Living Sacrificially: True Worship and Stewardship
Summary
In our series, "The Path of Surrender," we've been journeying through Lent, a season of reflection and preparation for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection at Easter. We've been exploring what it means to surrender to God's will and to live a life of worship and sacrifice, following the example of Jesus in his final week of earthly ministry.
During this time, we've been encouraged to engage in practices that draw us closer to God, such as fasting, participating in devotionals, and embracing a season of expectation for what God can do in and through our lives. We've been reminded that true worship is not about doing the minimum required but about living out of an overflow of gratitude and love for God, asking ourselves not "What do I have to do?" but "What can I do to worship God?"
We delved into the story of a woman who anointed Jesus with expensive ointment from an alabaster flask, a story that challenges us to consider whether we give God our best or what's left. This woman's act of worship was criticized by the disciples as wasteful, but Jesus defended her, saying she had done a beautiful thing in preparing him for burial. Her sacrifice was a profound act of worship, one that Jesus said would be remembered wherever the gospel is proclaimed.
This story raises the question of what it means to live as a living sacrifice, as the apostle Paul urges us to do. It's about offering our lives to God, not as a duty but as a privilege, to be consumed in service to Jesus. We are called to spend and be spent for the sake of the gospel, not to preserve ourselves but to give ourselves away in worship and service.
The woman's act of worship also serves as a reminder that everything we have is not truly ours but God's. We are merely stewards of the resources, time, relationships, and opportunities God has entrusted to us. Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also, challenging us to consider whether we are giving Jesus access to every area of our lives.
As we approach Easter, we are reminded that we are on a mission, not a vacation. Our lives are meant to be lived in service to God and others, bringing the hope and love of Jesus to a world in need. We are called to worship God not just with our words but with our lives, demonstrating that there is another way to live and another kingdom to live for.
Key Takeaways:
- True worship is a response to God's love that goes beyond obligation and flows from a heart of gratitude. It is not about the minimum we can offer but the maximum expression of our love for God. This kind of worship is often countercultural and may be misunderstood by others, but it is precious in God's sight. [37:04]
- Living as a sacrifice means continually offering ourselves to God's service, resisting the temptation to step down from the altar of surrender. Our daily choices reflect whether we are living for God's glory or for our own comfort and convenience. The challenge is to remain on the altar, fully devoted to God's purposes. [38:13]
- Stewardship is a central theme of the Christian life. We are not owners but managers of what God has given us. This perspective should shape how we use our resources, time, and talents, recognizing that they are entrusted to us by God for His purposes and glory. [39:47]
- The legacy of our worship has the potential to outlive us and impact the world. The woman's act of anointing Jesus is still spoken of today, demonstrating that acts of worship and sacrifice can have eternal significance. Our worship can leave a lasting imprint on the world when it is done in genuine love and devotion to Jesus. [46:48]
- Our identity in Christ should be the truest thing about us, shaping our actions and interactions with the world. As we worship Jesus, we bring hope to those around us, showing them a different way to live. Our lives are a mission trip, and we are called to live out the gospel wherever we are placed. [51:17]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 26:6-13 (ESV)
> Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at the table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
2. 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.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the reaction of the disciples to the woman's act of anointing Jesus with the expensive ointment? ([43:30])
2. How did Jesus respond to the disciples' criticism of the woman's act? ([43:44])
3. According to Romans 12:1, what does Paul urge believers to do as an act of spiritual worship?
4. What does Jesus say about the significance of the woman's act of anointing him? ([43:59])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the disciples were indignant about the woman's act of anointing Jesus? What does this reveal about their understanding of worship and sacrifice? ([43:30])
2. How does Jesus' defense of the woman’s act challenge our understanding of what is considered wasteful versus what is considered worshipful? ([43:44])
3. In Romans 12:1, Paul talks about presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice. How does this concept of living sacrifice compare to the woman's act of anointing Jesus?
4. What does it mean to be a steward of the resources, time, and relationships God has given us, as mentioned in the sermon? ([39:51])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to give your best to God. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([28:09])
2. The sermon mentioned that true worship is not about doing the minimum required but about living out of an overflow of gratitude and love for God. How can you shift your mindset from "What do I have to do?" to "What can I do to worship God?" in your daily life? ([35:00])
3. Consider the concept of living as a living sacrifice. What are some practical ways you can offer yourself to God's service in your current circumstances? ([37:04])
4. The sermon highlighted the importance of stewardship. Identify one area of your life (resources, time, relationships) where you can improve your stewardship. What specific steps will you take to manage this area better for God's glory? ([39:51])
5. The woman's act of worship left a lasting legacy. What is one act of worship or service you can perform this week that has the potential to impact others and leave a lasting impression? ([46:48])
6. The sermon emphasized that our identity in Christ should be the truest thing about us. How can you live out this identity more fully in your interactions with others this week? ([51:17])
7. Reflect on the idea that our lives are a mission, not a vacation. How can you adopt a mission-oriented mindset in your daily activities and interactions? ([43:03])
Devotional
Day 1: Worship Beyond Obligation
True worship arises from a heart overflowing with gratitude, not from the bare minimum of religious obligation. It is a personal and often countercultural expression of love and devotion to God. This kind of worship may be misunderstood or even criticized by others, as it goes against the grain of what is considered normal or sufficient. Yet, it is this very nature of worship—extravagant, generous, and wholehearted—that makes it precious in the eyes of the Lord. Worship that is true and authentic is not concerned with what one must do, but rather with what one can do to fully express love for God. It is a response to God's immense love and grace, a desire to give back not just adequately, but abundantly. [37:04]
"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:23-24 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you transform your daily acts into expressions of worship that go beyond mere duty to heartfelt offerings to God?
