Study Guide
Romans Part 18
We make 70+ meaningful decisions everyday. And our legacy is the summary of our life's decisions. Listen in as Pastor Markus Witherspoon spurs us on to live authentically and honorably toward others!
In this message you will be challenged and encouraged to:
- Empathize with others through the heart of Christ
- Overcome evil with good
Newbreak’s Sermon Study Guide is an in-house resource that serves sermon-based Life Groups and/or individuals who want to reflect further on how the message contributes to their spiritual formation.
Icebreakers for Life Groups
- Who is someone you admire for their authenticity, and what have you learned from them?
- What is the most surprising or unusual job that you have ever had? What did it teach you?
Read Romans 12:9-17 (CSB)
Commit to living authentically and honorably toward others. (v.9-12)
Share in the joys and sorrows of others. (v.15-17)
One of the most famous passages of The Bible is the “Love Chapter,” found in 1 Corinthians 13. Much like the letter to the church in Corinth, Paul places this exhortation of authentic living directly after reminding us that we have been gifted to serve others. There is a direct connection between experiencing the love and grace of God and how we extend that to others. The above verses are written with such simplicity that it can seem as if they are easy to read, while at the same time, being very difficult to apply.
Paul begins in (v.9) with the challenge to love without hypocrisy. This command seems like a “no-brainer” however as we reflect on our thoughts, actions, and motives we can begin to understand why Paul wrote with such an emphasis here. In the Greco-Roman culture, actors on the stage were called hypocrites. They were the ones who could successfully play their role in the play or the drama while wearing a mask and you would essentially forget who they were in the real world and only see their stage presence. In the mind of the early Christ followers, to live in community with others meant to remove their mask and be authentically true to the life that God has called them to. A life filled with love, generosity, and discernment.
Paul then urges us to take the lead in honoring one another (v.10). The literal translation is to “outdo one another with honor!” That is a tall order in our society, just as much as it was for the 1st Century believers. Typically, showing honor was reserved for those above you. Paul is pushing us to live a lifestyle of honor for all people. We are to honor up, honor down, and honor all around. If you were to see a servant holding a door open for their master, there would be nothing to celebrate, that was expected. But imagine seeing the President of the United States, or a fortune 500 CEO, or your own boss, holding the door open for someone below them. Now that is a radical way to live!
We, as Christ-followers, are called to metaphorically “open the door” for all people, at all times, in all places. What does that look like? It means serving the Lord and others wholeheartedly (v.11), persevering no matter the circumstances (v.12), and meeting needs that arise (v.13). It means blessing those who may seem undeserving (v.14), sharing in the joys and sorrows of life (v.15), and living in harmony with everyone (v.16). Lastly, repay the evil done against you with honor (v.17).
Again, these are easy to read but difficult to apply. People, you and I included, can be difficult to love. This is why, in the Kingdom of God, we are to live counter-culturally to reveal the Good News of the Gospel at all times.
Discussion Questions
- Out of Romans 12:9-17, which is the most difficult challenge to live out for you right now?
- What would it look like in your life to outdo one another with honor? How might you put that into practice this week? (E.g. work, home, school, church)
- When was the last time you walked closely with someone in their joys or sorrows? Which one of these is the hardest for you to experience with others?
Read Romans 12:18-21 (CSB)
Overcome evil with good. (v.18-21)
Paul isn’t naive to the dangers in this world for Christians. He was well aware of Roman steel and the dangers of the Jews. If Jesus experienced hatred and persecution, shouldn’t we expect to experience the same treatment (Matthew 10:22)? Christians have experienced persecution all around the world since the time of Christ.
Paul knew how important it was to equip the Christians in the first century to handle the persecution of their day. The world would tell them that if someone strikes you on the cheek, you have every right to strike them back. That way has never produced anything good. Fighting “fire with fire” doesn’t make anyone win, and it just burns down more territory. The Bible teaches us a new way to live out our faith in persecution.
We cannot control how other people react to our faith but we can control how we respond. This is why Paul tells us to live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on you (vs.18). As hard as it seems, and contrary to our fleshly nature, we must trust that God will be the ultimate judge in the end.
Instead of vengeance, Paul encourages us to take a play out of God’s playbook and choose goodness over vengeance. When your enemy is hungry, feed him. When she is thirsty, give them something to drink (vs.20). Instead of allowing hurt, fear, and anger to determine how to respond to evil, we must conquer evil with good (vs.21).
Discussion Questions
- Can you think of a time when you did all you could to make peace but it still didn’t happen? How did you handle that?
- What does it mean to “never avenge yourselves” in today’s culture? What are some practical ways we can trust God with justice?
- How can you practically live out Paul’s words in vs.21, “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good? What does it look like to be “overcome by evil” in relationships or conflict? What are some real-world examples of overcoming evil with good?
When in Romans
In the middle of the first century, in the heart of the Roman empire was a group of house churches that believed that Jesus of Nazareth, crucified and risen from the dead, was the true Lord of the world! The Romans had to be some of the bravest, most tested Christ-followers as they were heavily persecuted by the rulers of the day. Therefore, Paul writes a letter to them, expressing what he wishes he could say in person to them. The contents of this letter are so revolutionary that for 2,000 years churches all around the globe read it, reflect on it, and apply these truths to their lives. Join us as we venture through Romans and see how the gospel's message gives us a new identity and a new way to live!