Romans 12 Sermon

On Tuesday, November 23 I preached at Praxis chapel (a message I had already preached back at home) and some have asked for the 7 points I gave from Romans 12:9-13. I decided to post them here in case anyone else is interested.

1. Love must be sincere. Love without a hidden agenda, and regardless of who will benefit within the relationship.

2. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. It should hurt when we do acts that are not good because of our bond with goodness. (Think of two blocks of wood glued together and then ripping them apart.)

3. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Treat each other within the Body of Christ with special attention, as though we are members of one family.

4. Honor one another above yourselves. The best way to encourage love is an attitude of humility and respect toward every other member within the body.

5. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. If you have chosen to dedicate your life to the service of God, the first thing that must go is a desire to put yourself in a position of honor. If we can’t learn to forget ourselves, we will never be rightly prepared for the service of Christ.

6. Be joyful in hope, Patient in affliction, Faithful in prayer. Being joyful in hope and patient in affliction is far beyond our own strength, which is why we are instructed to be faithful in prayer. As we continue to call on God, He will not allow our faith and hope to be destroyed.

7. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. A true test of our character is when we are faced with a situation that requires us to give up our own comfort for the benefit of those less fortunate, particularly those who we wouldn’t normally associate with, and those from whom we expect the least return.

I’d also like to mention to those who have approached me with feedback, that I appreciate your comments and I definitely welcome constructive criticism. The comment I have heard the most is regarding the fact that I read the sermon. I will keep that in mind for next time and I’ll try to memorize more so I don’t have to read so much of it! Also, thanks to those who have had encouraging comments.