Sunday School Lesson
May 26
Lesson 13 (KJV)
Called to Be Transformed
Devotional Reading: Psalm 34:1–14
Background Scripture: Romans 12
Romans 12:1–8
- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
- For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
- So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
- Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
- Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
- Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Key Verse
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.—Romans 12:1
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
- List several spiritual gifts.
- Explain why “living sacrifice” seems paradoxical.
- Make a plan to use a spiritual gift more effectively.
HOW TO SAY IT
Aquila
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Ack-wih-luh.
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Claudius
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Claw-dee-us.
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Colossians
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Kuh-losh-unz.
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Corinthians
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Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin).
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Ephesians
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Ee-fee-zhunz.
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exhortation
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eks-or-tay-shun.
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Gentiles
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Jen-tiles.
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Messiah
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Meh-sigh-uh.
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Priscilla
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Prih-sil-uh.
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Suetonius
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Soo-toe-nee-us.
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Introduction
- Asking the Right Question
Church leaders often decry the so-called 80/20 rule in church operations: 80 percent of the members account for only 20 percent of the giving and volunteer service. Many areas of business and economics are viewed through the lens of the 80/20 rule, also known as “the Pareto principle.” Businesses, for example, may expect 80 percent of its customers to yield only 20 percent of the company’s sales revenue.
Whether the formula is actually more like 85/15, 90/10, etc., is not the primary issue. The bigger picture is that a source of input can be expected to yield results far out of proportion to its size. Church leaders lament this. Many are the preachers and elders who have thought What if we could fully mobilize 100 percent of our membership? We could increase our ministry impact enormously!
In turn, these musings lead one to wonder how to know when members were fully mobilized. How much volunteer time should a church expect from each of its members?
Or are these even the right questions to be asking? Today’s lesson may surprise us in that regard. Make no mistake: this is a vitally important issue. Acceptance of Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9) must be followed by service to Him as Master.
- Lesson Context
The Lesson Contexts of the previous three lessons apply, so that information need not be repeated here. Even so, a bigger picture needs to be kept in mind: Paul always understood (1) the church had its roots in the synagogue, (2) the gospel had its basis in the Jewish Scriptures, and (3) Jesus was the Messiah the Jews had long awaited. These three facts could not be ignored. The issue Paul confronted was how the Christians of Jewish background could welcome Christians of Gentile background as full-fledged members of the body of Christ.
We see the members of the famous council of Jerusalem wrestling with this issue in Acts 15, perhaps around AD 51. Roman history mentions a dispute among the Jews in Rome about this same time. We surmise from comments made by the Roman historian Suetonius (lived about AD 69–122) that this was a nasty fight between Jews who had converted to Christianity and those who had not.
The result was that Emperor Claudius (reigned AD 41–54) expelled all Jews from Rome, including a husband and wife by the names Aquila and Priscilla. Paul met these two Christians in Corinth afterward (Acts 18:2). It was likely therefore that Christians of Gentile background, who were not subject to the edict, remained in Rome as leaders of the church in the city.
The death of Claudius in AD 54 opened the door for Jews to return to Rome after a few years of absence (including Aquila and Priscilla, per Romans 16:3). With Paul writing to the church in Rome in about AD 58, issues of reintegration there still needed to be sorted out. Paul was aware of these issues, given the content of the letter we now study.
- Transformed Person
(Romans 12:1, 2)
- Sacrificed Body (v. 1)
1a. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God.
Paul has just completed three chapters of discussion regarding the disappointing lack of faith in Jesus Christ among most of his fellow Jews. With the striking phrase I beseech you therefore, brethren, he connects what is about to follow with the doctrinal truths of those prior chapters. The word in the original language translated beseech points to a desire that is stronger than a mere request but not as strong as an outright command (see also 1 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 4:1; and 1 Timothy 2:1). Compliance with the desire Paul is about to express should be motivated by the mercies of God(previously described) rather than by obligation to obey a command of one in greater authority.
1b. That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.
Here is Paul’s desire. But without doubt, a living sacrifice is a contradiction in terms for both Jews and Gentiles. Each group is familiar with the distinctives of the sacrificial system of its own past, of course. But one thing those systems have in common is the slaughter of animals. A sacrifice isn’t a sacrifice if it’s still living!
Having caught his readers’ attention with this seeming paradox, Paul proceeds to stress the nature of such a sacrifice. The concepts of justification and sanctification are important to consider. To be justified is to be pronounced in right standing before God; Jesus’ death in payment of sin’s penalty makes this possible (compare Romans 3:21–26; 4:25; etc.). To be sanctified speaks to holiness, consecration, being set apart for sacred use. The work of Christ sanctifies us initially; the Holy Spirit works to separate us from sin for the rest of our earthly lives (Romans 8:13; 15:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 1:2). A holy sacrifice is an acceptable sacrifice.
What Do You Think?
How will you know when you have become a living sacrifice? What will you do to be this?
Digging Deeper What Scriptures support your conclusion?
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1c. Which is your reasonable service.
This summary phrase is rich with significance. The two Greek terms behind the translation have a range of meanings, depending on context.
The first term, which is translated reasonable, is the basis for the English word logic. Thus it speaks to something that is reasonable and rational. The use of the second term, translated service, can be compared with its use in John 16:2; Romans 9:4; and Hebrews 9:1, 6. These contexts connect the ideas of service and worship. The sense is that of serving God with worship in an ordered and well-thought-out manner. We serve God when we worship (think of the phrase “a worship service”), but we also worship God when we properly serve Him. These are inseparable for Paul.
- Renewed Mind (v. 2)
- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Paul’s admonition for self-sacrifice resulting in worshipful service is accomplished in two ways. First, is the renewing of your mind. For Paul, this is a departure from conformity to the world. We are called to be renewed by being transformed. The word being translated is the basis for our word metamorphosis. It points to a complete, radical change, a change contrasted with the patterns and desires of the world (see 1 Peter 1:14).
This is not wholly of our doing, for Paul does not command us to transform ourselves. We are changed through the work of the Holy Spirit, the great sanctifier and transformer of men and women (2 Corinthians 3:18). As we find sinful ways more repugnant and God’s ways more appealing, we are being transformed.
- Transformed Congregation
(Romans 12:3–8)
- Checked Egos (vv. 3–5)
- For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Keeping in mind the Roman church may have had some recent leadership turmoil (see the Lesson Context), Paul lays down some ways for that church to conquer their strife. First must come individual self-examination. For someone to think of himself more highly than he ought to think is a key ingredient of a recipe for disaster. Dueling personalities are often at the root of church conflict. We don’t just have to be right; we must win. Whether this resulted in a crisis when leaders of Jewish background returned to the church (see the Lesson Context) and desired to regain the upper hand, we don’t know. But the story is far too familiar for many church leaders.
Paul knows this is touchy, so he speaks through the grace given to him. He is plenty blunt, though, in asking for sober thinking. His readers must sober up from their ego binge.
This gives us some questions for today. Can you evaluate your motives in conflict objectively and soberly? Are you acting in the best interests of the church or according to your own desires? Paul reminds us that everyone is on an equal footing here, for whatever measure of faith one has has been given by God. No one in the church has a relationship with God that is more important or privileged than anyone else.
What Do You Think?
On a scale from 1 to 10, from “a worm” (Psalm 22:6) to “a god” (Acts 12:22), where should you see yourself? Why?
Digging Deeper In what contexts, if any, should this fluctuate? Why?
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4, 5. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Equality in God’s eyes does not mean uniformity in service, however. Paul echoes the language of 1 Corinthians 12, a text that some Christians in Rome may be familiar with. His point in that text is the same here: we have both unity and variety in the body of Christ. We are united as one body in Christ,and all members are in this one body. Even so, there is variety of office. The word being translated that way is elsewhere rendered as “works” (Matthew 16:27) and “deeds” (Luke 23:51; Acts 19:18; Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:9). Thus the idea is not one of position or rank, but of differing abilities of service.
When Paul speaks of members, he is using an analogy to refer to body parts such as arms, legs, etc. In English we see this idea when we say a body has been dismembered, meaning its parts have been divided. Here there is no splitting of parts, for they are members one of another. It is one body made up of very different parts. It is one Christ, one church, with many members.
It’s (Not) All About Me!
I was in a fast-food restaurant one day when screams filled the place. Startled, I and other patrons turned to see the source: a 3-year-old boy standing on a seat, protesting his mother’s choice of food.
The embarrassed woman plaintively tried to reason her son into silence, but in vain. A few moments later, the young manager came from behind the counter and walked briskly over to the boy. The man bent down close to the child and looked him in the eye. With a loud, assertive voice, the manager said, “Sir! We cannot have you acting this way in our restaurant!” The shocked child sank into his seat in cowed silence while his mother tried to regain her dignity.
We reluctantly accept this “it’s all about me” attitude in small children who are still learning the rules of conduct. Yet society fawns over celebrities, and, in so doing, encourages their self-centeredness. We are tempted to follow their bad examples, glorying in our own imagined importance.
This is a sign of emotional and/or spiritual immaturity. Paul warns us against such attitudes. He reminds us that, as members of the body of Christ, we each have a gift or gifts from God. Since the glory is God’s, then not one of us is more important than any other. You see, it’s not all about me … or you either!
—C. R. B.
What Do You Think? What are some ways your church can affirm differences among individual members while maintaining an overall spirit of unity?
Digging Deeper What would indicate that unity was being stressed at the expense of individual differences or vice versa?
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- Activated Gifts (vv. 6–8)
- Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.
Paul now addresses the difference in offices as gifts from God. Given according to God’s grace, they are true gifts, not payment or reward for work. Therefore, the nature of each person’s gift is determined by God. The differences are intentional, provided for the body of Christ according to the church’s needs and God’s plans.
The first gift Paul mentions is the ability to prophesy, an esteemed gift in the first-century church. Prophesying is done by prophets, individuals entrusted by God to speak publicly on His behalf, even in (or especially in) the face of opposition (1 Corinthians 12:28).
To exercise the gift of prophecy according to the prophet’s proportion of faith surely means that both the giving and receiving of a prophetic word is an act of faith. But some commentators suggest that there is more to it here. They propose that the phrase according to the proportion of faith is best understood as “according to the analogy of faith.”
Traditionally, the analogy of faith has described and used the tenets of faith that unite Christian doctrine and Scripture in a comprehensive way. These are things like the oneness of God, the divinity of Christ, and the authority of Scripture for faith and practice.
Those proposing this understanding of the phrase point out that the analogy of faith helps us clarify less clear teachings and doctrines with those that are clearer and explained more fully in Scripture. Thus, Paul is thought to be giving a subtle warning to aspiring prophets in the church: their prophetic words should be measured against the well-understood doctrines of the church.
In this “analogy of faith” sense, prophecy in the church is not for the purpose of innovation but for reinforcement. That is, it clarifies and applies previous teachings. Under this theory, Paul is seen as having no fear of encouraging any prophets in the church in Rome. The reason is because he believes they will reinforce rather than contradict his teachings.
7a. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering.
Ministry is focused on helping others, whereas the service/worship mentioned of Romans 12:1 focuses more on God. Church volunteers who are given tasks involving serving others often burn out quickly. To be a person with a lifelong passion for helping others is truly a gift of God.
This does not excuse any member from refusing to care about others, for we are members of the same body (Romans 12:5). But this gift does recognize that some Christians are tireless servants who are called to relieve the suffering of others.
7b. Or he that teacheth, on teaching.
Teaching is explaining the Scriptures. Christian teaching helps people better understand God, their duty to Him, and the nature of their salvation. Jesus saw teaching as an important element to His earthly ministry (see Mark 14:49; Luke 21:37), and so does Paul (Acts 18:11).
To be “apt to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2) is a gift (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11), but effective teaching requires preparation and study. The gift is in the passion to teach others more about God through an exposition of Scripture. In addition, many experienced teachers can relate instances where their effectiveness in teaching seemed to go beyond their preparation, experiences of spiritual insight sometimes called serendipity. A church without capable teachers is somehow missing out on a vital gift God intentionally gives to the church.
What Do You Think?
What plan can a church enact to identify and encourage those who have the gift of teaching?
Digging Deeper Conversely, how can a church deal kindly and appropriately with ineffective teachers?
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8a. Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation.
Paul rounds out his list by moving to four more gifts for the church. The word translated exhortation is elsewhere translated “consolation” (example: Luke 2:25) and “comfort” (example: 2 Corinthians 1:3). But Paul is not speaking merely in the sense of one who empathizes with and comforts those who are suffering. The sense here is more like the coach who pushes an athlete to increase performance to the maximum level.
Most churches need voices that prod complacent members to higher levels of commitment. This can be a discouraging and thankless task. The gift is not just the ability to motivate others. It is also the diligence encouragers need to offer a persistent word of higher expectations.
8b. He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity.
A spiritually gifted giver is not always the person with the most money. Rather, these are the ones who understand the self-sacrifice Paul speaks of in Romans 12:1. Some of the best givers in churches may be persons of modest means, yet the amount of money given over their lifetimes may be staggering. “Liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2) and “bountifulness” (9:11) are additional ways to translate the word behind simplicity.
8c. He that ruleth, with diligence.
One who ruleth is a church leader in the fullest sense. The word implies direction of others, a leader of men and women (compare how the same word is translated in 1 Timothy 3:4, 12; 5:17). Church leadership may take on a variety of specific responsibilities, but Paul insists this must be done with diligence. As with all of these gifts, this requires ego-suppression and self-sacrifice. For example, coordination of volunteers can be discouraging, for the coordinator’s commitment often exceeds that of some workers. Diligence implies patience and attention to details.
8d. He that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The gift of mercy is somewhat related to the gift of giving or the gift of service. The members of a church should well understand the great mercy shown to them through the work of Jesus Christ. All should be merciful, but some are called to shower this mercy on others.
We understand this better when we see Paul expecting mercy to be shown with cheerfulness. Showing mercy is not to be done grudgingly. Bringing cheer into the life of a discouraged or downtrodden individual may be an expression of mercy all by itself.
As with all these gifts, showing mercy requires a degree of self-sacrifice and self-denial. Paul himself is something of an expert on the subject of mercy, having received it himself in abundance (1 Timothy 1:13, 16).
What Gift(s) Do You Have?
“What is your spiritual gift?” Asking that of your friends will elicit varying opinions, both on-and off-target.
Take, for example, a friend of mine who has a PhD in history. He recently retired from a long teaching career at a prestigious California university, where his specialty was early Christian history. That was an unusual discipline in a secular university! He consistently got rave reviews from students and administrators for his courses. Would you say he had the gift of teaching?
One particular individual did not think so. This person, a member in a church a friend attended, claimed to have special insights into the spiritual gifts of others. He (let’s call him John) was not impressed by the unique opportunity my professor friend had to be a witness to the historical validity of the Christian faith in a hostile setting. John advised the professor to quit his job at the university and take a position in a community agency teaching English to Hispanic children. My judgment was that John’s spiritual gift was definitely not that of discernment!
How does one discover his or her spiritual gift(s)? A web search will bring up numerous tests claiming to help you determine just that, some in as little time as five minutes! A better approach might be to (1) ask for God’s guidance in evaluating your potential spiritual gifts, (2) start using them, (3) see if you end up being passionate about them, and (4) see if others are blessed by what you do. You may be surprised at how God has equipped you to serve!
—C. R. B.
What Do You Think? What procedure should your church use to energize the members to recognize and use their spiritual gifts?
Digging Deeper How will you know whether the procedure you propose is the best one?
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Conclusion
- Drawing the Right Conclusion
Two principles seem to present themselves in today’s lesson. First, all the gifts Paul has listed call for sacrifice. How do we become a “living sacrifice”? Paul implies that it happens by the exercise of our spiritual gifts. As we do, we will find ourselves transformed. But let us not fool ourselves into thinking that we are transformed by our own efforts. We are transformed into a living sacrifice through the work of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that gives us the passion and skills for a specific gift or gifts within the church.
This leads to a second great principle: spiritual gifts are all for the unity and benefit of the church. We are not called to prophesy to ourselves, give to ourselves, or show mercy to ourselves. The gifts Paul lists are necessary for the church to be all that Christ intended her to be.
- Prayer
Father, help us both to discern and employ the gifts given to us! As we do, transform and renew us through Your Spirit. We pray this in the name of Jesus, our great example of sacrifice. Amen.
- Thought to Remember
Be transformed as you serve.
KID’S CORNER
True Spiritual Worship
May 26, 2019
Romans 12:1-8
Romans 12:1-8
(Romans 12:1) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Christians use their bodies in the service of God to do what God has commanded in the Bible, which involves making daily decisions to will the will of God moment-by-moment. Sacrifices involve cost. There will be some cost when we use our bodies, our time and our talents in the service of God. We have received many mercies from God, and in the light of the mercies we have received from God—most importantly our salvation—our sacrificial service expresses our love for and thanks to God. Christians do not put themselves first and try to make God serve them; rather, they give of themselves and use their God-given gifts to fulfill God’s purposes. True Christian worship includes living holy and pleasing to God seven days a week. Inspired by the love and sacrificial example of Jesus Christ, holy living for Christians involves loving God and others as Jesus commanded.
(Romans 12:2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
The pattern of this world becomes more and more obvious from watching and listening to what the media has to offer over the Internet, movies, television (including news reports), and music. Many people aspire to live according to the pattern that the media in this world promotes in many ways. Christians strive to avoid living according to the patterns this world sets; and churches especially guard against letting this world set their moral and spiritual agendas. Paul wrote that the followers of Jesus Christ need to renew their minds and be transformed in order to overcome the world’s influences, which will include the prayerful resolve not to live according to this world’s patterns. Worshiping the true God in acceptable ways, daily Bible study, prayerful obedience to God, and a commitment to live holy and pleasing to God in everyday situations will renew our minds and transform us day-by-day. With renewed minds, when those of this world present their ideas and ways of thinking to believers, believers will be able to use their knowledge of God in Jesus Christ that they have learned from the Bible to test the appropriateness of what they are hearing and sometimes seeing in this world. Furthermore, God may test us to help us learn what is acceptable Biblical behavior. The Bible reveals God’s mind, and the Bible is the infallible objective standard by which believers can test what is true and false, right and wrong. The Bible can be used when we test for deadly spiritual and worldly diseases, which can sometimes lead to deadly physical diseases and spiritual death. As they prayerfully study the Bible and request the help of the Holy Spirit, Christians can know and approve the will of God in every situation with the confidence that God’s will is always good, pleasing, and perfect for God, others, and themselves. Everything God does and everything God asks us to do is always good, acceptable and perfect.
(Romans 12:3) For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
When Paul wrote this verse, he may have been thinking of Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Christians face the danger of thinking they are better or more important than those who are not Christians or of thinking they are better than someone else because they do not practice the sins some other Christians struggle to overcome as they trust in the Lord Jesus to save them from their sins. All Christians need to remember that they are saved by the grace of God through faith; therefore, no Christian can claim superiority over another Christian. With “sober judgment,” Christians need to examine themselves, and pray for the Lord to help them live pleasing to God. They need to ask the Holy Spirit to help them discover and turn from any sins they may have been practicing unawares. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul wrote: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” The Lord Jesus has given every Christian the faith they need to serve Him and achieve His purposes, and Christians will serve the Lord in a variety of different ways; therefore, Christians should not think more or less of themselves as they serve the Lord with the gifts He has given them.
(Romans 12:4) For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
Just as our human bodies have many parts, so Christians are a part of the body of Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Church has many different functions that need to be carried out by the different members in the Church. Every “body part” has been created by God to bless the whole body, and each body part has an important function to perform. So, in the Church, everyone is important, and everyone has a role to fulfill in the Church. No “body part” is to consider itself more important than any other “body part.” Christians pray for the Lord to show them their function and for the gifts and the spiritual and physical power to fulfill that function.
(Romans 12:5) so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Jesus Christ is not divided, with one part of Him here and another part of Him there with many disconnected parts spread everywhere. Christ has one body, the Church. Wherever Christians live around the world, they are connected and part of the one body of Jesus Christ. Since they are connected to Christ, they are connected to each other. Since individual Christians are part of the one body of Christ, what they do or fail to do has an effect on the body of Christ, the Church. Just as the hand, foot, and eye are connected to help us see where we are going to help someone, each individual member of the body of Christ around the world can bless other members or parts of the Church. The same Holy Spirit guides and empowers every individual Christian to do their part in the body of Christ.
