Sermon: An Unreasonably Reasoned Response (9-3-23)

Sunday, September 3rd, 2023 (The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Jeremiah 15:15–21, Psalm 26, Romans 12:1–8, Matthew 16:21–27

STORY: Grandma’s thank you cards

VERSE 1: A REASONED WORSHIP-WORK

παραστῆσαι Offer/Present

• This is not a gift that you get to take back. This is an offering that no longer belongs to you. 
• Chrysostom: “For he does not say, offer ποιήσατε Exodus 29:39, Septuagint your bodies as a sacrifice, but present (παραστήσατε see below) them, as if he had said, never more have any interest in them. You have given them up to another.”

θυσίαν ζῶσαν Living Sacrifice - A sacrifice for the Hebrew temple was a gift that was given as a gift to God. Often this word refers to an animal victim. 

• This gift was given to God to benefit God and God’s people. 
• Here, Paul is referring to our gift as a LIVING sacrifice - meaning one that is being given over and over and over again. 
• Or … a sacrifice that continues to give: Like an incense that never stops burning, or a river that never stops flowing. 

Εὐάρεστον Pleasing/Acceptable

• Not just any sacrifice will do!
• The way that you live and work is intended to please God. 
• I will address the problem this word creates for us in a moment. 

λατρεία Worship/Service

• 12:1 and 9:4 (points directly to the service and worship of the Israelites). Refers to LXX of Ex 12:25 (the Passover Supper) and Jos 22:27, and 1Ch 28:13 (Temple Services). 
• Related to the word Liturgy, it is WORK. 
• Did you know that worship and prayer is work? 

λογικός “Spiritual”/ but really: Reasonable 

• Because the actual word is “logikeh” - where we get the word “logical.” Literally in this sense - the word means that our worship is a response that aligns with God’s reason. 
• As it will become clear in just a moment, this reasonable worship is not going to be found by using our reason. 

(the New Testament for Everyone)

Be. Know. Grow. Go.

The BE is about reorienting our self understanding. 
You are a WORSHIP instrument. Every part of you is made to play the song: God is AWESOME. 

Verse 1: Our response to God’s mercy is a life of worship.  

The problem is that word “acceptable” or “pleasing”. In order for something to be pleasing to God, we have to somehow know what pleases God. How to life in a way that pleases God.

VERSE 2: TRANSFIGURED MINDS

μὴ  συσχηματίζεσθε Don’t be fashioned (outward, only skin deep)
Note: the Passive, Temporary, fickle, a trend that is here today and gone tomorrow.  

Μεταμορφοῦσθε (μεταμορφόω) Transfigured (like the transfiguration) a complete change.
Note: Passive, This is a change to divine things - moral character

Ἀνακαίνωσις Renewal/Renovation
Change for the better, (ana): an upward movement

Νοῦς “Rational Mind”
Reason-Center for perceiving, understanding, feeling, judging, 

δοκιμάζω To prove by testing
Bible study as the class and the laboratory

θέλημα Will/Desi

Thank you for listening!
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