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Sacrifice
‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.’ Sacrifice…It’s a familiar word, but what does literally mean for us to respond to the Apostle Paul’s timeless call to offer our bodies to God as living sacrifices? On the pages of this short book you’ll find an urgent and serious rallying cry – a call for God’s people everywhere to sacrifice everything for Him. Simon Guillebaud draws on the examples of many Christians who have gone before, and passionately teaches again Paul’s challenge, leaving us with some probing questions to answer… Where are the young men and women who will hold themselves to be something cheap in comparison to God’s work? Where are those who will live their lives for Christ’s sake? Where are those who will live dangerously and be reckless in His service? Where are those who love Him and the souls of men more than their own reputation? Are you in?
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2013
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 30, 2023
An encouraging, challenging and unapologetically bold book about sacrificing our earthly lives to fulfill God's will.
March 19, 2018
Really clear and fantastic, would recommend :)
June 27, 2016
Very helpful book on suffering. Reminds us how much it is a privilege to serve Him joyfully when you consider what Christ has done for us. It uses a term 'Costly grace' as the price Christ paid for us and the treasure hidden in the field for which a person will sell all his goods to get.
September 25, 2018
Wow, the first time I got this book I could hardly put it down. I actually read it in a single sitting. The walk of faith is really just a picture of God's grace - from our perspective it would seem impossible. Especially when we read the illustrations of modern day people who gave it their all. Some people did not give much but they gave more than you could possibly imagine.
There are points in this book I'd just pause and reflect as I take it all in. Some move your very core and tears just well up. This is one of the shortest and most moving books I've read. God bless Simon Gulillebaud for sharing his experiences as a missionary and perhaps spur us to realize the urgency of sharing the gospel.
A comparable book I'd recommend would be Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper. It's free on the Desiring God website . It shifted my focus from myself to Christ at a time when I felt really weighed down to Christ and his finished works
I pray you'll also be encouraged..
There are points in this book I'd just pause and reflect as I take it all in. Some move your very core and tears just well up. This is one of the shortest and most moving books I've read. God bless Simon Gulillebaud for sharing his experiences as a missionary and perhaps spur us to realize the urgency of sharing the gospel.
A comparable book I'd recommend would be Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper. It's free on the Desiring God website . It shifted my focus from myself to Christ at a time when I felt really weighed down to Christ and his finished works
I pray you'll also be encouraged..
Read
February 12, 2024It can be easy to sit at home and go 'Yes I give to my church' 'Yes I go to church every Sundays' 'Yes I attend the midweek meeting' etc etc, but this short book was a brilliant reminder that that's not enough.
It's about giving up self and living wholeheartedly for God. There's many examples throughout of the sacrifices that those before us have made and the impact God has had on their lives and how they have impacted others. For example by the end of John Wesley's life he was giving away 90% of his income. He knew what he needed to live and the rest was given away. Am I prepared to do that?
God won't force us to do anything, but by being 'exceptional in the ordinary things' we stand out and act as a signpost to Chris, even when those around us are questioning why, we need to be asking 'Why not?' Christ commanded 'Take up your cross and follow me', not 'Take your cross sometimes', but all the time.
It's about giving up self and living wholeheartedly for God. There's many examples throughout of the sacrifices that those before us have made and the impact God has had on their lives and how they have impacted others. For example by the end of John Wesley's life he was giving away 90% of his income. He knew what he needed to live and the rest was given away. Am I prepared to do that?
God won't force us to do anything, but by being 'exceptional in the ordinary things' we stand out and act as a signpost to Chris, even when those around us are questioning why, we need to be asking 'Why not?' Christ commanded 'Take up your cross and follow me', not 'Take your cross sometimes', but all the time.
December 23, 2023
Perhaps I am being a little over critical here. I agreed with basically all of what this book is saying. I just feel that the discussion lacked focus. It says the book is based around Romans 12:1, but I don’t think the hermeneutic really does justice to the meaning of that verse in the wider context of Romans. I also felt the book was so heavy on illustration and examples from history/the author’s own experience that it just lacked authenticity.
All that being said, I will certainly finish on a high. This short, punchy little book that can be read in a sitting is a very refreshing reminder of the necessity, and do-ability, of cross-shaped sacrifice in the life of the Christian. It is humbling to hear how the author has sacrificed his own life in service to the Lord Jesus, a pattern we all must be convicted to follow.
