Date:
Speaker: Tony Murphy
In today’s Remembrance service, we remembered the sacrifice of those who have died in conflict, we remembered the once for all sacrifice of our Saviour as we shared communion, and we considered how God honours a sacrificial lifestyle
READ Philippians 2v5-11; Luke 9v23; Romans 12v1
In his sermon, Tony spoke about the life of Eric Lidell, from the film “Chariots of Fire”
He was an Olympic sprinter, favourite for the gold in the 1924 Paris Olympics. But he sacrificed all this for his Christian belief of keeping Sundays special and observing it as a day of rest. These were different times, but the significant thing is that he made a huge sacrifice for the sake of his faith in God.
He was instead allowed to enter the 400m, an event he was not expected to win. Famously, he received a note from a rival athlete on which was written, “He that honours me, I will honour.” (1 Sam 2v30) before famously going on to win it
We may never have to make a sacrifice of these proportions, but we are called to live a sacrificial life.
The definition of sacrifice is: Giving up something of worth—such as time, money, comfort, or a career opportunity—to achieve a greater good
So whenever we put others first, for example as a parent, a husband, a wife, a friend, or someone we have never met, when we give into the offering to see God’s kingdom come, we are making a sacrifice God can honour
FOR DISCUSSION
1. Do you have any specific thoughts, questions or standout moments from Sunday?
2. How does the once for all sacrifice Jesus made on the cross change the way you live? How does it shape your response to Philippians 2v5-11, Romans 12v1 and Luke 9v23?
3. Can you share a sacrifice (big or small) you have made and how God honoured it?
4. Likewise can you share a sacrifice (big or small) someone has made for you and how God honoured it?