The Sunday School Lesson Expectations For Everyday Living by David McGee
Feb 19, 2017
Expectations For Everyday Living (40:56)
Referenced Scriptures: Romans 12; Romans 13:1-7
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What do you expect out of life? Ask this question of any number of people, and you might get as many different answers. Some may reply "success." Others may say "happiness." Still others might respond, "I expect to become famous." There would likely be those who would respond by saying, "Nothing. By lowering expectations, I'll never have to face disappointment."
We all have expectations for our lives. Yet as Christians we must recognize that God has expectations for us as well. Paul explored these in Romans chapters 12 and 13. They can seem daunting at first glance: becoming living sacrifices, being good to our enemies, and hating evil while clinging to good. Yet through the act and process of dying to self, we are transformed into what God intends for us to be.
The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Romans 12
1) Therefore I beg you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
2) Don‘t be fashioned according to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3) For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
4) For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don‘t have the same function,
5) so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6) Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
7) or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;
8) or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9) Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
10) In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;
11) not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12) rejoicing in hope; enduring in oppression; continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13) contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
14) Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don‘t curse.
15) Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Don‘t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don‘t be wise in your own conceits.
17) Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men.
18) If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
19) Don‘t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God‘s wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."
20) Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head."
21) Don‘t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 13:1-7
1) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who be are ordained by God.
2) Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
3) For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
4) for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn‘t bear the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
5) Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience‘ sake.
6) For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are ministers of God‘s service, attending continually on this very thing.
7) Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
The WEB Bible is provided by Public Domain.