Offering Everything Back to God: A Life of Sacrifice

 

Summary

In this talk titled "Offering," the focus is on the profound concept of offering everything we have back to God, recognizing that all we possess is a gift from Him. Jesus Christ is our ultimate example, having offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for the love of God and the life of the world. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate this by being "broken bread and poured-out wine" for others. This means recognizing that our gifts, whether they be talents, relationships, or even our sufferings, are not solely for our benefit but are meant to be offered back to God for His purposes.

The sermon emphasizes three key points: first, that everything is a gift from God; second, that offerings should be seen as sacrifices, not in terms of loss, but as opportunities to give back to God what He has given us; and third, the importance of obedience as the highest form of offering. The narrative includes personal anecdotes and biblical examples, such as Joseph's journey and the widow of Zarephath, to illustrate how God uses our offerings, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, for His greater purposes.

The act of offering is not limited to tangible gifts but extends to our emotions, sufferings, and daily tasks. The speaker shares personal experiences of offering up feelings of loneliness and anguish to God, transforming them into acts of worship. The message encourages us to see every aspect of our lives, including our challenges and sufferings, as opportunities to glorify God and serve others. By doing so, we participate in God's work of redemption and transformation in the world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Everything is a Gift: Recognizing that everything in our lives, from our talents to our relationships, is a gift from God changes our perspective. It invites us to hold these gifts with open hands, ready to offer them back to God for His purposes. This mindset helps us see even our challenges as opportunities for growth and service. [04:34]

2. Offering as Sacrifice: True sacrifice is not about loss but about giving back to God what He has entrusted to us. This includes our talents, time, and even our sufferings. By offering these to God, we participate in His work and allow Him to use our lives for the benefit of others. [05:04]

3. The Power of Obedience: Obedience is the highest form of worship and offering. It requires us to trust God's plan and follow His commands, even when they are difficult. Through obedience, we align our lives with God's will and become instruments of His grace in the world. [23:55]

4. Transforming Suffering into Offering: Our sufferings and challenges can be transformed into offerings when we surrender them to God. This act of faith allows God to use our pain for His purposes, bringing healing and hope to others. [19:22]

5. The Impact of Small Offerings: No offering is too small for God to use. Like the widow's mite or the boy's lunch, our seemingly insignificant contributions can have a profound impact when placed in God's hands. This encourages us to offer whatever we have, trusting that God will multiply it for His glory. [15:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:29] - Jesus as the Ultimate Offering
- [01:03] - Gifts for the World
- [01:52] - Holding Gifts with Open Hands
- [02:27] - Presenting Our Bodies as Living Sacrifices
- [03:03] - Seeing Everything as a Gift
- [03:38] - Widowhood as a Gift
- [04:34] - Three Key Points on Offering
- [05:04] - Sacrifice as an Offering
- [06:05] - Thanksgiving in Prayer
- [07:17] - Joseph's Story of Trust
- [09:00] - Offering Back to God
- [11:46] - The Idea of Sacrifice
- [13:01] - The Widow of Zarephath
- [15:13] - The Boy's Lunch
- [17:01] - Love and Sacrifice
- [19:22] - Offering Loneliness
- [23:55] - Obedience Over Sacrifice
- [25:44] - Doing the Next Thing
- [28:05] - Offering in Daily Life

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Offering"

Bible Reading:

1. Romans 12:1 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." [01:52]
2. Genesis 45:8 - "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God." [07:17]
3. 1 Kings 17:8-16 - The story of the widow of Zarephath. [13:01]

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Romans 12:1 suggest about the nature of our bodies and lives as offerings to God? How does this relate to the concept of "living sacrifice"? [01:52]

2. In Genesis 45:8, Joseph tells his brothers that it was God who sent him to Egypt. How does this perspective change the way we view our own challenges and sufferings? [07:17]

3. How does the story of the widow of Zarephath illustrate the idea of offering what little we have to God? What was her response to Elijah's request? [13:01]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the idea that everything we have is a gift from God? [04:34]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of offering our lives as a "living sacrifice" challenge the way we view our daily activities and responsibilities? [01:52]

2. Joseph's statement in Genesis 45:8 reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty. How might this trust influence a person's response to difficult circumstances? [07:17]

3. The widow of Zarephath's obedience led to a miraculous provision. What does this teach us about the relationship between faith, obedience, and God's provision? [13:01]

4. The sermon suggests that our sufferings can be transformed into offerings. How might this perspective change the way someone approaches their own pain and struggles? [19:22]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a gift or talent you possess. How can you offer it back to God for His purposes this week? [01:03]

2. Consider a current challenge or suffering in your life. How can you view it as an opportunity to glorify God and serve others? [19:22]

3. Think about a time when you felt you had little to offer. How can the story of the widow of Zarephath encourage you to trust God with your small offerings? [13:01]

4. In what ways can you practice obedience as a form of worship in your daily life? Identify one specific area where you can be more obedient to God's commands. [23:55]

5. How can you transform feelings of loneliness or other difficult emotions into acts of worship and offering to God? [19:22]

6. Identify a small, seemingly insignificant task you do regularly. How can you offer this task to God as an act of service and worship? [22:09]

7. Reflect on a time when you recognized everything as a gift from God. How did this perspective change your attitude or actions? How can you cultivate this mindset more consistently? [04:34]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Life as a Divine Gift
Everything in our lives, from our talents to our relationships, is a gift from God. This perspective invites us to hold these gifts with open hands, ready to offer them back to God for His purposes. By acknowledging that everything is a gift, we can see even our challenges as opportunities for growth and service. This mindset encourages us to live with gratitude and humility, understanding that our lives are not our own but are entrusted to us by God. [04:34]

"For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one gift in your life that you have taken for granted? How can you offer it back to God today in a way that serves others?