All that being said, I will certainly finish on a high. This short, punchy little book that can be read in a sitting is a very refreshing reminder of the necessity, and do-ability, of cross-shaped sacrifice in the life of the Christian. It is humbling to hear how the author has sacrificed his own life in service to the Lord Jesus, a pattern we all must be convicted to follow.
June 16, 2018
“I know that the call of God will never take me where the grace of God will not keep me.” p.11 “These days most of us show by our priorities and approach to spiritual things that we believe we are in peacetime. But we’re not. We are engaged in a spiritual war and we must be on the alert.” p.17 “If I know my heavenly Father’s will is good, pleasing, and perfect, I’ll do anything and go anywhere for Him.” p.25
February 12, 2020
If you are happy with your slothful ease, DO NOT read this book.
June 10, 2020
Challenging book. Wonderful breakdown of Romans 12:1. Below is a summary of each chapter, although the book is already concise!
Romans 12:1 "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 spiritual act of worship."
There is nothing comfortable about the cross. It represents sacrifice. pain and death. The resurrection represents hope and victory. The cross we bear precedes the crown we wear, yet remember that the cross comes first.
Can some things truly be called a sacrifice? It is indeed a privilege to serve God.
Grace-full Sacrifice
"…in view of God's mercy…"
Sacrifice is all about grace. We have so many mercies to be grateful for. My sacrifice for Jesus springs out of his mercies to me.
I know that the call of God will never take me where the grace of God will not keep me.
Grateful people are joyful people. Obedient sacrifice comes out of worship to God. Joyfulness in service to God is like oil on a bike chain, we become weary and slow without it. God does not require unwilling helpers.
The call to sacrifice isn't all heroic. It is recognising God for who He is and living consistently with that reality. Count on God's faithfulness
Paul considered all worldly achievements as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lod. Are we prepared to embrace the challenge?
Urgent Sacrifice
'…I urge you…'
Jesus is coming. Nobody knows when. Are you ready? Remember spiritual realities, we are not in peacetime. Do not be apathetic but be vigilant.
Voluntary Sacrifice
'…to offer your…'
God will not force us. Do not sacrifice yourself on the altar of a career instead of a calling. A career is something I choose for myself and promises status, power, money and upward mobility. A calling is something I receive, that I do for God, generally promises difficulty and suffering and leads to downward mobility.
If you know God's good, pleasing and perfect will, you will do anything for Him. Consider what Christ did for you.
God wants us to willingly lay down our desire for acceptance and approval.
It is about being exceptional in the ordinary things and being totally committed to embracing the costly adventure of being a living sacrifice.
Holy Sacrifice
'…holy and pleasing to God…'
'The world has yet to see what God will do with one man fully consecrated to Him'. Holiness is beautiful and Jesus modelling perfect holy living. He empowered the marginalised, touched the untouchable, healed the broken and validated the disenfranchised.
God refines us to be holy. It is a lifelong process as we are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.
Who is the Holy Spirit to you? Are you willing to offer Him your body as a living sacrifice without conditions?
This call to holiness is radically different. Be people who are not concerned with happiness over holiness, with security over souls or to be served into of serving. Often we opt for a Christianity that costs us little. We emphasise our rights but not our responsibilities; our freedom in Christ, rather than our debt to Christ'.
Logical Sacrifice
'…this is your spiritual act of worship…'
How far is too far for me to go if Jesus went as far as to stretch out wide His arms on the cross for each one of us?
Here spiritual implies logical, it is totally logical to sacrifice for what Jesus has done for us.
So many Christians live inconsequential lives to those around them. The gospel itself is wonderful so the problem must lie with us Christians.
Once you catch a glimpse of the majesty of God you know there is nothing else worth living for. 'If you have to calculate what you are willing to give up for Jesus Christ never say that you love Him. Jesus Christ asks us to give up the best we have got to Him, our rights to ourselves' Oswald Chambers
'If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honour, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?' David Livingstone.
What a privilege to serve the King of Kings. So often we seek a more comfortable cross, settle for a respectable religion; a pale distortion of true authentic discipleship. Loved ones will counsel us to tone it down that you shouldn't give up everything. They think that if you give everything you'll lose it, but it's the other way around; they lose because they don't give everything.
The last thing I want to realise at the end of my life is that I have accumulated wealth or status or some kind of legacy but sit there with a shrivelled soul.
Can we set a cap on our lifestyles? The point behind a tithe is that it costs you. Why spend on things we don't need to impress people we don't like. Thank God that Jesus didn't tithe His blood! In the West one way we can take up our crosses is through financial giving.
