Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1–2
Introduction
A. As Christians we are called upon to sacrifice things that the world esteems too great to give up for anything.
B. The reason they would never give them up is because there is nothing in the visible world worth as much, but for us there is.
Discussion
I. We are called upon to give up things of great value to the world.
A. We give up our own personal will (Rom. 12:1–2).
B. We may have to surrender personal ambitions as well (Rom. 12:3–8).
C. We must set aside also our quest for personal glory (Rom. 12:9–13; 1 Cor. 13:4–6).
D. We may have to forfeit personal comforts (Rom. 12:15–16).
E. We will also give up the demand for personal satisfaction (Rom. 12:14, 17–21).
II. Why would anyone give up all these things?
A. In all that he sacrificed (2 Cor. 4:7–12), Paul was only exchanging the visible for the invisible (vv 13–16).
B. He was exchanging the temporal for the eternal (2 Cor. 4:17; 5:1–5).
C. He exchanged physical vision for spiritual (2 Cor. 5:7).
D. He exchanged man’s glory for God’s (2 Cor. 4:17).
Conclusion
A. We preach both because of the terror of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:10–11) and because of His love (v 14).
B. When we belong to Christ, all things become new (2 Cor. 5:17), and life is finally worth living—and worth surrendering too.