Romans 12

Why: Because if our service and love don't flow from the gospel it won't be truly humble/ sincere. We often fail to serve and love because we fail to dwell deeply on the gospel.

1) Worship God With Holiness (vv1-2)

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

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. 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.

In light of the gospel, sacrifice yourselves for the sake of living holy lives that please God and not the world.

In contrast to ...

Romans 6:13–14 NIV

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Rom 6:13

Romans 6:16–18 NIV

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Rom 6:17

2) Serve The Body With Humility (vv3-8)

a. Because we all matter to Christ

Romans 12:3–5 NIV

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. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

b. Because we all have gifts from Christ

Romans 12:6–8 NIV

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

3) Love One Another With Sincerity (vv9-21)

The Message of Romans 19. Our Relationship to One Another: Love in the Family of God (12:9–16)

Christian churches would be happier communities if we all loved one another like that.

The Message of Romans 19. Our Relationship to One Another: Love in the Family of God (12:9–16)

What a comprehensive picture of Christian love Paul gives us! Love is sincere, discerning, affectionate and respectful. It is both enthusiastic and patient, both generous and hospitable, both benevolent and sympathetic. It is marked by both harmony and humility. Christian churches would be happier communities if we all loved one another like that.

1. What is this passage about? What is the Big Idea? This is likely to be shaped by context and content. The content itself will depend on the genre, but it will be useful to think what the main focus is.

The content itself will depend on the genre, but it will be useful to think what the main focus is.

Theme: Live out the gospel in loving relationships

Moving from what the gospel is to how the gospel is lived

Springs from

2. What is the structure of the passage? How would you divide it up? Have a think about how you would teach it logically and effectively.

would teach it logically and effectively.

vv1-2 Worship God with holiness

vv3-8 Serve the body with humility

vv9-21 Love one another with sincity

3. What was the original author’s pastoral intention? Why did he write what he wrote? How does this control the aim of your talk?

control the aim of your talk?

Paul may be concerned that Gentiles and Jews at the church in Rome could be divided. Chapter 1-8 focus on the gospel as it relates to both Jew and Gentiles. Chapters 9-11 seem to be warning Gentiles against any kind of spiritual pride. will especially focus on bearing with the weak (applicable both ways).

So is heavily focused on relationships in the church and how they must be shaped by the gospel.

The message would therefore be similarly focused on gospel relationships.

Aim: Urge the church to worship God by serving and loving his people

4. Who/what is this passage for? It may be useful here to start with the original hearers. That will help give a steer to appropriate applications and connections today.

give a steer to appropriate applications and connections today.

A potentially divided church. Divided on racial grounds, leading to pride and a sense of superiority.

Very applicable to multi-cultural church like ours. But also to British culture which may be more divided by class.

This passage shows that worship that is acceptable to God is one that "pours contempt on pride” and sacrifices social/racial standing for the sake of brothers and sisters. Especially in terms of use of gifts and bearing with one another in love.

does your text do this?

5. How does this passage teach us about Christ? The preacher is to proclaim Christ (). How does your text do this?

This passage exhibits the way Christ has served and loved us. In great humility and sincere love.

6. How might I preach it? Finally, consider how you might actually shape a sermon. How will you introduce it? How will you shape it? How will you conclude?

introduce it? How will you shape it? How will you conclude?

Introduction

Illustrations

Conclusion

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