Main Scripture Reference - Romans 12:1-2
Other Scripture References: Acts 9:1-6

INTRO–‘It’s Labor Day’Read Romans 12:1

Even though Labor Day weekend is celebrated by most as a day off of work, we want to take a new spin on how to celebrate Labor Day. It is the Apostle Paul that gives another view on what labor is all about especially because of what God has done for each and every follower of Jesus. In a nut shell because of God’s great mercy and grace Paul says you are to respond in kind with action and work that represents gratitude back to God, asking the questions, “what can I bring as my act of service and where shall I serve?”

• List some of what God has done for you in the past several years. What has been your response back to God?
• Name the ways you have served or labored in God’s mission in the past? What has been most meaningful to you and why?

POINT 1–‘Offering The Body’Read Acts 9:1-6

Paul definitely knew what it meant to labor for God. Even from an early age he was zealous for God going to the best schools, becoming a top student and scholar and eventually becoming a powerful teacher in Judaism. Under the guise of serving God he even began great persecution of the early followers of Jesus thinking they were blasphemers of God by finding and imprisoning them. However, Jesus met him on his way to Damascus and changed his labor of death into a labor of life sending him all over the world spreading the saving message of Jesus life, death and resurrection. No longer was forgiveness of sin found in the sacrifice of animals but in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. And in response Paul tells us to begin offering our bodies as living sacrifices because that is what God is calling all of us to do in truly worshipping God.

• What are some sacrifices you typically make on a daily basis? Why do you do it? How many are for God’s work and kingdom?
• Describe the ways you are “giving life” to others in response to God giving you life in Jesus?

POINT 2–‘Becoming Transformed’Read Romans 12:2

The amazing thing that happens when you begin offering yourself, your labor, even your own life to God as a living sacrifice, you become transformed. This seems backwards in that you might think that you need to be transformed before you can serve God, but the opposite is true. When you begin laboring for God, stepping out and serving God instead of yourself, God will transform both your heart and your mind. It’s in doing God’s work that God will also show you things you’ve never seen before, bring you new energy and meaning to life, and renew your life and love for God and for others.

• Has serving ever transformed your thinking or given you an ‘aha’ moment? Explain.
• Has God’s will ever become clearer because you stepped out and began serving? What happened?

ACTION–‘Being a Living Sacrifice’

Finally, you might not know just exactly where God is calling you to invest your labor, but in becoming a living sacrifice keep in mind that the smallest act is hundreds times more powerful than the greatest intentions. Just begin taking steps to serve and in doing so not only will God bless you, but God will begin to show you the big picture of his will, shining the light on your next steps as you labor for the kingdom.

• How is your current “work,” laboring for God’s versus just laboring for yourself?
• What are some gifts and passions you could offer for God’s service? What one step of action will you take this year to begin serving God?
• How are you currently offering yourself to God as a living sacrifice? What will you commit to do this fall?