Wednesday 08/17/16
Series: The Pursuit of God
Messages – Chapter 10a – The Sacrament of Living
The Sacrament of Living
- Discuss your first blush thoughts about this chapter.
- Discuss some ways in which you have a tendency to think of some things as holy unto the God and therefore glorifying Him and others as mundane or common?
- In reality, even the things we sometimes view as common or mundane are in fact able to glorify God such as eating, sleeping, work, taking care of our homes, loved ones and our own health! Use these in this list and name some more that occur to you and discuss how these attentions, activities & events are acts which can be done ‘In Christ’ and to His glory making them ‘sacred’ rather than mundane. (Please be practical with this and very sincere. This is one of the most important questions. By thinking through this honestly and reflecting back on it later you will be able to begin living the entirety of your every moment to His glory in conscious awareness of His pleasure. THIS is where the battle is won for glorifying God in the flesh and living a ‘stirred up ‘ life. It is a real game changer!)
- Nearly everyone, in one way or another, divides their life into two (or more) segments. For the Christian this is a much more painful experience than for the lost. When we view large sections of our lives as not holy and not sacred, it effects our outlook and behavior in ways that are detrimental to our Christian life. What are some thoughts, behavior patterns, outlooks and roles we live out as a result of this type of segmented thinking?
- Read the following verses and discuss their impact on this subject.
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1Cor. 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
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1Cor. 12:14-27, “(14) For in fact the body is not one member but many. (15) If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? (18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (19) And if they were all one member, where would the body be? (20) But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. (21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” (22) No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. (23) And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, (24) but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, (25) that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. (26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
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1Cor. 6:19-20, “(19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
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1Thess. 4:3-7, “(3) For this is the will of God, your sanctification: …..that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, (5) not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; (6) that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. (7) For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” (THERE IS MORE TO THIS SCRIPTURE BUT TO AVOID YOU THINKING THIS IS ONLY ABOUT SEXUAL SIN, I REMOVED THAT PORTION OF THE SCRIPTURE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK IT UP LATER AND READ IT ALL AT ONCE TO SEE THE FULL TEXT.)
Blessings!
This is where we ended our discussions on chapter 8c , Restoring the Creator Creature Relation of A.W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God. We will be progressing further into the chapter next week…Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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Blessings!