Romans chapter 12 verse 9 to 21 and it's page 1139 in the Church Bible.
Romans chapter 12 verse 9 to 21 and page 1139.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath.
For it is written,
It is mine to avenge.
I will repay, says the Lord.
On the contrary,
if your enemy is hungry,
feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.
Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
Thank you.
Well, please keep your Bibles open there at Romans 12.
we're looking at a new section a new series which we're calling the gospel applied which
simply means that the good news of jesus is not just for people who are not yet christians but
it's for the church and it shapes us and it transforms us as we saw last week into people
who serve and who sacrifice and this week we'll see how it shapes us to be a people of love
so let's ask for god's help as we look at his word together
father would you by your holy spirit please teach us
teach us what love is all about correct our misunderstandings of what love is
and please show us what it is to be a community of love
that reflects the love of god to us to one another
to the world and to the community around us
father would you please change us through what we look at today
and that we will be different people as a result that we would be more christ-like
we cannot do this ourselves and so we come humbly asking that you would change us
we pray this in jesus name amen
so where would we go to
if we want to find true love
well it might seem strange
but the answer is this we need look no further than the church
and i'm not talking about the physical or sexual relationships that our culture defines as love
i'm talking about genuine and sincere love where people are look at verse 10
of chapter 12 where people are devoted to one another in brotherly love
and look at verse 15 where people rejoice with those who rejoice
and mourn with those who mourn
this is the kind of love that the world is looking for
it's a love that's faithful and loyal
it's a love that's giving and is not demanding
it's a love that is caring and not self-seeking
it's the kind of love that never gives up on people whenever we fail
and the place that we find this true love
is in the church
after all the church is to be
a community
of love
the church that this letter was written to the book of romans
was written to a people who were from all kinds of backgrounds
there were very religious people like the jews
there were people who were non-religious like the gentiles
some were of a very high position who were very wealthy
there were others of a low position who didn't have much
they were a mixed bunch racially
culturally and socially
and the potential within that community for division and disagreement was huge
and so he's writing
to encourage them
to show them what it is to be a loving community
that is committed to each other
and there are two things that make
a loving community
possible
first
they are a people who have come to experience
God's mercy
go back to chapter 12
verse 1 because this is where
this whole passage flows out of
it all flows from
verse 1 of chapter 12
therefore
I urge you
brothers and sisters
in view
of God's mercy
he's reminding
the people
to look back
at the mercy
they have received
from God
so why don't we do that
let's look back to
Romans chapter 5
verse 8
as just one example
of where we see
God's mercy
to us
as people
Romans chapter 5
and verse 6
so we're looking back
and wanting to see
what God has done for us
and this is what it says
verse 6
you see at just the right time
when we were still
powerless
Christ died
for the ungodly
very rarely will anyone die
for a righteous
person
though for a good person
someone might possibly
dare to die
but
God demonstrates
his own
love for us
in this
while we were still
sinners
Christ died
for us
when we were still
in active rebellion
against God
when we had no time
for God
when we didn't want him
God reached out
in love
to us
and died
for us
go back to chapter 12
he's saying
view God's mercy
see how much
God
has loved you
see how he has
forgiven you
how he has
accepted you
and welcomed you
into
his family
and when we see that
it has this
knock on effect
so
second
we now belong
to each other
so look at chapter 12
verse 5
in view of God's mercy
verse 1
this is the knock on effect
this is the working out of it
verse 5
so in Christ
we who are many
form
one body
and each member
belongs
to all the others
so this church
that has come to experience
