Lasting Glory - Part 2

WELCOME

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.”—Romans 11:36

Immediately following Romans 11:36, we get the first two verses of chapter 12: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern that is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” A living sacrifice is a paradoxical yet amazing word picture for describing life in the Kingdom of God. We put to death those things in us that need to die, and we also willingly sacrifice good things, like time and money, for the good of others. Paul says this is our worship, our giving glory to God.

WORKOUT

Read Matthew 6:25-33

The analogy of a living sacrifice is a powerful image and should stir in us a deep desire to become one; however, as D.L. Moody said, “The trouble with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar.” Although not necessarily wrong or evil, an obsessive focus on our wants, needs, desires, and ambitions clouds our vision and can quickly distract us from keeping our focus on God and His Kingdom. In the coaching world, the temptation to worry is around almost every corner. When the shelter over you and your family’s heads is directly dependent on your winning percentage, worry and anxiety about your team’s performance, their health, your coaching staff, and your administration’s support (or lack thereof) will be easily within reach. When your sibling or your college teammate finally lands the top-tier coaching position you’ve all been dreaming about, you will be tempted to covet, but you will also be tempted to worry: Am I not good enough? Have I made the right decisions in the past to set me up for the future I want? The mental, emotional, and spiritual fallout of worrying should be enough to help us avoid it, but unfortunately, it’s not enough.

• In your own words, how would you describe the concept of a living sacrifice?
• Where are you tempted to worry in your vocation as a coach? If you feel the freedom, share your answers with the group.

Jesus gives us the way out: “But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt 6:33-34).

How do we seek the Kingdom of God? If God’s Kingdom is “the rule and reign of God,” then what would it look like to make His rule and reign, His righteous and just way of living, the priority?

Another way to describe God’s rule and reign could be “the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2), how did Paul tell us that we could know it? “Do not be conformed to this age but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). We stop listening to the noise all around us, the chatter and rumble of this age that will lead us to unholy comparisons, to envy, to worry, to be anxiety. Instead, we put ourselves in the spaces and places where we are drawn to God in Christ through the Spirit.

• What does it mean to be a member of God’s Kingdom? What responsibilities and opportunities does this membership provide?
• What are the spaces and places that are most helpful for you to refocus on God?

WRAP-UP

Moving from living and competing for our glory to doing all things for God’s glory is a lifelong pursuit. There will be mountains, valleys, smooth roads, and rutted mud paths. As you continue this journey, may you be “encouraged, comforted, and implored… to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12).

Kingdom First: When God’s Kingdom and His rule in our lives become the priority, we find our needs met and all other priorities in order.

For His glory: Being united with God through Christ in the Spirit results in the ability to do all things for His glory