HOLY Sacrifice: Set Apart, Pure, Obedient

HOLY Sacrifice: set apart, pure, obedient

ACCEPTABLE Sacrifice: pleasing to God (absence of self)

Ps. 51.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God,

You will not despise.

Examples of Poor Offerings:

Gen. 4 Cain’s offering unacceptable b/c it reflected more of Cain than it

did an obedient, selfless, zealous heart for God.

1 Sam. 13 King Saul’s offering was selfish and impatient. Evidence of a

man NOT after God’s own heart.

Malachi 1:6-10 The priest’s second-rate offerings give a glimpse into their

minds/attitude and their low view of God.

Matt. 15.6-9Pharisee’s vain, empty, repetitious words “heart is far from me”

A living / holy / acceptable sacrifice of worship is unstained by . . . (1 Jn. 2.15-16)

Lust of the Flesh (physical needs; appetites)
Lust of the Eyes (materialism, covetousness)
Pride of Life (selfish, worldly ambition)

SPIRITUAL SERVICE of Worship:

Reasonable response to the “mercies of God”

Spiritual sacrifice of yielded lives

12.2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

“True worship does not consist of elaborate and impressive prayers, intricate liturgy, stain-glassed windows, lighted candles, flowing robes, incense, and classical sacred music. It does not require great talent, skill, or leadership ability.

Many of those things can be a part of the outward forms of genuine worship, but they are acceptable to God only if the {regenerate} heart and {renewed} mind of the worshiper is focused on Him.

The only SPIRITUAL SERVICE OF WORSHIP that honors and pleases God is the sincere, loving, thoughtful, and heart-felt devotion and praise of His children.”

John MacArthur, Romans 9-16 Commentary

COME DIE TO SELF . . . COME LIVE FOR ME!

Sermon Notes . . . Live to Worship

Series: Why We Worship (pt. 3) Pastor Chris

Text: Romans 12:1-2 February 15, 2015

IN REVIEW . . .

Worship Defined as . . . (1) God reveals (2) IRespond

Worship Motivated by . . . Deut. 6

OBEDIENCE: keep His commands
LOVE: fully and completely
LEGACY: lead my family (testify to others)
ATTITUDE: Remember/Respond to His goodness
FEAR/ REVERENCE: PUT HIM FIRST!

ROMANS 1:18-25 Created to . . . KNOWHim (v. 19-20) RESPONDto Him (v. 21)

“Genuine worship is not something that is self-generated or that can be worked up within ourselves.” Wayne Grudem (systematic theology author)

“God has always been the initiator of relationship, and we are designed and equipped to respond.” (Mike Harland, Seven Words of Worship)

We are the WAY we are because of the WHY we are.

“Although the evidence from conscience (v.19), creation (v.20), and God’s Word is irrefutable, men choose to resist and oppose God’s truth by holding fast to their sin.” (J. MacArthur, Study Bible Commentary note, Rom. 1.18)

LIVE TO WORSHIP

Worship is NOT just a meeting . . . it’s a LIFESTYLE!

“The focus of worship is not human experience, not a lecture, not entertainment, but Jesus Christ – His life, His death, His resurrection.”

Worship is NOT something done to us or for us . . . but by us!

“With all the complexities of our world today (1985), the temptation to turn worship into a giant psychiatriccouch or peprally for human potential is great.”

Robert E. Webber, Worship is a Verb

Does your lifestyle reflect an appropriate response of sacrifice and devotion to the all-knowing, all powerful, omni-present King and Creator of the universe?

Does your life bear a marked difference from BC to AC?
Is your life characterized by biblical evidences that prove allegiance to Christ?
Keep His commands / Abide in the Vine /Bear much fruit
Conform to the image of Christ
Love one another
Instruct your children ---- Love/Honor/Cherish your spouse
Make disciples/Testify of Christ
HONOR GOD! BRAG ON JESUS! LISTEN & OBEY HOLY SPIRIT!

IF not, we have some work to do?May the Spirit work thru the Word today.

IF so, let the scripture be a reminder and an encouragement to us to keep on keeping on.

ROMANS 11:33 --- 12:2

1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

URGE: Plead, Encourage

BRETHREN: fellowbelievers

BY THE MERCIES OF GOD: “things undeserved”

Motive for all worship

Psalm 103

PRESENT: yield, surrender . . . hold nothing back (total devotion…body & soul)

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C.T. Studd
“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all.” I. Watts

BODIES: totalsum of all your parts (heart, soul, mind, strength)

It’s not just asking Jesus into your heart, as if He’s some special addition. Biblical salvation demands you give your whole body, not just your heart.
No sanctification apart from our body.

Rom. 6.12-13

12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin asinstruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Substance / Abuse / Exhaustion / Overwork

LIVINGSacrifice: (sounds like an oxymoron)

Offering of self (not dead, but alive . . . on-going)

Sacrifice of the dead to appease your guilt or atone for your sin is no longer acceptable. Christ has fulfilled that requirement.

Hebrews 10.1, 4

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 4It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10.10, 14

10We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 14For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

John MacArthur, Romans 9-16 Commentary . . .

“When we offer God the living sacrifice of ourselves, He does not destroy what we give Him but refines it and purifies it, not only for His glory but for our present good.”

