Living For God, But In Our Own Way
In this compelling sermon based on Romans 12:1-2, the speaker explores the call to live for God not on our terms but His. The message begins with the foundational requirements for living a life dedicated to God, emphasizing that it all starts with salvation. Referencing John 3:16 and Romans 10:9, the speaker highlights the necessity of accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and believing in His sacrifice for our sins. Salvation, he underscores, is not something we earn but a gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Once saved, believers are called to stop living for themselves and begin living for God. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5:17, the speaker explains that accepting Christ makes us new creatures, transforming us from the inside out. However, God does not force change upon us; instead, He invites us to let go of worldly conformity and allow Him to renew our minds (Romans 12:2). This transformation requires believers to trust God’s plan, even when it challenges their understanding or disrupts their own ambitions.
The speaker also emphasizes that every believer has a divine purpose: to represent Christ and share the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). This purpose transcends our earthly priorities and focuses on eternal impact. Referencing Philippians 1:21 and Galatians 2:20, he calls Christians to die to self and live by faith, making Christ the center of their lives. This includes not only personal devotion but also actively pointing others to God through our actions and words.
A key challenge presented in the sermon is the tendency for Christians to claim they are living for God while actually prioritizing their own comfort and preferences. The speaker uses the example of a parent asking children to clean their rooms to illustrate how we can fulfill tasks without understanding their purpose. Similarly, Christians may attend church, read the Bible, and pray, yet fail to fulfill God’s ultimate purpose of reaching others with the gospel.
The speaker reflects on his own missed opportunities, particularly during his daily commute, where he spent hundreds of hours without sharing his faith. He recounts how wearing a hoodie with the message “Stop me and I’ll pray for you” became a simple yet profound way to open doors for gospel conversations. This small step, he notes, helped him break out of his comfort zone and embrace his role as a light for Christ in the world.
The sermon concludes with a call to self-examination. The speaker urges believers to evaluate their lives and ask whether they are truly living for God or simply going through the motions. He reminds listeners that God’s purpose for their lives is not limited to church or home but extends to every interaction and opportunity. By stepping out in faith and letting God work through them, Christians can make an eternal impact.