(Romans 12:6) Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
Every Christian has received God’s grace and gifts; therefore, they live daily in and by the grace of God. The grace of God enables Christians to do the will of God and rightly use the gifts God has given them. In 2 Peter 3:18, the Bible commands us to: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” As we use God’s gifts, we pray to God for His grace to use His gifts more effectively for Him and others. We sometimes need greater courage to use our God-given gifts; so, from the gospels we learn to ask Jesus to “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). We may think the “gift of prophecy” is more important than the “gift of exhortation.” We may “think” a person with the “gift of prophecy” is more important than a person with the “gift of exhortation,” but God thinks about where His various gifts are needed in the Church; then, God puts the people of His choice in these places with these gifts. God’s gifts are not just for “professional clergy,” but for all who follow Jesus Christ. No Christian is more important than any other Christian. The faith we have as individual Christians helps us know and do the will of God when using our gifts. The gift of prophecy can include foretelling the future or predicting the future based on a revelation from God that is consistent with what the Bible teaches. The gift of prophecy can also include predicting the future based on a Holy Spirit inspired interpretation of the Bible and what will happen if certain commands of Christ are obeyed or not obeyed by an individual or a nation. For example, Christians can foresee or predict the future when they look at the world around them and compare what they see to what they read in Romans 1:16-32. The gift of prophecy has also been interpreted to mean preaching the good news of Jesus Christ.
(Romans 12:7) if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
Some interpret “service” to mean the responsibility, the role, or the office of deacons in the Church. The gift of service is more than an office in the Church and is given to all Christians. Service can include seeing someone in need and doing what can prayerfully and wisely be said and done to help that person. Service can include praying for missionaries and the persecuted Church around the world. Some seem to have the gift of service with a Holy Spirit inspired perception that makes them seem remarkable in seeing and meeting the needs of others. Others manifest this gift when they seem to be the first to volunteer whenever learn something needs to be done. The gift and office of teacher also exists in the Church. The gift of teaching includes explaining and applying the Bible’s teachings while prayerfully trying to serve as a Christian example for others to follow. The gift of teaching includes affirming and reinforcing people’s faith and trust in Jesus Christ and the Bible, the Word of Christ written. Some may excel in teaching more than others, but to some extent all Christians have a gift of teaching, for every Christian can be a living example of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 3:15, the Bible gives this command to all Christians: “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” — the defense of our Christian faith involves teaching.
(Romans 12:8) or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Some churches used to give (and perhaps some churches still give) an “Exhorter’s License,” an official certificate to those qualified. You can search on the Internet for interesting images of Exhorter’s Licenses. Traditionally, an official Exhorter in the church exhorted (urged and encouraged) those in the congregation to do what the Bible taught after a minister or evangelist preached. An Exhorter’s License was sometimes given and considered the same as a Minister’s License to preach the gospel and perform the ordinances of the church; such as baptize, preside at the Lord’s Super, and conduct marriages. God has particularly gifted some in the Church (even if they are not “professionals”) with the ability to encourage others in a variety of ways (not just after a sermon or a Bible lesson) and urge people follow Christ and the Bible’s teachings (especially if they need help to overcome a sin). Though they do not seek to let their “left hand know what their right hand is doing,” some in the Church are noted for contributing generously to various church causes and helping the needy (Matthew 6:3). The Holy Spirit gifted them with a variety of resources and the motivation to give generously in a variety of ways. With the help and inspiration of God, some of the poorest in the Church have also been some of the most sacrificial and generous givers. In summary, the enthusiastic leadership and service of some in the Church is the gift of God’s grace for the benefit of the Church. The interest in and intention to cheerfully perform acts of mercy are also a gift of God’s grace. All these gifts are important, and every member in the Church has gifts from God to share in and through the Church.
True Spiritual Worship
May 26, 2019
Romans 12:1-8
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).
