On Target - Sacrifice

Attendees received a clear, compassionate call to reshape relationships around the economy of sacrifice. After practical updates about an upcoming Liberia trip and resources for relational growth, attention turned to Ephesians 5:1–2 and the life-shaping claim that love is measured by what is given, not by what is received. The argument unfolds: God initiates with generous invitation, Christ models self-giving sacrifice, and believers are urged to imitate that pattern—living big by walking in sacrificial love without surrendering moral conviction.

The distinction between sacrifice and compromise is central: sacrificial love embraces broken people and meets needs while remaining rooted in God’s unchanging character. Jesus set aside the privileges of deity but never abandoned divine holiness; in the same way, offering oneself for others calls for moral clarity, not lowering of standards. Practical theology follows: spiritual maturity is shown by what one does with knowledge of God—service, hospitality, and steady presence matter more than credentials.

Illustration anchors the teaching. A lifetime of humble service—represented by Florence’s willingness to cook, care, pray, and shepherd with joy—demonstrates how small, steady sacrifices shape community and testify to faith. Community practices then become a training ground: gathering is reframed as an opportunity to give (encouragement, prayer, welcome), not primarily to receive benefits. This shift from “what do I get?” to “what do I have to give?” requires trust—trust that God will meet needs—so generosity can be authentic rather than fearful.

The closing charge is actionable: aim life toward giving, cultivate a we-centered posture, and pursue a kingdom-shaped love that transforms relationships. Practical invitations—workshop sign-ups, Scripture memorization, and pastoral availability—underscore a church culture that equips people to move from self-interest into sacrificial participation in God’s redemptive work. The final prayer sends people out to imitate Christ’s costly love and to let that love be the defining currency of every relationship.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Love is defined by giving Love’s true measure is not reciprocity but costly offering. When generosity becomes the default posture, relationships stop operating like transactions and begin to reflect kingdom priorities. Giving reshapes motives, corrects power plays, and frees communities to receive one another without tallying debts. [06:30]
• 2. Sacrifice does not mean compromise Sacrifice willingly bears cost without abandoning moral clarity or spiritual standards. Loving broken people invites them toward holiness rather than minimizing the reality of sin. This tension—compassion without capitulation—requires wisdom and the Spirit’s guidance, not moral relativism. [10:01]
• 3. Imitate God; walk in love The summons to “be imitators of God” reorients identity and action: character shapes conduct. To walk in love is to duplicate Christ’s initiative—inviting, serving, and laying down rights—in everyday choices. Such imitation redefines greatness as servanthood and cultivates communities that embody God’s hospitality. [07:47]
• 4. Trust God so you can give Generosity flows from confidence in God’s provision, not from scarcity thinking. Entrusting needs to God enables sacrificial risk-taking in relationships instead of grasping defensiveness. When people believe God is enough, they can invest their time, presence, and resources freely for others’ flourishing. [28:29]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:24] - Liberia trip & fundraising update
• [02:51] - Message notes and resources
• [03:24] - Series overview: four arrows
• [03:54] - Opening prayer and scripture
• [04:56] - Relate Strong workshop invite
• [05:45] - Memorize Ephesians 5:21
• [06:30] - Core idea: Give, not get
• [07:47] - Be imitators of God (Ephesians 5)
• [08:46] - Sacrifice is love's currency
• [16:12] - Pursue love: 1 Corinthians 14:1
• [17:56] - Florence: embodied service
• [24:14] - Practical: come to give
• [30:22] - Closing prayer & invitation

1. According to Ephesians 5:1-2, what two specific actions are believers called to do?
2. The sermon made a clear distinction between two concepts: "Love sacrifices but does not compromise." [10:01] What is the difference described?
3. What are some of the specific, practical ways Florence demonstrated a life of giving? [17:56]
4. How does 1 Corinthians 14:1 describe the pursuit of a life of love?

1. The idea that "love is defined by what we give, not what we get" [06:30] completely reverses a common way of thinking. Why is this definition so central to understanding God's kind of love?
2. What does it mean to "set aside the rights of deity, not the character of deity" [13:03] in the context of Jesus' sacrifice? How does this inform what it looks like for us to sacrifice without compromising?
3. How does trusting God with our needs enable us to shift from asking "what can I get?" to "what do I have to give?" [28:29]
4. The statement "spiritual maturity isn't measured by how much you know, it's measured by what you do with what you know" [23:21] was applied to Florence's life. How does this connect to the command to be imitators of God?

1. In your closest relationship right now, which question are you more prone to ask: "What am I getting?" or "What do I have to give?" What is one practical way you can shift your focus to giving this week?
2. Sacrificial love embraces broken people without lowering God's standards. [10:01] Who is a difficult person in your life that God might be calling you to love in this way? What would it look like to sacrificially give to them while holding to God's truth?
3. Gathering with others is reframed as an opportunity to give encouragement, prayer, and welcome. [24:14] The next time you are in a group setting, what is one specific thing you can do to come with the intention to give rather than to receive?
4. Florence found ways to serve within her limitations. [17:56] What are the unique resources, time, or abilities God has entrusted to you? How can you use one of them this week as a "currency of love" [08:46] in your family, workplace, or community?
5. Aiming life toward giving requires trusting that God is enough. [28:29] What need or fear makes it hardest for you to be generous? How can you actively entrust that area to God this week?