A different spirit

• The world 
  • Love has grown cold
  • Eye for an eye
  • It’s about MY group
  • It’s about MY perspective 
• The Spirit of the church is the answer

Let me give you a slogan used to describe us

• Simplicity Sincerity and Sacrifice

The passage

• Paul spends the first 11 chapters of this letter unpacking doctrine, he now takes a sharp turn and let’s them know how this is going to tangibly flush out

• 39 imperatives in this chapter 
• Mike Foster’s favorite chapter because it’s so practical 

Passage:

• Romans 12:3–5 (NLT) — 3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
• Romans 12:9–16 (NLT) — 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

1. Simplicity - Be Humble
   1. 3 “Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us”
   2. Watching the first American Idol shows and the way people evaluated themselves
   3. Roy  
      1. Picayune - nothing sophisticated comes from Picayune
      2. Keep it simple, hang loose, travel light
      3. House, car, buildings
   4. Bethany
      1. Started in a living room
      2. When Bethany began, it was really simple, they wanted to worship and serve the Lord in the freedom of the Spirit.
   5. Jesus
      1. Foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the son of man has no place to lay his head. 
      2. He had NO way to accumulate wealth
   6. Let’s aim for simplicity in three areas:
      1. Simple in lifestyle - We don’t need much to be happy
      2. Simple in faith - Our focus is simple - Jesus
      3. Simple in mission - Bringing all people into the LIFE, FAMILY, and PURPOSE of God.
         1. We are evangelizing
         2. We are connecting into community 
         3. We are going to the world
2. Sincerity - Be Genuine
   1. 9 “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
   2. Sincere love - “Let love be without hypocrisy”
      1. You CAN fake love - Judas
         1. Not loving you with ulterior motives
         2. Not loving you with my smile and wave only
         3. Not loving you in a shallow way but a deep way
      2. Love is not seen in words, but action! 
         1. Ruth - “Do you want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”
         2. Loaves and Fishes
         3. House of Ruth
         4. Missionaries
      3. Paul says
         1. Genuine affection - Family love by choice
         2. Delight in honoring - Find joy in elevating those around you
         3. When God’s people are in need help them
         4. Be eager to practice hospitality 
         5. Rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those who weep
   3. Sincere transparency
      1. Open your life to other believers 
   4. Both of these best fulfilled in b-groups
3. Sacrifice - Be Diligent
   1. 11 “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 
   2. Pappaw under the bridge/ Mimi selling world book
   3. Paul in Corinth building tents by day, preaching by night
   4. Perspiration
      1. Paul encourages them to be diligent
      2. The psychological term - Social Loafing
      3. Paul envisions each person doing their part
         1. Use your gift
         2. Never be lazy
         3. Work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically
         4. Rejoice in our confident hope. 
         5. Be patient in trouble
         6. Keep on praying.
      4. You can always see the tangible results of united and passionate effort
   5. Perseverance
      1. When everyone else stops, be found faithful

Pride, Privacy, and Self Interest

• When you see Jesus on the cross, he embodies simplicity, sincerity, and sacrifice