Sunday 11.00am
Wednesday 7.00pm
(childcare provided)
Overview
Romans 12 represents a pivotal shift in the book. Paul begins this new section with the key word “therefore” connecting the deep doctrinal currents of the previous 11 chapters to the waves of life application that follow throughout the rest of the letter.
Response Requested
In Romans 12:1-2, we are exhorted function as sacrifices with three qualifications: living, holy and pleasing to God. Both our motivation for and means to this lifestyle is the mercies of God made available to us in Jesus. Instead of conformity to the world’s patterns and values, we are transformed into people who feel, think, speak and act like Jesus through the renewal of our thinking.
Sobriety
In Romans 12:3-8 we see a transformational plan for seeing ourselves in the context of community. We are to humbly view ourselves as interdependent members of a body. We exercise the spiritual gifts God has sovereignly given us to serve others. We see our desperate need for those whom God has designed differently. Again, it is the grace of God that empowers our service in body life.
Application Questions
1) Are you living a lifestyle of worship as defined by Romans 12:1?
2) Are you counter-cultural as one who is in process of becoming like Jesus? Where are you conformed to this world?
3) Are you humble in the opinion of yourself?
4) What is your spiritual gift? Whom are you serving with your gift?
5) How can we better live as one body on a single mission?
Resources
Unceasing Worship, Harold Best
Discovering Your Ministry Identity, Paul Ford
The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts, Sam Storms
other teachings