God's mercy
and God's love
is not a collection
of individuals
all doing their own thing
no they are now
a community
of God's people
who are committed
to each other
so look at some of the words
that we have here
in this section
chapter 12
verse 10
it says
be devoted
to
one another
verse 13
share with God's
people
verse 16
live in harmony
with
one another
verse 17
be careful
to do
what is right
in the eyes
of
everybody
verse 18
the end of verse 18
live at peace
with
everyone
you see
when we come
to know
the mercy of God
when we experience
God's love
love in our own life
it begins to
shape us
and transform us
and it creates us
and builds us
and forms us
into a community
of people
that are committed
to one another
no longer
individuals
but now
God's people
together
and all of this
leads to
thirdly
a community
of love
love
so
verse 9
he says
to them
love
must be
sincere
so the church
is not a
theatre
where everybody
comes in
different kinds
of costumes
and their mask
and they're all
acting out
a particular role
there's no hypocrisy
there's no
pretense
in this community
no this is
real
verse 9
and this is
sincere
these are a
people
who have
come to
experience
the deep
love of
Christ
and now
they live
out that
love
in commitment
to one
another
so we want
to ask
what does
this community
of love
look like
in practice
when the gospel
has come into
our lives
and when it
has changed
us and brought
us together
what does
it actually
look like
in practice
well three
things
first
it shapes
us into
being a
community
where love
has no
limits
it shapes
us into
a community
where love
has no
limits
look at
verse 10
be devoted
to one
another
in brotherly
or family
love
because of
our faith
in Christ
because we've
been welcomed
into the
family of God
we are now
he's saying
brothers and
sisters together
we're like
a big
family
so how do
we show
our devotion
to one another
within this
family
within this
gathering
well read on
in verse 10
it says
honour
one another
above
yourselves
honour
one another
above yourselves
so we look at
each other
as more
important
the person
beside me
is more
important
than me
and that
person
is more
in need
of love
than what
I am
that's how
we view
each other
so on a
Sunday morning
when we
come in
together
or when it
comes to
tea and
coffee time
we don't
sit and
wait for
somebody to
come to
me and
ask me
how am I
doing
rather we
take the
initiative
and we
go to
the other
person
and we
ask them
how are
you doing
and how
can I
serve
you
because
we're
always
viewing
the other
person
as in
need
of
love
now
that's
not
easy
to do
is it
so look
at verse
11
he says
never be
lacking
in zeal
never
be lacking
in your
enthusiasm
to love
one another
never be
lacking
in zeal
but keep
your
spiritual
fervour
serving
the Lord
so if
ever you
feel like
your heart
is empty
and there's
no love
in there
and you've
just got
nothing to
give
he's saying
remind
yourself
of God's
faithful
and loyal
love to
you
keep
your
spiritual
fervour
go back
again to
the mercy
of God
look at
the way
in which
God has
loved
you
let that
change
you
and refresh
you
and fill
you
so that
love
overflows
from your
life
to other
people
keep
your
spiritual
fervour
and one
of the
practical
ways
in which
we can
begin
to
show
this
love
to one
another
is to
get
alongside
people
and to
walk
with them
through
their
ups and
downs
in life
because
that is
the
experience
of life
it is
full of
ups and
downs
and so
we get
alongside
each other
and we
support
each other
verse 12
be joyful
in hope
patient
in affliction
and faithful
in prayer
so let's
work this
through
if a
member of
the church
family
that you
know
is facing
into a
tough
situation
where you
need to
get alongside
them
and remind
them
of the
hope
we have
in Christ
that he
is the
one who
is in
control
of our
life
situation
he is
the one
who is
with us
and will
never
abandon
us
he is
the one
who will
bring us
safely
to his
eternal
kingdom
that is
the hope
that we
can share
with each
other
or what
if somebody
within your
home group
is experiencing
some kind
of trouble
at home
or at
work
well the
encouragement
here is
to be
patient
with them
hang in
there with
them
don't give
up on
them
don't
bail out
on them
like
everybody
else
gives up
on other
people
you hang
in there
you stick
with them
you are
patient
in affliction
and if
somebody comes
along with
you and
shares a
difficulty
with you
even today
somebody has
said this
is going
on in my
life
be faithful
in prayer
take that
responsibility
on and
pray for
them
