Romans 12:9-21 (NIV)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
In the body of Christ, love is the price to play
“True love - that is, deep, abiding love that is impervious to emotional whims or fancy - is a choice. It’s a constant commitment to a person regardless of the present circumstances.” – Mark Manson
Romans 12:9 (NIV)
Love must be sincere.
1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
Dear friends, let us love (agapao) one another, for love (agape) comes from God. Everyone who loves (agapao) has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love (agapao) does not know God, because God is love. (agape)
1 John 3:16 (NLT)
We know what real love (agape) is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
“A new command I give you: Love (agapao) one another. As I have loved (agapao) you, so you must love (agapao). By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love (agapao) one another.”
Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Philippians 2:1-8 (NIV)
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love (agape), if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love (agape), being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Verse 11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Verse 12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Verse 13
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Love is the game jersey of a Christ-follower
Verse 14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Verse 15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Verse 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.
Verse 17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
Verse 18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
When love is impossible, love is a game-changer
Verses 19-20
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 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.”
Verse 21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. A disciple of Jesus is someone who is pursuing Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, and is committed to the mission of Jesus.
How does a disciple of Jesus live out the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God? How do you mind the GAP? Love.
John 15:9-15 (NIV)
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Sermon Based Questions
- What was encouraging, difficult or confusing about the talk on Sunday?
- Why does it feel strange to call people in the church “brother” or “sister”?
- What are some real-life examples (you’re not allowed to say, “God”) of consistent, sacrificial, “agape” love?
- What does it look like for you to hate evil instead of being entertained by evil?
- How in your life could you bless someone who persecutes you, or return good for evil?
- What does trusting God for vengeance, rather than yourself, look like?