Romans 12:3-8

 Romans 12:3-8 

V3: An exhortation to humble thinking

• on the basis of: grace , as with any exhortation
  • Grace given to Paul by God to: 
    • Save him 
    • Give him the apostolic calling and authority 

• directed to:  “everyone among you, “ which is the church/believers

The exhortation: there’s a way that we ought to think: 

• Do not: think proudly, arrogantly about ourselves
• Do: think with sound, modest, humble, right mindset

The basis for a humble mindset is that: 

• God has given each one of us a measure of faith in God and Christ
  • our portion of faith is from God, not of ourselves
  • V4-5: Believers serve different functions within the church

V6: An exhortation to use the differinggifts that God has given us

V7-8: A list of  some God given gifts and how to use them

• Prophecy-speaking forth God's revealed truth within the bounds of that revealed truth and within the bounds of the God given capacity that one possess for this gift 

• Service-ministry of the Gospel, relief, aid, attending to needs 

• Teaching-interpreting and communicating God's truth 

• Exhortation-calling, motivating, encouraging, admonishing others to obey God's truth

• Giving-giving/sharing a part with generosity

• Leading-ruling/having authority informally or presiding over officially, both to be done with diligence 

• Mercy-acts of compassion to be done with cheerfulness