Many Parts, One Body

In one paragraph

The regular preacher, Carl, was out sick, so Ryan stepped in to lead worship and preach. The message worked through Romans 12, reading it as the practical outworking of everything Paul has already established earlier in the letter, and pressed the congregation to consider what it actually looks like to live as one body offering itself to God. Ryan opened by noting that Romans 12 begins with a...

Read together

1. Isaiah 25:1 opening encouragement before worship: 'Lord, you are my God. I will exalt you. I will give you thanks for you have worked wonders, plans formed long ago with perfect faithfulness'
2. Galatians 6:9 one of two verses cited in the email that started the message, about not growing weary in doing good and reaping in due season
3. Acts 15:39 the contention between Paul and Barnabas becoming so sharp that they parted from one another, used to contrast with Galatians 6:9
4. Romans 12:1-2 the therefore urging believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice and be transformed by the renewing of their minds
5. James 1:5 if any of you lacks wisdom, let him go to God and ask, He gives it generously
6. Romans 12:3-21 the full hortatory section proclaiming how believers are to live in light of God's mercy, covering gifts, love, humility, repaying evil, and overcoming evil with good
7. Lamentations 3:22-23 read before the offering: because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, his compassions are new every morning, great is your faithfulness
8. Genesis 12:1-3 God's promise to Abraham: I will bless you and those you bless I will bless, and those you curse I will curse, connected to the command not to curse persecutors
9. Deuteronomy 32:35 vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord, cited as the source of the quote in Romans 12:19
10. Proverbs 25:21-22 if your enemy is hungry give him food, if thirsty give him water, for you will heap burning coals on his head, cited as the source of Romans 12:20
11. 1 Peter 2:23 when Christ was reviled he did not revile in return but entrusted himself to the one who judges rightly, connected to never taking your own revenge

Talk about it

1. The preacher talked about Paul and Barnabas separating over John Mark, and how both men kept on journeying even after the disagreement. Has there been a time in your own life when a sharp disagreement with another believer led to something unexpected or even good? What did you learn from it?
2. Romans 12 opens with an appeal to present ourselves as living sacrifices because of the mercies of God. Where in your life right now do you find it hardest to actually live that out, and what do you think gets in the way?
3. The preacher described the set-aside prayer from AA as dovetailing with being transformed by the renewing of your mind. What is one assumption or habit of thinking that you sense God may be asking you to set aside so He can show you something truer?
4. During the volunteer recognition, a picture emerged of a body where many different people contribute in many different ways, some of them very quiet. How well do you feel you understand the specific gift God has wired you with, and are you using it or holding back?
5. The sermon pointed to Jeremiah as an example of fervent, faithful service across forty years with almost no visible fruit. Where in your own walk are you tempted to quit because results are hard to see, and what would it look like to keep going anyway?