Introduction:
A. A funny thing happened to me a number of years ago and I have shared the story with you before, but I think it is a good launching point for today’s sermon.
1. Years ago, while I was driving and using my earpiece, I called my brother, but he didn’t answer, so I left him a message.
2. After I said “good by,” I launched into the song, “Years I spent in vanity and pride.”
a. Sing: “Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified.”
b. Then I moved into an opera style: “Knowing not it was for me he died on Calvary.”
c. When I got to the chorus, I moved into an Irish accent. “Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me.”
3. Next thing I know, I hear the friendly voice of a lady in my earpiece saying, “I’m sorry, but you have exceeded the time to leave a message.”
4. I had forgotten to end the call and so all of my singing had been recorded for my brother to hear.
5. My brother happened to be on his way to visit our parents and three sisters.
6. They all had a big laugh listening to my singing.
7. Thankfully all this took place before the time of TikTok or I might have gone viral.
B. This story illustrates the difference between being made into a sacrifice and making a self-sacrifice.
1. One is something done to you against your will and the other is something you willingly do to yourself.
2. Self-sacrifice is something most people are not too familiar with, right?
3. But as Christians, disciples of Jesus, we should be very familiar with self-sacrifice.
4. Jesus gave Himself for us as a self-sacrifice and that is what saves us by grace. Thank the Lord!
5. But then, for us to become followers of Jesus, Jesus requires that we deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Him (Lk. 9:23)
6. In Romans 12:1, Paul uses the language of self-sacrifice when he reminds us to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.”
7. So, this is something we are called to do and one of the reasons we are called to offer ourselves as self-sacrifices is that it will draw others attention to the self-sacrifice of Jesus.
8. When people witness self-sacrifice, they are drawn to it and are amazed by it.
9. Self-sacrifice touches people’s emotions and melts their hearts.
C. How many of you remember the story of Pat Tillman?
1. His story is a remarkable one: Star athlete walks away from the game in his prime, leaving millions in cash on the table, to put his life at risk in service to his country.
2. Pat Tillman had so much going for him.
a. Academically, Tillman majored in marketing and graduated in 3 ½ years with a 3.84 GPA.
b. Athletically, he was gifted athlete who played football for Arizona State University and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998.
3. In May of 2002, just 8 months after the September 11 attacks, Tillman walked away from a $3.6 million NFL contract to join the military.
a. He enlisted along with his brother, Kevin, who gave up the chance of a career in baseball.
b. The two brothers completed training for the elite Army Ranger school late in 2002.
c. Both Pat and Kevin were deployed to the Middle East as part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
4. Pat was subsequently redeployed to Afghanistan, where, on April 22, 2004, he was killed in action by friendly fire while on patrol.
a. According to the Army, his unit was attacked in an apparent ambush.
5. The then Arizona Cardinals vice president Michael Bidwill (he is now owner and president) said of Tillman, “In sports we have a tendency to overuse terms like courage and bravery and heroes, and then someone like Pat Tillman comes along and reminds us what those terms really mean.”
6. Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagiabue said, “Pat Tillman personified all the best values of his country and the NFL. He was an achiever and leader on many levels who always put his team, his community, and his country ahead of his personal interests.”
7. Former Arizona Senator. Jon Kyl called Tillman, “A great American hero in the truest sense. He had already given up so much, including an incredible football career and loving family to fight for his country in the war on terrorism. His patriotism and courage are an inspiration and we are grateful for his ultimate sacrifice.”
D. There’s that word again…Sacrifice.
1. As I’ve already said, “Sacrifice gets people’s attention and moves people.”
2. It causes them to stop in their tracks and ask, “Why? Why would someone do something like that? What would cause a person to go out of their way for me? What would make them put my interests before their own?”
3. And because sacrificial acts are so rare and powerful, they are rarely forgotten.
4. Sacrifices impact people for a lifetime.
E. As mission minded disciples who are trying to have an impact as salt and light, our goal is to live the kind of Christian lives that are infectious and attractive.
1. We want our lives and our faith to be irresistible to those outside of the family of God.
2. As Paul says in Philippians 2:15, our lives should “shine like stars in the universe.”
3. Back in our sermon on salt and light, we talked about having high potency and close proximity so that we can impact those around us.
4. In the last few weeks, we have been talking about the attractiveness of authenticity and the case for compassion, and today we want to add to them the strength of sacrifice.
5. Authenticity and compassion are important aspects of being a high impact Christian, and when we couple them with sacrifice our lives can have even greater impact.