why wait
till you
get home
pray for
them in
the here
and now
and be
faithful to
remember
them
in prayer
now of
course that
might all
happen just
on a
Sunday
morning
but we
know that
church isn't
just about a
couple of
hours like
today
church happens
24-7
throughout the
week so
look at
verse 13
share with
God's people
who are in
need
practice
hospitality
mercy
now I
think it's
great that
this is a
community of
people where
people share
with those who
are in need
that's why we
have the
ministries of
mercy that's
why we have
the fellowship
fund that's
why people
give practically
by giving
finances to
share with
those who are
in need in
all kinds of
situations
and I think
it's great the
way people
invite each
other into
their homes for
dinner and for
lunch and
arrange to meet
up with people
that's what
it's all
about but
let me
challenge us a
little bit here
let me push
it out a bit
more who
are the kinds
of people we
invite to our
homes do we
just invite the
people like
like me as
in the kind
of people that
I get on
with and I
kind of feel
comfortable with
and and we
we have the
same kind of
interests
why not ask
yourself who
have I never
invited to my
home who
within the
church family
has never
stepped across
the doorway of
my house and
why don't I
invite them and
get to know
them and share
life with them
you see there
are no limits
to how we
might show our
love for each
other and
isn't that how
the Lord Jesus
showed his love
towards us he
never put a
limit on his
love for us
he never said
to us well I've
got this amount
of love and I'll
give you that
amount but it's
going to be no
more he continues
to pour out his
love upon us to
awkward difficult
sinners like you
and me so that we
might show
limitless love to
one another within
the community of
the church so
first love has
no limits
second when the
love of God
begins to take a
hold of our
hearts and begins
to shape us and
transform us
second we become a
community where
love crosses all
barriers look at
verse 14 here's
where it really
starts to get
down deep bless
those who
persecute you
bless and do
not curse have
you ever been
wronged or hurt
by somebody within
the church family
what do you want
to do when that
happens well if
you're like me
you might want to
get your own back
on them you
wish bad things
will happen to
them that they'll
suffer something
difficult in their
life maybe that
they'll trap their
fingers in the car
door ha ha ha
you want something
bad to happen
but look what it
says bless and
do not curse in
in fact it goes
much further than
that look at
verse 15
rejoice with
those who
rejoice and
mourn with
those who
mourn now
it's easy isn't
it to rejoice
with people who
we get on with
people who we
love to be
around we can
rejoice with
them no problem
and it's easy to
mourn with those
who have shown
comfort and
kindness to us
in our trouble
but this is
telling us to
get alongside
those who have
wronged us and
offended us
other people
might put up
barriers but
as people of
love we're going
to cross those
barriers we're
going to break
down walls of
hostility and
we're going to
share in their
happiness and
we're going to
grieve with them
in their sadness
bless and do
not curse and
instead of
hostility look
at verse 16
live in
harmony with
one another
don't let
the past
and don't
let what has
happened before
control how
you live today
and how you
view each
other today
live in
harmony with
one another
how do we do
that well look
at the rest of
verse 16
do not be
proud but be
willing to
associate people
of low position
or be willing
to serve people
in all kinds
of ways do
not be
conceited
now this is
very similar to
what he's been
saying to us
back in verse
3 look in
verse 3
again
chapter 12
verse 3
he says
for by the
grace given
me I say
to every
one of
you
do not
think of
yourself more
highly than
you ought
but rather
think of
yourself with
sober
judgment
so don't
see yourself
as inferior
to anybody
else
don't see
yourself as
superior
rather he
says look
at yourself
with verse
3 with
sober judgment
in accordance
with the
measure of
faith that
God has
given to
you
see yourself
look at
yourself
through the
eyes of
the gospel
see yourself
as somebody
who has
received the
rich mercy
of God
the one who
has come to
die for you
who loves you
and has welcomed
you into his
family and when
we begin to see
ourselves through
that light
that means we
will begin to
view each
other correctly
we won't
start looking
at each
other according
to what has
happened in
