Be A Living Sacrifice To God Romans 12:1-15:13

Transcription

1 Lesson 316 Be A Living Sacrifice To God Romans 12:1-15:13

2 MEMORY VERSE ROMAN S 12:1 I beseec h you therefore, brethren, by the m erc ies of God, that you present your bodies a liv ing sac rific e, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Construction paper, magazines, crayons, scissors, and glue. As many small stickers as the number of children in your class. ATTENTION GRABBER! Living Sacrifices Your will need construction paper, magazines, crayons, scissors, and glue. Have your class cut out pictures from magazines of things that COULD take God s place in people s lives. Have them paste them on the sheets of construction paper. Leave enough room for the children to draw an altar underneath their pictures. Explain that there are so many things in this world that are competing for the attention and focus that ONLY belongs to God. Today we are going to learn about presenting our lives as a living sacrifice and how we should not be conformed to the things of this world, but transformed in our thinking through the Spirit of God. Serving the Lord is the most important thing we can do in our lives. Have your class write out the memory verse on the bottom of the paper. Remind them that the Lord must have first place in our lives.

3 LESSON TIME! What in the world is a living sacrifice? We see sacrifices all of the time in the Old Testament. We know that people would bring their best animals to sacrifice to the Lord. We know that by doing the sacrifices their sins would be covered as the people believed in God. But what does Paul mean when he tells us to be a living sacrifice? We will find out in our lesson today. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. NOTE TO TEACHERS: This is a long passage of scripture. Mainly four areas will be highlighted. 1. What is a living sacrifice? (Chapter 12) 2. Loving and serving others. (Chapter 12) 3. Respecting authority. (Chapter 13) 4. Our relationships with other Christians. (Chapter 14 &15) You will want to review the entire lesson and after prayer choose one or two of the areas to concentrate on as you may not have ample time to cover every verse. R O M AN S 12:1-8 I be s e e c h y o u t h e r e f o r e, br e t h r e n, by t h e m e r c i e s o f G o d, t h at y o u p r e s e n t y o u r bo d i e s a l i v i n g s ac r i f i c e, h o l y, ac c e p t abl e t o G o d, w h i c h i s y o u r r e as o n abl e s e r v i c e. An d d o n o t be c o n f o r m e d t o t h i s w o r l d, bu t be t r an s f o r m e d by t h e r e n e w i n g o f y o u r m i n d, t h at y o u m ay p r o v e w h at i s t h at go o d an d ac c e p t abl e an d p e r f e c t w i l l o f G o d. F o r I s ay, t h r o u gh t h e gr ac e gi v e n t o m e, t o e v e r y o n e w h o i s am o n g y o u, n o t t o t h i n k o f h i m s e l f m o r e

4 h i gh l y t h an h e o u gh t t o t h i n k, bu t t o t h i n k s o be r l y, as G o d h as d e al t t o e ac h o n e a m e as u r e o f f ai t h. F o r as w e h av e m an y m e m be r s i n o n e bo d y, bu t al l t h e m e m be r s d o n o t h av e t h e s am e f u n c t i o n, s o w e, be i n g m an y, ar e o n e bo d y i n C h r i s t, an d i n d i v i d u al l y m e m be r s o f o n e an o t h e r. H av i n g t h e n gi f t s d i f f e r i n g ac c o r d i n g t o t h e gr ac e t h at i s gi v e n t o u s, l e t u s u s e t h e m : i f p r o p h e c y, l e t u s p r o p h e s y i n p r o p o r t i o n t o o u r f ai t h ; o r m i n i s t r y, l e t u s u s e i t i n o u r m i n i s t e r i n g; h e w h o t e ac h e s, i n t e ac h i n g; h e w h o e x h o r t s, i n e x h o r t at i o n ; h e w h o gi v e s, w i t h l i be r al i t y ; h e w h o l e ad s, w i t h d i l i ge n c e ; h e w h o s h o w s m e r c y, w i t h c h e e r f u l n e s s. Paul opens this part of his letter to the church in Rome by talking to them about being a living sacrifice. Think about everything that Paul has been talking about in Romans. He shares with them their sinful condition apart from God and their need for a savior. He then shares with them the great things that God did for us through His Son Jesus. He also shares about how we have a relationship with God through faith or belief in Him. Then we learn that God has given us everything we need to live our lives for Him. Now we come to the place where Paul is saying, since God has done all of these things for you, here is what you need to do. He shares with us some real practical things that our lives should look like. He begins by saying that we need to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. What this means is that we need to respond to what God has done for us by giving our lives to Him. Just like the people in the Old Testament would bring the best they had to God,

