"Saints Please, Promote And Praise God By Being Living Sacrifices" Rm 21 Series

“Saints please, promote and praise God by being living sacrifices”

Romans part 21

Opening Illustration: In recognition of the first NFL Games of the season we have a clip honoring the Big Game on Sunday. This illustration should helps us all to have a proper perspective - Sports Sunday by Bluefishtv.com

The Clip showed that the really big Game on Sunday was Worship services all across America.

I picked up Tony Dungy’s book “Quiet Strength” this last week and started reading it yesterday. I could not put it down because it was such a great testimony to the Lord working in his life. Tony is the Head coach of the Indianapolis Colts who last year won the Super Bowl – he was the first black coach to have ever lead his team to a Super Bowl victory.

He opens his book with this Quote in the Introduction: “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” Booker T. Washington

He opens up giving the reader a clear view of what his life is about and what this book is about – Listen to what he says:

“But before we begin, I want to make sure we’re starting at the same place. The point of this book is not the Super Bowl. In fact, its not football. Don’t get me wrong –football is great. It’s provided a living and a passion for me for decades…But football is just a game. It’s not family. It’s not a way of life. It doesn’t provide any sort of intrinsic meaning. It’s just football. It lasts for three hours, and when the game is over, it’s over…It’s the journey that matters. Learning is more important than the test…winning the Super Bowl is not the Ultimate victory. And once again, just to make certain we’re on the same page, it’s not all about football. It’s about the journey-mine and yours-and the lives we can touch, the legacy we can leave, and the world we can change for the better” (xiii-xv).

One of his chapters is dedicated to how he learned to “Put God First” in his life. That’s what matters the most. He used Matthew 6:33 to address this chapter – “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (37).

He also quoted a lesson he had learned from Chuck Noll – Coach of the Pittsburg Steelers and winner of many Super Bowls: “Football is no your life’s work!”

In his chapter on Defining success Tony’s shares with us the definition of success:

“God’s definition of success is really one of significance-the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others. This significance doesn’t show up in win-loss records, long resumes, or trophies gathering dust on our mantels. It’s found in the hearts and lives of those we’ve come across who are in some way better because of the way we lived” (144).

Thesis: We are to Please God, Promote God and Praise God by serving each other through the spirit of grace. This lifestyle for the saint is practiced by following the two covenants of vertical and horizontal relationships. The vertical is between God and us and the second which is horizontal is between God - us and our fellow laborers in Christ.

Scripture Text: Romans 15:1-16

1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;

I will sing hymns to your name.”

10Again, it says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

11And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

and sing praises to him, all you peoples.”

12And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,

one who will arise to rule over the nations;

the Gentiles will hope in him.”