TEXT: ROMANS 12:9-12 (read at each point)
TITLE: “LESSONS ON LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE”
INTRODUCTION: A. TATER PEOPLE
1. Some people never seem motivated to participate, but are just
content to watch while others do the work.
--They’re called "Speck Taters".
2. Some people never do anything to help, but are gifted at finding
fault with the way others do the work.
--They’re called "Comment Taters".
3. Some people are very bossy and like to tell others what to do, but
don’t want to soil their own hands.
--They’re called "Dick Taters".
4. Some people are always looking to cause problems by asking
others to agree with them. It is too hot or too cold, too sour or too
sweet.
--They’re called "Agie Taters".
5. There are those who say they will help, but somehow just never get
around to actually doing the promised help.
--They’re called "Hezzie Taters".
6. Some people can put up a front and pretend to be someone they are
not.
--They’re called "Emma Taters".
7. Then there are those who love others and do what they say they
will. They are always prepared to stop whatever they are doing and
lend a helping hand. They bring real sunshine into the lives of
others.
--They’re called "Sweet Taters".
B. What kind of “tater” are you?
1. Today is Homecoming Sunday. We’ll be participating in a potluck
meal in just a fairly short time.
2. Today is the fifth time that we have shared in homecomings here at
Red Quarry.
--Exactly four years ago today, my family came here and I preached
my trial sermon.
3. In all meals we’ve had here during this time, we’ve had all kinds of
taters – mashed taters, fried taters, baked taters, tater salad, even tater
chips.
4. As good as they all may be, the food downstairs is not as important
as the spiritual food upstairs.
C. This morning, we’re called to examine our lives.
1. Are we living it the way Jesus would want us to live it?
2. In 12:1 & 2, Paul tells us that because of all that God has done for
us, that we’re to present our bodies as living sacrifices.
3. In 12:3-8, he tells us that part of being a living sacrifice is
ministering to others in accordance with our spiritual gifts.
4. Today’s section of this letter to the church at Rome, Paul goes into
some pretty specific detail on how to live daily as a living sacrifice
holy and pleasing to God.
--He gives us some important lessons on living the Christian life
5. Now don’t panic! I realize there are 19 different points. I’m only
going to spend about a minute on each one.
6. I’ve nicknamed these points the “Be” attitudes in Paul’s letter to
Rome.
I. BE LOVING – vs. 9a
Notice the first word of the passage is “love”
Agape’
Love for Christ and love for others
II. BE SINCERE – vs. 9b
“Love must be sincere…
Our English word sincere comes from the Latin sincerus, which means "without wax." It
stems from a practice of the early Roman merchants who set their earthen and porcelain jars
out for sale. If a crack appeared in one, they would fill it with wax the same color as the jar,
so a buyer would not be aware that it was cracked.
But astute buyers learned to hold these jars out in the sun, and if the jar was cracked, the
wax would melt and the crack would be revealed. So the honest merchants would test their
wares this way and mark them sincerus – without wax.
The word literally reflects what the Greek says here, "Let love be without hypocrisy."
Notice that part of being loving and being sincere in that love toward Jesus and others is:
1. Hating what is evil
2. Clinging to what is good
III. BE CONSIDERATE – vs. 10
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…”
--“brotherly love” – “family”
Are we a functional family or dysfunctional family?
Hallmark of a functional family: “Honor one another above yourselves.”
IV. BE FERVENT – vs. 11
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
“Fervor” – “boiling over; red hot; glowing”
Col. 3:17 – “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the
Lord Jesus…”
V. BE JOYFUL – vs. 12a
“Be joyful in hope…”
Our joy comes from our hope and our hope is Jesus Christ!
VI. BE PATIENT – vs. 12b
“…patient in affliction…”
I’m allergic to pain! Sometimes it’s hardest to be patient in times of distress, affliction, and
suffering.
