First Lynnhaven Baptist ChurchWednesday Bible Study

In-Depth with Romans: “The Church as a Gifted Body of Parts”

Romans 12:3-8 (NRSV)

October 16, 2013

Focusing Premise:

Paul exhorts the Roman believers to

live in humility, using their diverse spiritual

gifts for ministry, service, leadership,

and generosity.

Meekness helps each believer - single units of

diverse spiritual ability - see

themselves as parts of an inseparable

whole: one body in Christ.

Looking at the Text: Romans 12: 3 - 8 (NASB)

• 12 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, [f]according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if [g]service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with[h

]liberality; he who [i]leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

A Closer Look at the Greek Terminology…

Verse 3: Greek Term Connotation of the Text

“Grace” charis - - a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ

“More Highly” hyperphronéō - - think beyond appropriate limits; lacking a true sense of reality

“Sound Judgment” sōphronéō - "think shrewdly," blending the truth on both sides of a matter

“Faith” pistis - for the believer, "God's divine persuasion"

Verse 6:

“Gifts” charisma - - a gift of grace, an undeserved favor

Verse 7:

“Service” diakonía - specifically refers to Spirit-empowered service guided by faith

“Teaching” didaskalía - applied-teaching; Christian teaching that includes life application

Verse 8:

“Exhorting” - paráklēsis -("holy urging") motivating and inspiring believers by delivering God’s message

to someone else; can refer to exhortation, warning, encouragement or comfort

“Giving” metadidómi share, impart, offer so that a change of owner is produced, bestow

“Leading with Diligence” spoudḗ "speedy diligence" means quickly obeying what the Lord reveals is His priority

“Mercy” eleéō –to show mercy as God defines it, i.e.

as it accords with His truth (covenant) which expresses "God's covenant-loyalty-mercy"

I. A Gifted Body of Parts: Operating in Humility 

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

I. A Gifted Body of Parts: Operating in Humility 

In every congregation, there are members who excel in various ways and have extensive secular backgrounds…

I. A Gifted Body of Parts: Operating in Humility 

All of our talents and accolades originate from the same source, God’s grace!

II. A Gifted Body of Parts: Operating as One in Christ and One Another

4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 

II. A Gifted Body of Parts: Operating as One in Christ and One Another

Every believer - through their upbringing, personality, and talents – brings something different to the Christian ministry.

II. A Gifted Body of Parts: Operating as One in Christ and One Another

• The phrase “in Christ” emphasizes that the glue which holds this body together is not racial or physical: it is supernatural and spiritual!

Ephesians 3:6:• 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow

members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

II. A Gifted Body of Parts: Operating as One in Christ and One Another

The diversity of the saints is God’s way of pouring into every congregation (and the universal church) all that is needed to evangelize globally and locally…

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, [f]according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if [g]service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with[h]liberality; he who [i]leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.  

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

Each Gift Works Through The Grace of

God!!!

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

Each Gift Works Through The Grace of God!!!• Prophecy - The one with the gift of

prophecy gives new revelation from God.

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

Each Gift Works Through The Grace of God!!!• Service - this gift is that it is to be done

with an attitude of serving the members of the body and not with an attitude of lording it over the body. The limiting clause, “in our serving” is not limiting at all, but a call to devotion and excellence in service.

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

Each Gift Works Through The Grace of God!!!• Teaching – A teacher should devote

himself or herself to the task of teaching. This is not teaching that only espouses doctrine and theology, but teaching which prepares people for living their faith by applying doctrine and theology to daily decisions.

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

Each Gift Works Through The Grace of God!!!• Exhorting – Exhortation

consists of exercising gifts in two spheres, confrontation and consolation.

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

Each Gift Works Through The Grace of God!!!• Giving – The one who gives

should have an attitude of generosity or liberality, and offer to others with pure motives. This is consistent with the concept of ministering to other members in the body.

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

Each Gift Works Through The Grace of God!!!• Leading - Leaders needs to

lead with diligence or zeal. Diligence is certainly needed for the leader who must watch out day and night for the well-being of the body.

III. A Gifted Body of Parts: Exercising Grace in Functionality

Each Gift Works Through The Grace of God!!!• Showing Mercy - The one who

shows mercy should not do so grudgingly, but should do it with a cheerfulness that will encourage the afflicted.

CONCLUSION: As unique members of the body of Christ, we need to appreciate our

uniqueness and apply the gifts that God has given us to minister to one another. It is the Holy Spirit which empowers

believers to work in unity, single-mindedness directed towards the

achievement of common objectives, operate in their gifts and function with

efficiency and effectiveness.