• Read Romans 12:9-16

• On a separate piece of paper, list out all the commands in these verses.

Consider the following questions:

• Think of your real life situations. Which of these commands are the hardest for you right now?
• Spend some time asking Jesus to help you in practical ways.
• What is one practical thing that you can do today related to these verses?

• Read Romans 12:3-8

Consider the following questions:

• Have you seen it work out in practice that all the members of the body actually belong to each other? What does this mean in real life?
• Thinking realistically (or with sober judgment), what gifts have you been given by the Holy Spirit to be a blessing to the body?
• How are you using those gifts today? How could you see yourself using them in the future?

WEEK 1 • MEMORY VERSE • ROMANS 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

• Read Romans 12:1-2

The word sacrifice is defined as: an act of slaughtering an animal or person or surrendering a possession as an offering to God or to a divine or supernatural figure.

Paul, in these first verses, asks us to be living sacrifices.

Consider the following questions:

• What do you think it looks like, practically in your life, for you to offer your body as a living sacrifice?
• How is this worship?
• How would you describe to someone “the pattern of this world?”
• How can a person resist the world’s pattern and be transformed with a renewed mind?
• What practices help you to renew your mind?

Today, check out the video for the remainder of Romans and then tomorrow we will begin to read.

Overview: Romans Ch. 5-16

• On a separate piece of paper, jot down some of your main thoughts or “take homes” from these chapters.

WEEK 1 • MEMORY VERSE • ROMANS 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

OK, to catch us back up, we are going to take today and tomorrow to get back into what actually happened in the first 11 chapters of Romans. Here is the first video from our friends at the BibleProject:

Overview: Romans Chapters 1-4

• On a separate piece of paper, write out several “take homes” from these four chapters as you are watching.

WEEK 1 • MEMORY VERSE • ROMANS 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We’ve walked through the season of Advent and the days of Christmastide. We find ourselves in the season of Epiphany: discovery.

Spend this sabbath morning resting with the Father. Ask Him to give you joyful discovery in these coming weeks as you journey on with Him.

Hi, my name is Shawn and I have been an elder at Riverside for a few years since City Chapel and Riverside merged. A fun fact about me is that I am restoring a ’52 Studebaker truck. I am on the 5 year plan, so don’t ask me if it is done until 2025.

The passage you are going to read today is Revelation 19:11-21.

We have been through the Christmas season, and I am sure you have seen many depictions of the baby Jesus. That can be how many people like to think of Jesus:

“Holy infant so tender and mild”

“But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes”

But here we have a very different picture. The King of kings returning at the head of an army and eating the flesh of his enemies. This is not some namby-pamby Jesus who just wants everyone to be happy.

Some things to consider:

• Verse 15 says “He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.” Jesus is the one working out the fury of the wrath of God. Does this offend your view of Jesus?

• How do you reconcile these two depictions of Jesus? Jesus did come into this world as a baby in a stable. And He is coming back with a sword as depicted in Revelation. Both true.

• Which side are you on in this final battle depicted in Revelation? There only appears to be two sides, no middle ground.