READING ROMANS, CHAPTER 12
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 12
Romans 11 ended with a hymn of worship acknowledging
God for his unquestionable vast wisdom and knowledge. Romans 12 begins by telling
us that our responsibility to God is to live a life of sacrifice and worship.
We are responsible to spend our time serving the Lord and other believers,
refusing revenge while overcoming evil with good.
1) A Living Sacrifice & Humble Service in the Body of Christ (Verses 1-8), MAMA
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 true and proper worship. 2 Do
not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will. 3 For
by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself
more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For
just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all
have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though
many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We
have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your
gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if
it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if
it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give
generously; if it is to lead,[b] do
it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
1. How can we offer our bodies as living sacrifices? How is that worshipping God? Are you doing it? (V1-2)
2. What are we not to pattern our lives after? (V.2)
3. How do we transform our lives? (V.2)
4. How are we not to think of ourselves? (V.3) Why?
5. How do verses 4 and 5 relate to the way we should think of ourselves? (V3-5)
6. What makes our gifts from God different (spiritual gifts vs natural talents)? (V.6)
* Name a few key issues where the world's way of doing things is very different from God's way.
* Consider the various gifts mentioned in verses 6-8. Have you observed either or some of them being used in the church today by others, including yourself?
2), Love in Action, Part 1 (Verses 9-14), JEANNIE
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
1. Name 3 ways to show love in action. (V.10-18)
2. Paul gives counsel in these verses 11-13. Name one that would be more difficult for you to carry out consistently.
* How do you, in real life, bless those who persecute you? (Have you ever been persecuted?)
3)Love in Action, Part 2, (Verses 15-21), DESTINY
15 Rejoice
with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in
harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate
with people of low positions.[c] Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to
do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is
possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do
not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it
is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the
contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[ 21 Do not
be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
1. What do verses 17-18 mean to you?
2. What did Paul say about taking revenge? (V.19)
3. How should we treat our enemies? (V.20)
*What suggestion would you give to someone who says to you, "It's hard for me to stop the angry thoughts and not take revenge, in whatever way I can, on someone who has intentionally hurt me!"
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THOUGHT QUESTION(S):
What is your spiritual gift? Are you using your gift? How or why not? What can you do to begin using your gifts? How and when will you begin using your gifts?
CONFESSION(S):
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus and that I have been saved by grace through faith in His finished work. Thank You that my salvation does not rely on what I have done but on what Christ has already done on my account. Thank You that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me and that by faith in Him, I have received spiritual gifts and graces which are to be used for His glory. I pray that I may do all to the glory of God and present my body as a living sacrifice unto You. In Jesus' name, I pray, AMEN. (Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/12)
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