Point of Grace Online Worship - November 23, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 11.21.25 “Consecrated Unto Thee” Part 4

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Consecration – to make “holy”, to “set apart” for God,

God makes us “holy” (set apart for Him) through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Now, we respond to that gracious by “consecrating” ourselves to Him. Consecration is an active response to the gracious action God has taken in saving and redeeming us as His special people. We now freely by faith “offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”

How can we “consecrate” the actual parts of our living?

Praying and Doing

“Pray”

It is so very helpful to regularly bring the different arenas of our lives under the authority, rule and reign of Jesus through prayer – especially those areas where we tend to resist His leadership and those areas where we are vulnerable to the enemies lies and attacks.

“Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You”

“Jesus, I give You everyone and everything.”

“Jesus, I now bring the Kingdom reign of God over my life and over all my kingdom and domain especially ……(ie. my body, sexuality, finances, entertainment choices, my time, my words, my relationships ….)

“Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’…. I declare ‘Yes’ to You first” in each arena of my life …. ……

“Before I go to my culture, my common sense, my upbringing, ‘what seems right in my own eyes’, and my ever ‘demanding to be heard’ anxiety … my first ‘yes’ goes to Jesus. Jesus gets my ‘yes’ first and my first ‘yes’.” And when I fall short… and choose other ‘yeses’ first… and I will … my failure is met with His grace because He said ‘yes” to me first before I could ever say ‘yes’ to him. His ‘yes’ me first sets me free to re-commit myself to saying ‘yes’ to Him always.”

“Do” - How do I “act” in accordance with my consecration prayer?

GUARDING A CONSECRATED LIFE

Romans 1:19-25

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  

Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

HONORING GOD AND GIVING THANKS ARE INSEPARABLE ACTS OF WORSHIP

"That man is truly happy who can say of all his substances, be it little or be it much, 'The Lord gave it to me.'" (Spurgeon)

"Lack of gratitude is the first step to idolatry (Rom 1:21). Thanksgiving is an explicit acknowledgment of creatureliness and dependence, a recognition that everything comes as gift, the verbalization before God of his goodness and generosity." (Fee)

Romans 1:19-25

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Luke 17:11-19

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

GOD WILL ALLOW WHAT THE HEART DESIRES EVEN IF IT IS NOT HIM

THE PRACTICE OF VALUING AND GIVING THANKS IS THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL CLARITY AND GROWTH

Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

THE CROSS WASN'T A TRAGEDY; IT WAS A DIVINE STRATEGY

Giving thanks is not just merely with words, but with a life lived in the Spirit responding to this immeasurable gift.

● Giving thanks for The Cross means we are willing to take up our own.

● Giving thanks for the Cross means I long to be reconciled with others because I have been reconciled with God. Who is it in your life that you are holding at a distance? A family member, a colleague, a neighbor? Let your profound gratitude for the Cross move you toward reconciliation, not retreat.

● Give thanks for the Cross means serving where you are not seen, or where you will receive no earthly reward.

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 16, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 11.16.25 “Consecrated Unto Thee” Part 3

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Consecration – to make “holy”, to “set apart” for God,

God makes us “holy” (set apart for Him) through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 
Now, we respond to that gracious by “consecrating” ourselves to Him.  Consecration is an active response to the gracious action God has taken in saving and redeeming us as His special people.  We now freely by faith “offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”

How can we “consecrate” the actual parts of our living?

Praying and Doing

“Pray”

It is so very helpful to regularly bring the different arenas of our lives under the authority, rule and reign of Jesus through prayer – especially those areas where we tend to resist His leadership and those areas where we are vulnerable to the enemies lies and attacks.

“Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You”

“Jesus, I give You everyone and everything.”

“Jesus, I now bring the Kingdom reign of God over my life and over all my kingdom and domain especially ……(ie. my body, sexuality, finances, entertainment choices, my time, my words, my relationships ….)

“Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’…. I declare ‘Yes’ to You first” in each arena of my life ….        ……

“Before I go to my culture, my common sense, my upbringing, ‘what seems right in my own eyes’, and my ever ‘demanding to be heard’ anxiety … my first ‘yes’ goes to Jesus. 
Jesus gets my ‘yes’ first and my first ‘yes’.” And when I fall short… and choose other ‘yeses’ first… and I will … my failure is met with His grace because He said ‘yes” to me first before I could ever say ‘yes’ to him.  His ‘yes’ me first sets me free to re-commit myself to saying ‘yes’ to Him always.”

“Do” - How do I “act” in accordance with my consecration prayer?

Why is it so important that our “money and wealth” be consecrated to God through financial giving?

Biblical Giving – Returning to the Lord a sacrificially generous percentage of what He has already given us is an obedient act of consecrated worship of the One who sacrificially gave Himself for us.

Leviticus 27:30-33
30 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 31 Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. 33 No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution.”

Malachi 3:8-11
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Jesus, in all areas of my life including my finances.  You have my first, Yes! 
           My first “Yes” in my financial life is a sacrificially generous percentage of what You have graciously given me, returned to You as an offering.  This is my true and proper worship.

Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You.

Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’….  I declare ‘Yes’ to You first …. In every arena of my life…”

Amen 

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 9, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 11.9.25 “Consecrated Unto Thee” Part 2 

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Consecration – to make “holy”, to “set apart” for God,

God makes us “holy” (set apart for Him) through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 
Now, we respond to that gracious by “consecrating” ourselves to Him.  Consecration is an active response to the gracious action God has taken in saving and redeeming us back to Him – as His special people.

Living the consecrated life is shaping our lifestyle to conform to the identity God has given us.  
God has set us apart to live a special way.  At PoG we call it, “the meaningful life Christ intends!”

A Foundational Declaration of “Consecrated Unto Thee” Living

“Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You”

With that truth comes refreshing Release and needed Realignment!

            Release – “Jesus, I give You everyone and everything.”

            “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1Peter 5:7

            Realignment – “Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’…. I declare ‘Yes’ to You first”

            “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
             will be given to you as well”. Matthew 6:33

“Before I go to my culture, my common sense, my upbringing, ‘what seems right in my own eyes’,
and my ever ‘demanding to be heard’ anxiety … my first ‘yes’ goes to Jesus. 
Jesus gets my ‘yes’ first and my first ‘yes’.”
And when I fall short… and choose other ‘yeses’ first… and I will … my failure is met with His grace because He said ‘yes” to me first before I could ever say ‘yes’ to him.  His ‘yes’ me first sets me free to say ‘yes’ to Him always.”

1 Chronicles 29: 9-16
9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,  “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you;  you are the ruler of all things.  In your hands are strength and power  to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.  16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

Mark 12:41-44   Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Jesus, All I am and all I have and all there is … Belongs to You.
Jesus, I give everyone and everything to You.  (name the things you need to release)
           I give everyone and everything to You, Jesus

Jesus, You have my first ‘Yes’….  I declare ‘Yes’ to You first”

Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - November 2, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 11.2.25 “Consecrated Unto Thee” Part 1 

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

Consecration – to make “holy”, to “set apart” for God,

God makes us “holy” (set apart for Him) through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 
Now, we respond to that grace and love by “consecrating” ourselves to Him.  Consecration is an active response to the gracious action God has taken in saving and redeeming us back to Him – as His special people.

Consecrating includes cleansing, sacrifice and (re-)dedication to God and His purposes in the world.

Consecration is so important in a time of compromise.

Theological compromise

John 17:14-19 “13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 

“The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions.” A.W. Tozer   

Moral Compromise

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

“Three marks of a moral revolution:
What was universally condemned is now celebrated.
What was universally celebrated is now condemned.
Those who refuse to celebrate are condemned.”
Theo Hobson 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

We are consecrated to a Person – In our “being” and in our “living” we are “set apart” for a person.

1 Peter 2 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

We are consecrated for a Purpose – In our “being” and in our “living” we are “set apart” for His purpose.

1 Peter 2 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ……. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

“A man by His sin may waste himself, which is to waste that which on earth is most like God.  This is man’s greatest tragedy and God’s heaviest grief.” A. W. Tozer

“You were born in the image of God to be used by God for incredible Kingdom purposes and the greatest tragedy is that you will waste your life on lesser things.  You are the perfect candidate for God to use if you will consecrate yourself to Him” – Jon Tyson

“The world has yet to see what God would do with a man fully consecrated to Him” D.L. Moody

“Other’s may.

