Romans 12.1_2
Secular: ** What is fun?
Examples…
1) Spending an afternoon fishing
2) Skateboarding
3) Doing a Crossword
Diversity of opinion
** Lisa / Honeymoon – Kennedy Space Centre
Diversity of Fun, Diversity of the Promises – Unity in the joy
Biblical: In the Epistle or letter to the Romans Paul spends the first 11 chapters expounding the abundance that God gives to his people… Paul ‘charges’ believer’s with what they need to give God.
- Not a country club…(more like a hospital)
o why we gather –promises of God
- Remember prev. weeks
- Why Completely God, Complete Salvation, Complete Forgiveness, Complete Victory
- The Plan, the Msg. , The Task, The Faith
This isn’t about a bargain 1 of 7 days (or 1 hour) – It is all or nothing (no giving a bit to God)
NIV Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Personal:
Fun – What am I getting out of it.
* God of Utility (Larry Crabb)
Like a mall - some set up a shop
- some shopping for what we want
** NOT Shopping for style … s/b theology (Deity of Christ, Scripture)
Bridge:
Many believers go to churches, conferences, seminars – practical, spiritual, emotional, benefits
Body:
I. The Expectation is that we give it all!!
12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.
· Therefore – because of all the great promises ch. 1-11
· Urge – apostle commanding with love
· Mercy – Communion (spared us from our deserved punishment)
· Bodies – shell for all
Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
Heart – belief
Soul – eternal being
Mind – intellect
Strength – physical and mental fortitude
**Do not like the music… (Psalty)
RECODING Artist involved (teacher) / $
We are not the audience
At one time Bill Moyer served as press secretary to U.S. president Lyndon Johnson, who referred to him as, “my Baptist preacher” and often called on him to “give thanks for the meal”. On one occasion the president, who was having difficulty hearing, interrupted him in the middle of his prayer. “Louder, Bill” he said. Moyers replied, “I wasn’t talking to you, Mr. President.”
II. The Expectation is that we give it well!!
12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
** Pattern is me first, self-serving, selfish <<I am Bored>>
** Transformed… Renewing of the mind
- soaked in Scripture
- open to the leading of the Spirit
Walking with God // Wife… turn to talk to…
** Easier to live for God when we surrender to him
· The Expectation is to give it all
· The Expectation is to give it well