Friday, August 22, 2008

Day 21 (on Day 22)

We looked at the type of new community that we are invited into by the Living God yesterday. One of the key words that Scripture uses to describe the people of the Living God is "priests." have you ever thought of yourself as a priest? Most people don't but as we discovered yesterday, if we follow the Living God, he expects us to be his priests in creation. One of the main roles of a priest is to lead people in true worship of the Living God. In the Old Testament, this involved sacrifices but Jesus took care of that for us (like we looked at on Day 15) so we don't do sacrifices anymore (animal or otherwise). So what do we do as priests? How do we lead others in worship and glorifying the Living God?

Spirit of the Living God, soften our hearts and teach us today. We come today to learn from you what it means to serve you as your Kingdom priests in your world today? Shape us into priests that worship and glorify you and help others to do the same...

Check out John 4:22-24; Romans 12 (whole chapter); Colossians 3:12-17
  1. What kind of worshippers is the Living God looking for?
  2. Based on Jesus' statement in John 4:22 that the Samaritans worship what they do not know, what do you think it means to worship in truth?
  3. Let's speculate about what it means to worship in spirit. What is your spirit? Is your spirit connected to your body? How do you worship in spirit?
  4. What "sacrifice" are we supposed to offer in Romans 12:1-2? What do you think it means to offer our lives as "living sacrifices"?
  5. After reading the rest of Romans 12 (verses 3-21), do you think Paul (the guy who wrote it) is elaborating on what it means to offer our lives as "living sacrifices"? What are some of the ways he tells us to offer ourselves?
  6. Revisit Colossians 3:12-17. What similar items do you see in Paul's list in Colossians as in Romans 12?
  7. Based on those lists, what are some ways that you (yes you) can offer yourself as a "living sacrifice" today and tomorrow in your home or in your school? Be specific.
  8. Check out 1 Peter 2:12 again. If we live in a way that honors the Living God, what will be "pagans" (or people that don't believe in Jesus) response to Jesus?

It's pretty amazing how the Living God equates the way we live with our worship of him. And how cool is it that the way we live is the greatest tool we have for introducing our family and friends to the Living God. Live in such a way today and tomorrow and the day after that others around you will praise the Living God for your impact in their life.

Ask the Living God to show you opportunities to offer your life as a living sacrifice in an act of Love to Him and to those around you.

Peace

Richard

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1 comment:

Jessica said...

1) The living God is looking worshippers that worship the father in spirit and in truth.
2) To worship in truth probably means that you worship things you know are true and real. It probably means stuff that is not made up and the stuff you already know and are learning.
3) Spirit can mean different things. It could mean the part of a person that is not the body or it could mean someone enthusastic. I don't know what my spirit is or if it is connected to my body. You worship in spirit by worshipping our father.
4) We are suppose to scarfice our life as a living scarfice.
5) It means that we offer ourself to God and he will help us and we will know then.
6) Yes i think he does.
7) By loving, rejoicing, no evil and many other things.
8) There are a lot of similar things in the list; love and no enemies and other things.
9)

September 9, 2008 at 7:13 PM

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