What On Earth Are You Doing Here?

What On Earth Are You Doing Here?

Romans 12:1-9

February 22, 2004

Intro:

A. There a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to the word: “sacrifice.”

1. [Will You Wash My Dishes? 1001 More Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, by Michael Hodgin, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, 1998]

Sometimes we get a distorted idea about what love is.

One night, a man decided to show his wife how much he loved her.

After dinner he began to recite romantic poetry, telling her he would climb high mountains to be near her, swim wide oceans, cross deserts in the burning heat of the day, and even sit at her window and sing love songs to her in the moonlight.

After listening to him go on for some time about this immense love he had, she ended the conversation when she asked, “But will you wash the dishes for me?”

2. [Genia Obal quoted in Humor for Preaching & Teaching, by Edward Rowell and Bonne Steffen, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 1999]

Our seven-year-old daughter had just won $2 for her memory work in Sunday School.

After the morning service, the pastor’s wife congratulated her.

Our daughter proudly announced, “And I put it all in the morning’s offering!”

“My, how wonderful!” the pastor’s wife exclaimed. “I’m sure God will be pleased.”

“Yes,” the child replied, “now maybe God will let me do some of the things I want to do!”

3. There is certainly a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to sacrifce.

B. Today in Romans 12, I believe we can get some help in defining what sacrifice is as well as some help in understanding what on earth are you doing here?

I. Offer Your Body Sacrificially

(Romans 12:1 NIV) 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.

A. What is your spiritual act of worship?

1. Is it singing spiritual songs?

2. Is it lifting your hands?

3. Is it speaking in tongues or prophesying?

4. The Scripture says that your spiritual act of worship is offering your body as a living sacrifice.

B. What does it mean to offer your body as a living sacrifice?

1. It means to give your life in service to God and others seven days a week.

2. Offering your body as a living sacrifice is to give up yourself and offer yourself as a living sacrifice—not just on Sunday, but everyday.

C. Is what we call worship actually worship?

1. Yes, it is.

2. Singing to God is worship.

3. Raising your hands is worship.

4. Speaking in tongues is worship.

5. Praying is worship.

6. Teaching a children’s class is worship.

7. Taking the elderly lady next door to Wal-Mart is worship.

8. Watching your neighbor’s kids is worship.

9. Mowing someone’s lawn is worship.

10. Visiting someone in the hospital is worship.

11. Telling someone about Jesus is worship.

12. Do you see that worship is not an event that is enjoyed on Sunday morning, but a way of living your life?

13. Living your life in obedience and in service to God is worship.

14. Serving people for Christ’s sake is worship.

15. And raising your hands to God on Sunday means much more to God when you’ve offered your hands in service to others during the week.

16. Using your lips to sing praises to God is much more meaningful to God when your lips have glorified Him during the week.

17. We don’t just offer ourselves in worship on Sunday morning; we offer our bodies sacrificially seven days a week.

II. Offer Your Mind Discerningly

(Romans 12:2 NIV) 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.

A. The Bible says when we come to Christ, we must stop thinking like the world.

1. The Bible says that we must change the way we think.

2. The Bible says we need to transform ourselves by changing the way we think.

3. We need to learn to discern what are the ways of the world and what are the ways of God.

B. What are some of the thinkings of the world that need to change in this particular area?

1. “Don’t do any more than you absolutely have to.”

2. “What does it take to be saved? Don’t do or give anything more than is the absolute minimum.”

3. “Soak in all the benefits that you possibly can and don’t give back anything more than you absolutely have to.”

4. “Just sit there on Sunday morning and soak in the entertainment, sing the songs, learn what you can to benefit your own life and go home.”