Romans 12:1-9
We Surrender All
Peace Lutheran Church
8/23/2026
Did you know that your life is an offering?
Wait a minute, what?!
I thought an offering was something you put in the offering plate—bills, coins, a check, giving online.
Well…that’s partly true, but there’s so much to this offering that meets the eye.
What if I told you that your heart, mind, attitude—all of it—is an offering?!
Here’s the truth—whether we’re aware of it or not—we offer our heart, mind, attitude—all of it—to whomever, whatever—we treasure the most.
“Whatever your treasure is—there your heart will be also.”
Do you know who preached that?
Yes, Jesus did.
What do you treasure the most?
Jesus spoke, lived the greatest treasure (and He still does) the living promises, the Word of God that never leaves you, nor forsakes you.
Yes! Thank God for this treasure! We are chosen in Jesus Christ!
Because of what He accomplished for us—Jesus’ life, your life in and with your Personal Savior—this is your spiritual act of worship or God’s perfect will for you:
In Jesus Christ—crucified, buried, and raised from the dead—we are an offering.
Tell your neighbor sitting next to you, “You are an offering.”
Yes! Whether you’re from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America or South America, it doesn’t matter. Whether you’re from the city or the countryside—whether you prefer rock music or country—Lynard Skynard or George Strait— (actually I enjoy both!) the chosen people of God, through what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross for your sins where He died and was raised from the dead, the Lord was/is/will always be the greatest offering, will of God in your life.
My friends, “Therefore,” that’s what the “therefore,” is “therefore,” in Romans 12 —the very will of God—is to be a transformed child of God in Christ—a sacrificial offering—of His making–something you couldn’t believe or accomplish on your own, nor would this naturally sinful world be able to give you.
To illustrate this transformation (i.e. having your heart, mind renewed in Christ) I’m reminded of the TV show American Pickers. Do we have any fans here?
I don’t watch it regularly, but it is an interesting show.
The main guys in American Pickers seek out secluded junkyards, dusty old basements, and ramshackle barns for vintage signs, rare motorcycles, antique cars, one-of-a kind, handmade toys, etc. where they buy these vintage goodies, clean them up (while keeping their history alive), and re-selling them for greater value—something far beyond what they were on their own—busted up junk where they collected dust in Elmer Fudd’s basement.
Brothers and sisters, in the same way, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers at Rome, comprised of Jews and non-Jews, believers of all nations, the chosen in Christ—of one hope, one faith, one baptism— (God in flesh came to deliver us) taking our ramshackle natures upon His sinless body on a criminal’s cross where he was crucified “for you” –keeping the heritage of Jesus–in you–the only Savior–who destroyed all sin, all that’s evil, even death forever!
Hallelujah for this sacrifice!
Apart from Christ, our naturally depraved natures are like living in the junkyard, justifying it, trying to prove that the junk is good enough on its own.
Left to ourselves, we would never leave the junkyard.
Does that make any sense?
I love the praise song by Zach Williams titled, “Everything Changed,” have you heard it?
It’s a powerful story of Christ coming to us in our junkyards to restore us.
I was a dead man walking, digging my own grave,
Nowhere to turn, bridges burn, throwing my life away…
I was a rebel running until I found my end, right at the place of your grace, say I could start again.
“Everything changed when I fell on my knees, everything changed when your love rescued me, from reckless and wild, faith like a child, I was never the same, everything changed.”
In the same way, Peace Lutheran, being transformed through Jesus’ victorious death and resurrection—we are forgiven, made new—where the value of your life in Christ is a precious offering that no currency of this naturally inflated, flawed world, “Where thieves break in and steal and moths and rust destroy,” Jesus preached could ever touch.
Likewise, Paul writes to the believers in Rome of the chosen in Christ, sharing the one true thing that matters the most—our lives restored by Jesus’ mercy.
“In view of God’s mercy,” Paul reminds the believers at Rome, believers everywhere, I want to stop there for a minute.
God’s Mercy is often misunderstood. Sometimes we take it to mean that God is nice. Let’s not take mercy for granted. You see, because of our sinful rebellion against God, the condemnation that brings His rightful wrath that we deserve was not placed on us but rather on His Son, “Who knew no sin,” who changes you and me from the inside out.
That’s why we pray, “Christ have mercy!”
Listen to and apply this mercy in Romans 12:
“By the mercies of God present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
In Jesus Christ alone who made the perfect sacrifice on our behalf for all eternity—your life, brother/sister, transformed in the same Savior of yesterday, today, and forever, whether you’re from the city or country, redhead or brunette, brown eyes or blue eyes, your greatest treasure, Jesus Christ, your forgiven life surrendered to Him is God’s perfect will for you—something you’ll never find–left in the junkyard.
What an amazing mercy this is! Surrendered to Jesus—leads lost, broken people out of the junkyard and into God’s restored lot—going in and out of the Master Restorer—knowing who we belong to and where we are going.
Think of this restoration like a well-toned body—knowing where it’s going in the dance—moving in harmony—steps and motions are synchronized—Paul writes of the sacrificial body of Christ:
“For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.”
Don’t forget that God has an excellent sense of humor. To illustrate His truth about His sacrificial, diverse body being one just as the Father, Son, Holy Spirit is One.
Listen to this.
“Can a finger tell a toe, “I don’t need you!”?
“Does an eye tell an ear, “You’re useless!”?
Of course not! Each part, individually, serves the greater good of the whole. Likewise, the well-oiled machine, the living, sacrificial, merciful body of Christ—receives and gives Jesus Christ—preaching, teaching, advising, serving, leading, giving aid, etc.—these individual ministries—fulfilled in and with the sacrificial nature of Christ “in you” for all eternity.
It’s amazing grace. It’s complete surrender.
Surrendering to His perfect will—offering our minds, lives to Christ—just as He did and continues to do through His Holy Spirit—giving you His forgiveness and faith–restoring you–giving you the greatest story of all time: The gospel of Jesus Christ.
Listen to this short sermon.
It’s a profound application of the Scripture in Romans 12.
Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously and pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.
If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else.
If you help, just help, don’t take over.
If you teach, stick to your teaching.
If you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get too bossy.
If you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate.
If you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond.
If you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
Just like Jesus—we are an offering—we surrender all.
With that in mind, we are going to sing the hymn, “I Surrender All”.
Let me ask you, is there any “junk” that you’re clinging to—that you can’t seem to get rid of?
Let it go. Let Jesus’ forgiveness and faith restore you God’s way—having your heart and mind renewed according to His will.
On the back of your bulletin, there’s a blank “sermon note” page.
*Please don’t write your name down. Let by the Lord–you can simply jot down “the junk” that Jesus has already called you to give to him.
On your way out, you can drop that note inside a brown bag that’s hanging on that old wooden cross—never to be seen by anyone else.
I’m not going to look at it, nobody is—it’s between you and the Lord—letting God’s Chosen One remove any junk for His mercy—heart, mind, life—surrendered to Him—moving forward with Christ and His people.
Can you imagine the transformation?
Let’s close in prayer.