Series: God With Us Title: This is Real Love
WATCH THE SERVICE HERE
Sermon Text: Romans 12:9-21
Supplemental Texts: Jeremiah 15:15-21 and Psalm 26:1-8, Matthew 16:21-28
SLC Preacher: Josh Kleinfeld
Memory Verse:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud,
but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 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.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This is the normal Christian life.
Psalm 26:2 says:
“Test me, Lord, and try me,
Examine my heart
and my mind.”
Read over Romans 12:9-21: Ask God to test, try and examine your heart and mind.
1. Which of the ways listed here do you find easier to do than others? Thank God for the ease and grace to love that way.
2. Which of the ways listed here have you struggled with? Confess that to God. Ask Him for help to turn from unlove and towards love.
3. Choose a verse to pray over your home, small group, ministry team and church.
The way of real love is the way of the cross
Matthew 16:24-26
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
The way of real love will lead to difficulty, opposition and persecution.
Four promises to hold onto through difficulty, opposition and persecution:
Nothing can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8).
God is with you to save and rescue you (Jeremiah 15:19-20).
God will be the judge (not me, not you) (Romans 12:19).
There is a greater and more enduring reward coming when the Son of Man arrives (Matthew 16).
Three ways to Respond
Repent: Turn from unlove to God and His way of love.
Renew: Ask God to renew your heart for His way of love.
Reconcile: Go to someone you have hurt and ask for forgiveness.
Message Reflection Questions
Read Romans 15:13. Take two minutes to silently repeat this verse in prayer.
Read Romans 12:9-21. What jumps out at you as you read? Is it possible for the church to live like this?
Give some examples (no names or gossip!) of relational difficulties that happen in the life of a church? Or of persecution of faith that happens in America?
Real talk: which of these expressions of sincere love do you find easiest to do? Why do you think that is?
Real Talk: which of these do you find most difficult? Why?
Paul’s instructions on love go back and forth between love for the family of God and love for others in the world. What are the similarities and differences in how we are to love our Christian siblings and those in the world?
Read Matthew 16:21-27. How does the way of the cross connect with the way of sincere love?
Why is the message of self-denial important when facing difficulties in the church or persecution in the world?
Prayer time: Do you need to 1) repent from unlove and turn to God’s love, or 2) ask God to renew your heart and mind in His love, or 3) ask forgiveness of someone whom you have hurt through unlove?
Daily Readings
From June 4 — September 17, we’ll be exploring the good news that God is for us, in us and with us. Take the learning home with you and read Romans by yourself or with others. You can download the whole plan at www.stillnaz.com/pray.
As you follow the plan, consider these questions:
What does this text say God does "for" or "in" or "with" us?
What does this text invite me to be or do?
Who can I share this with?
Day 1: Romans 14:1-4, James 4:11-12
Day 2: Romans 14:5-8, 1 Peter 4:1-3
Day 3: Romans 14:9-12, Isaiah 45:22-23
Day 4: Romans 14:13-18, Matthew 7:1-6
Day 5: Romans 14:19-23, Psalm 34:11-14
NEED PRAYER?
We’d be happy to pray with you. Fill out the form at www.stillnaz.com/pray.
WANT TO JOIN A SMALL GROUP?
We’d love to connect you with a group of people exploring what it means to follow Jesus together. Find out more info at www.stillnaz.com/discipleship.