REVIEW: The Gifts and their Work Prophecy - the gift of preaching the gospel Ministry - the gift of service -  of all kinds Teaching - the gift of study and presenting fundamental truths of the bible Exhortation - the gift of provoking people with the truth of God’s word Giving - the gift of giving sacrificially Ruling - the gift of the oversight of the church Mercy - the gift of pursuing the hurt to offer kindness

The Gospel in Practice: Authentic Christian Character Romans 12:9-16

Our Attitude Towards Love Rom 12:9 [Let] love be without dissimulation.

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned (without dissimulation - honestly) love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

KEY POINT #1 An inauthentic love will spoil your ministry and ultimately disconnect you from God’s people

II. Our Attitude Toward Good & Evil Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

KEY POINT #2 Hating evil is meaningless if you aren’t willing to join yourself to righteousness

III. Our Attitude Toward Good & Evil 10 [Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Jhn 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

KEY POINT #3 Christian character exhibits self-denying preferential treatment and empathy towards your church family

IV. Our Attitude of Stewardship 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Luk 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

KEY POINT #4 Ministry zeal is fueled by faithfulness to the message of the gospel

Act 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, [and] mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto [them], and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, [and that] publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

IV. Our Attitude of Faith 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Lam 3:24 The LORD [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him. 26 [It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

KEY POINT #5 Faith is not complete until it is comprised of hopefulness, patience and prayer

VI. Our Attitude in Ministry A) Sacrifice 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all [men], as every man had need.

VI. Our Attitude in Ministry A) Sacrifice B) Satisfied 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

VI. Our Attitude in Ministry A) Sacrifice B) Satisfied C) Sympathetic 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

VI. Our Attitude in Ministry A) Sacrifice B) Satisfied C) Sympathetic D) Single-minded 16 [Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.