We Must Change Our Thinking!

(Romans 12:1-3) I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. (RSV)

One Of God’s Tests

Loving Our Brethren

Loving One Another

(Romans 12:9-12) Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; (NKJV)

Our Love Must Be Genuine

(1 Peter 1:22) Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. (RSV)

Our Love Must Be Disciplined

(Romans 12:9) Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; (RSV)

(2 John 1:6) And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love. (RSV)

Our Love Must Be Devoted

Family Affection (Ephesians 1:4-6) even as he chose us in

him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (RSV)

Our Love Must Honor The Other

(Romans 12:9-10) Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. (RSV)

(Philippians 2:3-4) Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (RSV)

Conclusion

(John 13:35) By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (RSV)

(James 2:8) If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. (RSV)

(1 John 3:16) By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (RSV)

What Is Love? “Love is an attitude,

Love is a prayerFor a soul in sorrow,Or a heart in despair.Love is good wishes

For the gain of another;Love suffers long

With the fault of a brother;Love giveth water toA cup that’s run dry;Love reaches low

As it can reach high;Seeks not her own

At expense of another;Love reaches God

When it reaches our brother.”

Author Unknown

Sources

Outline by Johnny FelkerOutline by Kevin KayTruth Commentary by Clinton D.

HamiltonReading Romans by Robert F. Turner