Power of Relationships

I.   Relationship to God (1,2)

                Review

II.  Relationship to other believers (3-16)

A.      Honest evaluation (12:3)

B.       Faithful cooperation (12:4-8)

C.       Loving participation (12:9-16)

III. Relationship to our enemies (17-21)

“The  great Christian revolutions,” said H. Richard Niebuhr,” come not by the discovery of something that was not known before.  They happen when somebody takes radically something that was always there.”

1.                    Sincerity.  “Love must be sincere” (9a)

2.                    Discernment.  “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (9b)

3.                    Affection.  “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” (10a)

4.                    Honor.  “Honor one another above yourselves.” (10b)

5.                    Enthusiasm.  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (11)

6.                    Patience. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (12)

7.                    Generosity.  “Share with God’s people who are in need (13)

8.                    Hospitality. “Practice hospitality.” (13b)

9.                    Good will. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (14)

10.                 Sympathy.  “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (15)

11.                 Harmony.  “Live in harmony with one another.” (16a)

12.                 Humility. “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.” (16b)

Sincerity.  “Love must be sincere” (9a)

Discernment.  “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (9b)

Affection.  “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” (10a)

Honor.  “Honor one another above yourselves.” (10b)

Enthusiasm.  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (11)

Patience. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (12)

Generosity.  “Share with God’s people who are in need (13)

Hospitality. “Practice hospitality.” (13b)

Good will. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (14)

Sympathy.  “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (15)

Harmony.  “Live in harmony with one another.” (16a)

Humility. “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.”

(16b)

                “There is perhaps no one of natural passions so hard to subdue as pride.  Disguise it.  Struggle with it.  Stifle it.  Mortify it as much as one pleases.  It is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself…. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”