shown us, building up the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
Reflection: What unique gifts has God given you? How can you use these gifts to serve and edify your church community this week?
Day 4: Knowing God's Will
Description: To know God's will, we must know Jesus. It's not about seeking signs or relying on emotions but understanding who God is through His Son. This knowledge brings true peace, much like a child who knows the love and provision of their parents. [57:25]
To know God's will, we must know Jesus. It's not about seeking signs or relying on emotions but understanding who God is through His Son. This knowledge brings true peace, much like a child who knows the love and provision of their parents.
Knowing God's will involves a deep, personal relationship with Jesus. It requires us to spend time in His Word, in prayer, and in fellowship with other believers. As we grow in our understanding of who God is, we can better discern His will for our lives and experience the peace that comes from knowing Him.
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus this week to better understand God's will for your life? What specific steps will you take to spend more time in His Word and in prayer?
Day 5: Striving for Perfection
Description: Our journey with Christ is about striving for perfection, not achieving it. It's about continually growing in our relationship with Jesus, laying down our old lives, and embracing the new life He offers. This ongoing transformation reflects our gratitude for the salvation we've received. [51:03]
Our journey with Christ is about striving for perfection, not achieving it. It's about continually growing in our relationship with Jesus, laying down our old lives, and embracing the new life He offers. This ongoing transformation reflects our gratitude for the salvation we've received.
Striving for perfection means recognizing that we are a work in progress. We will make mistakes, but God's grace is sufficient to cover our shortcomings. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we become more like Him, reflecting His love and grace to those around us.
Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to let go of past mistakes and press on toward the goal of becoming more like Christ? How can you embrace God's grace and continue to grow in your relationship with Him?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "It may be very cliché to say, but honestly, if it wasn't for Jesus, I honestly don't know where I would be, and I don't know where our society would be and the church would be as well." [29:02] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God did not give up. When He should have poured out His wrath, He actually chose to give us grace. He gave us a plan of mercy and forgiveness, the maximum forgiveness possible by sending His own Son, Jesus, to take that penalty that you and I deserve for the wages of sin is death." [35:41] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The depths of our depravity of sin is never too deep enough for the grace of our God to cover. We are saved by grace alone, grace alone, grace alone. So come and see how big and how deep His grace is." [37:17] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus is the only way to salvation to be in the presence of the Lord. But Jesus is the only way to be sanctified through His spirit and truth. Another way of putting it is constant renewal, sanctification, renewal of a person, our spiritual growth is another way of saying it." [52:16] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The will of God does not need to be found. It has already been stated. It has already been said. This is the will of God. This is my son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. The commandments of God has already been written." [58:55] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The gift of salvation, like I said, it can be, the gift by itself can be appreciated. It's just such a simple gift, but such a profound gift. But the thing is, the more and more you actually dive deeper into how salvation actually works, how it actually happened, and you see the patterns and the sovereignty and the plan throughout all of the Old Testament, and you see the numerous chances, numerous ways that we as men, as human beings, could have just screwed it all up. God, in His faithfulness and His grace and His patience, shows the depth of His grace over and over and over again to His people as well." [32:01] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Present the new life that Jesus has given to you as a reflection of what the Lord has done for you. And this new life has three components. It is a new life that reflects the gospel, God's gift to us. It is a new life that reflects the love that God has given to us and continues to give to us. And three, it reflects God's calling for us as he has given us a new life." [43:26] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Renew your mind, Paul says. Renovate your mind. Don't just add on to the already existing pile. No. Throw this away first so that you have space for the new, much better, life-giving truth. Give space to the truth of God. And as you do this, Paul says, the more and more you do this, verse 2, you are able to discern the will of God, what is good, what is acceptable, and perfect." [54:47] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The Christian life, if you haven't noticed here, must be done in community. There is no lone ranger, lone wolf Christianity. By our nature, we are communal creatures. We need one another. Unfortunately, sin has broken that, of course, right? We have absent families, we have abusive families, and this happens in the church as well, too." [01:03:08] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Paul is saying, look, do you truly understand Romans 9 through 11. You truly understand how much and how big this gift is because if you do be renewed be transformed present yourselves as a living sacrifice to god and use your gifts as a living sacrifice to god and use the gifts that he has given to you to contribute to the well-being of the church body as a whole." [01:07:02] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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