Sermon Notes
Main Verses: Romans 12:3-21
If Concord Is going to be the Unordinary Community God wants us to be we need to focus on three truths:
WE NEED EACH OTHER ROMANS 12:3-8
- We need to see ourselves as neither better nor worse than God sees us.
- If we see ourselves as better than everyone our pride will alienate others.
- If we see ourselves as worse than others, we’ll feel we have little worth.
Lone Ranger Christianity is a contradiction of terms. (Robert Mounce)
Whatever ministry gift you’ve been given, concentrate on using it, not for yourself, but as your part in God’s kingdom.
WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER ROMANS 12:9-16
- 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in.. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. (Philippians 2:3-5, NLT)
- “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”(John 13:35, NLT)
WE ALL NEED GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ROMANS 12:17-21
For believers, the real question is will we take matters into our hands, or leave things in God’s Hands. We can trust God to do through our kindness what will not be done through our retaliation.
- Write the name of a lonely person. What day this week will you call or send them a card or email of encouragement.
- Think of someone who makes you angry. If you’re bitter toward them ask God to help you deal with your feelings toward this person. How will you show God’s lo to them this week even if they may not be open to your effort have you learned in today’s message that if applied can help make Concord the church God wants it to be? Ask God to help you do your part to make Concord the “Unordinary Community” He wants us to be.
Discussion Questions
TALK IT OUT:
- Pastor Tim makes the point that we need each other. Think about your past experiences. List times in your life when you have needed others as well as occasions when others have needed your help.
- We need to see ourselves as neither better nor worse than God sees us. When we see ourselves as better than we are, we will inevitably alienate others. If we see ourselves as worse than others, we feel we have little worth. Which of these two improper extremes are you most prone to buy into about yourself?
- The Apostle Paul makes the point that we’re not given gifts for ourselves, but to be used alongside others in the church. What do you think your gifts might be?
- Pastor Tim makes the point that we are better together than we are separately. Reflect on a time when being a part of something bigger than yourself allowed you and others to accomplish more together than any of you could have done on your own.
- In John 13:35, Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (NLT) How are you showing your love for others in our church family?
- Pastor Tim says, we all need God’s perspective when it comes to managing conflict. He makes the point that we all face the temptation to take matters into our hands instead of leaving them in God’s hands. Why is it so hard for us to leave settling the score in God’s hands?
- We can trust God to do through our kindness what will not be done through our retaliation according to Pastor Tim. Reflect on a time or times when you allowed your anger and frustration to make things worse. Have you ever allowed God to settle the score and He managed things far better than you could have?
LIVE IT OUT
- Jot down the name of a lonely person or persons. What day this week will you call or send them a card or email of encouragement?
- Think of someone who makes you angry. If you’re bitter toward them ask God to help you deal with your feelings toward this person. How will you show God’s love to them this week even if they may not be open to your efforts?
- What have you learned in today’s message which if applied can help make Concord the church God wants it to be? Ask God to help you do your part of make Concord the “Unordinary Community” He wants us to be.