HOMILETIC WORKSHEET

Passage: Romans 12:3-8

Date: 6/26/96

Structural Context:

Vs. 2 says spiritual transformation is the result of mental renewal (by God's Word)

Vs. 3ff. present key areas in which our thinking needs re-shaping by God's Word

Passage Outline:

Vs. 3-5: Christians should view themselves as members of Christ's body

Vs. 6-8: Christians exercise their differing spiritual gifts to serve one another

Theses:

1. Spiritual growth requires interdependent involvement with other Christians:

a. All Christians need to consistently receive Christ's life from other Christians

b. All Christians need to consistently contribute Christ's life to other Christians

Antitheses:

1. Western culture's autonomous individualism & Western church's conformity ("Jesus & me")

a. "I can grow without regular input from other Christians."

b. "I can grow without regular ministry to other Christians."

Goal: to convince Christians that they cannot have

spiritual transformation without Body-life

Introduction:
Repeat vs 2a thesis--transformation via learning about & acting consistently with God's perspective on key areas of life
Major Points:
1. HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF IN RELATION TO OTHER CHRISTIANS (vs 3)?
a. Vs 4,5: spiritually united to one another & interdependently related to one another

2. "I HAVE NO NEED OF OTHERS."

a. What we affirm about our physical bodies, we reject about our spiritual lives!
b. The CHURCH has been conformed on this pt.

c. You need extensive & consistent input from other Christians if you want to be vital & grow!!

3. "I HAVE NOTHING TO CONTRIBUTE"


a. Vs 6-8: What we affirm about our physical bodies, we reject about our spiritual lives!
b. The CHURCH has been conformed on this pt.

c. You need to decide to contribute what you can if you want to be vital & grow!!

Conclusion:
What other factors hinder involvement in Body-life (DISCUSSION AFTER TEACHING)

Illustration/Application:
WORKS/EASTERN view of salvation vs. learning about GOSPEL & receiving Christ


1. "Sane" (Mark 5:15) vs. "megalomania"

a. PHYSICAL BODY ORGANS


2. TALKING KIDNEY: "I want to be free to be me!" >> "sane" or "megalomania?"


b. "GO TO CHURCH;" "FELLOWSHIP RITUAL & HALL;" MEETING EMPHASIS
c. Acts 2:42,46; LOVE RELATIONSHIPS; ME IN 1971

3. TALKING KIDNEY: "Since I'm not a face/hand, it doesn't matter whether or not I contribute." >> "sane" or "megalomania?"


b. "CLERGY;" GIFT discovery before Body involvement
c. ME IN 1971; DIFFERENT FIRST STEPS; gift discovery takes place in this context

"NOT ENOUGH TIME;" TRIBALISM; MORAL REBELLION