Family Study Guide for Romans 12

Family Study Guide for December 8 – December 14, 2005
(Read Romans 12 Online)

Reflections on Romans 12 by Mark Chesner, Coach

If you have been raised in the church (especially OUR church), you know this verse very, very well:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

But I wonder how many of us have really seen it in context of the rest of Chapter 12, which is in many ways about how alien the Christian walk is to "this world." Consider these verses:

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:6-8

Essentially, these verses tell us to find the gifts God has given us and to use them to their fullest. Compare that to what you see on television every day: models telling you that you are not pretty enough, commercials telling you that you don't have the right stuff and to go out and buy more, television programs telling you the most important thing is the witty comeback, etc. The world is always looking to make us just like everyone else. A copy of whoever is the hot person of the moment. But God wants us to be the best version of ourselves, developing and enjoying the gifts and talents he has given us.

And then, of course, we move into the really radical stuff:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Romans 12:17-19

Not only are we supposed to be the best version of ourselves in our talents, but also in our everyday life. Again, compare this to the world around us. Movies are full of violence from the little (comedies where creative vengeance is taken and "hilarity ensues") to the humungous (action-adventures where the hero is the guy who blows up the most stuff and comes out the other end with perfect hair). The news is focused on explosions, murders, political battles, and scandal. The world loves violence - it is pleasing to the eye and full of drama… so long as it is happening to someone else. But God wants us to love those around us. It is no accident that in the Christmas season we talk so much about the "Prince of Peace" when speaking of Jesus.

The truth is that Christians truly are aliens and strangers in this world. The more we CONFORM, the farther we move from God. But the more we TRANSFORM, the closer we are to our Father, and the more joy we can find in becoming the people God meant us to be.

Questions to Consider:

• When have you felt like an alien and a stranger in this world?
• When in your life has doing what is right meant doing exactly the opposite of what the world would have you do?
• When is it hardest to live “at peace” with everyone around you?

Chapter Outline: (From Jim’s Introduction to Romans)

6. God’s Righteousness Revealed in Transformed Living (12:1-15:13)
a. The basic consecration (12:1-2)
b. In Christian ministry (12:3-8)

Finish the Verses for this Chapter:

Therefore, I // urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

Do not conform // any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

For by // the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you, Romans 12:3

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. Romans 12:4-5

Love must // be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10

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 God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:11-13

Bless // those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:14-15

Live // in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16

Do not repay // anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:17-18

Do not take // revenge, "my 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.” Romans 12:19-20

Do not be // overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Sample Questions for Studying

Capitalized words are once-used-words

1. (Be) patient in what?
2. Reference : According to Romans 12:17, be what?
3. What if he s THIRSTY?
4. (Be) FAITHFUL in what?
5. By the RENEWING of your mind be what?
6. What if it is SHOWING mercy?
7. Practice what?
8. Each MEMBER BELONGS to whom?
9. Situation Who says it? To whom? How?: Do not think of yourself more HIGHLY than you ought, but rather think of yourself with SOBER judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
10. Do not CONFORM any longer to what?
11. Reference : According to Romans 12:12, be what?
12. What if it is possible?
13. Do not repay anyone how?
14. You will be able to test and approve what God's will is when?
15. Reference : According to Romans 12:17, do not what?
16. Reference : According to Romans 12:1, I urge you, brothers, to what?
17. These members do not all what?
18. BLESS those who PERSECUTE you how?
19. LEAVE ROOM for God's wrath why?
20. 2 Part : You will HEAP BURNING COALS on his HEAD how?

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