Sunday 24. January The Act of First Romans 12:1-2
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. 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. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Offering your bodies as a living sacrifice Make your bodies available to God and his work Allow your bodies to be used by God in his work
Offering your bodies as a living sacrifice Make your bodies available to Practices God and his work Allow your bodies to be used by God in his work
Spiritual Disciplines Holy Habits We can become like Jesus Christ by doing one thing following him in the overall lifestyle he chose for himself.
Core Practices Live Like Jesus Worship Prayer Bible Study Singlemindedness Spiritual Gifts Community Give Away My Time Money Faith Life
Salvation is a LIFE And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)
Salvation is a LIFE I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)
Salvation is a LIFE For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10 (NIV)
Salvation is a LIFE and we experience LIFE in our bodies!
Offering your bodies as a living sacrifice Make your bodies available to God and his work Allow your bodies to be used by God in his work
Offering your bodies as a living sacrifice Make your bodies available to Practices God and his work Allow your bodies to be used by God in his work
Apprentices or Disciples Think like Jesus Act like Jesus Be like Jesus Beliefs Practices Virtues
Practices developed through which produce Beliefs Virtues
Core Practices Live Like Jesus Worship Prayer Bible Study Singlemindedness Spiritual Gifts Community Give Away My Time Money Faith Life
Full participation in the life of God s Kingdom and in the vivid companionship of Christ comes to us only through appropriate exercise in the disciplines for life in the spirit.
Worship and Prayer I worship God for who he is and what he has done for me. I pray to God to know him, to lay my request before him and to find direction in my daily life.
Bible Study and Singleminded I read the Bible to know God, the truth, and to find direction for my life. I focus on God and his priorities for my life.
Spiritual Gifts and Community I know and use my spiritual gifts to accomplish God s purpose. I fellowship with other Christians to accomplish God s purpose in my life, others lives, and in the world.
Give Away Time and Money I give away my time to fulfill God s purpose. I give away my money to fulfill God s purpose.
Give Away Faith and Life I give away my faith to fulfill God s purpose. I give away my life to fulfill God s purpose.
your bodies a living sacrifice We should not fool ourselves into thinking it is enough to feel drawn to the heart of God without our lives showing the heart of God.
Let s put aside our surprise. Let s stop pretending. Faith is a day by day, decision by decision, breath by breath kind of thing. And when we spend those days indulging in poison, we get poisonous lives. Jonathan Acuff, Stuff Christians Like
The Act of First Accept the work of Christ on the cross Surrender to the energy of the Spirit Courageously commit yourself to the sacrifice of living for Jesus Take the practices self-assessment Daily Office Practices Make a vow to the Lord
Scripture commit to getting into God s Word in order for it to get into you (e.g. read through the New Testament in 2010) Prayer dedicate yourself to consistently pursuing an intimate love relationship with God through prayer (e.g. use a weekly prayer guide, recruit a prayer partner)
Fast choose a fitting fast to heighten your commitment and sensitivity as you feast on God (e.g. 24 hour food fast, give up TV/computer one evening a week) SERVICE Group give yourself to the life of a group committed to SERVICE (e.g. join or start a SERVICE group, lead your family to adopt a life of SERVICE)
Daily Office invest in your spiritual formation through daily meditation and prayer Study Discipleship Institute for Instruction (3 rd Saturday or Sunday of the month)