An Exposition

The Epistle to the Romans

“Creating an Effective Body”Romans 12

4-27-08

I Beseech You Brethren!

Romans 12:1 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the

mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

• Beseech – W. E. Vine; to come along side, to one’s aid, is used of every kind of calling to a person which is meant to produce a particular effect.

• Romans 1-11; God has done such great things for us in the first 11 chapters that it should elicit a response of thankfulness, willingness, and humility. It should elicit a response of personal sacrifice birthed out of a grateful attitude.

NON-Conformity

Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern

of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A Functioning Church

Romans 12:3 (NIV) 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, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Faith = fidelity = faithful stewardship. What most have failed to realize as Christian Stewards is that promotion is a by-product not a goal!!!

Proverbs 18:16 (NIV) A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the

great. (This scripture speaks of using a gift as a bribe for promotion. We give our gifts freely for the benefit of the body not personal aggrandizement. When we think too much of (y)our-selves(self), we usually think too much of (y)our gift!!!

Function as a Ministry

• Reasons why people leave ministry: (Two Sided)– Have ideas that transcend organizational vision.– Overused/under developed.– Their lack of decorum cover up their potential and

leadership qualities.– Are not challenged, placed in non-challenging roles.– *Blame others for undeveloped ministry.– *Fail to be humble enough to seek mentoring and/or

sponsorship.– *People of influence lack in their understanding of the

need to be sponsors.

Dr. Robert Clinton – The Mentor HandbookDr. Charles P. Morgan*

We Need Sponsors

• People of Influence within the body who positively influence others in the realization of their ministry potential…

• People who pull people up in the organization. (Wesley/Whitfield)• People of wisdom who have won the respect of others through

their own labor, commitment, and efforts to advance the body (Credibility).

• People who can help people move along developmentally in their ministry gifts.

• People who can empower others.• People who can guide and protect potential leaders as they move

upward in ministry within the church structure. • People who are not afraid to help others exceed them.

(Barnabas/Paul)

The Need for Mentoring

Romans 12:4-9

[4] Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. [7] If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; [8] if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

[9] Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Lystra Digs of 1987

(This is a loose translation by Dr. Ronald G. Marshall. In his introduction he says he has tried to dynamically reproduce English idiom that captures the urgency of Timothy's appeal)Timothy, a second generation follower of the Way, to Paul, my fatherin the faith. Things have not been working out here at Ephesus as I had hoped. Remember your closing words to the elders at Miletus? Two phrases from it keep haunting me. I felt at the time that they were prophetical. I think they are coming true in front of my very eyes. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will ariseand distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guide! Savage wolves will come in among you. Even from your own number...Those words were given only nine years or so ago (58 A.D.) but even now I think they are coming true.

Apostolic Authority & Church Order

We need your advice about this more now. In my opinion five different things are happening which could be symptomatic of these prophecies.

1. There are people, mainly from Jewish background who are pressing for a more legalistic obedience to the law--even among Gentile Christians--much as we have faced before.

2. Some of these and others too are teaching an esoteric view on the importance of genealogies and the ability to trace heritage. It has a Gnostic flavor. It is also causing controversies and resulting in differences among the believers. I wish I knew more about it and what to say to the believers here about it.

3. There are some health fanatics who are seeking to give a theological background for their own opinions about what can be eaten and what not. They are mainly vegetarians and are making believers feel guilty about eating meat.

4. There are some who are teaching that true spirituality can only be reached by those who abstain from sex. This seems to me to agree somewhat with what you wrote to the Corinthians but I don't think it is totally correct.

5. There are also some women, and they are powerful teachers, I must admit, who are teaching some ideas about sex and religion which flow from the Ephesian cultic practices regarding temple prostitution which says that sexual relationship can enhance spirituality. This coupled with the other teaching about abstaining from sex have really brought some confusion to some of the believers. I have tried to warn these women but they do not want to submit to my authority on this.

Someone to Pull You Up

Now I remember well how Priscilla taught so wonderfully at Corinth. I am not against women as teachers. I have always appreciated Priscilla’s teaching. She did a great job with Apollos and is doing a good job here now. But these few strong willed women, whom I will not name, are abusing authority and leading people astray. Give some help on this, will you?

The Essence of Respect

1 Tim. 4:11-16 (NIV) Command and teach these things. [12] Don't let

anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. [13] Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. [14] Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

[15] Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. [16] Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Behavior in the Body

Romans 12:10-12 (NIV) Be devoted to one another in brotherly 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.

• Question: What roles at RLF have you made uniquely yours in terms of empowering people in ministry?

• Question: How are you improving your ministry gift, in the context of the body, that empowers someone else’s gift in your area of grace?

• Note: Effective ministry develop individuals not only for the individual’s sake, but for the good of the body and the individual.

Preservation of the Body

Romans 12:13-16 (NIV) Share with God'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.

Knowing what is Right

Romans 12:17-19 (NIV)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [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.

Wise in Engagment

Romans 12:20-21 (NIV) 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.