Sermon Central
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Romans 12:4-5 Part 1 Series
Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Apr 27, 2018 (message contributor)
Summary: Romans 12:4-5 describes the universal and local church as a body, and in this body all of the members belong to each other. But how do we get there? The answer is found in Romans 12:1-3.
Before we get started this morning let's say together our current memory Scripture ...
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
And then Galatians 2:20 which is one of our memory review Scriptures ...
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Now, please open your Bibles to Romans 12:1-8 which we will read in a few minutes.
In the society in which we live independence, individuality and self-sufficiency are highly regarded traits.
Phrases such as:
- I’m a self-made man
- Control your own destiny or someone else will …
- Above all, be the hero of your life, not the victim …
- “Freedom (n.): To ask nothing. To expect nothing. To depend on nothing.”
- “I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior ....”
This “it’s all about me” concept has ravaged the church in America.
And, thankfully, may the Lord in heaven be praised; this is NOT an attitude that is prevalent here at Crossroads.
Have I ever told you what a great benefit and guide Pastor Karenlee is to me?
Well, she is!
This past week she asked me about the sermon so I gave her a brief outline and when I got to this point about the “me attitude” invading the church she suggested that this is not a problem here, and I have to agree and she also suggested that I take the time to recognize this wonderful trait in you.
Do you know what a blessing that is to us?
The “me attitude” causes all kinds of envy and strife and gossip and backbiting and quarrels.
One of the activities of a church grounded in Jesus is the activity of love for one another displayed in encouragement and care for each other.
This in itself is a HUGE blessing and a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in us and through us as a body of believers.
With that in mind let’s go ahead and read Romans 12:1-8
OK, so our new memory Scripture says,
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
As I was thinking about this it occurred to me that Paul isn’t, like, doing some yoga thing where he’s humming and then comes out with this little piece of wisdom that says, “Yeah, man … the church is like the human body with many parts that all work together, man. Like is that deep or what?”
He doesn't just drop it on us without telling us how to get there, right?
So, how do we get to the point where there is such a deep sense of belonging that we are indeed one body in Christ and that each member belongs to all the others?
Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us clear and concise directions!
- Step 1 - Live every moment as an offering of worship to God!
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.
The Lord has been merciful to us, hasn’t He?
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us?
We think of heroes, right?
The soldier who throws his body on a grenade to shield his fellow soldiers from the blast
The man who jumped into the icy water in order to save the drowning woman while others just stood watching knowing that he could very well die as well
We think of the pregnant Mom who found out she had cancer and chose to carry her daughter to term rather than to abort her child and receive cancer treatment; she died six weeks after giving birth to her daughter …
These are heroes, right?
Jesus Christ died for us so that we might have eternal life instead of an eternal conscious death.
Out of God’s great mercy we sacrifice our lives, not to death but to death of self and we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God which is our “reasonable service” or our true and proper worship.
If we want to live lives in the Body of Christ as if we are all members of one body and each member belongs to all the others, that is the first step; to live every moment as an offering of worship to the Lord!
