Sacrificial Service
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Opening:
Story:
A family from a remote area was making their first visit to a big city.
They checked in to a grand hotel and stood in amazement at the impressive sight.
Leaving the reception desk they came to the elevator entrance.
They’d never seen an elevator before, and just stared at it, unable to figure out what it was for.
An old lady hobbled towards the elevator and went inside.
The door closed.
About a minute later, the door opened and out came a stunningly good-looking young woman.
Dad couldn’t stop staring.
Without turning his head he patted his son’s arm and said, "Go get your mother, son."
Recap/Intro:
The Surrender—vv. 1–2
The Surrender—vv. 1–2
Call
“I beseech you.” Paul pleads with them.
Consecration
“That ye present your bodies.” Cf. 1 Cor. 6:19. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost.
Charge
“A living sacrifice.” Cf. Luke 9:23.
Challenge
“Holy, acceptable unto God.” God not only requests holiness—He requires it! See Heb. 12:14.
Command
“Which is your reasonable service.” We are required to surrender. Not a choice—a command!
Conforming
“And be not conformed to this world.” Cf. 2 Cor. 6:17; 1 John 2:15–17; 2 Cor. 7:1.
Change
“But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” See Prov. 23:7; Ps. 19:14.
Complete
“That ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We need to seek God’s will for our lives—Ps. 143:10; 1 John 2:17.
The Servant—vv. 3–5
The Servant—vv. 3–5
Personality
v. 3. “God has given me His loving favor. This helps me write these things to you. I ask each one of you not to think more of himself than he should think. Instead, think in the right way toward yourself by the faith God has given you”—NLT.
We need confidence, but overconfidence causes problems.
Personalities
vv. 4–5. As the body has many parts, so the church, or body, has many parts, each important in God’s work
1 Cor. 12:12–21.
Practice
1 Cor. 12:1–10.
These are the 9 gifts of the Spirit—Eph. 4:11.
The Service —vv. 6–8
The Service —vv. 6–8
God chooses different people to do His work.
Preaching
v. 6. God has set ministers in the church, pastors, evangelists, missionaries—Eph. 4:11.
Teaching
v. 7. If our call is ministry, serve in that area; if a teacher, then teach—Matt. 28:19–20; 2 Tim. 2:15.
Speaking
v. 8. Four-fold: (1) if called to speak, be faithful. (2) sharing—if this is your ministry, then practice it. (3) leading—if gifted as a leader, then lead. (4) kindness—if blessed with kindness, share it.
Closing:
Story
"Life is a place of service, and in that service one has to suffer a great deal that is hard to bear, but more often to experience a great deal of joy. But that joy can be real only if people look upon their lives as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness."
Prayer