Free to Worship: Offering a Well-Pleasing Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise

Free to Worship: Offering a Well-Pleasing Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise
Christ Proclamation Church
Sunday, 03/03/2024

Sermon Theme: In Christ, we are now free to worship God by offering a priestly sacrifice of prayer and praise, a fragrant aroma to our heavenly King.

I. Freedom to Worship Lost by Sin

    A. Blind to His Presence - (Lk. 4:18-19, 1 Jn. 3:6, 3 Jn. 1:1)

    B. Dead to His Presence - (Ez. 36:32, Eph. 2:1)

    C. Cast Out from His Presence - (Gen. 3:22-24, Eph. 2:11-13)

II. Freedom to Worship Gained through Christ

    A. Awakened by His Grace - (Mt. 5:8, Jn. 6:44, Jn. 3:14-15)

    B. Awakened to His Beauty 

        1. Worship by Beholding Christ - (2 Cor. 3:15ff, 1 Cor. 13:!2)

        2. Worship by Offering Life - (Rom. 12:1-2, Ex. 29:38-42)

            a. Overview of Offering - (12:1)

                i. Its Basic -> Mercy - (12:1a, 11:30-32)

               ii. Its Command -> Present - (12:1b, 6:12-14, 20-23)

              iii. Its Nature -> Sacrifice - (12:1c)

                  a) Living Sacrifice - (12c-i, 6:11-13)

                  b) Consecrated Sacrifice - (12:1-c ii, Ex. 29:1-9)

                  c) Well-Pleasing [Fragrant] Sacrifice - (12:1c-iii)

                      1) Sacrifice of Love - (Eph. 5:1-2)

                      2) Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise 

                         (a) Prayer - (Ex. 30:1, Ps. 141:1-2, Rev. 5:8)

                         (b) Praise - (Ps. 150, Heb. 13:!5, Rev. 7:9-12)

              iv. Its Essence -> Worship - (12:1d) 

            b. Means to Offering - (Rom. 12:2)

                i. Not Conforming to World - (12:2a, 1 Jn. 2:15-17)

               ii. Being Transformed by Spirit - (12:2b, 8:1-13)