5 we need to bring our very best to Him. We need to give Him our bodies and hearts in service to Him. Paul says this is our reasonable service. God is not asking too much of His children by asking this for our lives. He has given us His Son Jesus so we can have eternal life. How much more we need to give our lives to Him. Paul then encourages us not to be like the world, but be transformed or changed. We need to be completely different people. Especially in the way we think. People who don t know Jesus think the way that the world thinks. And the way the world thinks is opposite of how God looks at things. We need to know God s Word and allow it to change our lives completely. We need to think and act like Jesus would. Then, when we give our lives to God and be transformed by Him we will understand what His will is for our lives. He will show us exactly what He wants us to do and how He wants us to live. Next Paul goes on to warn us to be careful that none of us think more highly of ourselves then we should, because as believers it takes every one of us to make the body complete; we each have different work to do, but we each need each other. Sometimes people can think that they are pretty important and cool. We need to be careful of that kind of attitude. Jesus was a servant of others and that is the kind of attitude we should have (see Philippians chapter 2). We need to use the gifts that God has given us in our service to others. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. R O M AN S 12:9-21 L e t l o v e be w i t h o u t h y p o c r i s y. Abh o r w h at i s e v i l. C l i n g t o w h at i s go o d. B e k i n d l y af f e c t i o n at e t o o n e an o t h e r w i t h br o t h e r l y l o v e, i n h o n o r gi v i n g p r e f e r e n c e t o o n e an o t h e r ;

6 n o t l aggi n g i n d i l i ge n c e, f e r v e n t i n s p i r i t, s e r v i n g t h e L o r d ; r e j o i c i n g i n h o p e, p at i e n t i n t r i bu l at i o n, c o n t i n u i n g s t e ad f as t l y i n p r ay e r ; d i s t r i bu t i n g t o t h e n e e d s o f t h e s ai n t s, gi v e n t o h o s p i t al i t y. B l e s s t h o s e w h o p e r s e c u t e y o u ; bl e s s an d d o n o t c u r s e. R e j o i c e w i t h t h o s e w h o r e j o i c e, an d w e e p w i t h t h o s e w h o w e e p. B e o f t h e s am e m i n d t o w ar d o n e an o t h e r. D o n o t s e t y o u r m i n d o n h i gh t h i n gs, bu t as s o c i at e w i t h t h e h u m bl e. D o n o t be w i s e i n y o u r o w n o p i n i o n. R e p ay n o o n e e v i l f o r e v i l. H av e r e gar d f o r go o d t h i n gs i n t h e s i gh t o f al l m e n. I f i t i s p o s s i bl e, as m u c h as d e p e n d s o n y o u, l i v e p e ac e abl y w i t h al l m e n. B e l o v e d, d o n o t av e n ge y o u r s e l v e s, bu t r at h e r gi v e p l ac e t o w r at h ; f o r i t i s w r i t t e n, " Ve n ge an c e i s M i n e, I w i l l r e p ay, " s ay s t h e L o r d. T h e r e f o r e i f y o u r e n e m y h u n ge r s, f e e d h i m ; i f h e t h i r s t s, gi v e h i m a d r i n k ; f o r i n s o d o i n g y o u w i l l h e ap c o al s o f f i r e o n h i s h e ad. " D o n o t be o v e r c o m e by e v i l, bu t o v e r c o m e e v i l w i t h go o d.

7 Now Paul encourages us to love one another and to be kind. He also tells us that we are to pray for people that mistreat us. When others are happy, we are to be happy with them, and if they are sad we are to share their sorrow. In this way we are working together. We are not to repay anyone evil for evil. Don't quarrel with anyone, but be at peace with everyone. Don't be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. Let s make a list of the things that Paul writes here: 1. Love others. 2. Hate evil things. 3. Love good things. 4. Be kind. 5. Put others first. 6. Work hard. 7. Serve the Lord. 8. Have joy. 9. Be patient. 10. Pray. 11. Be giving. 12. Love those who aren t nice to you. This list shows us what a life that is a living sacrifice should look like. Let s ask ourselves how our lives stack up to the list. If we are lacking in any areas we can ask the Lord to help us. He promises that He will. R O M AN S 13:1-10 L e t e v e r y s o u l be s u bj e c t t o t h e go v e r n i n g au t h o r i t i e s. F o r t h e r e i s n o au t h o r i t y e x c e p t f r o m G o d, an d t h e au t h o r i t i e s t h at e x i s t ar e ap p o i n t e d by G o d.

