Read Romans 12:1-2
It might be a bit daggy but the old preacher’s adage certainly holds true when we read Romans 12. “When you read ‘therefore’ you have to ask, What is it there for?” The word ‘therefore’ signals to us that the author is concluding a previous point and, out of that point, is about to make a new point. It’s like a big flag to the reader that something very important is about to happen.
There is perhaps no greater
After His initial greeting (Romans 1:1-17) Paul spends the first part of his letter establishing that everyone stands condemned before God because of their sin and is in desperate need of His grace. In Chapter 1 he describes the sinful person who lives a life of active and open rebellion against God. In chapter 2 he turns his sights upon the Jews and those who would think of themselves as ‘good people’. They too are sinful before God and are in need of His grace. He concludes in chapter 3 verse 23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
But Paul does not leave us condemned. He describes the way of salvation, the way to be made right with God and to have our sins dealt with forever. Right here in chapter 3 he describes a righteousness from God that comes through faith. Paul is quick to prove his point, using Abraham as Exhibit A to prove his case for salvation by faith in Chapter 4.
In Chapter 5 he describes the peace that we can have in this life because we are saved through faith. In fact, this righteousness through faith is so much greater than sin because just as sin condemns all men so righteousness through faith can bring salvation to all who believe.
The effects of this salvation in our lives are amazing. We are freed from the power of sin and its mastery over us (Chapter 6), we are freed from the burden of the law (Chapter 7), and we are given the Spirit so that we might live totally new lives (Chapter 8). Finally, Paul wraps up his argument in Chapters 9 to 11 by showing God at work through the gospel in both the history and future of Israel, and shoring up our confidence and hope in our sovereign and gracious God.
Romans is an incredible explanation of God’s mercy, an explanation that should cause us to act. Don’t forget God’s mercy as we see our response this week.
Prayer:
Using today’s passage and the reading notes spend time in prayer.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
· Pray that the Lord would call you into deeper fellowship with Himself and that each person in your congregation would have the same calling.
· Pray that the students in the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar would be learning deeply, growing in the Word and being more solidly equipped to preach the Word and to minister the Gospel in an often unfriendly society.
1. Frederick is a new believer. Recently he has been reading through the book of Romans. A little confused, he asks you to explain Romans 1-11 to him in easy to understand language. As a group plan out your response.
2. He then asks you how Romans 12:1-2 fits into that bigger picture. How do you respond?
P r e p a r a t i o n f o r C e l l
Read this week’s passage and jot
down any problems or issues that come to mind about the passage, it’s
application or meaning to you and/or your church.
O n Y o u r O w n
Key Words/Phrases Romans 12:1-8
Use
this space to write down and define key words/phrases. Look for repetition and biblical
themes from other parts of the Bible.
P r e p a r a t i o n f o r C e l l
After
your cell has met, jot down the solutions you found having studied the passage
together.
P r a y e r
Prayer:
How does this passage lead
you to pray in terms of
Adoration: Confession Thanks Supplication:
Non
Believers to be Praying for
C e l l G r o u p - D i g g i n g D e e p e r .
The Passage: Read Romans 12:1-8
Before Cell, complete the ‘On Your
Own’ section on the previous page. Describe the context of this passage?
List the key words/phrases
and what they mean? Use your previous page
notes
If you were to summarise the
main point of Romans 12:1-8, what would you
say?
What is the practical
outworking of verse 1 in offering our bodies as living sacrifices?
Brainstorm ways that you can
be renewing your mind.
How does this renewing of the
mind lead to a transforming?
Contextually, what is the
meaning and implication of verse 3?
Why does Paul compare the
church to a body? What is being conveyed by this imagery?
How are we to use our gifts
according to Romans 12:1-8?
What does it mean to use our
gifts according to our faith?
Interestingly, the Bible never tells
us how to find our spiritual gift. Why do you think this is so? Can you and
your group devise a method of finding one’s spiritual gift?
Describe
one practical thing you can take away from this passage that gives you stamina in terms
of maintaining your ministry and calling. Think of your
head heart hands
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