Day 2: Sacrifice as a Joyful Offering
True sacrifice is not about loss but about giving back to God what He has entrusted to us. This includes our talents, time, and even our sufferings. By offering these to God, we participate in His work and allow Him to use our lives for the benefit of others. Sacrifice becomes a joyful act when we understand it as a way to align ourselves with God's purposes and to contribute to His kingdom. [05:04]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel a sense of loss or sacrifice? How can you reframe this as an opportunity to give back to God?


Day 3: Obedience as the Highest Offering
Obedience is the highest form of worship and offering. It requires us to trust God's plan and follow His commands, even when they are difficult. Through obedience, we align our lives with God's will and become instruments of His grace in the world. This act of surrender allows us to experience the fullness of God's love and to be a blessing to others. [23:55]

"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a specific command or prompting from God that you have been hesitant to obey? What steps can you take today to trust and follow His leading?


Day 4: Transforming Suffering into Worship
Our sufferings and challenges can be transformed into offerings when we surrender them to God. This act of faith allows God to use our pain for His purposes, bringing healing and hope to others. By offering our struggles to God, we participate in His work of redemption and transformation in the world. This perspective helps us to see our suffering not as a burden but as a means of glorifying God and serving others. [19:22]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of suffering in your life that you can offer to God today? How might He use it to bring hope and healing to others?


Day 5: The Power of Small Offerings
No offering is too small for God to use. Like the widow's mite or the boy's lunch, our seemingly insignificant contributions can have a profound impact when placed in God's hands. This encourages us to offer whatever we have, trusting that God will multiply it for His glory. By recognizing the value of small offerings, we can live with a sense of purpose and confidence, knowing that our lives matter in God's kingdom. [15:13]

"And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny." (Mark 12:41-42, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small offering you can make today, trusting that God will use it for His purposes? How can you cultivate a heart of generosity in your daily life?

Quotes

"If God has given us a gift, it's never only for ourselves. It's always to be offered back to Him and, very often, it has repercussions for the life of the world. Jesus Himself offered Himself to be bread for the life of the world. He said, 'The bread that I will give is My body, and I give it for the life of the world.'" [00:14:56]

"Among the great gifts of my life are my husband, my daughter, my grandchildren. And there are times when I could be very selfish about those gifts, and yet I have to recognize that it's not just for me. But these also, that I think of as -- as my own, must be held with an open hand and offered back to God along with my body and all that I am." [00:96:80]

"Everything in my life I begin to see as a gift, and I mean everything. Now, that may seem like sheer poppycock to some of you, but I hope that, in the context of the things that I've been saying, you'll begin to see that everything can be seen as a gift, even my widowhood." [00:183:43]

"And Joseph was able to say, when he named his son 'Ephraim,' 'God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.' It's not the experience that changed him; it was his response. And Joseph trusted God. Now, what is God's intention when He gives you and me something? He is giving me something in my hands to offer back to Him with thanksgiving." [00:529:90]

"Everything that we have comes from Him, and we have nothing to offer except what He has given us. There's an old thank -- prayer of thanksgiving at the offering time: 'All things come of Thee, O Lord, and of Thine own have we given Thee.' We receive it from Him, we accept it in our hands, we say, 'Thank you,' and then we offer it back." [00:588:60]

"And when I would awaken in those wee, small hours of the night -- which Amy Carmichael calls 'the hours when all life's molehills become mountains' -- my mind would be filled with vivid imaginings of the horrible things that were going to happen to my husband between now and death." [00:634:75]

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. 'A broken and a contrite heart I will not despise.' I'm talking to people, I'm sure, who have a broken spirit, a broken heart. God will not despise that offering, if that's all you have to offer. I felt as if I was destitute, like the widow of Zarephath." [00:756:81]

"God takes a widow with nothing, God takes a little boy's lunch and He turns that into something for the good of the world because that individual let it go. And I began to see -- again, very dimly -- and don't imagine that I was some kind of spiritual giant to see this thing -- it was the Holy Spirit of God that said to me, 'Give it to me. Let it go. Offer it up, a sacrifice; something in your hands to give me.'" [00:981:55]

"In other words, my loneliness became my offering. And so, if God doesn't always remove the feeling of loneliness, it is in order that, in every minute of every day, perhaps, I have something to offer up to him and say, 'Lord, here it is. I can't handle this.'" [00:1166:48]

"She spoke about the little boy bringing his lunch to Jesus, and she said, 'If my life is broken when given to Jesus, it may be because pieces will feed a multitude when a loaf would satisfy only a little boy.' What have you got in your hand to give to Him? Is it a gift that you recognize as a gift?" [00:1238:62]

"People would think of my ministry as being my missionary work, my writing, my speaking, but, you know, I don't spend most of my life standing at a podium. I spend most of my life sitting at a desk, standing at a sink, standing at an ironing board, going to the grocery store, sitting in airports, doing a whole lot of things which are not anything for which I expect to get medals." [00:1324:87]

"And I have discovered that there is no consolation like obedience. And when I was trying to offer up my feelings to God in those wee, small hours of the morning, I thanked God when it was time to get up because there were all kinds of just simple, ordinary, down-to-earth things to do. 'Do the next thing.'" [00:1527:58]

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Transcript
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