Sunday Morning Worship
May 27, 2012
Series: “iLife”
Today: “iSacrifice”
Scripture: 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.
Romans 12:1 NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 
Intro: Today’s message is built on a single pillar—the definition of sacrifice :
The surrender…of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having higher…claim. (www.dictionary.com)
* Our key verse for today indicates how tough sacrifice is—it is a big step for new Christ followers to take. 
I. I SACRIFICE PHYSICAL CRAVINGS .
A. Our physical cravings are not evil , but they often are players that cause us to sin.
1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
B. Steps to controlling cravings:
1. Understand their origin .
1 John 2:16-17 NLT For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
2. Learn to discern .
Philippians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. 
II. I SACRIFICE TIME .
A. Paul was noticing that some new believers were not sacrificing their time but wasting it:
2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
B. Referring to our definition: time is something we all prize ! 
III. I SACRIFICE MONEY .
A. The early believers had this perspective:
Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
B. We all prize money; that is not the question.
1. The question is, how many surrender what we prize to One who has higher claim.
2. God is looking into every person’s heart in this room. Who is the lord over your money? 
IV. I SACRIFICE MY EGO .
A. The words “God” and “hate” seldom mingle, but in one area they do:
Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
B. Steps to staying humble.
1. Remember, you did nothing to earn God .
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
2. Review conversations when you try to position yourself above someone else.
3. Repent of any thoughts that you are better than others.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Conclusion: Today’s oxymoron:
I sacrifice when I feel like it.
If we feel like it, it’s not a sacrifice!