Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 

¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Romanos 12:9-13

⁹ El amor sea sin fingimiento. Aborreced lo malo, seguid lo bueno. ¹⁰ Amaos los unos a los otros con amor fraternal; en cuanto a honra, prefiriéndoos los unos a los otros. ¹¹ En lo que requiere diligencia, no perezosos; fervientes en espíritu, sirviendo al Señor; ¹² gozosos en la esperanza; sufridos en la tribulación; constantes en la oración; ¹³ compartiendo para las necesidades de los santos; practicando la hospitalidad.

1. Love must be sincere, without dissimulation.

1. Él amor sea sin fingimiento.

2. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

2. Prefiriendo uno al otro en amor fraternal.

3. Never lacking in zeal but fervent in Spirit.

3. Con diligencia fervientes en espíritu.

4. Practice hospitality, sharing to the necessity of the saints.

4. Practicando la Hospitalidad, para las necesidades de los santos.

CONNECT WITH GOD (Select a below practice or choose a practice from a previous week.) 

• Practice of Gratitude (10 minutes): Recognizing Gifts in Your Everyday Life

• Read the quote below and spend a few minutes in silence (5 minutes), allowing yourself to “just be” in the stillness, welcoming the generous presence of the God who is with you.

“Gratitude is not warm feelings about what we have. Instead, gratitude is the ability to embrace the gift of who we are. That we are. In the multibillion year history of the universe, the gift is that each one of us has been born, can love, grows in awareness, and has a story. Life is the gift. And when that mystery fills our hearts, it overwhelms us, and a deep river of emotions flow forth. I am. We all are. What we feel when we contemplate this remarkable thing–that feeling is gratitude.”

-Diana Butler Bass, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks

• Journal for 5 minutes:

What has felt like a gift today? Where did you experience gratitude, thankfulness, or wonder?

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER 

• Read Romans 12:9-13 alone and together
• Reflect on the questions below in writing, drawing, or quiet contemplation.
• What is love? What things, people, places do you love?
• What do you need to love well?
• What is the expression of your love in your relationships and in your community?
• Reflect together (in pairs): Spend 5-7 minutes sharing your journal responses, reflections, or questions.

CONNECT WITH SCRIPTURE (Select the best questions or customize the questions for your group). Read Romans 12:9-13 and any additional scripture passages from the message outline.

• Review the main points from the sermon outline.
• What has grabbed your attention from the message this week? Why?
• Why does Paul include “sincere” as a marker of love (verse 9)?
• What does Paul offer as examples of “cling to what is good?”
• What is hospitality and why is it important (verse 13)?
• How does it mean to “be devoted to one another in love and to honor one another above yourselves” (verse 10)?

CONNECT WITH STEWARDSHIP AND GOD’S MISSION IN THE WORLD (select one question for discussion)

• Which stories or bible verses come to mind for you when you consider what it means to practice hospitality? How do you practice hospitality? (Romans 12:13)
• How might your commitment to love, to hospitality, and to giving at SBPC contribute to the flourishing of not only our church but our community as well? Name what you see already happening and imagine the possibilities in the future.

PRAYER 

Continue to pray for this season of stewardship at SBPC. Pray that the practices of generosity, love, and hospitality found in Romans 12 be widely evident in our shared life together. Pray for discernment as each person considers how God is calling them to live generously and participate in the flourishing of our community.