Inner Renewal (Romans 12:1-12)
Gary McManus, 09/27/2020Part of the Sermons for a Pandemic series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
September 27, 2020 Romans 12:2-8
What the faithful can DO in this pandemic.
And in the last pandemic of 1918. . .
So, protesting Pastors and congregations. . .
are you fighting in court for the purpose of
helping others? (See Romans 2:6-8)
The Apostle Paul also wrote: (Galatians 5:22-23)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things
there is no law.
Of look up the following phrases in God’s Word:
good work, good purpose. . .our Affirmation of
Faith from Ephesians 2:8-10.
Good works do not save us.
But we are saved in order to DO good works.
Romans 2:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
There is a PATTERN in the world. The faithful do
not conform to it.
Notice which gifts the Apostle takes note of:
serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading,
showing mercy.
Pastor with others make a common error of thinking
of God’s Word as THE tool for renewing the mind.
Fair enough. But that can’t be what Paul intended.
(No Bibles, and how many could read anyway?)
These appear to be gifts that are used OUTSIDE
of worship.
SO, the sources for MIND RENEWAL are
gifted teachers and examples of God’s Word.
(other people/saints/fellow believers, the faithful)
Paul wrote specifically to churches in Corinth and
Philippi, “imitate me.” (1 Corinthians 4:16, Philippians 4:9)
Remember, the whole time we are trying to convert the
world to Jesus, the world is trying to convert US TO
THE REST OF THE WORLD.
The church is here to help us stand our ground from last
Sunday—from the last worship service
—the last Bible lesson. . . .
(2 Corinthians 8:24)
[Some ideas and wording in this message taken from
bible.org, Steven Cole, 2012.]
How to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. . .
The ancient church declared the Gospel. . .
The Church exercised her gifts. . .
even for the pagans!
“Money talks and nobody walks.”
That is the way of the world.
Well, faithful ones, we have to live in the world
but we do not have to be of the world.
(1 Corinthians 5:9-11)
But we are not free to do anything.
Exercise your gifts, benefit the church and
others and they will benefit.
Amen.
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