the past
we'll no longer
look at that
person who has
offended us and
who spoke unkindly
to us and
think don't want
anything to do
with you
we'll no longer
look at people
who've caused
us hurt and
pain and go
wish you
weren't here
instead we
will see
people
will see
one another
as those
who've received
mercy
just as I
have received
mercy
you see if
we are
Christians who
bring brought
into the
community we
don't build up
barriers we
build bridges
we no longer
view people as
being on the
other side and
and to be
ignored no we
cross every
barrier possible
and we reach out
in love to
one another
and that's what
Christ has done
for us he has
crossed over the
barriers that we
have built up with
our sin he has
built a bridge by
his death on the
cross and in
love he came to
reach out to us
to save us and
to treat us as
one of the
family so that
we will reach out
across the
barriers and
build bridges
into people's
lives
love crosses
all barriers
others and
third
and third
once the gospel
gets a hold of
our heart and
changes us and
we we get to
understand what
God has done for
us it will
change us into a
community of love
that does not
seek
revenge
look at verse 17
do not repay
anyone evil
for evil
now the most
natural reaction
when we experience
evil against us
whether it is
somebody who
slanders our
character or
causes us some
kind of harm
we just want to
repay them we
want to get back
at them but
rather than repay
look at the rest
of verse 17
be careful to
do what is
right in the
eyes of
everybody
be careful to
do what is
right in the
eyes of
everybody
so when you
experience evil
against you
so for example
if your colleague
at work turns
against you and
starts talking
behind your
back or if
you become the
victim of an
injustice or if
your family member
causes you some
kind of hurt or
pain or your
neighbours or
somebody around
you is being
mean to you
at that moment
the next move
is yours
the ball is in
your court
how are you
going to respond
how am I going
to respond to
that person
well we can
continue the
cycle of evil
or look at
verse 18
if it is
possible as
far as it
depends on
you live at
peace with
everyone
in other words
you and I
can't stop
evil happening
to us
we can't
stop the
things that
come to us
in our
lives
but we
can be
responsible for
how we are
going to
respond to
what people
do
so look at
verse 19
do not
take revenge
my friends
but leave
room for
God's wrath
for it is
written
it is mine
to avenge
I will
repay
says the
Lord
you see
if you and
I try to
be the ones
who take
revenge
we are
simply trying
to do
God's job
if we act
as if we
are the
judge
then we
are trying
to do
what God
does
and if we
try to do
what God
does
we will
just get
it wrong
it won't
be fair
it won't
be just
it will
be a
mess
all it
will become
will be
our little
selfish
desires
trying to
hurt the
other person
and trying
to get
back at
them
now of
course that
doesn't mean
we ignore
injustice
we will see
this next
week in
chapter 13
where God
has established
authorities
and governments
to deal
with
injustice
and that's
important
but the
point remains
here
we are to
people who
do not
seek
revenge
or repay
evil
for evil
instead
look at
verse 20
do you see
what it says
on the
contrary
if your
enemy is
hungry
feed him
if he is
thirsty
give him
something to
drink
you see
it's not
just enough
to ignore
the person
who has
been mean
to us
or who
has hurt
us
we don't
just ignore
them and
pretend
they are
not there
it's saying
we must
respond in
a particular
way
we step
out in
love
and we
seek
their
best
so if
your
colleague
at work
is giving
you a
rough
time
the next
time
when you are
out together
as a group
at lunch
time
why don't
you offer
to buy
lunch
for them
or buy
coffee
for them
treat them
differently
to how
they have
treated
you
or if
your friends
are posting
horrible things
about you
on Facebook
don't respond
with a whole
series of
other notes
about how
horrible they
are
rather write
good things
and kind
things about
them
or if
somebody
within your
family is
being nasty
if something
is going
wrong
respond
by acts
of kindness
and service
do not
treat them
the way
they have
treated
you
look at
the end
of verse
20
in doing
this
you will
heap
burning
coals
on their
head
now this
isn't kind
of a nice
Christian way
to kind
of get
your own
back on
them
no
what it
is saying
here is
that
if you
begin to
love
other
people
well
they
will
then
begin
to
see
in
their
own
lives
how
rotten
their
behaviour
is
they
will
become
shamed
at the
way
in