8 T h e r e f o r e w h o e v e r r e s i s t s t h e au t h o r i t y r e s i s t s t h e o r d i n an c e o f G o d, an d t h o s e w h o r e s i s t w i l l br i n g j u d gm e n t o n t h e m s e l v e s. F o r r u l e r s ar e n o t a t e r r o r t o go o d w o r k s, bu t t o e v i l. D o y o u w an t t o be u n af r ai d o f t h e au t h o r i t y? D o w h at i s go o d, an d y o u w i l l h av e p r ai s e f r o m t h e s am e. F o r h e i s G o d ' s m i n i s t e r t o y o u f o r go o d. B u t i f y o u d o e v i l, be af r ai d ; f o r h e d o e s n o t be ar t h e s w o r d i n v ai n ; f o r h e i s G o d ' s m i n i s t e r, an av e n ge r t o e x e c u t e w r at h o n h i m w h o p r ac t i c e s e v i l. T h e r e f o r e y o u m u s t be s u bj e c t, n o t o n l y be c au s e o f w r at h bu t al s o f o r c o n s c i e n c e ' s ak e. F o r be c au s e o f t h i s y o u al s o p ay t ax e s, f o r t h e y ar e G o d ' s m i n i s t e r s at t e n d i n g c o n t i n u al l y t o t h i s v e r y t h i n g. R e n d e r t h e r e f o r e t o al l t h e i r d u e : t ax e s t o w h o m t ax e s ar e d u e, c u s t o m s t o w h o m c u s t o m s, f e ar t o w h o m f e ar, h o n o r t o w h o m h o n o r. O w e n o o n e an y t h i n g e x c e p t t o l o v e o n e an o t h e r, f o r h e w h o l o v e s an o t h e r h as f u l f i l l e d t h e l aw. F o r t h e c o m m an d m e n t s, " Y o u s h al l n o t c o m m i t ad u l t e r y, " " Y o u s h al l n o t m u r d e r, " " Y o u s h al l n o t s t e al, " " Y o u s h al l n o t be ar f al s e w i t n e s s, " " Y o u s h al l n o t c o v e t, " an d i f t h e r e i s an y o t h e r c o m m an d m e n t, ar e al l s u m m e d u p i n t h i s s ay i n g, n am e l y, " Y o u s h al l l o v e y o u r n e i gh bo r as y o u r s e l f. "

9 L o v e d o e s n o h ar m t o a n e i gh bo r ; t h e r e f o r e l o v e i s t h e f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e l aw. Paul now talks about obeying those in authority. He says that we should obey those in authority over us because God placed those who are in authority in those positions. Also, when we refuse to obey the authorities we are refusing to obey God. Next, Paul goes on to talk about the importance of those in governing positions, and why God has placed them there. Paul then begins to talk about how important it is to love our neighbor. These verses are talking about respect. We need to respect those who are the government leaders. We need to be praying for our President, Senators, Congressmen, Governors, Mayor, Policemen, Firemen and others who God has raised up to be in authority. Sometimes laws may be passed that we don t agree with. Certainly in Paul s day Caesar passed laws that Paul didn t agree with, but Paul still says that as Christians we are a witness when we respect those whom God has placed in authority. He also tells us that if we love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves we won't want to harm, cheat or steal from them and we won't sin against them. He says that love is the greatest fulfillment of the law. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. R O M AN S 13:11-14 An d d o t h i s, k n o w i n g t h e t i m e, t h at n o w i t i s h i gh t i m e t o aw ak e o u t o f s l e e p ; f o r n o w o u r s al v at i o n i s n e ar e r t h an w h e n w e f i r s t be l i e v e d. T h e n i gh t i s f ar s p e n t, t h e d ay i s at h an d. T h e r e f o r e l e t u s c as t o f f t h e w o r k s o f d ar k n e s s, an d l e t u s p u t o n t h e ar m o r o f l i gh t.

