Sacrifice

Sacrifice

Luke 21:1-4

Turn to Luke 21:1-4

"Once upon a time, a pig and a chicken were walking down a village street. They came upon a church sign which was advertising a bazaar and breakfast which was going to be held in a few days.

At the bottom of the sign the menu was given, it read ’Ham and eggs will be served from 6:30 to 8:00 am.’ The chicken turned to the pig and said, "See!!’ Even we can help the work of the church!!!"

"Yes," said the pig, "but yours is only a contribution, mine is a SACRIFICE."

Sacrifice

-Honest with you

-I am not a huge fan of sacrifice ASK SHAWNA-Judah @ 3

-We as comfortable Americans greatly dislike sacrifice

-Asking most Americans to sacrifice is like asking a cat to take a bath

-Devoted to pleasure, comfort, the absence of pain

Inspite of how we might feel about it sacrifice is a very important part of our Christian life

-Most people who choose not to follow the Lord do so because of the sacrifice involved in the Christian life

-Sacrifice is extremely important

Romans 12:1-Therefore, I urge you, bothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship

Definition of Sacrifice-The offering of something that is precious, that has value, that is important

A sacrifice isn’t a sacrifice unless it costs you something

The Butterball Turkey company set up a hotline to answer consumer questions about preparing holiday turkeys. One woman called to inquire about cooking a turkey that had been in her freezer for 23 years.

The operator told her it might be safe if the freezer had been kept below 0 degrees the entire time. But the operator warned the woman that, even if it were safe, the flavor had probably deteriorated, and she wouldn’t recommend eating it.

The caller replied, “That’s what we thought. We’ll just give it to the church.”

-A sacrifice isn’t a sacrifice unless it costs you something

-It is not a sacrifice to give your dirty socks to the

Baseball-Sacrifice fly

-You get out so your teammate can score

-Its not a sacrifice fly unless you get out/Its just a fly

Culture

-All about me

(Car, house, boat, RV, summer home, vacations, jet skies, better job, more money, more fun, bigger truck, more toys, faster toys)

-All these things are great, but its not all about these things

-Its about hurting, lost, and dying of our world

-What are you willing to sacrifice?

-Money, Time, Success, Position

-God has called us all as Christians to a place of sacrifice

Today I want to talk to you about a woman who understood the principle of sacrifice

Luke 21:1-4 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. I tell you the truth, he said, this poor woman has put in more then all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.

Make a few observations about this passage, give you a challenge, then you can go to lunch

-I was thinking as a test of your sacrifice level I should preach until noon

-I realized that wouldn’t be a sacrifice, but stupidity

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

Great place to insert this

-God doesn’t call us to sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice, but as a response of obedience

1 Sam 15:22-Obedience is better then sacrifice

To sacrifice just for the sake of sacrifice is called stupidity

Sacrifice is to be done as an act of obedience

I-Jesus Saw

Vs 1 As He looked up, Jesus saw

Hide and Go Seek

-We might think we are playing hide and go seek with God, but were not

Ps 44:21-He knows the secrets of our heart

A-Jesus sees every part of our lives, including the very intentions of our hearts

-Just because you put your money in your wallet doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t see it

-Just because you aren’t in the sanctuary when you said it doesn’t mean Jesus didn’t hear it

-Just because no one else was with you when you watched it didn’t mean Jesus didn’t see it

-Just because your computer is in your bedroom doesn’t mean he stays out

He sees absolutely every area of your life

So what does Him seeing have to do with sacrifice?

B-Jesus sees your every sacrifice

-He’s never too busy to notice your sacrifice

-People here-You have sacrificed for years out of obedience to Gods call-seemingly unnoticed

-Jesus sees

-He’s never too busy to notice the little things you do

Matt 6:4b-then your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you