Message Notes

YAG 10th RETREAT 
SESSION # 1
Friday, 16 October 2009
Time: 8.00pm
Theme: “A Living Sacrifice”

A. WHAT IS THIS RETREAT ALL ABOUT?

1. Theme: A Living Sacrifice
2. What is the significance of this theme?

a) In Biblical Thought

b) In Pauline Thought

c) In our Personal Thought

3. Proposal

a) That this theme is derived from typical Pauline thought

b) That this theme was central to Paul’s manner of life and ministry

c) That this theme is a vital key to a life of effective and fruitful ministry

d) This Retreat is to help us discover the Principles that would enable us to become as effective servants of God as the apostles were… in particular the apostle Paul

4. Goals

a) To examine and ascertain Pauline thought on the subject “A Living Sacrifice”

b) To discover Paul’s methodology of a Reasoned Approach to Faith

c) To ponder Ramifications of a Reasoned Faith

d) To lament and decry the lack of a well-reasoned approach to faith, life and ministry

e) To determine to adopt the reasoned approach towards living out our faith in Christ

f) To discover the power of a faith and life built on reasoned Biblical thought

g) To develop new skills in the cultivation of our faith-life

5. Key Texts

a) Romans 12

b) Hebrews 10:1-14

i) Sacrifice (thusia           Hebrews 10:5b)

ii) Offering (prosphora           Hebrews 10:5b)

iii) Sacrifice/offering (interchangeable terms           Hebrews 10:12, 14)

iv) Body prepared (prepared… katartizo           Hebrews 10:5c; Luke 6:40)

c) Philippians 2:17 (spendomai “Poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of our faith”)<?

d) 2 Timothy 4:6 (spendomai) “Poured out as a drink offering”

6. A Rich Heritage (Researched)

a) Sacrificial system (Old Testament-           Malachi 1-2)

Not to be despised

b) Shadow of the good things to come           Hebrews 10:1

c) Supreme example of Sacrifice- Jesus!

i) The Lamb of God           John 1:29, 36

ii) Sacrifice “Offering of the body of Christ once for all”           Hebrews 10:10

iii) Prepared- (key word           Hebrews 10:5c)

d) Significant phrase “a living sacrifice”

i) Drawn from the Scriptures

ii) Derived from comprehension of Jesus as the Supreme Sacrifice

iii) Daring challenge to present self as a living sacrifice to God
(paristemi- dedicate, present Romans 12:1)

iv) Dramatically argued as “a reasonable service” (logical)

REASONED RESPONSE

1. A carefully considered appropriate response

a) More than an emotional response

b) Certainly more than a temporary response

c) Cheap responses are rejected outright           (Malachi 1-2)

d) A Reasoned Response

2. A Response that may be learned/ must be learned

a) Religious history of Israel

b) Reality of the example seen in Jesus

c) Reality of the examples of the servants of God (e.g. Paul)

3. Problems associated with “A Non-reasoned Response”

a) Shallowness/superficiality

b) Weakness

c) Ineffectiveness

d) Unsustainable

e) Yet so common and the Church is so much weaker consequently

f) Many never amount to much because they do not know how to connect to our rich heritage of faith

4. Conclusion of Paul’s Reasoned Response to the Salvation God has given us           (Romans 1-11)

a) A living sacrifice

b) Holy

c) Acceptable

d) Reasonable service

5. Appeal to reason

a) Samuel

Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and your fathers.

1 Samuel 12:7

b) The LORD

Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD,
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18