In these verses (Romans 12:3-8), Paul speaks about the subject of serving God in the church with spiritual gifts. Having just told us in the previous verses that we are to live consecrated lives to the Lord (and this by not being conformed to this world), interestingly, the very first place where the apostle tells us that this consecrated life is to manifest itself is in the context of the local church. This idea might be foreign to some. However, this is what the context and connection of this verse to the previous one clearly shows. The opening, explanatory word “for” in verse 3 makes this point plain. Olyott astutely comments: “We need to put away vague views of consecration. The first place where it is seen is in the way in which a believer lives and behaves in the Body of Christ. If you want to display your gratitude to God for His mercies, you must start here. You must submit to what He has revealed concerning church life. People who appear to be keen Christians, but are not obeying the Lord in this area, are not keen Christians at all. They have not put themselves at His disposal in the area where He expects obedience first. If first things are not put first, how can anything else be right?”

Worship Setlist:

• His Mercy is More

• Yet Not I But Christ in Me

• More Like Jesus

• Doxology