Sermon Notes - Romans 12:3-8 - Littleby Baptist Church - April 27, 2025

 1.       Read 12:1-2

a.       Remember all that God has done for us.

b.       Remember the amazing gift He is offering to each person.

c.       And in doing so, we are to fully offer ourselves to Him.

d.       Don’t hold anything back.

e.       That is our true worship.

f.         That is how we worship our Lord and King.

g.        Couple this with Paul warning us to not let the world change us.

h.       Instead, we are to be transformed and renewed by the work of the Holy Spirit.

i.          Changing us so that we see things the way God wants us to see them.

j.          That we begin to see the world the way He sees it.

k.       That we learn to follow His will.

l.          So that we can do our part.

m.    As each of us are created to do something.

n.       To meet a need.

o.       To carry out the Lord’s will.

2.       This is a message to all believers.

a.       As individual believers we are to be changed by our God.

b.       To be transformed into His people.

c.       To be renewed to see things as He desires.

d.       And to carry out His will.

3.       In the following verses, Paul is building off of the first two verses in this chapter.

a.       He is emphasizing that as our minds are transformed it should have an impact on how we think.

b.       About others and ourselves.

4.       Romans 12:3

a.       By the grace… because Jesus has appointed Paul as an apostle.

b.       He has been called to share the truth.

c.       He is being used by the Holy Spirit to share God’s Word.

d.       So, Paul is telling everyone among the Roman church.

e.       And in turn, each of us.

f.         As this message is for all believers.

g.        Does not matter if they were following Jesus around before the crucifixion.

h.       Repented on the day of Pentecost when Peter was preaching.

i.          Were convicted when hearing Paul’s letter read.

j.          Or, one of us sitting here today.

k.       This message is for all who follow Jesus.

l.          Do not think highly of himself… be careful of thinking you are more than you really are.

m.    Paul does not say it here, but I do want to caution that we are not to think poorly of ourselves either.

n.       Remember our God loves us.

o.       We are His cherished children.

p.       But we are to be careful to not elevate ourselves in our own minds.

q.       To make sure we are not lifting ourselves up at the expense of others.

5.       Remember we are to have a renewed mind.

a.       As it talked about in the first two verses of the chapter.

b.       A renewed mind, means that we see as God wants us to.

c.       That includes seeing ourselves as God does, as His beloved children.

d.       But also, others as He sees them.

e.       Also, as His beloved children.

6.       Think sensibly… be realistic in how we view ourselves and others.

a.       Knowing that God is with each one of His children.

b.       That He is at work in each one of us.

c.       That He values each one of us.

d.       That He wishes that none would perish.

e.       That His forgiveness is offered to all.

7.       Romans 12:4-5

a.       These verses are a summary of 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

b.       Let’s turn there.

c.       1 Corinthians 12:12-31

d.       It takes all of us to do what God wants done.

e.       No one person can do it all.

f.         No one church can reach everyone.

g.        No one person or church can meet every need.

h.       No one missionary can reach each country.

i.          There are many different parts for a reason.

j.          We are each gifted to carry out what God has called us to do.

k.       We cannot fulfill our ministries without other believers walking along side of us.

l.          Others cannot fulfill what God has called them to do, without our support.

m.    It takes each part of the Body.

n.       The Body, that is made up of many.

o.       Many people, many churches, found in many cities, found in many countries…

p.       To carry out our Lord’s will.

8.       We are dependent on each other as members of the Body of Christ.

a.       We need to work together to carry forth our God’s mission.

b.       A mission that moves us beyond these four walls.

c.       A mission that impacts our lives.

d.       A mission that ultimately is showing our Love for others.

9.       Romans 12:6

a.       God has shown each believer grace.

b.       He has shown each of us favor.

c.       He has provided a path to salvation through our Lord Jesus.

d.       He has adopted us as His children.

e.       But it goes beyond that.

f.         He has shown us grace by choosing us as His instruments.

g.        To use us to carry out His will.

h.       To be the ones that He uses to touch the lives of others.

i.          To help lift up fellow believers in need.

j.          To allow us to share the Gospel with those who have yet to hear it.

k.       To plant, water… to witness to the lost.

l.          He has shown each of us grace in many ways.

10.  One of the ways this grace is seen is in the different gifts that each of us are given.

a.       We saw some of the gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12.

b.       Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, helping, leading, and various kinds of tongues.

c.       The list in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 are not exact matches.

d.       And neither are meant to be complete or all inclusive.

e.       They are the lists that God wanted listed at the time each letter was written.

f.         Lists that help us to understand that God works in each of us and in each church in many different ways.

11.  Skipping to the end of the verse.

a.       We are told to use the gifts according to the proportion of one’s faith.

b.       This is not based on how much we believe.

c.       As in we would prophesy, teach, give, or serve more because we believe more.

d.      But more of a we do these things… we are given these gifts because we have faith in Christ.

e.       It is not a measure of the amount of faith, but a measure of IF we have faith.

f.         We are given a gift because we have faith.

g.        If Christ is your Lord, you have a gift.

12.  The first listed is prophecy here in Romans 12.

a.       Prophecy would include the telling of future events, of things yet to come.

b.       But it is more than that.

c.       It is the proclaiming of God’s truth to the people.

d.       A Holy Spirit truth given to the prophet for the edification of the church.

e.       It would need to be vetted and proven to be in alignment with the truths already known.

f.         It would have to be measured against the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

g.        But prophecy mentioned by Paul in his letters can be God given truths or future events.

13.  Romans 12:7

a.       Service – this has a range of meanings.

b.       From serving in the simplest of ways.

c.       To serving as a deacon of a local body.

d.       We are all called to serve.

e.       But some are specifically gifted in this way.

f.         For them it looks like it comes easy for them.

g.        Teaching – as in passing on the truth of the gospel within the church.

h.       Ensuring new believers and the next generation, grow in their knowledge of the Word of God.

i.          Helping them grow as disciples of Christ.

j.          Something we are all to do, but some are uniquely gifted to do this.

14.  Romans 12:8

a.       Exhorting – if encouraging, be an encourager.

b.       Help people stand true to the Word.

c.       Encourage them to live out their faith.

d.       Remind them of the Hope they have in Jesus.

e.       The Peace that He gives in the storms we face.

f.         Giving – share what God has blessed you with to be a blessing with others.

g.        Whether we have been blessed with a little or a lot.

h.       Whether it is financial, skills, or time.

i.          Give with generosity as the widow gave out of her poverty, giving all she had to live on.

j.          Leading – lead with diligence.

k.       Be a good steward.

l.          Take care of those in need.

m.    Be above reproach.

n.       Leading as in service to Christ.

o.       Showing mercy – caring for those in need with cheerfulness.

p.       Care for the sick and the elderly.

q.       Providing for the poor.

r.         Not out of duty.

s.       But with a cheerful heart.

t.         Knowing that it is through showing mercy.

u.       Through caring for those in need, that we are doing what our God has created us to do.

15.  Each of us have one or more of these gifts.

a.       Some of these gifts we have been given for many many years.

b.       Sometimes we are given them for a moment.

c.       But we are all called to use them faithfully.

d.       In service to the One in whom we believe in.

e.       I want to encourage you to use your gifts to fulfill your calling.

f.         Let God use you to minister to others.

g.        Be the instruments of His love to those around you.

16.  If you do not know Jesus today.

a.       And are ready to take that first step.

b.       To walk in faith.

c.       I would love to talk and pray with you.