A Gospel Foundation

Text: Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

PRAY

Introduction:

What is your life’s foundation? Why do you do the things you do? Why do you make the choices you make? What is your “therefore”?

Romans 12 is full of instructions about how we ought to live and the choices we must make. But they are not just random instructions or rules for living.

Our decisions don’t come out of nowhere. We do what we do for a reason, even if we don’t always consciously think about that reason.

What are possible foundations for living?

Self

Community

Religions

The God of the Bible

What is your foundation for living?

Think about the decisions you make every day.

Why do you spend time with the people you do?

Why do you go to the places you go to?

Why do you buy the things you buy?

How do you choose what house to live in, what car to get, what job to have, what church to go to, what you eat, what you wear, what movies or shows you watch or don’t watch, and the thousands of other decisions you make, whether big or small?

What is the basis of all these choices? What is your motivation or reason?

What is the only lasting and satisfying foundation?

Introduction to Paul

Introduction to Romans

Gospel —> Application

The one word Paul centers in on as the foundation for Christian living is the “mercies” or “compassions” of God.

What is mercy/compassion?

How has God shown us His mercy/compassion?

How does this inform the way we live?