This week, Adam Narciso brought the Word from Romans 12 about spiritual gifts. Jesus followers carry a special grace from God, known as spirituals gifts, that show up in our day-to-day functions. These gifts are meant to bless and build up the Church, but how we step into them matters.

Romans 12:1-8 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers,a by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.b Do not be conformed to this world,c but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.d For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members,e and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 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,f with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

The Context for Spiritual Gifts

  1. Surrender and Worship (vs. 1)
  2. Rejection of the worlds system (vs. 2)
  3. Our Identity as Members of Christ’s Body (vs. 3-5)

Surrender and Worship (vs. 1)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers,a by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

When our function flows from worship:
a. It reduces the risk of elevating ourselves rather than elevating Christ.
b. It enables us to not be crushed by disappointments or hurts from within the Church.
c. It keeps our hearts pure.

Rejection of the world’s system

Do not be conformed to this world,c but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

a. The world tells us to put ourselves on the throne of our lives with the lieof self-care, self-absorption, narcissism and individualism.
b. The gospel tells us to die to ourselves and live for Jesus and for others.

Ephesians 4:12-13

Our Identity as Members of Christ’s Body (vs. 3-5)

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members,e and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

a. When we know our identity in the Body of Christ, it frees us from the lie of self-sufficiency and independence.
b. God invites us into a better way to function: I am just one part of God’s greater picture, I have something to give, I have something to receive.

Discussion Questions:

  1. You have God-given gifts that are meant to build up the Church Body, not yourself. What are some of your giftings and how are you using them for others?
  2. How does the teaching of Romans 12:2 against conforming to the pattern of the world challenge the values of modern society?
  3. How does the concept of being part of the body of Christ shape your understanding of community and church?

Questions derived from: https://biblehub.com/questions/romans/12.htm

Application Questions:

  1. Adam declared that won’t worship self, but we will offer ourselves to the service and worship of the Lord. This week in your quiet time, ask the Lord to show you any area you’ve been serving the self and ask for practical steps to start serving the Church.

Join us for an in-person service at City Central Church in Tacoma, WA
Sundays at 9am + 11am