The Importance of Sacrifice

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture: 1 John 3:16

I. Memorial commemorates those who made have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation

a. Soldiers who lost their lives

b. Soldiers who left security, comfort, and relationships

c. Wives who lost husbands

d. Husbands who lost wives

e. Fathers & mothers who lost sons & daughters

f. Children who lost fathers & mothers

g. Brothers & sisters who lost brothers & sisters

h. Nation that lost its citizens

i. Communities that lost part of its future

j. Businesses that lost employees

k. Families who lost their income & ease of living

l. Churches that lost members

m. Friends who lost friends

n. Neighbors who lost neighbors

II. What is sacrifice?

a. Webster’s: “the act of giving up, destroying, permitting injury to, or forgoing something valued for the sake of something having a more pressing claim”

b. President John F. Kennedy (backdrop of threats of communism)

i. “The New Frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises---it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them.” (Democratic Presidential Nomination speech)

ii. “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

c. The war on terror has made demands upon our nation. Our greatest enemy is that of complacency, lack of perseverance, and the unwillingness to sacrifice.

d. The demonic war upon the church is more real than terrorism. Our greatest enemies are that of complacency, lack of perseverance, and the unwillingness to sacrifice.

e. Jesus is saying today: “And so, my precious ones, ask not what My church can do for you; ask what you can do for My church.”

III. Motives for Sacrifice

a. Sacrifice is the demand of commitment

i. Matthew 16:24

b. Sacrifice is the demand of survival

i. Matthew 16:25

c. Sacrifice is the result of esteeming value

i. Matthew 16:25

ii. Matthew 13:44 Parable of the treasure in the field

d. Sacrifice is the result of setting priorities

i. Matthew 6:33

e. Sacrifice is the result of a vision for the future

i. Proverbs 29:18

f. Sacrifice is the result of love for others

i. 1 John 3:16

IV. The purpose for sacrifice

a. Love for the Savior

b. Love for others

c. Win souls

d. Make disciples

V. The challenges are before us; will we accept the challenge and make the sacrifices necessary to meet that challenge?