This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Roman series with a powerful message on using our gifts to build up the Church, and the call to love others well. The Lord has loved us with an everlasting love and calls us to love and forgive one another. We could all use an upgrade in love and Romans 12 encourages and challenges us to humble ourselves for the sake of sharing the love of Christ.
Loving Others with Your Gifts
Romans 12:6–8 (ESV)
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Body Membership
- I am part of the whole body.
- I have something to give.
- I have something to receive.
• Prophecy ~ To receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance.
• Service ~ Ability to identify the unmet needs involved in a task related to God’s work, and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and to help accomplish the desired results.
• Teaching ~ Ability to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the body and its members in such a way that others will learn.
• Exhortation ~ Ability to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement, and counsel to other members of the body in such a way that they feel helped and healed.
• Generosity ~ Ability to contribute material resources to the work of the Lord with liberality and cheerfulness.
• Leadership ~ Ability to set goals in accordance with God’s purpose for the future and to communicate these goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish these goals for the glory of God.
• Mercy ~ Ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer distressing physical, mental, or emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds which reflect Christ’s love and alleviate the suffering.
**You can take a Spiritual Gifts test on the City Central app**
1 Corinthians 14:12 (ESV)
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
“The church is the only human institution Jesus started, and the only one inhabited by the Spirit and glory of God.” Tim Keller
Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Acts 2:47 (ESV)
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
“Today, of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, four out of five are either plateaued or declining. 80-85 percent are on the downside of this cycle.” Malphurs Group
• City Central 2023 stats are showing growth and God’s grace in our church.
Loving Fellow Believers
Romans 12:9 (ESV)
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Psalm 97:10 (ESV)
O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
Proverbs 6:16–19 (NLT)
There are six things the LORD hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.
Romans 12:10 (ESV)
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Brotherly affection…
- Allows for weaknesses and imperfections.
- Communicates.
- Deals with problems graciously.
- Affirms others.
- Has a strong commitment and loyalty to others.
Romans 12:11 (ESV)
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Proverbs 21:25–26 (ESV)
The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
Romans 12:12–13 (ESV)
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Loving Those Hard to Love
Romans 12:14 (ESV)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Matthew 5:44 (ESV)
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Romans 12:15–18 (ESV)
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
2 Attributes of Peacemakers…
- They initiate the process.
- Both parties need to want it.
Romans 12:19–21 (ESV)
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Discussion Questions:
- In light of Pastor Chris’s sermon on spiritual gifts and loving others, what does it mean to present your bodies as a living sacrifice?
- How does Romans 12 challenge the way you relate to others?
- What role does humility play in following Paul’s instructions in Romans 12?
- How can we empathize with others in their joys and sorrows as Paul instructs?
(Some of the questions from https://biblehub.com/questions/romans/12.htm)
Application Questions:
- This week, take the spiritual gifts test on the City Central app and learn your giftings. Ask the Lord how you can use them to serve the Church.
- Pastor Chris spoke on the importance of forgiving others so we can love them well. Search your heart and forgive anyone the Lord brings to mind.
Join us for an in-person service at City Central Church in Tacoma, WA
Sundays at 9am + 11am