Righteous Living: Living out Grace together

Romans 12:3-8

Introduction:

Last week, we were challenged in Romans 12:1–2 to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. But what does that actually look like in the church? Today, Paul turns our attention from personal devotion to communal transformation—how grace is not just a vertical experience between us and God, but something that flows outward into how we treat one another in the body of Christ.

True Story: The Transformation of Almolonga, Guatemala

In the 1970s and 80s, the town of Almolonga, Guatemala, was plagued with poverty, violence, alcoholism, and spiritual oppression. The town was so overwhelmed with crime that it had four jails, constantly full. Alcohol addiction was so widespread that the nickname for the town became “The Town of the Drunks.”

But something began to change when a group of local pastors and believers began to pray—fervently and consistently. They held all-night prayer vigils and fasted for God to move. They boldly preached the gospel, even in the face of persecution.

One key moment came when a pastor named Juan Parra was miraculously healed after being beaten by radicals. Instead of retaliating, he forgave—and revival began to spread.

As more people came to Christ, families were restored. Addicts were freed. Bars shut down. Crime dropped so significantly that eventually three of the town’s four jails closed permanently. The last one was converted into a community event hall.

And as the spiritual climate changed, so did the land. The region, once plagued by barren fields, became known for supernaturally large and healthy vegetables. Scientists and journalists from around the world have visited to see it with their own eyes. Today, Almolonga exports truckloads of produce across Central America—and many locals attribute it to God's blessing.

The town became known not as “The Town of the Drunks,” but as “The City of God.”

Bridge

“What happened in Almolonga is not a legend—it’s a living testimony of what God can do when His people unite in prayer, proclaim the gospel boldly, and live as the Church. It shows us that the Church isn’t called to survive in a broken culture—we’re called to be the catalyst of its transformation.”

Ecclesiology: The study of the nature, structure, and function of the church

The church as the body of Christ

Believers are the Body of Christ- 1 Corinthians 12:27

“27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

2. Jesus Christ is the head of the Body Colossians 1:18

“18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

3. Jesus resurrection body is a New Temple John 2:19–22 ; Ephesians 2:19–22

“19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.”

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

Life in the body of Christ

Baptism is into the body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:13

“13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

2. Believers receive spiritual life through the body of Christ Ephesians 4:15–16

“15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

3. Believers care for each other in the body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:25–26

“25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”

4. Believers have different gifts in the body of Christ Ephesians 4:11–13

“11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

What are your gifts and how does grace apply to the church?

Main Idea: God’s grace transforms how we view ourselves and how we serve others.

I. Grace Gives Us a Right View of Ourselves (v. 3)

What is the Biblical view point of ourselves?

It begins with God: It is by grace from God we are called into His body. It is by His grace that we have been given our

Romans 1:5 “5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,”

Paul is speaking to the church believers- renewing their minds.

We are servants of the Lord.

Romans 6:16–18 “16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

Last week spiritual service- serve the Lord or the things of this world… leads to pride

One by product of pride is overestimating ourselves… if we or we jus had this would be fixed… David provided all the materials to the temple but it was God’s plan to build it through his son.

How can this function within the church?

We become so confident in ourselves we may begin to think we need to accomplish anything that truly doesn’t need our help.

Keep the main thing the main thing… do we trust the working of the spirit day by day. Think about who you and I were…

2 Corinthians 10:13 “13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.”

There are things that we are not supposed to do… the great word No.

Paul starts with a warning against pride—specifically, overestimating ourselves.

Our culture tells us to believe in ourselves, be self-made, and boast in our identity.

But Paul says: don’t think too highly, don’t think too lowly either—think soberly.

Sound judgment- (sōphroneō)- clear minded

Titus 2:2–6 “2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. 6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;”

Church- here we have a great picture of discipleship.

This is a gospel-centered humility. We’re not the heroes—Jesus is.

As Jesus works in us we become sensible and teachers.

Application: Ask: "Am I evaluating myself based on the grace of God, or on my own performance, position, or popularity?"

II. Grace Connects Us to the Body (vv. 4–5)

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function...”

We are one body, but we are not all the same. God delights in diversity within unity.

It is only Jesus who can bring us together.. diverse backgrounds, cultures, home life. We all will bring a unique God working, gifted gift to the church.

This poses the question should all people should serve right away.. you know I dont have that answer but I do believe your gifts are a work of God, and if He wants something done he will do it. Consumerism doesn’t unify. I must get what I want out of church.

Every believer is a part of the whole. No one is isolated. No one is irrelevant.

Contentment -

Colossians 3:15 “15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

“Individually members one of another”—we belong to each other.

Love-

1 Peter 4:8–10 “8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Illustration: Think about your physical body—your hands, eyes, ears. If one part stops working, the whole body feels it. It’s the same with the Church.

Application: Grace connects us to one another. Ask How am I caring for my fellow Christian… gifts some time people need encouragement, sometimes people need a rebuke… I am convinced the ones that are good at it have been humbled and are in the right mind… a good barometer is that does your use of this gift lead to unity and order- sound judgement- you and I aren’t the super heroes God is. He uses us!

III. Grace Equips Us to Serve (vv. 6–8)

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”

The church- accordingly exercise them - to practice self control. (There is order to the gifts)- Why God is a God of order.

We should not be outside the will of God- the gifts are not limited by order.

1 Corinthians 14:33 “33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

1 Corinthians 14:40 “40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”

Paul lists several gifts: Wednesday night or recording

Prophecy – declaring God’s truth boldly.

Service – behind-the-scenes help, practical love.

Teaching – explaining and applying God’s Word.

Exhortation – encouraging and urging others on.

Generosity – giving with simplicity and joy.

Leadership – guiding others diligently.

Mercy – showing compassion with cheerfulness.

All of these are grace-gifts—they’re not earned, they’re given.

The key is: “Let us use them.” Don’t sit on your gift. Use it to serve the body.

Application: What grace-gift has God given you? Are you using it to build up others, or are you burying it out of fear, pride, or comparison?

Conclusion:

The Christian life isn’t a solo journey—it’s life together, shaped by grace. Grace teaches us to think rightly about ourselves, commit deeply to one another, and serve faithfully with what God has given us.

Let us be a Romans 12 church—a church of sacrificial love, humble hearts, and Spirit-empowered service. (Pot;uck) We will have a computer set up with a servant leadership application.

Closing Challenge:

This week, ask God:

“Where have I thought too highly—or too little—of myself?”

“Who have You called me to serve in this body?”

“What gift have You given me to steward?”

"Living out grace means showing up for one another with humility, belonging, and service."