Sermon Tone Analysis

Romans Series #17

*Romans 12:1,2*

*The Least You Can Do*

 

Let's be honest here, many times in life we just want to know what is the Least I can do and still be acceptable in this endeavor.

What's the least amount that I can give and it will be ok?

What is the least amount of effort I need to put in to lose that extra 5 pounds?

What is the least amount of work I need to do this week at work to complete this project?

What is the least amount of work that I have to do in my room until my Mom will consider it "CLEAN"?

What is the least amount of work that I have to do on this paper where my teacher will accept it?

Right?

You know, you are assigned a paper that must be 20 - 30 pages typed.

It is not a 21 page paper, it is a 20 page paper, right?

Well, here we are in church, here we are in a relationship with the Lord of Heaven and Earth, J`eshua, the Messiah.

I know that the Bible is full of commands and dos and don'ts.

The Bible lays out a picture of holiness and perfection to strive for, but What is the LEAST I can do to be acceptable before God?

Well, we find ourselves today answering the question, "What is The Least I can do?"

 

*Read Romans 11:33 - 12:2*

 

Our focus today is on verses 1,2

 

Warren Wiersbe

"The Christian who fails in life has 1st failed at the altar refusing to surrender completely"

 

The word "therefore" has been used 4 times in Romans so far

1) 2:1 - we cannot judge others by our own “sinlessness” because we are not without sin

2) 3:20 - the law silenced our excuses "therefore" we are all under condemnation

3) 5:1 - justification is provided through Christ, "therefore" we are "justified through faith"

4) 8:1 - we sin and we struggle with sin, but Christ provides freedom "therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus"

5) 12:1 - since we understand what his grace has provided, "therefore ... offer yourselves, present yourselves"

 

*1.

Offer Yourself v1*

 

*  A.

Urgent - *

    1.

I beseech you

    2.

this is a PLEA from an urgent heart

    3.

Paul could have commanded lifestyle change or conduct correction, but that would have been because he "said so".

Instead Paul was saying, don't look at me, there is a deeper reason why I'm asking for behavioral modification.

I'm pleading with you to take a look at your life and see if there is something more important than you, see if there is a different way to conduct yourselves.

*  B.

In View of God's Mercy*

    1. in view of,  or "by" God's mercy - the greek word is "dia" - which means "the immediate agent that leads or calls us to something

    2.

the immediate agent that leads us or calls us to what Paul is pleading for is what?

God's Mercy. 

    3.

How is God's Mercy Provided?

Through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

4.

the immediate agent or vehicle, that should drive a mature Christian to behavior modification, is a complete understanding of God's Mercy and Grace provided through the Cross of Christ

    5.

If we understand what we deserve, what our sin has provided for us, and then understand what Christ went through on our behalf and stepped in and took our punishment, then we should be driven to a change of life, love, passion, and purpose.

OFFER WHAT?

What is the Sacrifice that God Requires

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart…" Psalm 51:17

Offer What?

 

*  C.

Living Sacrifice*

    1.

Living?

All sacrifices die right?

Well there are only TWO recorded "living sacrifices" in scripture

      a.

Isaac - God called for Abraham to sacrifice his only Son Isaac.

He laid him on the altar and God provided a "ram caught in the thicket" and Isaac became a living Sacrifice.

b.

all other sacrifices of the old testament were dead.

Dead animals, harvested and burned grain, birds, etc.

All dead.

All substitutionary sacrifices were Dead

      c.

that is UNTIL Jesus Came and put and end to sacrifices of death.

He was the LAST sacrifice.

Never again would man be required by God to shed blood themselves to atone for sin

    2.

two kinds of sacrifices

      a.

atonement - to pay for sin

      b.

acknowledgement - or sacrifices of praise and worship

    3.

Christ died once for all as the atonement sacrifice to satisfy God's requirements because of our Sin.

Therefore as people who acknowledge and recognize and receive his sacrifice, we Offer a Sacrifice of Praise ~/ Acknowledgement.

4.

what is our sacrifice?

OUR LIVES Lived as a Sacrifice to Christ

    5.

Paul describes this Living Sacrifice as "HOLY" - set apart for a sacred purpose

    6.

and "Pleasing" - the word "offer" or "present" above means fully to "offer someone once and for all"  - What is Pleasing to God?

A life presented or offered like a bride or groom that says, "I do, till death do us part"

 

Then Paul gives us the "why" behind the Sacrifice

*  D.

This is WORSHIP ~/ Service*

    1.

KJV says "this is your reasonable service"

    2.

another translation of this word is "rational"

    3. in other words faced with the facts of the sacrifice of Christ and the Mercy of God, the most rational thing, most reasonable thing, the LEAST YOU CAN DO, is present yourself once and for all as a Living Sacrifice of Worship.

That is a true expression of Adoration to the Object of your Affection.

4.

The greatest expression of love I've ever given my wife is when I said to here, I will love you and care for you and stay with you for the rest of your life, I am yours.

I continue that expression as I offer myself to her daily as a living example of the veracity, truthfulness of that promise I made nearly 19 years ago.

The most rational choice you will ever make is to give every moment to Christ as an expression of Worship,

That is the LEAST you can do

 

Well, Does Paul tell us how to carry this out?

Yes he does and those are our final two points

First is our second point

 

*2.

Don't Be Conformed v2*

 

In his paraphrase, "The Message" Gene Peterson renders this phrase this way

/"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking"/

 

Are you well adjusted to the world?

Are you uncomfortable at times in your environment?

Do you always Fit In?

I hope your answer to those 3 questions was NO, Yes, No.

 

Is there anything wrong with being culturally relevant or aware?

NO

But should we as followers of Jesus Christ just Blend In?