Preparing for Sunday, May 17th

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Romans 12:1-8

Paul calls on Christians to present their bodies as a living sacrifice. What does it mean to be a living sacrifice to God?

Paul says that this willingness to sacrifice is “spiritual worship.” How often do you fail to experience true spiritual worship because you are merely present for worship? What would you need to do differently to worship in this manner?

Can you name the spiritual gift(s) that God has granted you? How are you using those gifts? What do you need to learn or discern in order to use your gifts fully?

If you were not a part of the body of Christ, what would your congregation be missing?