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True and Proper Worship...
Our theme for 2022, LIVE WITH SACRIFICE, comes out of Romans 12:1 where Paul tells us, "I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship." The people in Paul's day would know well what a sacrifice as an act of worship was, but it would have been a very dead sacrifice, an animal sacrifice. It was an act that couldn't save, only cover over their sins. But it pointed to the One who could save!
Jesus' death on the cross for the sins of all mankind, once for all time, was the ultimate act of sacrifice and love. It freed us from the penalty of sin, and freed us to a joyful life lived in response to God's mercy. So, Paul says, "in view of God's mercy..." In other words, God made the first move. We can "view" God's mercy and see how it changed everything. He showed us His love first! He paid the death penalty!
The question for us then is this: "how do we respond to that kind of mercy and love?" Answer, we are to be a living sacrifice. No more dead sacrifices. Through living our lives - holy and pleasing to God - we respond to His mercy in such a way that point people to Jesus. This is true and proper worship!
But what does that look like? How do we actually "live with sacrifice"? Is the answer the same for everyone, or might it look different for each individual? And what might it mean for us together as Fairfield Baptist Church to live this way? We invite you to join us at Fairfield on this journey together in 2022 to discover together how God is calling us to LIVE WITH SACRIFICE.
Our theme for 2022, LIVE WITH SACRIFICE, comes out of Romans 12:1 where Paul tells us, "I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship." The people in Paul's day would know well what a sacrifice as an act of worship was, but it would have been a very dead sacrifice, an animal sacrifice. It was an act that couldn't save, only cover over their sins. But it pointed to the One who could save!
Jesus' death on the cross for the sins of all mankind, once for all time, was the ultimate act of sacrifice and love. It freed us from the penalty of sin, and freed us to a joyful life lived in response to God's mercy. So, Paul says, "in view of God's mercy..." In other words, God made the first move. We can "view" God's mercy and see how it changed everything. He showed us His love first! He paid the death penalty!
The question for us then is this: "how do we respond to that kind of mercy and love?" Answer, we are to be a living sacrifice. No more dead sacrifices. Through living our lives - holy and pleasing to God - we respond to His mercy in such a way that point people to Jesus. This is true and proper worship!
But what does that look like? How do we actually "live with sacrifice"? Is the answer the same for everyone, or might it look different for each individual? And what might it mean for us together as Fairfield Baptist Church to live this way? We invite you to join us at Fairfield on this journey together in 2022 to discover together how God is calling us to LIVE WITH SACRIFICE.
If you have questions or would like to speak with a pastor, click here.
