Scripture: Romans 12:1-13 - Living Sacrifices

Three levels of fellowship:

1. Membership: Choosing to belong.
   • v.5 - "so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
   • You are called to belong, not just believe.
   • Membership involves being a part of a group. (e.g. you can't be a soldier without being a part of an army.)
   • An important part of membership is baptism. It signifies your inclusion in God's family.
2. Friendship: Learning to share.
   • Genesis 2:18 - "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
   • God intends for us to experience life together.
   • Unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacriicial giving, sympathetic comforting, etc.
   • Size matters. Smaller is better. You can worship with a large crowd, but you can't fellowship with one.
   • By inviting people into your homes and sharing your experiences & possessions, people can experience life together.
3. Partnership: Striving to contribute.
   • Being a part of the church does not mean just resting/observing. Church is not a 'spiritual spa'.
   • We are all co-heirs in the family of God.
   • Success comes when everyone contributes and even goes beyond the call of duty.

1 John 4:21 - "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Related sermon: Formed For God's Family by Dr. Stephen Pattison

--------------------

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5 - A psalm. For giving thanks.

"The worship of God is the most blessed of all earthly vocations. There is no higher or nobler task to which we can give our energies and devote our time. God is first. God is worthy. And we are privileged to enjoy personal fellowship with Him... Worship is about God, not man." - Allen & Borror.

Worship is...

1. Our response to God's love.
   Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."
   1. It's learning to see God's worthiness.
      • longingly treasuring God
      • holding Him close to our hearts
      • "He is totally and utterly worth of worship. He doesn't just invite or demand it, he is worth it..." - Graham Kendrick
      • "Here I Am to Worship" - Tim Hughes (click to see lyrics)
   2. It's allowing your heart to be touched.
      • "Merely learning a truth about God is only intellectual education.. We haven't worshipped unless that truth descend from our minds and touches our emotions and our will." - Pastor Tim Keller
2. Our Giving Back to God.
   When we're grateful to God, it gives him great joy and pleasure.
   1. It's being grateful for where we are in life.
      • Colossians 3:23 - "...whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..."
      • changing who you work for... then work will also be worship
      • "In life, it's not what you do that matters, it's who you're doing it for that counts."
      • What is God's will for me? Who are we doing it for? Ourselves, others, God?
      • "Worship stands at the center... Worship, then, is not only the public acts as we do as a gathered community, but our way of everyday life." - Robert Webber
   2. It's being accountable for what we have in life.
      • Where are we spending our time?
      • Hebrews 4:13 - "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Good Reasons to Worship God - Psalm 103

Related sermon: Formed for God's Pleasure by Dr. Stephen Pattison

--------------------