May 17, 2026
Outdoing Yourself
1. Get Real (vs. 9, 10)
A. Make Sure
Real community. Not manufactured or forced.
B. Headlining with Genuine Love
Love for God translates to our love for others.
“Genuine love: hating what is evil, devoted to what is good;” Ben Witherington
love unhypocritically- This cannot be underestimated in importance.
“Hate the evil’
- Do we hate the evil enough?
“Clinging to the Good’
C. The Power of Love
D. Love as Family, but Better (v. 10)
“Philadelphia”
2. Real Zeal (vs. 11, 12)
A. In Zeal Not Lazy
Zeal is for each of us. We should have a level of zeal for the Lord.
B. Boiling Over
C. Let Hope Keep You Joyful
“No one stares up at the northern lights thinking, ‘Wow, I’m incredible! We are hardwired to wonder and therefore worship… Linger here, rejoicing in God’s blessings before asking for any more.” Pete Greig
D. Prayer!
E. The Marathon of Life
Endurance
3. Real Relationships (v. 13)
A. An Invitation beyond the Superficial
B. Taking Care of the Saints
C. Loving the Strangers
“Hospitality is not so much a task as (it is) a way of living our lives and of sharing ourselves.” Christine Pohl
D. Outdoing Yourself
“When you lay down your life as a living sacrifice, you take up the power of the Holy Spirit to be truly who you are to be. You outdo yourself.”
Reflection:
Which part of loving others challenges you the most from Romans 12:9-13?
How are you trusting the Holy Spirit to give yourself to that work of love?
Follow UP in the Word through the Week…
Monday:
Read: Acts 4:32-35
How do we work out this expression of the church today? How would you be challenged to serve others in this way?
Tuesday:
Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
How does love fill in the gaps and why does Paul say it is so much more important than the gifts?
Wednesday:
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:3-6
If you were asked for a definition of “genuine love” how would you explain it?
Thursday:
Read: Romans 5:1-5
How do we obtain this love that Paul speaks of in these verses?
Friday:
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Using these short verses as a mirror, how is your prayer life?
Saturday:
Read: 1 Peter 4:9
What has been your experience with hospitality? Has it been a time of genuine sharing or more of a worrisome task?
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