1. Evening Service Romans Help with Christian Living 28/9/14

2. Introduction Brief Background 1.Understanding the Book of Romans 2.Personal Perspective

3. Book of Romans 1.Chapters 1-11 – Doctrine 2.Chapters 12-16 – Practical Guidance Both Important to us

4. Romans Chapter 1-11 First eleven chapters provides plenty of bible study We are taught clearly the sin of mankind But also about the justification of faith Worthwhile for any reader

5. This evening (Chapter 12) Personal Will go through the chapter verse by verse Will keep it simple 4 Areas to helps us in growing in Christian Living

6. Practical Christian Living 1.The chapter begins with our responsibility to live a godly life on a personal and individual level (v1-2). 2.Then we move on to our responsibility to use our spiritual gifts in the body of Christ (v3-8). 3.In verses 9-13, we moved on to our responsibility to relate to fellow believers in a positive way. 4.In verses 14-21, we learn of our responsibilities in witness to unbelievers.

7. Romans 12 (NIV) Different bible translations to use

8. Christian Living (Starting with ourselves) 12 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.

9. Verses 1-2 1.Living Sacrifice 2.Do not be conformed to this world 3.But be transformed by the renewal of your mind

10. Living Sacrifice What does this phrase mean? Old Testament sacrifice New Testament sacrifice Our sacrifice Holy and acceptable to God

11. Do not be conformed to this world Difficult not to start from the world’s perspective Light and darkness Leads onto next step…

12. But be transformed by the renewal of your mind The third challenge is to be transformed by the renewal of your mind. It is a comfort that it’s not us who transforms but rather God who transforms us. What is good and acceptable and perfect

13. Summary (v1-2) These three aspects are a challenge for us to achieve but with it will provide us with a strong foundation for our Christian faith. If Paul had just left this chapter at that then it would be very difficult to try and match it. However the bible gives us help on how to go forward as a Christian.

14. Church Living (Serving within the Church) 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.

15. Verses 3-5 We need to remember we are not perfect The glory should always go to God We are all part of one body Important starting point These verses are arguably just important than the next ones

16. Church Living (Serving within the Church) 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 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, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

17. Verses 6-8 First four words important! Paul lists 7 examples of ‘gifts’ A difficult topic for Christians

18. Different Gifts Verse 6-7 Prophesying Serving Teaching Verse 8 Encourage Giving Leading Mercy/Kindness

19. Christian Living (Working within the Church) 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, 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.

20. How we use our gifts for God NIV 1.Love must be sincere 2.Honour one another above yourselves. 3.Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. 4.Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 5.Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. NLT 1.Don’t just pretend to love others 2.Take delight in honouring each other 3.Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 4.Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 5.When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

21. Summary (v9-13) Just 5 verses. But lots of lessons.

22. The perfect Example? A practical chapter would best need practical examples There are many different possible examples Will use an example from the bible

23. Revelation 2:1-7 2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

24. Revelation 2:1-7 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

25. The church in Ephesus They had positive points/strengths But they had forsaken their first love They had suffered because of it However they still had a chance to repent

26. Christian Living (Witness outside the church) 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 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 position. Do not be conceited.

27. Christian Living (Witness outside the church) 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,” says the Lord.

28. Christian Living (Witness outside the church) 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.

29. Outreach Verses 14-16 Speak positively Be aware of peoples emotions Be humble Reach out to anybody Verses 17-21 Leave it to God Don’t get angry Don’t want revenge Reach out to our ‘enemies’ Can be a witness Remember Jesus and verse 21

30. Conclusion We can almost go back full circle We see that the four areas of Christian Living are all important. We can’t just pick and choose what we want but rather we must strive to perform at all of them.

31. Conclusion It starts at v1-2 from a personal point; seeking to be a living sacrifice, not looking towards world but the rather the will of good and be transformed. In verses 3-8 we see got has a plan for us and us given us skills/gifts to use for his work.

32. Conclusion However verses 9-13 show us our gifts are nothing if we don’t have the right attitude to our church. And verses 14-21 shows us the importance of witnessing to non-Christians not just by what we say to them but also how we act to them.

33. The Right Attitude to start with Always a challenge Especially when life is hard

34. Romans 12 Lots to get out of from this chapter Including gifts and personal evangelism Difficult topics but perhaps we overcomplicate them?

35. Closing prayer Thanks for listening