Practical Christian Living

Follow Along with the Message

Central Idea: Faith in Christ transforms how we love, serve, and engage with the world - not through external rule-keeping but through renewed minds, genuine community love, and faithful presence in society.‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ 

Point 1: Transformed Minds Lead to Transformed    (Romans 12:1-2)

A. The Call to Living Sacrifice 

Romans 12:1 NIV - 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. 

“The gospel is not just about getting saved from the penalty of sin but about being saved from the power of sin. True worship is not just attending services but offering our entire lives to God.”- Tim Keller, Romans for You, emphasis added 

“When we denigrate our bodies—whether through neglect or staring at our faces and counting up our flaws—we are belittling a sacred site, a worship space more wondrous than the most glorious, ancient cathedral. We are standing before the Grand Canyon or the Sistine Chapel and rolling our eyes.”- Tish Harrison Warren, Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life 

B. Renewal of the Mind as the Path to Transformation

Romans 12:2 NIV - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Matthew 22:37 NIV- Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” 

1. Heart (longings)

“Worship works from the top down, you might say. In worship we don’t just come to show God our devotion and give him our praise; we are called to worship because in this encounter God (re)makes and molds us top-down. Worship is the arena in which God recalibrates our hearts, reforms our desires, and rehabituates our loves. Worship isn’t just something we do; it is where God does something to us. Worship is the heart of discipleship because it is the gymnasium in which God retrains our hearts.”- James K.A. Smith, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit 

2. Soul (emotions)
3. Mind (intellect)

C. Discerning God’s Will Through Transformed Thinking (12:2b)

Romans 12:2 NIV- Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Practices/Habits that Help Renew Our Mind on Christ: 

1. Daily Scripture Meditation
2. Intentional Prayer
3. Identity Affirmations
4. Media Input Management
5. Community Engagement with Other Believers
6. Worship
7. Solitude and Silence

Point 2: Community Shaped by Genuine   (Romans 12:3-21) 

A. Using Gifts in Proper Perspective

Romans 12:3–8 NIV- 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 faith God has distributed to each of you. For 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, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  

Romans 12:3–8 NIV- We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

B. Practical Expressions of Sincere Love

Romans 12:9–16 NIV- Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 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 the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  
 
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

C. Overcoming Evil with Good

Romans 12:17–21 NIV- Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

 “Refusing revenge is not weakness but the revolutionary pattern of Christ’s cross, which overcomes evil not by matching it but by absorbing it and responding with good.” - N.T. Wright, Evil and the Justice of God 

Point 3: Christian Citizenship in a Complex   (Romans 13:1-14) 

A. The Proper Relationship to Governing Authorities

Romans 13:1–7 NIV- Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.  
 
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 

B. Love as the Fulfillment of the Law

Romans 13:8–10 NIV- Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 

C. Living in Light of Christ’s Return

Romans 13:11–14 NIV- And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. 

Bottom Line 

Faith in Christ transforms how we love, serve, and engage with the world - not through external rule-keeping but through renewed minds, genuine community love, and faithful presence in society.‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ 

Spiritual Exercise: 

This practice directly connects to Romans 12:2, which emphasizes being "transformed by the renewing of your mind."  

Here's how you might implement it: 

1. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day this week
2. Choose a verse or short passage from Romans 12-13
3. Read it slowly multiple times
4. Ask yourself questions like:

• What does this reveal about God?
• How does this challenge my current thinking?
• What one aspect of my life might change if I believed this more deeply?

5. End with a brief prayer to embody this truth today