2. Our Changed Relationship to One Another – Part 2 [Loving Attitude] Romans II Series [15] Romans 12:10-11

3. OUR CHANGED RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER [ROMANS 12:9-16] The Overriding Principle of Our Relationships (v.9) 1. Sincere Love2. Discernment General Attitude in Relating to One Another in Love (vs.10-11) 3. Affection4. Honor 5. Enthusiasm Reacting to Circumstances in Love (vs.12-13) 6. Patience7. Generosity 8. Hospitality Reacting to People in Love (vs.14-16) 9. Good Will10. Sympathy 11. Harmony12. Humility

4. Every Christian's Place The Christian life is not just our own private affair. If we have been born again into God's family, not only has he become our Father but every other Christian believer in the world, whatever his nation or denomination, has become our brother or sister in Christ. But it is no good supposing that membership of the universal Church of Christ is enough; we must belong to some local branch of it. Every Christian's place is in a local church, sharing in its worship, its fellowship, and its witness. - John R. W. Stott

5. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 1)AFFECTION: Love one another with brotherly affection. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” [NIV] “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love” [NKJ] “Be good friends who love deeply” [MSG]

6. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 1)AFFECTION: Love one another with brotherly affection.  Be devoted/Love/Be affectionate [philostorgos] = philos (friendly) + storge (family love).  Brotherly love [philadelphia] = philos (friendship love) + adelphos (brother).  It is a command to have the attitude of affection to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God... 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:30-32

7. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 1)AFFECTION: Love one another with brotherly affection.  How do I obey to have “feelings of affection” for one another? Believe/Realize the REALITY of your new identity in Christ—“you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Eph. 2:19) Know that this is your fitting response to the mercies of God for you (Romans 12:1-2). If I take offence easily; if I am content to continue in cold unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love. Amy Carmichael

8. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 1)AFFECTION: Love one another with brotherly affection.  How do I obey to have “feelings of affection” for one another? Believe/Realize the REALITY of your new identity in Christ—“you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Eph. 2:19) Know this is your fitting response to the mercies of God for you (Romans 12:1-2). Pray for the brothers and sisters (in the local spiritual family where you belong) regularly (1 Thess. 1:2). Don’t wait to feel your ways into acting affectionately— ACT your ways into feelings, following the desires of the Spirit.

9. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 2)HONOR: Outdo one another in showing honor. “Honor one another above yourselves” [NIV] “in honor giving preference to one another” [NKJ] “practice playing second fiddle” [MSG]

10. SINCERE LOVE AS THE OVERRIDING PRINCIPLE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS 2)HONOR: Outdo one another in showing honor.  To “honor” means to value or to esteem each other’s worth.  Two ways to read this text: [1] outdo others in honoring; and [2] prefer to honor others first. Both are good applications.  It is a command to have an attitude of taking delight in respecting and recognizing each other’s value within a spiritual family [to lead the way in showing honor]. 3Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

11. SINCERE LOVE AS THE OVERRIDING PRINCIPLE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS 2)HONOR: Outdo one another in showing honor.  How do I lead the way in “showing honor” to one another? Have the mind of Christ in emptying himself of his rights and privileges through humility (Phil. 2:5-8). Be other-focused [=considerate/thoughtful] resisting your self-absorption. Go against the culturally popular trend of self-PR and self-promotion. Make it a habit to recognize others’ worth and to show respect and honor for them with no strings attached.

12. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 3)ENTHUSIASM: Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” [NIV] “not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” [NKJ] “Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master” [MSG]

13. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 3)ENTHUSIASM: Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  “Do not be slothful in zeal”: we are to resist all tendencies of going through motions in a lazy half-hearted way; rather, we are to engage in our communal life and service with eagerness and passion.  “Be fervent in spirit”: The meaning of the Greek word is to “boil” within our spirit by the Holy Spirit.  “Serve the Lord”: the focus of our zeal and fervor must be on serving Christ NOT on serving our self-interest, pleasing people, or any other counterfeit goals.

14. In the Church of God two opposite dangers are to be recognized and avoided; they are a cold heart and a hot head. A. W. Tozer

15. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 3)ENTHUSIASM: Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  “Do not be slothful in zeal”: we are to resist all tendencies of going through motions in a lazy half-hearted way; rather, we are to engage in our communal life and service with eagerness and passion.  “Be fervent in spirit”: The meaning of the Greek word is to “boil” within our spirit by the Holy Spirit.  “Serve the Lord”: the focus of our zeal and fervor must be on serving Christ NOT on serving our self-interest, pleasing people, or any other counterfeit goals.  It is a command to have an attitude in doing life-together with eagerness and contagious enthusiasm focused on serving the Lord no matter what we do.

16. THREE ATTITUDES REQUIRED IN RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE 3)ENTHUSIASM: Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  How do I cultivate “contagious enthusiasm” in loving others and serving the Lord? Resist all tendencies of self-serving efficiency and comfort—trying to avoid all inconveniences and work. Follow the example of Christ and mature believers around you. Boil for Christ by drawing near to the Spirit daily—so you won’t burn out. Follow the prompting of the Spirit to fuel your enthusiasm and passion in serving the Lord.

17. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Act your way into feeling AFFECTION FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS in your spiritual community.  Pray for them regularly.  Plunge yourself into showing brotherly affection. 2.Develop a loving habit of OUTDOING OTHERS in showing honor.  Be others-centered by being considerate and thoughtful.  Keep your motive pure—do it with true humility. 3.Keep yourself FUELED AND AFLAME in serving the LORD with others.  Never give in to spiritual laziness and lukewarmness.  Be contagiously BOILING HOT in loving others and serving the LORD.