In this lesson, Dr. Moo explains how a Greek word in Romans 12:1 can help with "Worship Wars" in the church.
Step 1: Watch the Lecture
Step 2: Reading
“The metaphor in the verse has as its setting the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. Believers are exhorted to ‘make a decisive dedication’ (Berkeley) of themselves as worshipers stepping forward to place their offerings on the altar. Holiness of life rarely progresses apart from deliberative acts of the will. While sanctification is gradual in the sense that it continues throughout life, each advance depends upon a decision of the will. That the sacrifice is ‘living’ reflects the voluntary nature of the act. F. F. Bruce comments that ‘the sacrifices of the new order do not consist in taking the lives of others, like the ancient animal sacrifices, but in giving one’s own.’ Such sacrifices are ‘holy and pleasing to God.’ They are worthy of his acceptance. The possibility of bringing pleasure to God provides a powerful motivation for complete surrender of self.
Paul said that the offering of one’s body as a living sacrifice is a ‘spiritual act of worship.’ This expression has been variously translated as ‘spiritual service, reasonable worship, rational service,’ and so on. Perhaps the best paraphrase is that of Knox, ‘This is the worship due from you as rational creatures.’ ”
The Alter for Burning Sacrifices – Robert G. Bratcher and Howard Hatton, A Handbook on the Revelation to John, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993), 164
Step 3: Application Questions
In every lesson of every course the Redemption Seminary curriculum has students answer application questions. This work builds into a portfolio that demonstrates learning for the course. This approach (rather than term papers or exams) helps people with busy lives chip away and amass a wealth of wisdom to reflect upon. See how the Lord blesses your work in answering the following questions.
How does understanding that our focus should be on “living” rather than “killing” in our act of sacrifice affect how we approach “worship wars” in the church?
This study obviously qualifies as rational worship. List a few habits of yours that qualify as rational worship. Is there one that you want to work on improving or adopting?