Day 2: The Altar of Daily Surrender
Living as a sacrifice is an ongoing commitment to offer oneself to God's service, resisting the urge to retreat from the altar of surrender. This means making daily choices that reflect a life dedicated to God's glory rather than personal comfort or convenience. The challenge lies in remaining steadfast on the altar, fully devoted to God's purposes, even when it is tempting to step down and prioritize one's own desires. It is about living with the understanding that every moment is an opportunity to demonstrate devotion to God through actions, decisions, and interactions with others. [38:13]
"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." - Romans 12:1 (ESV)
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 3: Stewardship of God's Gifts
Stewardship is not merely a part of the Christian life; it is at its very core. Believers are not owners but caretakers of the resources, time, relationships, and opportunities that God has entrusted to them. This perspective of stewardship should influence how one uses all that has been given, recognizing that everything is meant for God's purposes and glory. It is a call to manage these gifts wisely and generously, in a way that honors the Giver and advances His kingdom. [39:47]
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." - 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
Reflection: Consider the resources, time, and talents you have been given. How can you manage one of these areas more intentionally this week for God's glory?
Day 4: Eternal Impact of Worship
The legacy of worship extends far beyond the moment it is offered; it has the potential to leave an indelible mark on the world and echo into eternity. Just as the woman's act of anointing Jesus is still remembered and spoken of today, so too can our acts of worship and sacrifice have lasting significance. When worship is rooted in genuine love and devotion to Jesus, it transcends time and can inspire and impact others long after we are gone. [46:48]
"And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God." - Luke 12:8 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one act of worship or sacrifice you can make this week that might have a lasting impact on those around you?
Day 5: Living as Missionaries in Daily Life
Our identity in Christ is the most authentic aspect of who we are, and it should shape every action and interaction we have with the world. As we worship and serve Jesus, we bring hope and demonstrate a different way to live to those around us. Our lives are not meant to be a leisurely vacation but a mission trip, where we are called to actively live out the gospel in our everyday environments. [51:17]
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you embody the mission of Christ in your current setting, and what is one practical step you can take today to live out the gospel where you are?
Quotes
1) "But it raises this really important question for us that Jesus was basically asking his disciples, which is, does God get your best or what's left? And it's so easy to justify and rationalize. I immediately want to rationalize and justify when this question surfaces in my own heart." [28:09] ()
2) "She gives Jesus her best. Her love for Jesus is so profound that this sacrifice that no one asked for, she freely gave. And that's really what true worship is. It's not saying, God, what do I have to do? It's when you and I live out of this overflow of, God, what can I do in worshiping you?" [34:45] ()
3) "The amazing thing for us is that we have Jesus' sacrifice in our history, in our rear view mirror, not our future. Jesus lived this perfect life in your and my place because we can't. He died for us. And then he came back from the grave so that we can turn from our way, believe and receive the gift he's made available and choose to follow him now and forever, and we could experience forever with him starting now and going on for eternity." [36:13] ()
4) "We are to spend and to be spent, not to lay ourselves up in lavender and nurse our flesh. Living sacrifices, we lay ourselves on the altar for God's use of our lives. We bring our best, but how often do we get up from the altar and walk away?" [38:13] ()
5) "You have never given Jesus anything that wasn't already his. See, we live in a time and a place where how you can acquire things more and more is the goal, but the teachings of Jesus and the Bible more broadly do not teach the idea that you and I are owners. It's that we are stewards." [39:26] ()
6) "And the way that that happens is that followers of Jesus love and worship Jesus together. That that movement out there doesn't happen without a movement of God in here. And so what is the benefit of this? Well, it's that God would do something in us that he might do something through us that could be so much greater collectively than it is individually." [47:33] ()
7) "If you decided to follow Jesus, your life is a mission trip. It is not primarily about your comfort. You are on a mission wherever you live, work, learn and play. And maybe today you just needed that reminder. That's why you're here." [51:17] ()
8) "Who you are in Jesus should be the truest thing about you. And as you worship him, you bring hope to everyone you meet because you show them that there's another way to live and there's another kingdom to live for." [52:03] ()
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