At the end of Romans Chapter 12, Paul states that the church should overcome evil with good. How can the church accomplish this audacious task? In an outline form look at the way Paul lays out the pattern of ministry that can bring victory to any church.
Offer your bodies as living sacrifices
- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world
- But be transformed by the renewing of your mind
- 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
So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts
- Prophesying
- Serving
- Teaching
- Encouraging
- Contributing to the needs of others
- Leadership
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
- Never be lacking in zeal
- 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.
- 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
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. 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.
Take a few minutes and slowly read down the outline and see how evil is defeated when Christians give themselves to God and allows God to renew their minds. Finding and using their gifts I the love.
