Oct 5, 2025 “When Life Becomes Worship” (Romans 12:1-8)

Romans 12:1-8 New International Version

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,

⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 

⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 

⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

When Life Becomes Worship 

Romans 12:1-8 

 

There are many definitions and understandings of what worship is. Paul states his definition in Romans 12. 

 

Romans 12:1 ESV 

[1]  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  

 

Paul looks at worship as being a living sacrifice. We need to be holy and acceptable, but what does this living sacrifice look like. 

 

First, it is not a dead sacrifice. It does not mean we take our lives. This worship is also not a once a week worship of a few hours. We need to set our minds and hearts on Jesus and not this world. 

 

Romans 12:2 ESV 

[2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

 

By focusing on God, we can understand the will of God more. If we focus on the world, we will focus on ourselves and try to please the world. We start to worry about our finances, our reputation, our family obligations instead of trying to understand the will of God and living in faith. The world will have us compare ourselves with others and try to reach ever-changing standards and put ourselves first.  

 

This brings up another important point Paul makes, which is we need to know our place in the church 

 

Romans 12:4-5 ESV 

[4] For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, [5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  

 

Not everyone can be a bishop, or the head pastor. Whatever gifts God has given us, we need to do this to the utmost of our ability. We should not be jealous of others or resentful of where we are. We need to ask ourselves, "What is it that God wants from me to please Him?" 

• To God Be The Glory
• Who Am I
• Mercy