Will you sacrifice your life for God? The world needs people who will do so.
Romans 12:1 "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 spiritual act of worship."
There is nothing comfortable about the cross. It represents sacrifice. pain and death. The resurrection represents hope and victory. The cross we bear precedes the crown we wear, yet remember that the cross comes first.
Can some things truly be called a sacrifice? It is indeed a privilege to serve God.
Grace-full Sacrifice
"…in view of God's mercy…"
Sacrifice is all about grace. We have so many mercies to be grateful for. My sacrifice for Jesus springs out of his mercies to me.
I know that the call of God will never take me where the grace of God will not keep me.
Grateful people are joyful people. Obedient sacrifice comes out of worship to God. Joyfulness in service to God is like oil on a bike chain, we become weary and slow without it. God does not require unwilling helpers.
The call to sacrifice isn't all heroic. It is recognising God for who He is and living consistently with that reality. Count on God's faithfulness
Paul considered all worldly achievements as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lod. Are we prepared to embrace the challenge?
Urgent Sacrifice
'…I urge you…'
Jesus is coming. Nobody knows when. Are you ready? Remember spiritual realities, we are not in peacetime. Do not be apathetic but be vigilant.
Voluntary Sacrifice
'…to offer your…'
God will not force us. Do not sacrifice yourself on the altar of a career instead of a calling. A career is something I choose for myself and promises status, power, money and upward mobility. A calling is something I receive, that I do for God, generally promises difficulty and suffering and leads to downward mobility.
If you know God's good, pleasing and perfect will, you will do anything for Him. Consider what Christ did for you.
God wants us to willingly lay down our desire for acceptance and approval.
It is about being exceptional in the ordinary things and being totally committed to embracing the costly adventure of being a living sacrifice.
Holy Sacrifice
'…holy and pleasing to God…'
'The world has yet to see what God will do with one man fully consecrated to Him'. Holiness is beautiful and Jesus modelling perfect holy living. He empowered the marginalised, touched the untouchable, healed the broken and validated the disenfranchised.
God refines us to be holy. It is a lifelong process as we are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.
Who is the Holy Spirit to you? Are you willing to offer Him your body as a living sacrifice without conditions?
This call to holiness is radically different. Be people who are not concerned with happiness over holiness, with security over souls or to be served into of serving. Often we opt for a Christianity that costs us little. We emphasise our rights but not our responsibilities; our freedom in Christ, rather than our debt to Christ'.
Logical Sacrifice
'…this is your spiritual act of worship…'
How far is too far for me to go if Jesus went as far as to stretch out wide His arms on the cross for each one of us?
Here spiritual implies logical, it is totally logical to sacrifice for what Jesus has done for us.
So many Christians live inconsequential lives to those around them. The gospel itself is wonderful so the problem must lie with us Christians.
Once you catch a glimpse of the majesty of God you know there is nothing else worth living for. 'If you have to calculate what you are willing to give up for Jesus Christ never say that you love Him. Jesus Christ asks us to give up the best we have got to Him, our rights to ourselves' Oswald Chambers
'If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honour, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?' David Livingstone.
What a privilege to serve the King of Kings. So often we seek a more comfortable cross, settle for a respectable religion; a pale distortion of true authentic discipleship. Loved ones will counsel us to tone it down that you shouldn't give up everything. They think that if you give everything you'll lose it, but it's the other way around; they lose because they don't give everything.
The last thing I want to realise at the end of my life is that I have accumulated wealth or status or some kind of legacy but sit there with a shrivelled soul.
Can we set a cap on our lifestyles? The point behind a tithe is that it costs you. Why spend on things we don't need to impress people we don't like. Thank God that Jesus didn't tithe His blood! In the West one way we can take up our crosses is through financial giving.
Will you sacrifice your life for God? The world needs people who will do so.
May 18, 2021
A short little book on the topic of the sacrifice we should be willing to make for our Lord. Definitely recommend to others. I particularly appreciate his comments that sacrificial giving is not just for missionaries, but for the ordinary Western Christian going about their ordinary life.
November 11, 2014
Encouraging, convicting, helpful
April 2, 2016
Short, insightful
I loved this: "Joyfulness in service to God is like oil on a bicycle chain. Without it we become weary and slow."
I loved this: "Joyfulness in service to God is like oil on a bicycle chain. Without it we become weary and slow."
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews