Introduction:
A. The "Church" in God's plan is to be
a thriving vital
part of our
world!
B. The "Church" is a team of believers.
C. Paul gives us some instructions in Rom. 12:
3-21 as to what this team of believers should be!
Trans:
Let's look at
this passage and see what he had to say!
Prayer
Rom. 12: 3-21
I. We aren't to think too highly of ourselves.
A. We should see ourselves as a part of a
team, working gether!
B. Not as "the team."
C. The buck does not stop here!
II. Paul refers to this team as the "Body" of Christ!
A. This
body has many members!
B. But each member doesn't have the same job!
v.4
1. We need to be aware of that!
2. We are called to different jobs.
a. We aren't all called to be preachers!
b. We aren't all called to be teachers!
c. We aren't to all be singers!
d. God hasn't given any one of us all of
these talents!
e. Although, I do believe that God has given all
of us a talent!
3. As a church, we need to be careful here
because:
a. We want to encourage people, so if they have these
talents, they can find them! (This is important!)
b. But we don't want to push people to the
point
that they feel like they should do
"all
things" or they aren't right with
God!
c. If we do this, people will become
discouraged
and give up because after all
no-one
can live up to that kind of
expectations! None of us can or should do
everything!
C. We should do the job that God has given us,
and we
should do it to
the best of our ability!
1. If God has given us the ability to teach and
we aren't
doing it, that job won't get done!
a. Somebody who we could reach may not be reached
for Christ!
b. Somebody who we could help through a bad
time
may give up and quit!
2. If God has given us the ability to sing and we aren't doing it, somebody is missing a blessing and the encouragement that God intended for them to have!
3. When we don't use the abilities that God has
given
us, the chain of effectiveness is broken!
The
"Body" is crippled!
III. This team "Body" should show the
world genuine love (v.9)! When we do, we
are showing them Christ!
How?
A.
Love with mutual affection; outdo one another in
Showing honor (v.10).
If we are Christians, we will love each other, and if we can't, there is
something wrong!
B. We will be honorable in all we do, even our
business
dealings!
C. Rejoicing in the hope that we have in Christ
(v.12).
D. Patient in suffering, realizing that God can
make us better for having gone through it!
E. Being a person of prayer!
F. Giving to those in need, etc.
G. Extending hospitality to strangers, not just
those who
Are
like us!
1. Not saying
or posting hateful things back!
2. Not
defacing property, even if it is a sign you do not agree with!
3. Not saying
bad things about them!
H. Bless those who persecute you! Don’t hold a grudge
Try
to get even. In our polarized world,
many feel
Persecuted
by the other. We are to bless them! What
does
that look like?
I. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with
those who
weep! We are to have empathy for one another! We are
to
place ourselves in their shoes! Then we
know how
to
act!
J. We are to do all these things
because of our "genuine love!"
The only way we could do that is as we yield to Christ and let Christ
Love through us!
K. Through God's sanctifying grace we can become
what God
would have us
be.
IV. This team "Body" is to live peaceably with all people!
A. It should go without saying that we should
live
peaceably with
fellow Christians!
1. The shame of it is that today this is not
always
the case!
2. We have Christians who fight and churches
that split!
3. We have Christians who fall-out with a
brother or sister over something and will not talk to them because
of it!
4. I have seen church problems! I have seen
Christians
fighting!
5. These things should not be, and they will not
be
if we keep in
tune with God and don't fail!
6. But we do fail, and when we do, if it causes problems,
that is where forgiveness comes in!
7. Jesus said in Matt. 6;15,
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you!"
8. Forgiveness is a must, and when we have this forgiving spirit, it makes it possible
to live peaceably with all people!
B. This one hits home with the recent division
of our own
denomination.
1. With
the things that have been said about us by
Those who have
left, it is easy to feel condemnation toward them.
2. We have to leave the judging to God!
3. There are other traditions who do not and
have
Never
agreed with our theology. We have
treated
them with grace and love. We have
to do that
with those who have recently disaffiliated as
well!
B. This
one hits home with the political polarization in
Our country!
1. Things
are said in person or online that
Demonizes what
we think by the other.
2. We
have to not let it generalize our thinking
that all people
who do not agree with us share those
thoughts.
3. Whether
they do or not, we have to give it to
God, pray about
the situation, and treat the other with dignity and love! That is the Christian
way!
D. Whether we are hurt by a Christian or a
non-Christian,
we are to turn
it over to God and leave the judgement
to God!
Conclusion:
A. When we work together as the body that Christ
meant for us to be, we will make a
difference! We will see some good things happen! We’ll see people come to Christ!
Great is our
reward in heaven, as the song “Thank You” declares and so touchingly reminds
us!
B. To make a difference, to see these things
happen, it
takes real dedication to Christ!
C. Is your relationship to Christ what it should
be?
D. If it isn't, then yield to God
as you encounter Christ at the table this morning!
Prayer of Confession
Holy Communion
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