10 L e t u s w al k p r o p e r l y, as i n t h e d ay, n o t i n r e v e l r y an d d r u n k e n n e s s, n o t i n l i c e n t i o u s n e s s an d l e w d n e s s, n o t i n s t r i f e an d e n v y. B u t p u t o n t h e L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t, an d m ak e n o p r o v i s i o n f o r t h e f l e s h, t o f u l f i l l i t s l u s t s. Paul says that another reason for being a living sacrifice is that the coming of the Lord Jesus is nearer now than when we first believed. So we are to quit doing evil deeds of darkness and put on the Lord Jesus. We should ask the Lord to help us live as we should and not make any provision for the flesh. What do you suppose it means to not make a provision of the flesh? That means that we need to make sure that we do not allow anything into our lives that will feed our flesh or tempt us to sin. We need to careful of what we think, or watch or listen to. We should only allow those things into our lives that are pleasing to the Lord. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. R O M AN S 14:1-13 R e c e i v e o n e w h o i s w e ak i n t h e f ai t h, bu t n o t t o d i s p u t e s o v e r d o u bt f u l t h i n gs. F o r o n e be l i e v e s h e m ay e at al l t h i n gs, bu t h e w h o i s w e ak e at s o n l y v e ge t abl e s. L e t n o t h i m w h o e at s d e s p i s e h i m w h o d o e s n o t e at, an d l e t n o t h i m w h o d o e s n o t e at j u d ge h i m w h o e at s ; f o r G o d h as r e c e i v e d h i m. Wh o ar e y o u t o j u d ge an o t h e r ' s s e r v an t? T o h i s o w n m as t e r h e s t an d s o r f al l s. I n d e e d, h e w i l l be m ad e t o s t an d, f o r G o d i s abl e t o m ak e h i m s t an d.

11 O n e p e r s o n e s t e e m s o n e d ay abo v e an o t h e r ; an o t h e r e s t e e m s e v e r y d ay al i k e. L e t e ac h be f u l l y c o n v i n c e d i n h i s o w n m i n d. H e w h o o bs e r v e s t h e d ay, o bs e r v e s i t t o t h e L o r d ; an d h e w h o d o e s n o t o bs e r v e t h e d ay, t o t h e L o r d h e d o e s n o t o bs e r v e i t. H e w h o e at s, e at s t o t h e L o r d, f o r h e gi v e s G o d t h an k s ; an d h e w h o d o e s n o t e at, t o t h e L o r d h e d o e s n o t e at, an d gi v e s G o d t h an k s. F o r n o n e o f u s l i v e s t o h i m s e l f, an d n o o n e d i e s t o h i m s e l f. F o r i f w e l i v e, w e l i v e t o t h e L o r d ; an d i f w e d i e, w e d i e t o t h e L o r d. T h e r e f o r e, w h e t h e r w e l i v e o r d i e, w e ar e t h e L o r d ' s. F o r t o t h i s e n d C h r i s t d i e d an d r o s e an d l i v e d agai n, t h at H e m i gh t be L o r d o f bo t h t h e d e ad an d t h e l i v i n g. B u t w h y d o y o u j u d ge y o u r br o t h e r? O r w h y d o y o u s h o w c o n t e m p t f o r y o u r br o t h e r? F o r w e s h al l al l s t an d be f o r e t h e j u d gm e n t s e at o f C h r i s t. F o r i t i s w r i t t e n : " As I l i v e, s ay s t h e L o r d, e v e r y k n e e s h al l bo w t o M e, an d e v e r y t o n gu e s h al l c o n f e s s t o G o d. " S o t h e n e ac h o f u s s h al l gi v e ac c o u n t o f h i m s e l f t o G o d. T h e r e f o r e l e t u s n o t j u d ge o n e an o t h e r an y m o r e, bu t r at h e r r e s o l v e t h i s, n o t t o p u t a s t u m bl i n g bl o c k o r a c au s e t o f al l i n o u r br o t h e r ' s w ay.