VII. BE PRAYERFUL – vs. 12c
“…faithful in prayer…”
1 Thess. 5:17 – “Pray continually”
VIII. BE GIVING – vs. 13a
“Share with God’s people who are in need…”
Three destructive words in the church: “Me, My, and Mine”
IX. BEHOSPITABLE – vs. 13b
“…Practice hospitality.”
Literally – “Pursue the practice of hospitality…”
Like bringing the evangelist and his wife into your own home.
Hebrews 13:2 "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have
entertained angels without knowing it"
X. BE DIFFERENT – vs. 14
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Abraham Lincoln was once being criticized for his attitude towards his opponents. "Why
do you try to make friends with them?" a colleague asked. "You should try to destroy them."
“Am I not destroying my enemies," the President asked gently, "when I make them my
friends?"
XI. BE UNDERSTANDING – vs. 15
“Rejoice with those who mourn.”
XII. BE UNITED – vs. 16a
“Live in harmony with one another…”
Some missionaries in the Philippines set up a croquet game in their front yard. Several of
their native neighbors became interested and wanted to join the fun. The missionaries
explained the game and started them out, each with a mallet and ball.
As the game progressed, opportunity came for one of the players to take advantage of
another by knocking that person’s ball out of the court. A missionary explained the
procedure, but his advice only puzzled his Filipino friend. "Why would I want to knock his
ball out of the court?" he asked. "So you will be the one to win!" the missionary said. The
short-statured man, clad only in a loincloth, shook his head in bewilderment.
The game continued, but no one followed the missionaries’ advice. When a player
successfully got through all the wickets, the game was not over for him. He went back and
gave aid and advice to his fellows. As the final player moved toward the last wicket, the
affair was still very much a team effort. And finally, when the last wicket was played, the
"team" shouted happily, "We won! We won!"
--That is how the Church, the body of Christ, should be. We’re a team. We all win together.
XIII. BE HUMBLE – vs. 16b
“Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be
conceited.”
XIV. BE FORGIVING – vs. 17a
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”
Mt. 5:43 & 44 – “You have heard it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
XV. BE FAITHFUL – vs. 17b
“Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.”
XVI. BE PEACEFUL – vs. 18
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Notice Paul puts some stipulations on this instruction:
1. If it is possible
--Sometimes it’s not possible. There is a spiritual and moral battlefront that must be
declared. There are times when it’s not possible. We must obey God rather than man.
2. As far as it depends on you
-- We have the ultimate responsibility. God will hold us accountable.
XVII. BE TRUSTING – vs. 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.
God will take care of the situation in His time.
We want to rush right out and seek revenge but God has a different plan. He will deal
with it on His own time schedule.
When we do it on our timetable, we have tried to steal God’s place and steal His glory.
XVIII. BE A SERVANT – vs. 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.’ ”
quote from Prov. 25:21 & 22
Goes along with v. 15 and being different.
Instead of igniting the situation or ignoring the person, Paul’s inspiration through the
Holy Spirit says: “Do things that will bless. Don’t do things that will harm.”
“Burning coals” – practice of some ancient civilizations to actually have a brazier of
burning coals on your head to show repentance.
XIX. BE GOOD – vs. 21
Don’t bring yourself to their level. Defeat the evil by doing good.
CONCLUSION: A. There were some officers during the Korean War who
rented a house for themselves and hired a Korean houseboy to work for
them. He was a cheerful, happy kind of guy. The officer were young and
had a lot of fun playing tricks on him.
They would nail his shoes to the floor, and they would put water up
over the door so that when he pushed it open the bucket would fall on him.
They played all kinds of tricks, but he always took them in such a
beautiful, good humor that they finally became ashamed of themselves.
They called him in one day and said, "We’ve been doing all these mean
things to you and you have taken it so beautifully. We just want to
apologize to you and tell you that we are never going to do those things
again."
He said, "You mean no more nail shoes to floor?" They said, "No
more." He said, "You mean no more water on door?" They said, "No
more." "Okay then," he said, "no more spit in soup!"
B. What kind of difference would we make in other people’s lives if we
started living the kind of life Christ has called us to live?
