Lifesong – Singing Our Part In A Song Of Praise Series

LIFESONG – Singing our Part in a Song of Praise

Romans 12:1-8

INTRODUCTION:

The animals decided to get together to organize a school. They developed a curriculum of climbing, swimming, running, and flying. All animals were required to take all the subjects.

The duck was excellent in swimming, in fact better than the instructor. But duck’s grades in flying were only average. Duck’s running grade was very low because she was so slow. Since duck was so slow, she had to drop swimming, which she really enjoyed, to spend extra time running. Running caused duck’s web feet to be badly worn, so that by the end of the semester duck was only an average swimmer.

The rabbit was at the top of the class in running. Swimming, however was a challenge for rabbit; forced to stay after class to improve his swimming technique rabbit developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles. Rabbit’s speed fell off because of this nasty muscle twitch dropping his running grade from an A to a C.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but always had in trouble in flying class. The teacher insisted that squirrel start on the ground and go up, but squirrel wanted to start in the treetops and fly down. Squirrel developed cramps in his legs from overexertion, and his grade fell in climbing, which he enjoyed, to a “C+.” His flying teacher gave him a “D” because he could not follow instructions.

The eagle was always being disciplined. For instance, in flying class eagle refused to meet his quota in wing flapping because he preferred to soar. In climbing class eagle beat everyone to the top of the tree but he insisted on getting there his own way – flying. In swimming class eagle refused to stay in the water; he would dive in but then immediately fly away. And in running class eagle appeared to outrun the class; the teacher discover eagle had been cheating because eagle’s running class followed flight class, so eagle’s feet never really touched the ground as he “ran” around the track. Because of eagle’s misconduct at animal school he was suspended for the rest of the school year.

What is the moral of the story? Each animal has its own natural abilities. The animals failed when forced to do something they were not gifted to do. Rabbits don’t fly. Eagles don’t swim. Squirrels don’t have feathers. Ducks look funny trying to climb trees.

What is true of the animals of the forest is also true for you and me. God has not made us all the same. Together we should discover our natural God given abilities and use them in the place God has given us to do it.

Our theme at Praise Assembly of God for 2006 is LIFESONG. We are to live our lives as a song of praise to God. Praise is more than just the songs we sing at church; PRAISE IS A LIFESTYLE. Praise and Worship is lived out in everything we do and say. Remember Paul told us in Romans 12 that we are to live our lives as living sacrifices which is our spiritual act of worship. The way you live your live from day to day is your personal LIFESONG of praise.

However, God has brought each of us together as His Church at Praise Assembly of God. God has not brought us here to sing in unison the same notes of the song. God has brought us together each with our own unique part to sing and play; together the combined melody of our LIFESONG is a symphonic harmony of praise and worship to our God.

But our LIFESONG will never be all that God designed unless we each sing our part. The ministry of Praise Assembly of God is not Pastor Greg’s solo performance; it’s not a duet with Pastor George and me. The LIFESONG at Praise is not just a quartet or small group ensemble. Our LIFESONG is a symphony of praise; it is a choir in which each one of us has a part to sing. “SINGING OUR PART IN A SONG OF PRAISE”

• Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)

[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.

[3] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. [4] Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. [7] If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; [8] if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.