which
they
are
living
and
they
will
change
your
loving
reaction
your
loving
response
to
their
behaviour
will
begin
to
melt
their
hearts
so
verse
21
do
not
be
overcome
by
evil
but
overcome
evil
with
good
you
see
that's
exactly
how
Christ
has
treated
us
he
doesn't
take
revenge
on
us
he
doesn't
have
it
in
for
us
he
doesn't
seek
to
try
and
repay
us
for
all
the
wrong
things
that
we've
ever
done
he
doesn't
keep
a
list
of
all
the
things
we've
said
and
tries
to
pay
us
back
one
by
one
no
because
Christ
has
taken
the
payment
for
all
that
we
deserve
he
settled
the
account
for
us
on
the
cross
he
took
the
wrath
that
we
deserve
so
that
we
might
not
seek
revenge
against
the
people
around
us
instead
we
will
overflow
in
love
towards
them
love
never
seeks
revenge
so
this
is
what
a
loving
community
looks
like
love
knows
no
limits
love
crosses
all
barriers
and
love
never
seeks
revenge
now
as
I
go
through
this
and
as
I
think
through
this
and
been
thinking
through
it
through
the
week
not
only
do
I
see
that
I
fail
at
doing
this
but
I
just
find
at
times
there's
just
no
love
in
here
and
there's
no
love
to
overflow
from
here
to
live
this
kind
of
way
so
how
are we
going
to do
it
how
are we
going
to
live
this
community
of
love
well
let's
go
back
to
the
beginning
to
where
this
whole
section
starts
remind
ourselves
again
chapter
12
verse
1
this
is
where
it
all
flows
out
of
chapter
12
verse
1
it's
a big
turning
point
in the
book
it's
saying
therefore
I urge
you
brothers
and
sisters
in view
of
God's
mercy
11
chapters
have been
written
to explain
to us
the amazing
love
and mercy
of God
and
out
and out
of
that
when
we
see
what
God
has
done
for
us
then
it
will
begin
to
change
us
so
that
we
can
love
as
he
loves
us
he
doesn't
say
you've
got to
do
better
you must
try
harder
you're
being
very
bad
at
this
thing
or
you're
not
doing
very
well
here
come
on
let's
be
better
people
no
he
simply
says
remember
God's
mercy
look
back
at
God's
love
who
knows
no
limits
who
continues
to
pour
out
his
love
on
people
like
you
and
me
who
mess
up
and
fail
all
the
time
let
that
change
you
he
says
look
back
at
the
love
of
God
that
has
crossed
the
greatest
barrier
God
who
came
down
from
heaven
to
earth
to
reach
down
to
rebellious
people
like
you
and
me
even
when
we
were
sinners
and
didn't
want
him
he
died
for
us
he
lost
his
life
so
that
we
could
have
life
and
look
back
at
his
love
for
us
that
never
seeks
revenge
he's
never
trying
to
pay
us
back
because
he
looks
at
Christ
that
Christ
has
absorbed
it
all
for
us
we
do
not
get
what
we
deserve
instead
he
treats
us
with
grace
and
compassion
look
back
to
the
mercy
of
God
look
back
to
his
amazing
love
read
about
it
talk
to
each
other
about
it
sing
about
it
pray
it
into
your
heart
and
when
that
gospel
love
reaches
down
into
our
lives
it
will
shape
you
and
transform
you
and
it
will
mold
you
into
being
the
kind
of
person
God
calls
you
to
be
and
so
as
we
get
a
grip
of
God's
love
or as
God's
love
gets
a
grip
of
our
hearts
so
it
changes
us
to be
the
loving
community
he
calls
us
to be
and
when we
change
and as
we are
being
changed
and as
we live
out this
community
of love
people
all around
us
will see
people
who live
lives
of love
and
will be
attracted
to the
God
of
mercy
so
that
they
too
will
come
to
know
his
love
let's
pray
together
father
father thank you
for loving
us
thank you for
demonstrating your love for us through your son the lord jesus who died for us on the cross
so that we might know his love and that we might be changed so that we might love one another
thank you
for loving us so much thank you
for bringing us together as a community and a gathering of your people thank you for every person and every family represented here thank you for
family represented here. Thank you for the kindness and the support and the care of one another.
Thank you for the gifts that you have given to each one of us so that we might serve one another.
Thank you for changing us. Thank you for your love. And we pray that we would be shaped and
molded every day by what you have done so that we may live lives of love to one another,
to the workplaces we go to tomorrow, the colleges and schools that we are in within our neighborhoods
and may love overflow so that people see the love of God. We pray for your help in doing this.
In Jesus name. Amen.
We're going to sing about that amazing love of God and it's only by returning, if you like,
to the well of God's love, the deep, deep love of Jesus, that that will motivate us and encourage us.
Thank you.