I am a very big football fan. My favorite teams are Michigan (Go Blue!) and the Lions - I am not afraid to admit that anymore, thankfully, but we will see how well this lesson ages. I will watch every single Michigan game and most Lions games, depending on what time they play on Sundays. I have always found it interesting how most fans who watch the games think that what the players are doing is easy. For example, I cannot tell you how many times I have said, “How do you drop that pass!” not even considering some of the factors that go into catching the ball, like how fast the quarterback throws it, another grown man trying to tackle you, needing to stop on a dime, and other things like that. I bet if an NFL wide receiver were to talk to me after I say something like that, he would reply, “It is a lot easier said than done.”
1. What are some things you can think of that are easier said than done?
Sacrifice is one of those things that are easier said than done. When it comes to giving up something that we love or desire, sacrifice is hard. Likewise, even when it is something that we need to lay down, like a sin struggle or bad habit, that can be hard, too. However, sacrifice is a very important of how we worship the Lord and live as followers of His.
Romans 12:1 talks about what our sacrifice is, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Now, when I used to read that verse, I focused more on the end where it says “spiritual worship.” I always assumed that this meant I needed to do good things, tell people about Jesus, and sing songs of praise to Him. Those are all great things; however, I think the more important part to focus on in this passage is when Paul mentions us being “a living sacrifice.” Understanding this part first will help us to know what our spiritual worship is toward the Lord.
2. When you hear the word “sacrifice,” what do you think of?
3. Why do you think presenting ourselves as a “living sacrifice” is considered our “spiritual worship”?
Luke 9:23 says, “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” I think this is a great description from the Lord Jesus on what it means to be a living sacrifice. Sacrifice requires that something must die; something must be given up. We need to continuously deny ourselves, empty ourselves, and lay down the parts of us that keep us from following God. This is our spiritual worship. It is not simply doing good spiritual things. It is having the mindset that whatever keeps us from following God more deeply and more intimately, we will lay that down as a sacrifice to the Lord.
4. Are you someone who struggles with letting things go? Why or why not?
5. Can you share a time when you felt the conviction to give something up in your life?
Paul continues this idea of continually laying down our lives to the Lord in Romans 12:2, which says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Again, we come back to the idea that it is easier said than done. Talking about laying our lives down as a living sacrifice to God when we are in a Growth Community with other believers is not hard to do. Yet, how do we act on Thursday morning when we are at work with our non-believing coworkers? This is what Paul addresses in verse 2. A commentary I read said, “Whereas verse 1 has called for a decisive commitment, verse 2 deals with the maintenance of that commitment.”
6. What does being conformed to this world look like? What are ways that you have conformed to this world?
7. Why does Paul add that we need to be transformed “by the renewal of your mind”?
8. What in your life makes it difficult to be transformed rather than “conformed to this world”?
Unfortunately, once we become followers of Christ, all of our problems do not go away. In fact, I believe that is when attacks from Satan and temptation can be thrown at us at an increased rate. The world that we live in is fallen, sinful, and broken. It is hard to be in the world but not of the world. However, we are not alone. The Spirit lives within us, and He will always be there to help. The benefit of being transformed far outweighs any of the struggles that this world can throw at us. There is a verse I love to run back to when I get to talk about topics like this. It is Luke 9:24, which says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” When we are called to make our lives a sacrifice and to be “transformed by the renewal of our minds,” we are not losing anything; we are gaining everything in Christ.
9. What are some of the benefits you have experienced by laying your life down as a sacrifice?
10. How has following God become more joyful the more that your mind has been transformed?
It is by the mercy of God that we are able to follow God and make our lives a living sacrifice unto Him. I read a quote by Charles Spurgeon that I think ends this lesson well. He said, “Praise God with the heart He has changed, the lips He has loosed, and the life He has spared.”