Our commitment to friendship - Romans 12

Today’s sermon Romans 12 “Our commitment to friendship”

Intro: One big table!

 

          1) Our commitment requires a transformed and renewed way of thinking (v1-2)

“Therefore” – 11 chapters going deep on the gospel

 

• Bodies as sacrifices, renewed minds
• Do not conform to the pattern of this world
• We need the gospel - we must meditate deeply on it

 

          2) Our commitment requires practical service across the whole church family (v3-8)

V5 “so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

 

• Language of belonging goes far further than sitting at one table!
• Dogs not cats
• Deep friendships the key way of gifts being used in the body

 

         3) Our commitment requires deep sincerity that will bless the church and the world around (v9-21)

 

“Love must be sincere”

 

Fruit 1: Every believer in this church family should seek to build a particular friendship with a brother or sister in Christ where you are honest about the sins you are struggling with and the good things God is doing in your life.

 

 

Fruit 2: Every believer in this church family should commit to their own spiritual well-being so they can be of real help to their friends.

 

Fruit 3: Every believer in this church family should seek to share more of their normal life with others, more of their resources with others, more of their joys and sadnesses with others.

 

Conclusion: 1 objection and 3 questions

 

Memory verse: Romans 12 v 9-10

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.”

 

Questions to chew over:

1.Can you feel an internal struggle when we talk about 1 table, 1 body, belonging to one another? Why is the gospel so necessary here?

2.Do you need to be on a rota at church to use the gifts God has given you? How can you use your gifts to bless Christian friends?

3.Look through those 3 fruits. What challenges you most? What in particular do you need to ask God for help to change or develop?

4.What questions might you want to ask your Life Group about following this sermon? Are there things the leadership need to put in place in CCR?