“The unregenerate person cannot give his body, mind, or will because he has not given God himself.”

“Only the redeemed can present a living sacrifice because only the redeemed have a spirituallife.”

“The key to spiritual victory and true happiness is not trying to get all we can from God but in GIVING ALL THAT WE ARE and HAVE to Him.”

Galatians 2.20

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Luke 9.23-25

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

Sermon Notes . . . Live to Worship

Series: Why We Worship (pt. 3) Pastor Chris

Text: Romans 12:1-2 February 15, 2015

IN REVIEW . . .

Worship Defined as . . . (1) God r______(2) IR______

Worship Motivated by . . . Deut. 6

O______: keep His commands
L______: fully and completely
L______: lead my family (testify to others)
A______: Remember/Respond to His goodness
F______/ R______: PUT HIM FIRST!

ROMANS 1 Created to: K______Him (v. 19-20) R______to Him (v. 21)

We are the W_____ we are because of the W______we are.

TODAY’S FOCUS: WE LIVE TO WORSHIP

Worship is NOT just a meeting . . . it’s a L______!

Worship is NOT something done to us or for us . . . but by us!

Robert E. Webber, Worship is a Verb

ROMANS 11:33 --- 12:2

1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

URGE: P______, E______

BRETHREN: f______b______

BY THE MERCIES OF GOD: “things undeserved” *M______for all worship

PRESENT: y______, s______. . . hold nothing back

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C.T. Studd
“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all.” I. Watts

BODIES: t______s____ of all your parts (heart, soul, mind, strength)

Rom. 6.12-13. . . 12Therefore do not let sin r______in your mortal body so that you o______its lusts, 13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin asi______of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as a______from the d______, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Sermon Notes . . . Live to Worship

Series: Why We Worship (pt. 3) Pastor Chris

Text: Romans 12:1-2 February 15, 2015

IN REVIEW . . .

Worship Defined as . . . (1) God r______(2) IR______

Worship Motivated by . . . Deut. 6

O______: keep His commands
L______: fully and completely
L______: lead my family (testify to others)
A______: Remember/Respond to His goodness
F______/ R______: PUT HIM FIRST!

ROMANS 1 Created to: K______Him (v. 19-20) R______to Him (v. 21)

We are the W_____ we are because of the W______we are.

TODAY’S FOCUS: WE LIVE TO WORSHIP

Worship is NOT just a meeting . . . it’s a L______!

Worship is NOT something done to us or for us . . . but by us!

Robert E. Webber, Worship is a Verb

ROMANS 11:33 --- 12:2

1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

URGE: P______, E______

BRETHREN: f______b______

BY THE MERCIES OF GOD: “things undeserved” *M______for all worship

PRESENT: y______, s______. . . hold nothing back

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C.T. Studd
“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my life, my all.” I. Watts

BODIES: t______s____ of all your parts (heart, soul, mind, strength)

LIVINGSacrifice

O______of self (not dead, but alive . . . on-going)

Hebrews 10.4,10, 14 It is i______for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 10We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ o_____ for all. 14For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Galatians 2.20

I have been c______with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by f______in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Luke 9.23-25

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must d______himself, and take up his c______daily and f______Me.

HOLY Sacrifice: set apart, pure, obedient

ACCEPTABLE Sacrifice: p______to God

Examples of Poor Offerings:

Gen. 4 C______offering unacceptable b/c it reflected more of Cain than it

did an obedient, selfless, zealous heart for God.

1 Sam. 13 King S______offering was selfish and impatient. Evidence of a

man NOT after God’s own heart.

Malachi 1:6-10 Thep______second-rate offerings give a glimpse into their

minds/attitude and their low view of God.

Matt. 15.6-9P______vain, empty, repetitious words “heart is far from me”

A living / holy / acceptable sacrifice of worship is unstained by . . . (1 Jn. 2.15-16)

Lust of the F______(physical needs; appetites)
Lust of the E______(materialism, covetousness)
Pride of L______(selfish, worldly ambition)

SPIRITUAL SERVICE of Worship: R______response to “mercies of God”

12.2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

LIVINGSacrifice

O______of self (not dead, but alive . . . on-going)

Galatians 2.20

Luke 9.23-25

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must d______himself, and take up his c______daily and f______Me.

HOLY Sacrifice: set apart, pure, obedient

ACCEPTABLE Sacrifice: p______to God

Examples of Poor Offerings:

Gen. 4 C______offering unacceptable b/c it reflected more of Cain than it

did an obedient, selfless, zealous heart for God.

1 Sam. 13 King S______offering was selfish and impatient. Evidence of a

man NOT after God’s own heart.

Malachi 1:6-10 Thep______second-rate offerings give a glimpse into their

minds/attitude and their low view of God.

Matt. 15.6-9P______vain, empty, repetitious words “heart is far from me”

A living / holy / acceptable sacrifice of worship is unstained by . . . (1 Jn. 2.15-16)

Lust of the F______(physical needs; appetites)
Lust of the E______(materialism, covetousness)
Pride of L______(selfish, worldly ambition)

SPIRITUAL SERVICE of Worship: R______response to “mercies of God”

12.2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.