02/11/2025 - ​M​att Robinson

Romans 12

Consider:

Has there been something that’s happened this year that’s frustrated you? Something you wish you could change? Or perhaps someone?

We live in a wild world, and at times we ask ourselves what place do we as Christians have in this world?

The church in Rome asked this same question. They were divided by opinion, Jews concerned with the Law and Gentiles feeling limited in how they could minister. It’s into this context that Paul writes Romans.

The Invitation:

Leading up to Romans 12, Paul emphasises the fact that though we are all different, what unites us is that we all are invited into God’s family. There is an invitation for us to join God and what He’s doing to restore this wild world we live in.

The Implication:

Romans 12:1-2

Saying “Yes” to Jesus means saying “Yes” to being renewed and transformed from the inside out.

• Parable of the unknown Monk

“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town, and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.”

Reflect:

What’s actually shaping your mindset? What is influencing your thoughts most right now?

The implementation:

Karl Barth – “We must hold the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.”

Romans 12:4-8

We are all made unique, have different stories, backgrounds, talents, gifting and connections. Paul reminds us of this and that because of this how God uses us is going to look different. We aren’t meant to compare or judge what another is doing for the Lord, but to focus on what He is able to do with us.

The Outcome:

When we accept the invit ation, we journey with God. We are made students who seek to become like Him and this will be expressed uniquely through who He has made us to be. As a result, the good news will be shared, we will be light-bearers in dark places.

Romans 12:9-20

Imagine a world where we live like Paul describes in these verses.

This is who we are called to be, this is what happens and can only happen, when we live fed by the root, and in response offer our lives as a living sacrifice.

What could this look like for us to live this out in our week?

• Be first to show honour to those around you
• Pursue being hospitable and loving to strangers,
• Seek to bless those who seek to curse you
• Celebrate other people’s wins with them, share tears with those who are in ruin.
• Do your best to understand one another. That means don’t just reject someone because of a view they hold but seek to converse with them, understand the other side of a story. Why do they hold that view?
• Don’t think so highly of yourself or your understanding of things. Lower yourself so that you can listen, learn, and serve
• Be radically generous and authentically humble