I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A while back I started posting these notes on the blog too. So, here is the outline for our meeting on July 17, 2011. I just finished a year long series on 1 John entitled "Theology Matters," and I had a long week of teaching 7 hours a day (5 days) in a PhD seminar as well. As a result, I decided to take a slightly different approach to a lesson for Sunday. Instead of working up a "teaching," I decided (with my wife's help) to do something a bit more like serendipity. As a result, the lesson is a bit more discussion oriented. I also decided to give it a "different" title. I hope you get something from it! If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!
And Now For Something Completely Different
An Exercise in Finding Our Way
Romans 12:1-8
Introduction
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I simply need a change in approach
I just finished a week long PhD intensive on Pauline Theology
I taught two night sessions at a youth camp
Not to mention that we just finished a year long look at the letter of 1 John
I decided today we’d simply try a different approach
Today, we are going to have a conversation rather than a lesson
We are going to look at Paul and see what we can learn
But before we do that, two questions
1. What should a church look like?
2. What do you think a church should be?
Romans 12:1-2
Paul’s text here is the practical application of some of the theological materials he has mentioned in the earlier 11 chapters
In this section, Paul calls his readers to a life radically separated from that of the world, a life that is counter-culture
Questions:
a. How does Paul tell us we should worship God?
b. What does this look like?
c. Where do you see Christians “conforming” to the world instead of being transformed? Do you have any struggles there?
d. What earthly things do you place more value on than the gift that God has given you? What do you think causes this?
e. Do you ever feel the urge to pull away from the world around you or to not conform to its standards? Where do you experience this in your life?
f. What is God’s will for us as a church? For us as individuals? For G.A.P?
Transformation even affects motivation
A church of renewed minds should show a different kind of life
Romans 12:3
Paul reminds us here that all of us have received something from God to contribute to the work of God (note that Paul expects us all to do the work of ministry!). The danger is arrogance and pride
Questions
a. Where has pride had a negative effect on the church in your experience?
b. Where does pride show up in your life?
c. How does understanding God’s grace give us strength to resist pride?
d. Should we seek humility? How?
e. How has God humbled you? Will you humble yourself?
Transformation affects our perspective
A church of renewed minds should act with humility instead of arrogance
Romans 12:4-5
The Church has a call from God to worship him, but that worship is not centered only in the singing of songs or hearing of sermons. Part of that worship involves serving one another. Paul here reminds his readers that the function of the body of Christ (i.e., the Church) is to serve one another in the unique and different functions to which God has gifted us. The church should exhibit diversity in unity. Diversity in function, unity in faith. We are one body of many members.
Questions
a. Here Paul compares the Church to a body. What do you think of that comparison?
b. How have you seen this body life in your experience of church?
c. How does Scripture describe members of the early church? In what ways is your life comparable to that described in God’s Word?
Transformation affects our service
A church of renewed minds serves others without compulsion
Romans 12:6-8
Paul now moves to the specific kinds of gifts and functions that may be found in the church. This is not a complete list, but it includes the following:
Prophecy: a proclamation of what God says
Serving: serving others as a gift of faith
Teaching: communicating truth and doctrine with knowledge and clarity
Exhorting: those who encourage or who give a clear explanation of the goal or vision for the church
Contributing: More than just money, this seems to aim at sacrificial giving
Leading: those who provide guidance and administration
Acts of mercy: those who see the needs of others and are quick to respond
Questions
a. What is the importance of serving in the body of Christ? How does our serving mimic the life of Jesus?
b. Which of these gifts do you think God has given you?
c. How are you contributing to the body of Christ?
d. Are you committed to serving at TRBC? In GAP? Are we only coming for our own needs, or are we plugged in and contributing to the growth of the body?
e. What would the church look like if all its members were committed to exercising their gifts?
Wouldn’t you like to find out?
Transformation affects our ministry by enabling us to use the gifts God gave us
A church of renewed minds functions like a body with each part doing its part to make sure the whole is healthy
Thanks for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment