A Portrait of Christian Worship

Sunday Sermon
April 11th 2010
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Romans 12:1-2 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. 2 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.

Sermonic Theme: Christian Worship (Christian living is an act of perpetual worship.)

Sermonic Subject: Practical Christianity (God wants all of us Jew & Gentile.)

Sermonic Tension: Living Sacrifice (This is the quintessential image, illustration, idea of Christian worship.)

Sermonic Sentence: “Worship is more than an event it’s a lifestyle.” (Worship God for the rest of your life.)

Sermonic Footnote: My life is being transformed by the power of the gospel. (There can be no real worship without sacrifice.)

Sermonic Help: I scarcely like this word sacrifice, because it involves nothing more than a reasonable service. If we gave up all we had and became beggars for Christ, it would display no such chivalrous spirit or magnanimous conduct after all. We would be gainers by the surrender.

Nothing worse can happen to a church than to be conformed to this world. Charles H. Spurgeon at his best

Stewardship: From the Greek oikonomos, which refers to the manager of a household or estate. Stewardship is management of all God has entrusted. God bestows many things, yet the most important gift a Christian must invest wisely is his own life his abilities to think and to love: A Christian’s body and mind are to be a “living sacrifice” dedicated to God (Romans 12.1-2). A Christian should invest his time in study and service to God, seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6.33). Once a Christian learns to be a good steward of mind and body then he will use all other gifts from God wisely. Luke 12.42; 16.1-8; I Corinthians 4.2; Galatians 4.2; Romans 16.23. 1 Corinthians 4.1, of preachers of the Gospel and teachers of the Word of God; Titus 1.7, of elders in churches; 1 Peter 4.10, of believers generally.

Worship: Several Greek words used in the NT are translated “worship.” They involve acknowledgement, praise, thanksgiving, and service. Only God is worthy of worship (Matthew 4.10). He is to be worshiped in spirit and truth, for He is Spirit and Truth (John 4.23-24). The essence of worship consists not of practices and rituals, but of giving one’s life in attitude and action as “living sacrifice” (Romans 12.1-2). Worship is not just being in church on Sunday, but doing all things to God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10.31).

Sermonic Title: "A Portrait of Christian Worship"

Sermonic Structure:

I. The Christians Behavior is a portrait of Worship

II. The Christians Body is a portrait of Worship

III. The Christians Brain is a portrait of Worship