12 Paul says that we are to welcome and receive anyone, even though they may be weaker in the faith than us. He says we are not to criticize or judge them for having different ideas about what is right or wrong, Romans 14:1. For instance, someone might think it's all right to eat meat, while someone else might think that they should only eat vegetables. Some might think that Christians should observe certain holidays as special days to worship God, but others say it is wrong and foolish. What s Right and What s Wrong? Lead your class in a discussion of right and wrong. Ask your students to tell about things that are considered right by some and wrong by others. Be ready to differentiate these examples by scripture. Some things described will be wrong by the standard of the Bible, but some things will be gray areas. Ask your class how we should handle the gray areas? Explain that there is liberty in Christ, but we must be very careful not to cause a brother to stumble. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. On questions like this everyone must decide for himself after seeking the Lord s will. We have no right to criticize someone else, because each one of us will stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account of ourselves to God. We are not to criticize each other anymore, but instead we are to live in such a way that will never make another stumble or fall. The main thing we need to remember in this is that if we are doing something that bothers someone else, or affects their walk with God then we shouldn t do it. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. R O M AN S 14:14-16 I k n o w an d am c o n v i n c e d by t h e L o r d J e s u s t h at t h e r e i s n o t h i n g u n c l e an o f i t s e l f ; bu t t o h i m w h o

13 c o n s i d e r s an y t h i n g t o be u n c l e an, t o h i m i t i s u n c l e an. Y e t i f y o u r br o t h e r i s gr i e v e d be c au s e o f y o u r f o o d, y o u ar e n o l o n ge r w al k i n g i n l o v e. D o n o t d e s t r o y w i t h y o u r f o o d t h e o n e f o r w h o m C h r i s t d i e d. T h e r e f o r e d o n o t l e t y o u r go o d be s p o k e n o f as e v i l ; Paul says that the Lord Jesus convinces him that there is nothing wrong with eating meat, but that if someone believes it is wrong, then he shouldn't do it because for him it is wrong. (Paul is talking about meat, but this really applies to any other freedom we may have in Christ.) We may think something is all right for us but if it causes someone to stumble and we continue to do it, then we are not walking in love. Don't let your freedom ruin someone for whom Christ died. We are not to do anything that would cause our good to be spoken evil of, even though we may know that what we are doing is all right. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. R O M AN S 14:17-23 f o r t h e k i n gd o m o f G o d i s n o t f o o d an d d r i n k, bu t r i gh t e o u s n e s s an d p e ac e an d j o y i n t h e H o l y S p i r i t. F o r h e w h o s e r v e s C h r i s t i n t h e s e t h i n gs i s ac c e p t abl e t o G o d an d ap p r o v e d by m e n. T h e r e f o r e l e t u s p u r s u e t h e t h i n gs w h i c h m ak e f o r p e ac e an d t h e t h i n gs by w h i c h o n e m ay e d i f y an o t h e r. D o n o t d e s t r o y t h e w o r k o f G o d f o r t h e s ak e o f f o o d. Al l t h i n gs i n d e e d ar e p u r e, bu t i t i s e v i l f o r t h e m an w h o e at s w i t h o f f e n s e.

14 I t i s go o d n e i t h e r t o e at m e at n o r d r i n k w i n e n o r d o an y t h i n g by w h i c h y o u r br o t h e r s t u m bl e s o r i s o f f e n d e d o r i s m ad e w e ak. D o y o u h av e f ai t h? H av e i t t o y o u r s e l f be f o r e G o d. H ap p y i s h e w h o d o e s n o t c o n d e m n h i m s e l f i n w h at h e ap p r o v e s. B u t h e w h o d o u bt s i s c o n d e m n e d i f h e e at s, be c au s e h e d o e s n o t e at f r o m f ai t h ; f o r w h at e v e r i s n o t f r o m f ai t h i s s i n. The kingdom of God is not about eating food or what holidays we observe or any of these other issues, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. That is what is important. So we should pursue those things that make for peace and that build each other up; this is the right thing to do. We may know that there is nothing wrong with what we do, even from God's point of view, but if it offends someone else and causes him or her to sin then we shouldn't do it. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. R O M AN S 15:1-6 We t h e n w h o ar e s t r o n g o u gh t t o be ar w i t h t h e s c r u p l e s o f t h e w e ak, an d n o t t o p l e as e o u r s e l v e s. L e t e ac h o f u s p l e as e h i s n e i gh bo r f o r h i s go o d, l e ad i n g t o e d i f i c at i o n. F o r e v e n C h r i s t d i d n o t p l e as e H i m s e l f ; bu t as i t i s w r i t t e n, " T h e r e p r o ac h e s o f t h o s e w h o r e p r o ac h e d Y o u f e l l o n M e. " F o r w h at e v e r t h i n gs w e r e w r i t t e n be f o r e w e r e w r i t t e n f o r o u r l e ar n i n g, t h at w e t h r o u gh t h e p at i e n c e an d c o m f o r t o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s m i gh t h av e h o p e.

