Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• This week Pastor Bret will continue in the mini-series on congregational disciplines. So far, we have looked at the congregation’s role in preaching, prayer, evangelism, and this week we’ll be looking at fellowship. The passage we’ll be looking at is Romans 12:9-13.
• Romans 12 begins a new section in the book of Romans. The aim of the book of Romans is the obedience of faith (Romans 1:5, Romans 16:26), particularly in the union and fellowship between Jews and Gentiles in the church in Rome. As Paul's most theologically in-depth letter, he spends the first 11 chapters explaining the gospel, sanctification, and Israel's place in God’s plan. In ch.12 he turns the corner to give specific instructions based on the grace of God explained in ch.1-11.
• Read Romans 12:1-13. Notice the transition in the book marked by v. 1 and the following instructions that are the content of Paul's appeal. In vv. 9-13, Paul lays out 13 staccato commands. What unifies these 13 commands? Notice that these commands are not all commands for specific actions, but also commands directed to the affections.
• How could you summarize what Paul wants the Romans to do based on these commands? Do these commands govern your life and particularly your relationships within the body of Christ?
• The Sermon Study equipping class notes are available online for anyone wanting to dig deeper. Please review this week's notes to help study this passage. Click here for the notes.

Prayerfully Meditate

• Prayerfully consider each of the 13 of these commands. Which one(s) stick out to you as an area you need to work on? Ask the Lord for his grace - both to forgive and to change. Which one(s) stick out to you as an area where you have been faithful, by God’s grace? Praise the Lord for his faithfulness that enabled your obedience and rejoice in the grace he has given.
• In what way do these commands deal with Christian fellowship? What would our fellowship look like if we were seeking to intentionally obey these commands? What are specific ways that you can apply these commands in the area of Christian fellowship this week?