Romans 12:1-2

What does God demand of us for worshiping Him?

a. What does God demand of us for worshiping Him?

a. What does God demand of us for worshiping Him?

We can see this in the story of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons.

b. Story: We can see this in the story of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons.

They were consumed with fire because they broke the requirements of the sacrificial law ().

c. They were consumed with fire because the transgressed the specificity of the sacrificial command ().

d. We often hear about the Old Testament Sacrifices as a means to worship God.

2. God gave the Jews detailed instructions and commands on how to worship Him in the Old Testament covenant.

3. Difference: But that was then; We are in the New Covenant.

4. Do we have a prescription for worship so we aren’t consumed with fire?

5. We are like Nadab and Abihu sometimes! How you worship isn’t a grey area with God, and it is no joking matter—the seriousness of unbiblical worship could be fatal.

6. What does God require of us for worship?

7. We will find it here in

I. Paul commands the church in Rome to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” to God.

a. Context of Romans

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

b. “Present” your bodies

Romans 6:13 ESV

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Being present is simple. Are you present at school? Then you’ll get a diploma and graduate. If you’re not, you won’t graduate.

You’re present somewhere at all times, either home, or school, or with friends

We are to “present our bodies”- it’s a choice

i. Worship includes presenting

ii. But how much shall we present, Paul?

c. Paul’s usage of sacrifice is direct: sacrifice. But it doesn’t mean a partial sacrifice, but a WHOLE sacrifice.

You don’t sacrifice 1/2 the animal and save the rest for later

d. Paul describes this sacrifice as holy and acceptable to God as guidelines for worship.

So what qualifies a living sacrifice? Nonconformity.

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

a. Paul jumps ship from imagery of a sacrificed animal to imagery of clay.

b. By saying “do not conform”, Paul shows us what he said at the end of verse one: “holy and acceptable.”

Clay imagery

i. Be set apart. Clay needs only one potter; it is not a communal effort.

ii. Conformity—

1. Hands of the potter

2. Gravity and ground

iii. No longer the potters design

iv. I’m not gonna say that’s fine. I’m going to redo it

1. An unholy sacrifice isn’t acceptable!

Imagine if I told my wife, or you told your significant other, that I want to marry another person.

c. Sand castle analogy:

i. Detailed story of building sandcastle

ii. Just like the waves devastate the progress of the construction of a magnificent sand castle, so does the world attack holiness in a believer’s life.

iii. Everything about it was great except its location. It wasn’t set apart.

iv. Everything will fall apart when you aren’t set apart.

Imagine if I told my wife, or you told your significant other, that I want to marry another person.

Most precious relationships are in danger when they aren’t exclusive

Why is the renewal of the mind relevant?

How, Paul? How can we be set apart and holy? This is crucial.

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

b. It is an imperative to be transformed, something that we must work at. It doesn’t say “let the Spirit transform your mind.” Obedience takes precedence here!

Just like we present ourselves at school, home, hangouts, so we must present ourselves to God! You are responsible here.

c. Ever have a computer virus? For those of you with Macs, you may not understand what I am talking about.

i. A renewed mind is the necessary reprogramming a Christian needs to function the way they were meant to.

d. Christians need to adjust their thinking about everything in accordance with the newness of their life in the Spirit

i. We can worship when our minds are set on Him! Not the world.

e. The outcome of a transformed mind is a life that does the things God has declared to be righteous, fitting, and complete.

You are what you eat? Maybe, but you are what you think!

i. That is the goal of the supreme act of spiritual worship.

You are what you eat? Maybe, but you are what you think.

What is wrong with this situation?

ii. Imagine the pot is created, looks up at its maker and says, “Um, you messed me up! And this world sucks, too. Where do I file a complaint?”

What is wrong with this situation?

We are that pot!

iii. Do you see His hands? To you see His attention on you? Do you see His love? Do you know He has intends good for you?

What does it take to get there and be like that?

It’s not enough to spend time in the Bible

We need a change of heart

Delighting in God and His mercy while being dissatisfied by the World

Push away the world, for it will grieve God. World: “Are you afraid??”

iv. We were meant to be the pot looking up at the potter saying, “Wow… all you do is good!”

Won’t be instantaneous, but is a process of transformation

Conclusion: Spiritual worship is a renewed mind.

Conformity to the world isn’t an option.

Distancing yourself from God isn’t an option.

1. Don’t allow viruses to be downloaded into your mind!

2. Have any of you ever felt like your relationship with Christ is dwindling like a thread?

I have felt the feeling

3. What are you presenting yourself to, or conforming to?

Ground or potters hand?

1/2 hearted worship like Nadab and Abihu, or whole hearted like Christ?

Or potters hand?

a. Are video games the only thing you do after a long day when you could be with your Savior?

b. You flipping through channels and land on Game of Thrones or the Bachelor and stay there when you’re fully aware that a lot of the content is unclean and dangerous?

c. You in an unhealthy friendship or relationship that consumes your time and thoughts, keeping you from pursuing Christ when you know God wants all of you?

4. Choose to be present with Christ! Worship Christ by putting your mind elsewhere so it can be renewed!

We are always worshipping something

a. Paul isn’t telling us to become monks, but to keep our minds and attention on where it belongs: not the world, but Jesus.

Sand castle not in our house, but away from the waves

When you’re getting to close to danger, you know you need to backup

b. Sometimes we think we can have both the world and Jesus.

Pulling us apart

Impossible to ride two horses at once

God isn’t going to show up if you don’t care what He thinks.

i. Fastest way to make my wife angry or hurt her is to show her I don’t care what she thinks, or show her by my actions that I don’t want to spend time with her

ii. I BELONG to her!

c. Don’t let entertainment consume you entirely, and get into the Word!

d. Don’t put dishonorable things in front of your eyes, but find something that isn’t going to hurt your relationship with Jesus.

Guard your heart and eyes like you guard your money or secrets

e. Don’t let an unholy relationship or friendship ruin you, and instead spend time with believers just like you who want to known Christ.

f. Be holy and set apart from the world.

Spiritual worship requires the pursuit of a holy life, both mind and heart. It starts with the mind, and it trickles down.

Therefore renew your minds in holiness.