Serving - Requires sacrifice

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 2:10 | For we are Gods masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Romans 12:1 | And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Joshua 24:12-24 | So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. The people replied, We would never abandon the LORD and serve other gods. For the LORD our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the LORD who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the LORD, for he alone is our God. Then Joshua warned the people, You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you abandon the LORD and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you. But the people answered Joshua, No, we will serve the LORD! You are a witness to your own decision, Joshua said. You have chosen to serve the LORD. Yes, they replied, we are witnesses to what we have said. All right then, Joshua said, destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel. The people said to Joshua, We will serve the LORD our God. We will obey him alone.


DISCUSSION

1. What excuses have you made about serving God and others?
2. What are some things that get in the way of you being able to serve God and others?
3. What in your life has been made an idol - something you treat as more important than serving God? What are we told to do to our idols in Joshua 24?
4. We saw that Jesus serving us cost Him his life. What will serving God and others cost you? [Your idols should be on this list!]
5. Will you choose today (and every day) to serve God? What steps will you take to actually make this happen?