Romans: Theology for Everybody (12-16)Sample

In any sport, a good coach comes alongside the athlete to encourage and exhort them to pour out their energy toward an end result. The Apostle Paul does this very thing, urging believers to offer their entire life in worship to God. In the Old Covenant, a sacrifice was made when the life of an animal was taken, but in the New Covenant, we worship God by offering ourselves as living sacrifices to serve God with our head, heart, and hands. For the Christian, worship includes singing songs at church but extends far beyond that to our thoughts, feelings, and actions every moment of every day.

Head – we are to not be conformed to the foolish nonsense of our world, but instead be transformed by the wisdom of God’s Word to make decisions that align with God’s will. This applies to the very practical stuff of life from the money we spend, relationships we have, job we work, words we speak, or sex we have.

Heart – in humility, we need to be honest about who we are, and where we belong in the family of God. Everyone is called to serve just in different ways and positions. Some people are called to lead, others to follow. Some are called into one role for a season, and then reassigned for a new season. No matter what, God’s people need one another and are to appreciate, honor, and respect the contributions of one another as we need one another in the same way that our body needs every part. This provides our unity, while also respecting our diversity.

Hands – every Christian has been gifted by God the Holy Spirit at least one ministry ability to make a meaningful contribution to the cause of Christ. There are five different lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 and 12:28; Romans 12:6–8; Ephesians 4:11; and 1 Peter 4:11. Since each of these lists are different, it is doubtful that compiling all of the lists together will provide a complete list. Instead, it is best to consider these lists non exhaustive examples. The truth is whatever ability you have is God-given and, if used for the Lord, a ministry. The best way to discover how God has designed you is to begin serving and see where you add particular value and find a sense of fulfilment as you do what God made you to do. If you do not quickly find your place serving in the church body, don’t get discouraged, but try different roles to see what works best for you. In the same way, when children are growing up and want to find a sport to play or a hobby to adopt, they try a few different options until they find one or more that they stick with. God has valuable contributions for you to make and, as the Holy Spirit works in and through you, your relationship with God and other believers will be deepened and strengthened while other people are benefitted and blessed so that everyone enjoys God’s grace.

Questions: 

1. Is there anything you are doing with your body that is not “holy” and “acceptable” (e.g. sexual sin, alcohol abuse, drug use, gluttony, etc.?). How can you worship God with your body in those areas of temptation and trial? What changes need to be made?

2. What are ways that you have a real battle to not be conformed to the pattern of this world–marching with the fool’s parade in how you think and what you do?

3. In all honesty, are there any areas of your life that you are prone to think more highly of yourself than you ought and need to choose humility which is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less?

4. Are you serving the body of Christ with your giftings? Why or why not? How can you start to serve if you aren’t already?