Paul’s letter to the Romans is best known for its in-depth explanations of the great doctrine of salvation by faith through of the death of Christ. But after 11 chapters of such teaching, there is a change of emphasis. Paul offers a practical guide to living and loving well, based on the grace and love of God as revealed in Jesus and the gospel story: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Rom. 12:1, NIV). In effect, Paul is saying that because of what God has done for us in Jesus, this is how we should live.

Read and summarize Rom. 12:1-21, particularly noticing the instructions to love and care for others, especially those in need.

Paul

In a sense, Romans 12 acts as a summary of many of the topics Paul gives more detailed attention to in some of his other letters. He talks about the different roles and gifts within the church body, including serving and encouraging others, and giving generously (see vss. 3-8 Rom. 12:3-8). But not only should these things be done, they should be done well, with enthusiasm and—above all—with love (see vss. 9-11 Rom. 12:9-11).

Paul describes in practical terms what this kind of life is about. He urges the believers to be patient in difficulties and persecution, to care for the needy, to be peacemakers wherever and whenever possible and—as we have seen previously—to respond to evil and injustice with kindness, overcoming evil by doing good (see Rom. 12:20-21).

This chapter outlines what it means to live as a new person, serving God individually and as part of a community of faith. Paul told these new followers of Jesus that their lives, priorities, and actions should be changed because of their response to what Jesus had done for them by His death on the cross and the hope of eternal life. Living as they were in an oppressive and often cruel society in the heart of the Roman Empire, Paul instructs them to live differently: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2, NIV).

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After his conversion, the apostle Paul took up the mission to bring the gospel to the Gentile world. The success God gave him raised significant questions about the relationship between the Jewish roots of the emerging Christian faith and the new Gentile followers of Jesus. A council of Jewish and Gentile Christian leaders met in Jerusalem to discuss the matter and seek God’s guidance in relation to these complicated questions. The meeting and its outcomes are recorded in Acts chapter  15.

Giving

However, in Paul’s report of this meeting found in Galatians 2, he adds another important element to the instructions he received from the Jerusalem council for his continuing ministry among the Gentiles: “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along” (Gal. 2:10, NIV).

And Paul continued to pursue this focus personally (see, for example, Acts 20:35) and throughout his ministry. Like the early church in Jerusalem, Paul expanded the vision of the Christian community to embrace all fellow believers.

Read 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. How does Paul link the gospel and giving generously?

Paul also drew on two Old Testament references to urge the believers to generosity and care for their fellow believers in difficult circumstances. He cited the story of God’s generous provision of manna to the Israelites in the wilderness as a model of giving and sharing among the wider church community (see 2 Cor. 8:15). He also quoted from Psalm 112:9—“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever” (2 Cor. 9:9, NIV).

Paul urged his readers to be intentional about giving, to put aside regularly a portion of their income so that it would be easy to give when he or Titus visited their church to collect their offerings and deliver them to the Christians in need in Jerusalem. He used the example of one church to encourage other churches to similar generosity. “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves”, Paul wrote, “others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (2 Cor. 9:13, NIV).

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “Ministry in the New Testament Church” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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Sabbath afternoon’s introduction has Matthew 28:18-20 giving us
Hymn 378, “Go, Preach My Gospel” – the Great Commission, known as our Mission Statement. We may then request
“Baptize Us Anew”, Hymn 258.

Hymn 346, “Lord, Who Dost Give to Thy Church” encourages our Pastors, and also those who are like Dorcas, “helping the needy their burdens to bear”.

Our giving is seen in
Hymn 572, “Give of Your Best to the Master” on Tuesday. We ask God’s blessings on the gifts we bring to God and our neighbours in
Hymn 686, “Bless Thou the Gifts”.

Paul’s words of living and loving well are shown to us in
Hymn 581, “When the Church of Jesus”,
Hymn 582, “Working, O Christ, With Thee”and
Hymn 584, “There’s a Spirit in the Air”.

In Thursday’s study, James 1:22 NIV tells us to “Do what it says” with my response being
“I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go”, Hymn 573.

The quote from Mrs Ellen G White about the miracle of grace, closing our lesson study on Friday, gives our final hymn of “Marvelous Grace”, Hymn 109.

The Lord bless you and keep you, and make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace”.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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1,  A new kind of community.  Seven people selected from the  early Christian church were assigned the responsibility for organizing members to meet the  physical needs of the neediest members of the congregation. These would include housing, feeding, clothing, childcare, and many other responsibilities that some families would have difficulty meeting. Thousands of years later our church continues to  follow this custom and others in our local communities. Unlike our spiritual forefathers, today we do not have organizational problems in meeting the needs of the less fortunate around us–or do we? If we do have problems, what are they and what are we doing about them?

2. Dorcas’s  ministry. If you’re a member of the older generation in our church (like me), your early memories of an organization looking after the well being of members and others focused around the name “Dorcas,” in honor of the outstanding woman who launched beneficial services in the early church. A hard-working woman who apparently  was loved by virtually every member of the church, Dorcas was strong and healthy–until what happened? Her death was followed by an amazing resurrection, one of few miracles of life being restored to a female believer in Bible times. Imagine your strong leader of physical aid in your church became ill and died.  Do you think we pray enough for life to be restored under such circumstances? W

3. Giving as a way of sharing. Paul, persecution expert and commander of forces to eliminate Christians…What has happened to him now that the early Christian church has been established? Why does he care about the afflicted in the new church? Your lesson points out that Paul urged “intentional” giving—that is, a planned program to help those in need. After reading of Paul’s experience, do you sense an inner need to follow a system of planned giving—not just the 10% tithe, but more as God gives you the ability to do so? Are we rewarded by following a lifestyle marked by generosity? If so, describe the rewards that come from such a way of life.

4. Paul’s guide to living and loving well. The 12^th chapter of Romans may be the most practical guide in the Bible to church success. But wait a minute, you may protest, times have changed. Can we still follow the principles of gentle love in an age of one miraculous “life-threatening discovery” after another interwoven with frightening threats of devastating nuclear war, famines and devastation of innocent people? There is so much hate and hurt in this war-stricken world, what can we do to share tender and caring love around us?

5. James the just. James is noted in our lesson this week as a brother of Jesus, a relative who wholeheartedly supported Jesus in every respect and became an outstanding leader in the early Christian church. He apparently served as the church’s first president and was the leader of caring ministries to meet the needs of the “forgotten and downtrodden.” And, undoubtedly, he was the author of the short book of James that spells out what Christian believers need to do to reflect the love and caring of Jesus. What a privilege to read and study and become close in spirit to this mighty worker for the cause of Christ!

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