Discussion Sunday—April 25

Be the Best at Showing Honor

Anyone want to recap so far?
Big ideas we’ve covered in Romans 12:
1. The kingdom of God is to be a welcoming community

2. Our sacrifice of worship is turning our minds and hearts over to God, out of gratitude for God’s mercy, and saying “Your will be done.”

3. Renewed minds give us an “other” orientation instead of a “me” one.

4. We can’t live in unity with our Christian siblings unless we’re willing to live in honesty.

Moving on in Chapter 12

Romans 12.4-13
4 We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. Delight in it! Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. 

• What stands out to you?
• Do you see recurring ideas or words?
• What are Paul’s main ideas here?
• What are some ingredients of his recipe for solving this division?

 

1. How are gifts to be viewed in God’s kingdom?
2. What even is a spiritual gift?
3. If we are gifted to do certain things well, how do we keep from “thinking too highly of ourselves” when using them?
4. “Be the best at showing honor to each other. Delight in it!” How does this attitude combat thinking too highly of oneself?
5. What effect does it have on the whole body of Christ when we show others honor and encourage their gifts?
6. How do you feel when someone sees and calls out your gifts and goodness?
7. How does that change the dynamic in a body that might tend toward self promotion and putting ones own wishes first?
8. What do you make of all of Paul’s language of joy and happiness—he seems to use it a lot here.
9. How do we cultivate an attitude of joy and delight in our service to one another?
10. What is God saying to you in this? What will you do about it?