You may not!” 

Joshua 3:5
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” 

Consecrate yourselves!

            Cleansing, Sacrifice, (Re-)Dedication to Jesus and His purposes in the world.

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 27, 2024

Point of Grace – 10.27.24 Giving is the Gift - Part 2 Sermon Notes

Giving is the Gift!

Why and How?

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Our thinking needs renewing to be able discern the will of God in every aspect of life.

October 31st – Reformation Day

“Jesus, renew our thinking when it comes to money, wealth and possessions.”

Luke 12 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 0 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Matthew 6 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up, for yourselves, treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/wealth-and-worry/

How is Jesus renewing our thinking regarding Money, Wealth and Possessions?”

Several things are becoming clear…

•                     Jesus loves us too much to let us handle money on our own!

•                     It is natural and normal to see money and possessions as proof of success, sources of security and a ticket to happiness and a well lived life. Jesus never leads us in that direction when discussing the subject. Rather, Jesus actually warns that although using money is necessary it is by nature a stumbling block to faith and a seductive temptress to lure our hearts away from God.

•                     Money is a tool to honor/worship God and to love others.  

1 Timothy 6 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Financial giving as a regular rhythm of life is a powerful way to worship God with money, grow our relentless dependence on Him for daily living and keep in check money’s power in our life.

Tale of Two Jesus Followers

John 12:1-8 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

Jesus, Thank you for calling us to regularly return to You a sacrificially generous portion of what you have already graciously given us through our income. Increase our faith so that our offerings

•                     honor and worship You for who you truly are,

•                     reveal relentless dependence on You,

•                     flow with joyful love for you and others

•                     and help advance Your Kingdom cause. Thank you for your abundant provision!

Point of Grace Online Worship - October 20, 2024

Point of Grace – 10.20.24    Sermon Notes

Giving is the Gift!

Why and How?

Romans 12:1
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”  NIV

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” MSG 

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters,
in view of God’s mercy, (our giving to God starts with His giving to us)
to offer (present) your bodies  (our whole beings)
as a sacrifice (a surrender), that is
                                        living,  
                                      holy, (set apart to God, consecrated to Jesus)
                                      pleasing to God—
this is your true and proper (spiritual/reasonable) worship.  

“… it is incorrect to presume that Christ ends all sacrifice.  Yes, His once-for-all bloody sacrifice accomplished the purpose anticipated by all the OT sacrifices as the all-availing sacrifice of atonement for sin.  He is the sin offering… At the same time, the NT repeatedly calls for believers
to sacrifice themselves to God and others in response to the Gospel.” 
(Michael Middendorf – Concordia Commentary – Romans 9-16)
 

God always calls His people to offer their whole selves as “living sacrifices” in worship of Him. This is a significant part of following Him of learning the life of trusting Him. 

Proverbs 3:5-12
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 

Luke 12 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
0 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 

Why is this important for the giving of financial offerings?

Money is important and represents something significant about us which is why it must be part of what is offered to God as a “living sacrifice” which is true and proper worship.  If it is not sacrificially offered to God it will remain a powerful and cruel god in our lives as we look to it for security, significance, hope, and evidence of a well-lived life.  If we cannot “let go of” a sacrificially generous percentage of our income as an offering to God, money has become too important to us. 

Father, Son, Holy Spirit - gathering in Your presence in the first part of the first day of this week is a great joy.  Accept our “sacrifices of praise” as an offering …. You are worthy to receive our first and best for You gave first and You gave your best in the sacrifice of Yourself for us……
Thank you for your sacrificial generosity!

We also bring our financial offerings before you this week.  Thank you for calling us to regularly return to You a sacrificially generous portion of what you have already graciously given us through our income. Increase our faith so that our offerings honor you, reveal relentless dependence on you, flow with joyful love and help advance Your Kingdom cause. 
Thank you for your abundant provision!

We consecrate this coming week of life to You, our gracious Savior and Lord!

Amen