Do Not Be Overcome by Evil

In one paragraph

Pastor Ray opened by holding two situations side by side: Paul's warning against growing weary in doing good, and the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark that ended their partnership. The sermon then worked through Romans 12 as a framework for figuring out which situation you are actually in, and how to keep serving faithfully either way. The "therefore" that opens Romans...

Read together

1. Romans 12 main passage of the sermon, chapter of exhortation in Romans
2. Romans 8:28 all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose
3. Galatians 6:9 let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart
4. Acts 15:39 the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over taking John Mark on the second missionary journey
5. 1 Corinthians 12 Paul covers spiritual gifts at great length, parallel to Romans 12
6. 1 Peter 4 Peter covers spiritual gifts
7. Ephesians 4 Paul covers spiritual gifts again, possibly a sketch for Romans
8. 2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful, hilarious giver
9. Genesis 12 God calls Abraham, promising to bless those he blesses and curse those he curses
10. Deuteronomy 32:35 vengeance is mine and I will repay, cited as source of the quote in Romans 12
11. Proverbs 25:21-22 if your enemy is hungry feed him, heaping burning coals on his head
12. Isaiah burning coal brought to cleanse Isaiah's lips when he confessed being a man of unclean lips

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray opened with two situations from Scripture: Paul and Barnabas parting ways over John Mark, and Paul's call in Galatians 6 not to grow weary in doing good. When you have hit a point of sharp disagreement in doing kingdom work, how have you tried to discern whether to press on or to part ways?
2. Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, which Pastor Ray described as a daily, ongoing act rather than a one-time decision. What does that look like in the ordinary routines of your week?
3. Pastor Ray talked about the 'set aside prayer' from the 12-step world as a practical picture of Romans 12:2, letting God renew our minds rather than persisting in what we think we already know. Is there an area of your life right now where you sense God asking you to set aside your own assumptions and look for His truth instead?
4. During the volunteer recognition, it became clear how many different gifts and forms of service keep this church running. Romans 12:6-8 says each person is to use their gift, and Pastor Ray pointed out that forcing the wrong gift into the wrong role produces hypocrisy. How do you know when you are serving out of your actual gifting versus obligation or guilt?
5. Romans 12:19-21 says to leave vengeance to God and instead feed a hungry enemy, because acting like Christ acts brings conviction rather than more conflict. Has there been a time when responding with kindness instead of retaliation changed a difficult relationship, and what made that hard or possible?