I. God Gives To Us So We Can Give Back To Him

(TOYL Semper Fi: Faithfulness with our Time, Talent, Treasure, & Truth)

A. Hannah and Samuel  1Sa 1:11…give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…

B. Abraham and Isaac  Ge 22:8 Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." (22:1 test)

C. Israel and Egyptian Gold 1Ch 29:14 who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. 16  "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. 17  "I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You. (

II. Sacrifice=Worship: Response to Revelation, Showing that God is Worthy of Obedience, & Worthy of Our Best

A. Ourselves Rm 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (12:2 tells us how to do 12:1 {means})

B. Love Eph 5:2 walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

C. Enabling others’ faith-motivated service Phil 2:17 if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

D. Our best Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. (easy vs costly)

E. Praise Heb 13:15 by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

F. Unified Fellowship 1Pt 2:5  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

G. Good Sharing Hebrews 13:16  But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

H. Financial giving Phil 4:18  Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

III. The Poor Saints Guide to Big Ticket Sacrifice: Things Even More Pleasing Than Physical Sacrifice

A. Obedience 1Sam 15:22...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

B. Deeds Heb 10:5…He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me

C. Hear Ecc 5:1 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools…

D. Loyal love & Intimacy Mt 9:13…learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Ho 6:6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

E. Humility Ps 5116 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--These, O God, You will not despise.

F. Righteousness & Justice Pr 21:3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Hosea 6:6  For I desire mercy (loyal love) and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

G. Two loves Mk 12:33  "And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. What constitutes worship? A sacrifice? Is God more pleased with some “offerings” than others?

2. What is God worth to you? How do you show that God is worthy? Why are we tempted to treat Him shabbily with our time and treasure?

3. What are the hardest “things” to sacrifice? Why is that so? What would motivate you to make that sacrifice?

4. What blessings, privileges, opportunities has the Lord given to you that you can use or sacrifice for His glory? Why hesitation?