WORSHIP Our whole bodies Romans 12:1-8

“I beg you …”! “I urge you, I beseech you, I implore you …” “- for God’s sake …!”

WORSHIP for God’s sake! “ - your spiritual act of worship” (1)

Many Christians don’t understand worship - but they love the noise it makes.

Source of the River Thames Pool of London Where is the source of our worship?

MERCY (- when we don’t get what we do deserve) GRACE (- when we get what we don’t deserve) - in view of God’s …

POLLUTED SOURCES OF WORSHIP: 1 “I need to get God on my side” 2 “I want other people to see me” 3 “I enjoy performing” 4 “I need friendship” 5 “It makes me feel happy” 6 “I enjoy a feeling of mystery” 7 “I like the Vicar”

‘Their early married life was rocked by tragedy when their first daughter, Vanessa, died at three weeks. In his anguish, any remnant of his Catholic faith was extinguished.’ “The Jesuits were very clever men,” he recalled. “My mother said it was the Jesuits’ fault I didn’t believe, because they made me think.”

The heart of the appeal: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices” “For you it’s a substantial contribution; for me it’s the ultimate sacrifice!” BREAKFAST “ - your spiritual act of worship”

Fill thou my life, O Lord my God, in every part with praise, that my whole being may proclaim thy being and thy ways. Not for the lip of praise alone, nor e'en the praising heart I ask, but for a life made up of praise in every part! Fill every part of me with praise; let all my being speak of thee and of thy love, O Lord, poor though I be and weak. So shall no part of day or night from sacredness be free; but all my life in every step be fellowship with thee! ‘Living sacrifices’ An OXYMORON? (Living servant or dead sacrifice?) Temple? Synagogue? Streets? Lanes? Lakes? Homes?

OFFER YOUR BODIES! RENEW YOUR MINDS! “My mother said it was the Jesuits’ fault I didn’t believe, because they made me think.” Sir Terry Wogan THINKING MATTERS! “It’s not how much you’ve got that really matters, but what you do with what you’ve got. So what are you doing with what you’ve got?

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 “Now I can see!”

To see God more clearly To see yourself more clearly “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought …. - but … according to the measure of faith God has given you.” SOBER JUDGMENT - as God has made you, not as sin has spoiled you RENEW YOUR MINDS

Don’t try to be someone else … (except Jesus?) - be yourself! All the same All different As God has made you, not as sin has spoiled you St Luke’s Church

HOW HAS GOD MADE YOU? 1 Get a good mirror (Bible, Christian friends, leaders) 2 See where the Lord has blessed others through you 3 See what you enjoy doing 4 See what proclaims the grace and mercy of God 5 Do you really want to know? 6 Get on with it!

“Offer your bodies …” “Do not conform …” “Be transformed …” “Think with sober judgement …” THIS IS YOUR SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP In view of God’s mercy …