Worship involves more than spending one hour per week with other believers in a church. Worship includes our whole way of life throughout the week. What difference would it make to us and the world if everyone heeded Paul’s appeal to worship God spiritually every day? What is true spiritual worship? Spiritual worship includes thanking God throughout the day for His multiple mercies toward us. Think what each day would be like if God never showed us any mercy throughout the day. How many accidents and troubles have God’s mercies saved us and others from day by day? Primarily, God showed His love and mercy when He sent Jesus to save us from our sins while we were still sinners (see Romans 5:8). In response to God’s manifold mercies toward us, Paul appeals to us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. In the Old Testament, whole burnt offerings were sometimes offered. In the New Testament, our spiritual worship involves offering our whole selves alive to God and dedicating the use of our bodies to God’s service, to truly loving God and others as the Bible teaches. As God commanded the Jews to offer their best animals in sacrifice, so God commands the followers of Jesus to offer the very best of themselves when they serve God and others. When we set ourselves apart to live wholly for God, whatever we do each day can become a holy sacrifice to God. When we live according to the Bible’s teachings, our whole lives become acceptable spiritual worship to God.
Thinking Further
True Spiritual Worship
May 26, 2019
Romans 12:1-8
Name _______________________________
- As Christians, what and how should we sacrifice to God?
- As Christians, how can we be transformed?
- What would happen if everyone in the Church had the same function?
- How should Christians think about themselves?
- In the Church, why do members have different gifts?
Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further
- As Christians, what and how should we sacrifice to God? Our worship of God is spiritual; therefore, we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God in a way that is holy and acceptable to God.
- As Christians, how can we be transformed? By refusing to conform to the world and by renewing our minds we can be transformed. We renew our minds with the Holy Spirit’s help as we prayerfully read and study the Bible. God transforms as we test how to apply the Bible’s teaching to our lives and work as we pray and study God’s Word. God transforms us through His tests that show us how we are doing and where we need to improve and trust more in God as we seek to understand and apply the Bible’s teachings (and Jesus’ commands). Through testing, we will learn the will of God, which is always good and acceptable and perfect.
- What would happen if everyone in the Church had the same function? If everyone had the same function, we would all be hands, or feet, or ears or some other part of the Body of Christ and the full work of the Church would not be done. If we were all ears and only ears, we would not be able to do what we hear from God to do.
- How should Christians think about themselves? With humility, not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. “but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
- In the Church, why do members have different gifts? God gives each Christian the gifts He chooses for them to receive and use for His glory and to bless others inside and outside the Church. A variety of gifts are needed in the Church, and God gives the Church a variety of gifts through different people to achieve His purposes in and through the Church.
Word Search
True Spiritual Worship
May 26, 2019
Romans 12:1-8
Name _________________________________
B T E P N C R E N E W A L Y O
Z O R V G B D X T C E F R E P
A E D A D P V N U K A Z S X T
Q F L I N O J H I E Q D A R G
R P Q B E S O V B M H O C B A
S G E U A S F G S D Y G R J L
S P Z X I T L O E T L W I B X
E M I S L A P M R P O T F Z S
I Y T R E P R E S M H U I U X
C D V P I O I L C X E T C T P
R K P Y F T I H S C I D E N R
E A Q N P V U U S Y A L X U F
M L O C I M S A P R E V A J Y
P C Y N A E W F L B O P Z P U
J E G C J O Z I P U V W L M O
Appeal
Mercies
Bodies
Living
Sacrifice
Holy
Acceptable
Good
Perfect
Spiritual
Worship
Conformed
Transformed
Renewal
Mind
True and False Test
True Spiritual Worship
May 26, 2019
Romans 12:1-8
Name _______________________________
Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.
- True spiritual worship includes presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. True or False
- Our Christian worship can never be holy or acceptable to God, so there is no use trying. True or False
- If Christians conform to this world, they will please God and others and make more people just like themselves. True or False
- Christians can renew their minds and discern the will of God. True or False
- God always has, does, and always will do what is good, acceptable, and perfect. True or False
- No one can be transformed until they get to heaven and God changes them. True or False
- To get ahead, the Bible tells Christians to think more highly of themselves and tell others as often as possible why they are better than others. True or False
- Christ has one body with many members that all have the same function so all can do the same things. True or False
- Christians should strive to develop skills and talents that are different from everyone else in the church so they can be better than everyone else. True or False
- When we do acts of mercy, we should do so cheerfully. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False
- False
- False
- True
Prayer
Father, help us both to discern and employ the gifts given to us! As we do, transform and renew us through Your Spirit. We pray this in the name of Jesus, our great example of sacrifice. Amen.