Daily Scripture: Romans 12:1 I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. 2 In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed. 3 For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust. 4 For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function; 5 so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others. 6 But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, use it to the extent of your trust; 7 if it is serving, use it to serve; if you are a teacher, use your gift in teaching; 8 if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully.
Reflection Questions:
Paul wanted his readers in Rome to offer themselves “as a living sacrifice,” and be able to “figure out what God’s will is.” That did not have to involve elaborate rituals. Instead, Paul described a process of honestly assessing who you are, and what gifts and talents you have to use in God’s service—and then to serve God and others in those ways!
- In the ancient world, most people had made a sacrifice to some god. As a rule, that meant killing an animal on the right altar at the right temple or shrine. What shift in thinking and acting sprang from Paul’s call to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice”? In what ways are you willing to put your life, yourself, “on the altar” to live daily for God?
- Have you looked in a mature, reasonable way at what gifts and talents you have? (Many helpful tools are available to help you do that. For some ideas on how to start, visit cor.org/spiritualgifts.) Which of your gifts and talents do you currently use in service to God or others? Are there any that are currently idle that you might start using in service?Today's
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the abilities and resources I have aren’t just “mine,” for me to hoard and use only for myself. Guide me to know how best to use them to bless others and build your kingdom. Amen.Insights from Phil Antilla
Lord Jesus, the abilities and resources I have aren’t just “mine,” for me to hoard and use only for myself. Guide me to know how best to use them to bless others and build your kingdom. Amen.Insights from Phil Antilla
Phil Antilla serves as the program director for Young Adult and College Ministry: www.cor.org/ya
When I was in middle school my family and I rarely attended church. I just couldn’t understand why church or religion even mattered.
One day a friend invited me to his youth group. It was called 12:1 (based on Romans 12:1). Little did I know, this wasn’t the “actual” youth group, which met on Sunday mornings. It was actually a secondary group of young Christians that met on Wednesday nights, and were committed to being leaders in the community and in the church.
On the first evening that I joined this group, the youth pastor stood up and said, “I’m excited to welcome Phil Antilla to our group. He’s in the 8th grade and has decided to offer his gifts and skills to serve the kingdom. He’s chosen to embody what we believe here at 12:1, that we are called to offer our lives as living sacrifices to the Lord.”
Living sacrifices? Really? Upon hearing this, guess what I did?
I ran home.
Seriously. It was a few miles! I told my parents that a friend dropped me off.
What was it that frightened me that night?
Looking back, I realize that I was terrified about the idea of God using my skills to serve the world. Surely, God can’t use someone like me!
I wasn’t ready for this kind of commitment. Church would be a lot more comfortable if I could just sit and be fed. But that’s not quite what God has in mind. The kingdom of God is a full bodied community of diverse people who use their skills, gifts, and talents to express the love, and depth, and joy of what it means to truly be alive.
Eventually, I found my way back to this youth group. And in time, what I discovered was that I was loved and accepted and that I did have something unique to offer the world and God.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
When I was in middle school my family and I rarely attended church. I just couldn’t understand why church or religion even mattered.
One day a friend invited me to his youth group. It was called 12:1 (based on Romans 12:1). Little did I know, this wasn’t the “actual” youth group, which met on Sunday mornings. It was actually a secondary group of young Christians that met on Wednesday nights, and were committed to being leaders in the community and in the church.
On the first evening that I joined this group, the youth pastor stood up and said, “I’m excited to welcome Phil Antilla to our group. He’s in the 8th grade and has decided to offer his gifts and skills to serve the kingdom. He’s chosen to embody what we believe here at 12:1, that we are called to offer our lives as living sacrifices to the Lord.”
Living sacrifices? Really? Upon hearing this, guess what I did?
I ran home.
Seriously. It was a few miles! I told my parents that a friend dropped me off.
What was it that frightened me that night?
Looking back, I realize that I was terrified about the idea of God using my skills to serve the world. Surely, God can’t use someone like me!
I wasn’t ready for this kind of commitment. Church would be a lot more comfortable if I could just sit and be fed. But that’s not quite what God has in mind. The kingdom of God is a full bodied community of diverse people who use their skills, gifts, and talents to express the love, and depth, and joy of what it means to truly be alive.
Eventually, I found my way back to this youth group. And in time, what I discovered was that I was loved and accepted and that I did have something unique to offer the world and God.
And this is exactly what I want to tell you. Whether you believe it or not, you are a gift to the world. You have something to offer.So may your mind be renewed. May you remember that you are not a product of the world, but a child of God. And may every aspect of your life be an opportunity to express the goodness and the grace of God. 
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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