15 N o w m ay t h e G o d o f p at i e n c e an d c o m f o r t gr an t y o u t o be l i k e -m i n d e d t o w ar d o n e an o t h e r, ac c o r d i n g t o C h r i s t J e s u s, t h at y o u m ay w i t h o n e m i n d an d o n e m o u t h gl o r i f y t h e G o d an d F at h e r o f o u r L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t. Those of us who are strong should bear the burdens of those who are weak; we should be considerate of them and not just try to please ourselves. We should each try to please his neighbor for his good and to build him up. Even Christ did not please himself, but came for the very purpose of suffering the insults of others. My Brother s Keeper Pass out to each student in your class a small sticker. Instruct them not to peel off the sticker yet or stick it anywhere. Have them sit in a circle around the room. Tell your class that they may peel the sticker now and stick it onto the top part of their hands. HOWEVER, they may not use their hands to do it and they must remain sitting upright. They may be confused as to how to accomplish this, but give them hints if they are struggling that you are trying to get them to help each other put the stickers on. When they have put stickers on each others hands, tell them that being a part of the body of Christ is to look out for one another s needs. We need to not only look after our own interests, but the interests of others. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. In Psalms it says "The insults of those who insult you fell on me." These things were written for us to learn patience and how to encourage others. Paul gives the church encouragement by saying, "May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded

16 toward one another, according to Christ Jesus that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God wants our lives to be a living sacrifice. R O M AN S 15:7-13 T h e r e f o r e r e c e i v e o n e an o t h e r, j u s t as C h r i s t al s o r e c e i v e d u s, t o t h e gl o r y o f G o d. N o w I s ay t h at J e s u s C h r i s t h as be c o m e a s e r v an t t o t h e c i r c u m c i s i o n f o r t h e t r u t h o f G o d, t o c o n f i r m t h e p r o m i s e s m ad e t o t h e f at h e r s, an d t h at t h e G e n t i l e s m i gh t gl o r i f y G o d f o r H i s m e r c y, as i t i s w r i t t e n : " F o r t h i s r e as o n I w i l l c o n f e s s t o Y o u am o n g t h e G e n t i l e s, an d s i n g t o Y o u r n am e. " An d agai n h e s ay s : " R e j o i c e, O G e n t i l e s, w i t h H i s p e o p l e!" An d agai n : " Pr ai s e t h e L o r d, al l y o u G e n t i l e s! l au d H i m, al l y o u p e o p l e s!" An d agai n, I s ai ah s ay s : " T h e r e s h al l be a r o o t o f J e s s e ; an d H e w h o s h al l r i s e t o r e i gn o v e r t h e G e n t i l e s, i n H i m t h e G e n t i l e s s h al l h o p e. " N o w m ay t h e G o d o f h o p e f i l l y o u w i t h al l j o y an d p e ac e i n be l i e v i n g, t h at y o u m ay abo u n d i n h o p e by t h e p o w e r o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t. In the close of this part of the letter, Paul encourages believers to receive one another warmly just as Christ Jesus has received us. He reminds us that Jesus came to show that God is true to His promises and to help us who believe. He then shares with us several passages of scripture about rejoicing in the Lord. Then he ends with a prayer that the God of hope would fill us with all joy and peace in believing that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul encourages us to give our lives

17 completely for God. sacrifice. God wants our lives to be a living So there are a lot of things involved in being a living sacrifice. Let s review the main things we need to remember. 1. Being a living sacrifice means that we are giving our whole lives to God. 2. Being a living sacrifice means that our lives will imitate Jesus. 3. Being a living sacrifice means that we will love and serve others. 4. Being a living sacrifice means that we will respect those whom God has place in authority. 5. Being a living sacrifice means that we will help our brothers and sisters in Christ and not make them stumble. May God greatly bless you as you present yourself a living sacrifice to Him. PRAYER Lead the children in a prayer of commitment to love as the Lord directs us. If there are any children who have not yet responded to the gospel, give them opportunity to do so.