3-Day Bible Reading Plan: Worship: A Living Sacrifice

3-Day Bible Reading PlanThe 7 Rhythms - Worship
Written By Gunnar Simonsen

“Do you ever have one of those moments when you’re reading the Bible and feel VERY far away from what you’re reading? Every morning, I get up and read a few chapters of the Bible, and in a year, I make my way from Genesis to Revelation. It’s not a chore for me; I absolutely love it. Making daily Bible reading and reflection a part of life has changed me over the years. I highly recommend it! However, sometimes I sit there, read a passage, sip my coffee, and think: “How do I relate to this? How can I connect this to my life?” - Pastor James Gleason, 4/21/2024

Day 1

  • Featured Verse: Romans 12:1 - Present Your Body as a Living Sacrifice

  • Cross References:

    • Psalm 51:17 - The Sacrifices of God are a Broken and Contrite Spirit

  • Reflection:

    • What are some ways you might present your body as a living sacrifice? How might you keep yourself from “crawling off the altar”?

    • Scripture mentions several kinds of sacrifices, including spiritual sacrifices, a sacrifice of praise, and also the sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit. Name some examples of each type of sacrifice. What do you sacrifice when you give these to God?

    • Write or pray a prayer asking God to sanctify your body and help you break sinful habits by growing in you the spiritual fruit of self-control.

“It is not by telling people about ourselves that we demonstrate our Christianity. Words are cheap. It is by costly, self-denying Christian practice that we show the reality of our faith.” - Jonathan Edwards

Day 2

  • Cross References:

  • Reflection:

    • How can renewing your mind and changing the way you think help you present your body as a living sacrifice to God?

    • In the First Great Commandment, one of the ways we love God is with all of our mind. This includes our thoughts, what we read, what we see, and take in (Matthew 6:22). How might you honor God by loving Him with all of your mind?

    • Paul gives us a wonderful way to keep our thoughts pure in Philippians 4:8, and that is to think about things that are worthy of praise. When you keep your thoughts clean, you are less likely to fall into sin. What are some praiseworthy things to think about this week?

“Would you attain the full assurance of faith? You cannot gain it while you commune with sinners. Would you flame with vehement love? Your love will be damped by the drenchings of godless society. You cannot become a great Christian—you may be a babe in grace, but you never can be a perfect man in Christ Jesus while you yield yourself to the worldly maxims and modes of business of men of the world.” - Charles Spurgeon

Day 3

  • Cross References:

    • Isaiah 57:15 - God Dwells in the High Holy Place and With Him Who is Contrite

  • Reflection:

    • How might you live differently with the conscious thought that God Himself dwells within you? How might this change some of your attitudes throughout the week?

    • Our culture places a high honor upon personal autonomy—do whatever makes you feel good, it's your body, after all. Yet Paul says you are not your own; you were bought with a price. What are some ways his words are at odds with the doctrine of the world?

    • God is Most High, yet Isaiah 57:15 tells us He dwells with the “most low.” God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Why do you think God dwells with the humble? How might you humble yourself to know God in a deeper way?

“When the Holy Spirit sanctifies believers, he does a complete work in them. He puts into their minds, wills, and hearts a gracious, supernatural principle which fills them with a holy desire to live to God. The whole life and being of holiness lies in this. This is the new creation.” - John Owen

Gunnar Simonsen
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Seven Rhythms: Worship (Romans 12:1-2)
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Seven Rhythms: Worship (Isaiah 1:10-20)