6. Sacrifice, motivated by genuine love, is very difficult to discount or dismiss.
7. It demands a response of some kind, which is probably a large part of why Jesus lived such a sacrificial life and then called us to follow in His steps.
F. Although there are many ways we can show love by making sacrifices for others, I’m going to focus on three specific areas that I think can have the highest impact on people in around us.
I. First of all, we can make a Sacrifice of TIME.
A. If I had asked you what kind of sacrifices would impact others, you very likely would have guessed this first one, right?
1. Time, as they say, is money, and it’s becoming about as rare a commodity.
2. In our day and time, work weeks are longer, leisure breaks are shorter, and the pace of life is faster.
3. A while back, USA Today poked fun at the madness of our schedules, calculating that if we did all we’re supposed to do to live what the experts say is a balanced, well-rounded life, it would require 42 hours a day to get it all done.
4. We all know how hard it is to maintain even the “do-or-die” activities, without trying to add things like exercise, flossing, keeping up with world events, enjoying a hobby, and nourishing deep and meaningful relationships.
5. It’s not just difficult to do it all, it’s next to impossible.
6. And that’s why, in the midst of a reality like that, that we make a huge statement to others when we joyfully offer them the gift of time – it’s no insignificant gesture.
B. And neither was it insignificant when Jesus offered someone the gift of His time.
1. Do you remember the episode in Jesus’ ministry when He was passing through the city of Jericho? (Luke 19)
2. There was a huge crowd of people following him at that stage of His ministry.
3. The scene was something like the Macy’s Parade without the balloons and floats!
4. Suddenly Jesus surprised everyone when He stopped the procession and asked a man named Zacchaeus if he could spend a little time with him at his house.
5. Zaccheaeus must have gasped in disbelief, but he agreed to have Jesus over to the house for dinner, and before the day was over, Zacchaeus was a different man.
6. He had experienced a spiritual birth that transformed him from the inside out.
7. A key to his conversion was that Jesus gave him the gift of His time.
8. Jesus stopped the parade and focused His attention on one person in the crowd.
9. And, as a result, Zacchaeus’s future was forever altered.
C. Zacchaeus was like a lot of people we around us.
1. They may be interested in spiritual things, but they need someone to come along and invest a little time and effort to help them explore spiritual matters and make a commitment.
2. Jesus took the time and it made the difference for Zacchaeus.
3. Will we do the same for others?
4. Most of us, likely, underestimate the effect we could have on people’s eternities if we would take the time to schedule a breakfast or lunch, or to go out together, or have them over.
5. If we would just set up the get together and then take a risk by turning the conversation in the direction of spiritual matters, then heaven only knows what might happen.
6. In some future lessons we will talk more specifically about how to have spiritual conversations and how to share the good news about Jesus, so I won’t address that topic right now.
7. For now, all I want to focus on is the importance of offering people the gift of time.
D. I know that this is not an easy thing to do.
1. It takes courage and tenacity to clamp down on old habits of overwork and frenzied activity.
2. But if we are going to embrace our mission and become more intentional about reaching the lost, then we are going to have to make a sacrifice of time.
3. So, I want to encourage us to pause and ask God, how can I carve out some time, and to whom should I offer the gift of time?
4. How wonderful to think that we may help someone experience a transformed life in the here and now, and the experience heaven in the future, just because we offer them the gift of time!
II. Second, we can make a Sacrifice of RESOURCES.
A. We’ve heard it said, “Money isn’t everything, but it sure beats whatever’s in second place!”
1. We live in a time when many people are hyper focused on money and material things.
2. That’s why when we make a sacrifice of these kinds of things that it has such an impact.
B. As you well know, many people around us are experiencing financial uncertainty or trouble.
1. If we’ve never stared at an eviction notice or repossession papers, if we’ve never avoided answering the phone because it might be another bill collector, if we’ve never lacked the basic necessities, then we don’t know how wonderfully overwhelming it can be to have someone generously help meet a need we have.
2. The person on the receiving end of a transaction like that will try to figure out what would make someone show such extraordinary generosity.
3. And hopefully, sooner or later they’ll come to see that only God can relax the stranglehold that most people have on their money and possessions.
4. Only God can transform a hoarding heart to a joyfully generous heart that experiences Jesus’ words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
C. Certainly, there are some people in this world who are just takers.
1. They will take whatever we might give without a thought and may even display an attitude of: “Is that all?”
2. But we must not let those kinds of people keep us from being caring and generous followers of Jesus.
3. 1 John 3:18 challenges us with the words, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
D. I believe that it would honor God if we, as individuals, and as a congregation, had the reputation for helping people.
1. Whether their need is food or clothing, or gas or rent, our desire should be to try to help.
2. We may not be able to meet all their needs, but if we express our concern and do what we can, then we can make an impact.
3. There are many ways to help others along the way – you might notice someone in the grocery line who is coming up short in what they are trying to buy and offer to make up the difference.
4. Two Novembers ago, I stopped at Jersey Mike’s to get sub sandwiches for our family, and a man approached me and asked if I could get him a sub.
a. I said absolutely and I ordered him a sub and while the sandwiches were being made, I learned that he and his wife were homeless and living in their car.
b. We exchanged numbers and I tried to help him and his wife in different ways over many months.
c. Unfortunately, over the course of time, it became clear that no matter how much assistance I could give, they were not going to make the kinds of changes they needed to make to change their situation.
5. Even though, things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, I am still thankful that I did my best to express God’s love by trying to meet their needs.
6. In the end, we are not responsible for what they do, but we are responsible for what we do.
7. Jesus said, “What you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt. 25:40)
E. I love the story told of a soldier serving abroad who was walking by a bakery and noticed some hungry children gazing at the food through a bakery window.
1. The serviceman bought some bread and gave it to the children outside the bakery and then went on his way.
2. A little ways down the sidewalk, he felt a tug on his coat, and turned to see the hungry children he had just helped.
3. One of the kids said, “Excuse me, Mister, are you God?”
4. When we make sacrifices and help others, we are like God and are God’s hands and feet.
5. Let’s put our faith into action on behalf of others by a sacrifice of some of our resources and let’s rejoice in the positive impact it makes.
III. A third kind of sacrifice we can make is a Sacrifice of a GODLY LIFE.
A. It’s not much of a trick to project a godly Christian life for a moment or two.
1. But to stay on track and to live a consistent, godly life takes great effort and sacrifice.
2. It is like the difference between running a 100 yard dash and running a marathon.
B. For many people in our world, it is going to take a long time to make an impact on them.
1. Religious cynicism runs deep for many people.
2. They need to watch a Christian live out his or her faith over a long period of time before they’ll be convinced that the whole thing is real.
3. So, we need not be surprised if this is the attitude of some of the people closest to us, including our family members.
4. Many have seen us go through all kinds of phases before: like, eccentric diets, karate classes, pyramid marketing schemes, or self-help subliminal tapes played under our pillow at night.
5. And so, now when we come along and say, “I’ve found what’s been missing in my life all these years – It’s Jesus,” they might be thinking, “Yeah, isn’t that what you were saying about those herbal food supplements a couple of years ago? How long is this fad going to last?”
C. Do you see the problem?
1. Maybe you or I haven’t dabbled in all these fads, but if we are like most people, we’ve been through enough life changes to make others a bit calloused to conversions of all kinds.
2. The question is: are we willing to prove them wrong by making the sacrifice of living a consistent, high-integrity, Christian life, not just for a short season, but for the long haul?
3. Unfortunately, we’ve seen new Christians who burst out of the starting blocks with incredible energy and enthusiasm, but who wound up being sidelined only a lap or two into the race.
4. This certainly causes doubters to disbelieve all the more.
5. And that’s why we have to be ready to make the sacrifice over a lifetime.
6. That’s doesn’t mean have to be perfect, because we won’t be, but it means that we own up to our imperfections and we keep striving to be more and more consistent in our Christian character.
7. Peter said in 1 Peter 2:12: Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. (NLT)
Conclusion:
A. Today, we have talked about the strength of self-sacrifice and we have explored the difference the sacrifice of time and of money, and the sacrifice of consistent, godly living can make.
B. Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)
1. Few of us will have opportunity to literally lay down our lives for others, like Jesus did, but we will have many opportunities to make self-sacrifices for others like have discussed today.
2. I hope that all of us will look this week for people to invest our time in.
3. I hope that we will be ready to be generous and offer assistance where we can.
4. And I hope we will do the hard work of living consistently and faithfully, so that our Christian witness and example will have an impact.
C. It’s encouraging to know that when we make sacrifices for others in the name of Jesus, our example makes it a lot easier for them to understand and believe that Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for them.
D. Our authenticity, our compassion, and our sacrifices all work together to help those outside the faith come to the point of saying, “The proof is in the living. The evidence is irrefutable. Who else but God could help someone live this way? I want what they have found.”
E. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:16)
F. May God bless and use all our self-sacrifices to draw people to Himself. Amen!
Resources:
• Becoming a Contagious Christian, Bill Hybels
• The Externally Focused Church, Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson
