1. LIVING SACRIFICES

2. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2) LIVING SACRIFICES

3. #1 Urgency of the Message “I beseech you therefore...” LIVING SACRIFICES

4. Paul teaches that: There is urgency connected to sacrificial living. There is urgency connected to sacrificial living. Paul uses the term, “beseech”, meaning to beg. Paul uses the term, “beseech”, meaning to beg. -According to scholar Joseph H. Thayer, the word translated beseech comes from the Greek word "parakaleo" (2000, 487). Urgency of the Message

5. #2 Uniqueness of the Sacrifice “present your bodies a living sacrifice...” LIVING SACRIFICES

6. Paul teaches that: Our sacrifice is to be living. Our sacrifice is to be living. Our sacrifice is to be active. Our sacrifice is to be active. Our sacrifice is to be holy. Our sacrifice is to be holy. Our sacrifice is to be reasonable. Our sacrifice is to be reasonable. Uniqueness of the Sacrifice

7. #3 Undergoing the Metamorphosis “be ye transformed...” LIVING SACRIFICES

8. This means that: We must not be “fashioned” after the world. We must not be “fashioned” after the world. – Fashioned means to be molded in the form of. We must be transformed from worldliness. We must be transformed from worldliness. – Transformed means to be changed like a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. Undergoing a Metamorphosis

9. How do we become transformed? By renewing our minds: Through Prayer Through Prayer Through Study of God's Word Through Study of God's Word Through Worship of God Through Worship of God Through Serving others Through Serving others Uniqueness of the Sacrifice

10. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2) LIVING SACRIFICES

11. Source I also wrote an article originally published on Suite101.com with the same title. You can access that article at http://suite101.com/article/romans-121-2-living- sacrifices-a382044.