"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." Romans 12:1

If I were asked what I consider an act of worship, I would probably say something like - singing and raising my hands. I would define worship by what occurs during the "praise and worship time" of our Sunday service, and would consider the people who passionately engage during that time "true worshipers".

And my definition would be wrong. Strangely enough, Paul didn't write, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to clap on beat, close your eyes, and lift up your hands - this is your spiritual act of worship." Instead, he gave us a much bigger challenge - to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Our "spiritual act of worship" is surrendering ourselves completely to what he's called us to do - it's our obedience.

Being a living sacrifice - being obedient - is not a passive activity. It is more than just the absence of disobedience. It's intentional - it's seeking what God would have you do and taking the initiative to do it. It's discovering ways to show kindness to others who need it. It's making yourself available to serve in ways that you are needed within the church body. It's sacrificing your own wants and needs and living for what God has called you to do - that is your spiritual act of worship.

Hannah Fratt
Children's Ministries Director