A Life of Sacrifice

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

We have talked about who you are, what you have, and what God offers when you mess up. This 

week we looked at what all of that means for us. In other words in light of all of that, in light of the fact that I am a child of God and have great power, how am I supposed to respond? How am I supposed to live? 

Following God doesn’t mean making him your top priority; it means making him ALL of your priorities. In this lesson we explored how following God should cost us more that just our leftovers. We looked how living like Jesus means we must be willing to sacrifice. We also looked at the joy that comes when we sacrifice.

On face value, Ephesians 5:1-2 may seem like it isn’t that difficult of a passage to live by. I mean, sure we will never be just like God, but we can act like Him in much the same way that a child will act like his 

father. But it is the next part that makes things hard.

Read verse 2 again.

Did you catch the hard part there? We are to live a life of love as Christ did, and then Paul points out what we should already know, that Jesus gave himself up to be a sacrifice to God. So in order to be imitators of God we must also sacrifice.

Following Jesus means following Him in all things. Jesus was willing to sacrifice everything, even up to His own life. We must also be willing to sacrifice what we have for God and for others. But that is a hard thing to do. It is hard for us to stop being the center of our own world and start putting other’s needs before our 

own. It is hard for us to come to God with anything more than just our leftovers.  For a visual, we had some Tupperware containers stacked on the floor to represent our leftovers. 

Next we read a story called Michael's Gift.  Michael’s gift was special, not because of what it was, but because of what it cost him to give it. All of the rest of the children were giving gifts their parents had bought. It didn’t cost them anything. Michael was willing to pay the price and because of that he brought joy to someone else, as well as to himself. 

Many Christians in churches today are giving gifts that cost them nothing. If you really added up all of their church going and youth group attending and working in children's church, you would find that it didn’t really cost them much. Just maybe some free time, a party now and then, and a couple of extra hours sleep on Sunday morning.  It isn’t that they don’t like God, actually they think they are impressing Him, but they are giving the leftovers of their day instead of their first fruits. 

What about you? Is God just getting your leftovers? Are you doing all that you can for you, and then at the end of the week or on Wednesday night, if there is time left, you offer that to God? God isn’t asking for your leftovers. He wants all of you. We have to stop offering a couple of Sundays and Wednesdays a month and feeling like we are really doing something for God. God doesn’t need you, but He wants you—for your sake.

There are four things following God may cost you:

1) Your Money:  Honoring God with your money goes way beyond just giving a tithe. Letting God be in control of your money means that everything you buy is an act of worship. How you spend your money will reflect your priorities. We should glorify God with all of our spending. What is the last thing you saved and used your money to buy?

2) Your time:  What time? From ball games to piano practice to school to church stuff to a million other things.  We are busier than we have ever been before. We give God the leftovers of our time because we have scheduled every minute of our day. When you look at your schedule does it honor God? Now I'm not talking about the things you have to do, like school.  But maybe look at what you do after school, besides homework.  How much TV do you watch at night?  Do you play video games?  Read for pleasure?  Draw? 

Maybe you need to do less somewhere else so that you can spend more time reading your Bible, talking to your parents, building better relationships with your siblings, in prayer. We must all stop running around trying to be like everyone else and include God in our decisions on how we spend our time. 

3) Your comfort:  This one is big, but it is true. When you stop giving God your leftovers and start sacrificing all of who you are for Him it will cost you your comfort. It is much easier to keep doing things the way you have been doing, but I promise you the best things in life come when we are willing to get a little 

uncomfortable.  Start by telling a friend at school that's not a Christian that you are praying for them.  Maybe they have a sick relative or are struggling with a subject at school.  Try telling the lady who rings your mom or dad out at the grocery store, "God bless you".  We talked about how some of us felt out of our comfort zones on the missions trip, but how in doing so, we blessed others.

4) Your whole heart:  God wants all of who you are. God wants to be not just your top priority, but all of your priorities. God wants your whole heart. This isn’t saying that you have to sacrifice to get God to love you. He already loves you. This doesn’t mean that this sacrifice will save you. You are already saved. It means that when you offer to God an offering that comes from you—one that cost you something, you won’t be able to measure the return that you get.  Because, you see, you will never be able to out give God. When 

you come to God with your whole heart you will find joy that can face any hardship, you will find life that is more free than you could ever imagine. When you give God more than just your leftovers, you can be a part of something greater. When you give God all of who you are, He can take you and use you to change 

the world. 

You have the opportunity today to offer God not gifts that you have lying around, but a gift that cost you something. He has already given you the greatest gift in the world when He gave His life for you. You can choose to keep giving gifts that don’t cost anything, or you can jump into the joy that comes from giving all 

you have to God. If you begin to give to God all of who you are, you will be able to walk into life like Michael, with your head held high, smiling for all the world to see. 

We ended with a movie clip from the end of Saving Private Ryan.  (Yes parents, I know this movie is Rated R.  I promise I only showed a clip from the end of the movie.  I could not find the clip I needed on YouTube, but the library had the movie.) The realistic film follows the journey of an American platoon of World War II soldiers as they march across war-torn Europe in search of Private Ryan, the only living son of four brothers who have been killed in the war.

It’s a unique plot; usually, the platoon of brave soldiers puts their lives on the line for a mission. In this case, the mission is the life of one man. But since the United States government wants Private Ryan pulled from active combat duty before he is sent home in a body bag like all his brothers, Capt. Miller and his band of brothers set out to find and save him. The movie ends with most of the men in the platoon losing their lives trying to save Private Ryan. It’s a story of sacrifice, from beginning to end.

In the clip, we saw the personal sacrifice that Capt. Miller made for Private Ryan, and we also heard his dying words spoken to the young private. He simply said, “Earn this.” This scene showed the sacrifice one person was willing to make for another, and how that person took the sacrifice seriously enough to live every single day of his life accordingly. Jesus has made an even greater sacrifice for you and me than Capt. Miller made for Private Ryan, so we must live our lives in a way that shows God we take the sacrifice of His perfect and holy Son, seriously.

In a very powerful and graphic way, this clip shows us what Jesus has done for us. When Private Ryan needed to be saved, along came Capt. Miller. Private Ryan could not save himself; his enemy was too powerful for him. But, with Capt. Miller’s help and sacrifice, not only did Private Ryan survive, but the enemy was overcome.  Private Ryan knew that he had been given new life because of Capt. Miller’s sacrifice, so he lived the rest of his long life trying to “live up to” the sacrifice Capt. Miller and his men made for him. Living a life worthy of his “calling” consumed this young man throughout his long life.

You and I should also live a life that is worthy of the sacrifice Christ made for us. Paul gives us a short list of really important habits and practices to focus on in our lives. If we commit to living a life that follows these commands, we will live a life that is worthy of our calling. We will bring honor to Jesus and show Him that we took His awesome sacrifice seriously. We will show Jesus that because He was willing to live and die for us, we are willing to live for Him.

AMEN!

Believing in God's Abundant Life

We started this series talking about being in need of restoration.  Last week we talked about becoming a child of God.  This week we focused on the power that we have in Christ.

Tonight we talked about seeing things with new eyes. So many times we look at the world around us and think that there is nothing more. But tonight we looked at opening our eyes to the new life God has already given us...the abundant life, and asking ourselves if we are truly living it or if we are content to live right where we are.

C.S. Lewis claimed that the reason we don’t go after God’s abundant life is because we don’t truly understand how great it is.  In a sermon titled, “The Weight of Glory”, he used a powerful analogy to explain our fears. We read that analogy as a story called, Angela's Day at the Beach.  Angela, a poor, neglected girl in London, meets a nice young woman who offers to take her to the beach. Angela is hesitant to go on the trip, choosing to play in the gutter instead. In the end Angela goes on the trip and is in awe of the wonder of the ocean.

As Christians we are far to often satisfied with just a little of God. We want to come on Sundays and maybe dabble in a few of the other activities, but we don’t really want God to change our life. The reason is that we have no clue what a full life with God really feels like. We are scared and often times content with the way our lives are right now...the familiarity, the comfort.  But if we can let go of what we know and risk a full life with God, we will be amazed at what we discover.

We played a little game of Let's Make A Deal then.  We showed the kids a clip from the TV game show in case they were unfamiliar with it.  Our version was slightly different though.  What was behind our curtains was always bigger and better than what they were originally given.  Of course, the kids didn't know this.  I gave two of them a small bag of candy.  I told them that, if they wanted to, they could trade their bags of candy for what was behind the other curtains.  It might be different than the candy they now had.  It might be a different size bag...or an entirely different type of candy.  It might not even be candy at all.  The choice to choose what was behind the curtain was theirs...or they could be safe keep what I gave them.  After they chose, they discovered that, what was behind the curtains, was way better and bigger than what they currently had.  The point?  Living a life for Christ isn't just about going to church and youth group.  It's about so much more.  Though those things are great, God has something so much better for us.  But we have to be willing to have the faith to live for Him and follow Him and His plans for our lives...no matter what!

Angela didn’t want to go to the beach because she couldn’t understand how wonderful it was. She looked at her surroundings and saw all the good that they offered and thought it was all the good that was possible. She didn’t want to risk what little she had because she couldn’t comprehend how much greater a day at the
beach could be.

Many Christians fall into this same mold. We hear about God’s abundant life, but we don’t really understand what it is all about. We don’t want to risk what we have because we can’t fathom how much better God’s life really can be.  We hold onto our loaves of bread that we can see and touch right now, too afraid to give them up for the promise of a feast elsewhere.

We read Ephesians 1:18-21.  Paul doesn’t pray that they will get the inheritance of God. He doesn’t pray that they will get the power of God in their lives. He prays that they will open their eyes and see what
they already have in their lives. He prays that they will see that they have the same power that raised Christ from the dead living inside of them.

God has called you to an abundant life. John 10:10 says that, “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” We have access to God’s abundant life, but most of us choose to live small lives because we, like Angela, can’t understand what God’s life really looks like.

We talked about 3 things that describe God’s abundant life.

• The Abundant Life is a Life of Provision:

Paul prays for the Ephesians to realize the glorious riches of the inheritance of God. Think about that. As heirs of God, we have access to His inheritance. We have access to the provisions of God. Now this isn’t talking just about money. I’m not saying that if you need a new car and you have enough faith you will find a
Mercedes in the driveway. The provisions of God are about so much more than money. Money is limited in what it can do. It can buy you stuff to make your life easier, but it can’t buy you peace. Money can fill your life with noise, but it can’t buy you freedom from guilt.  No, the inheritance of God is so much more than money. God is offering you a life full of His presence and His love. He is offering you a life filled with love and peace and joy. Are there deep questions in your heart—deep needs that cannot seem to be filled? Turn to God; His inheritance is enough. His abundant life offers you provision.

• The Abundant Life is a life of Power: 

Paul says that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is living in you. Are you struggling right now? Do you feel powerless and lost? Know that God has placed His Holy Spirit, His very presence, in your life. You are not alone. You are not powerless.

• The Abundant Life is a life of purpose:

You have this power of God because He calls you to His purposes. You have a part to play in God’s story. You have a job to do that will affect God’s kingdom. You are called to be a part of God’s plan to change the world. There is more to life than just going through the motions. It doesn’t matter if you are 2 or 102. God’s abundant life offers you a place and a purpose.

These are just a small part of the life that God is offering you. It is a life that can only be known when it is experienced. Look at your life. Are you living the life that God has promised or is it just bread and water that you are imagining is a feast? God is offering you an abundant life, but it will require something of you. You must stop holding on to what you have so that you can go after what God is offering. You must let go of your small life to grab on to God’s abundant life. Some of you have been Christians for years, yet you have never let go of your life and exchanged it for God’s life. Some of you may have lived God’s abundant life for a while, but through the choices you have made, traded it for a safe life. Some of you in here have never
taken the first step and asked God to be the Lord of your life. Today is the day for you to choose to follow God. Today is the day for you to choose His abundant life.

Will you do it, or are you content making mud pies? What will you choose?  Are you living the life that God called you to live...the abundant power-filled life?  We ended tonight's lesson watching a very powerful object lesson video by Francis Chan.

You Are A Child of the King

 

Ephesians 3:3-14 - 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,

Our lesson tonight focused on our new identity in Christ...as children of the King.  Once we are in Christ, we become royalty.  We are not who we were anymore.  We have been bought with a great price.  We are children of the King!!

We started out giving the kids a pen and paper and an assignment while they listened to Who Am I? by Casting Crowns.  Who are you? List on your paper all of the different ways you can answer that question. For instance, you might say: I am a sister or brother, a daughter or son, a friend, a poet, a
student.  After they were done, we discussed some of their answers.  As you were writing did you find yourself thinking things that maybe other people have said about you? I am a screw-up. I am a failure. I am not smart.  I am ugly.  I am not wanted. Or did something come to your mind that you really wish you were, but then you didn’t write it down because there is a voice inside of you who said “You’re not that.”?

So much of how we see ourselves is based on what we do or what others have said about us. But what really matters, what is really true is what God says about us.  This question of “Am I good enough?” is a universal one. It is something that all of us struggle with from time to time. We search for someone to tell us that we are valuable, that we are important, that we are chosen.  The Bible answers this question for us though in Ephesians 3:3-14.

When we accept Jesus and His sacrifice for our lives—when we choose to make Him the master and Lord of our lives—we are adopted into the family of God. Think about that. We are children of God, and we have been guaranteed an inheritance.  You've heard this idea at TPCC before, that as a Christian you are a child of God, but so few of us actually live that way. Most of us live just like everyone else. We should act different because we are different.  We are not just like everyone else. We are Royalty. We are children
of the King.

We are chosen (verse 4).  Few people know what being a child of God is really all about.  You see, if you are a Child of the King you are chosen.  Remember when you were a little kid and how important it was to
be chosen...maybe for kickball or to do something important for mom and dad?  We have this deep desire in us to be picked and the cool thing is that God knows that so He is sure to tell us that we are chosen.  Since you are chosen you don’t have to stress so much about whether you are good enough. You are already chosen. You don’t have to prove yourself. You are already picked.  Most importantly, you don't have to try and be someone you're not to impress someone else.  It doesn't matter what others think about you because you are chosen by God!  To grasp how important it is to just be yourself...the person God created and chose, we watched a clip from Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs.

We struggle to get the newest ipod or cell phone or the nicest clothes. We struggle to prove that we are smarter, prettier, or better than the next guy so that we will feel valuable in this world.  Well, you are valuable because God has said you are valuable. He has chosen you.

Also, we have grace: (verses 7-8).  Being a child of the King also means that you have grace, and not
just a little grace, but grace overflowing.  There is a great word here—lavished. It speaks so beautifully of
what God’s grace really is all about. God’s grace is poured out with abundance on our lives.  Whatever you have done, no matter how far you have walked away, no matter where you have run or what you have turned your life into, you have God’s amazing grace. You can never out sin God’s grace.

To demonstrate how God lavishes His love on us, we had a little eating contest!  We picked two youth and put them in front of hotdogs in buns.   We placde a small amount of mustard on each hotdog and said:  This is a little mustard.  Then we placed a larger amount of mustard on each hotdog and said:  For most people this is enough mustard.  Then we emptied the bottle of mustard on the hotdogs and said:  But this is what it means to lavish the hotdogs with mustard. It is above and beyond what is needed.  Did I mention the hotdogs had to be eaten without hands then too!

Once you are His child you will always be His child. If you are a Christian there is nothing that you have done or will do that will keep God from adopting you into His family.  You have God’s Guarantee (verses 13-14).  God has placed his Holy Spirit in your life as a guarantee of your inheritance. As a Christian you belong to God. No one can take that away from you. No one can make that not true.  No matter what others may say about you, no matter what other people may do to you, you will never stop being a child of the King.

So what about you? Have you forgotten whose child you are? Are you living like a child of God or are you living a defeated life? If you have never asked Jesus to be the Master of your life.  You can do that now and be adopted into His family. If you are a Christian, then you need to stop living like you are defeated and start living like you are a child of the King.

We finished with a story about a princess who doesn't know she's royalty.  Alexandria is a shy, tomboyish daughter of the king. When she is sent to boarding school the other girls tease her. He father comes to check the situation out and reminds Alexandria that she is not just any girl, she is a daughter of the king. The story ends with the king parading his daughter around the school so that everyone can see that she belongs to him.

As Christians, we are children of God, and yet most of us forget to live that way. We live defeated lives, keeping our heads down and believing what other people say about us. The Bible says that we have been granted the spirit of sonship, that we can now call God, “Abba, Father.”

We closed watching Matthew's West's music video, Hello, My Name Is.