PMC SERMON “LIVE IT OUT” GUIDE                                                        Date:  21 February 2016

 

Text: Romans 3:9-20

Title: No, not one

Preacher: Rev Lai Kai Ming

Series: Justified by Faith

 

[For Group Leaders:

- The following serves only as a guide.  Please feel free to edit and adapt.

- You are strongly encouraged to allow members to share usingthe POP Journal (4Rs) at the beginning of your group time.  This would deepen your fellowship and enrich everyone in the Word.

 

 

1.         SERMON RECAP

(Visit  pmc.org.sg  to listen to the sermon and download a copy of the Powerpoint slides)

 

a.       No one is righteous.   (v0-12)

•  Not about extent but nature

•  Not only its presence (sin) but potential

•  Not whether you did it, but that you would have done it if there was no penalty

 

b.       How are we not righteous.  (v13-18)

•  According to Jesus, it is our mouth that reveals our heart's condition (Mark 15)

•  Jesus reminded us that murder and adultery both begin in the heart, and with our thoughts

 

c.       Why we cannot be righteous.  (v19-20)

•  The law cannot save us; it can only reveal our sinful condition

•  We must not confuse our righteous acts with our righteousness

 

"Don't ask - is this my right?  But ask - am I righteous?"

 

 

2.         LIVE IT OUT

 

a.                   “There is no place for looking down on another human being.” 

 

Is there anyone you don’t feel comfortable with in your neighbourhood/ place of work/ school?  Given a choice, you’ll prefer not to see him again or have further dealings this person!What is your basis for feeling this way?  If Christ was in your shoes, how will he respond/treat the person?

 

Share the above with your group.  Divide into smaller groups if necessary.

 

Application:  What is one thing you can do to overcome your prejudice towards this person.  Try it out this coming week!

 

b.                  What 'advantage' do you think one has in having the opportunity to learn about salvation in Christ and become a Christian early?

 

Rate: (Much)  1   2   3   4   5  (Little)

 

List some advantages you have and how these can be used for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

(Relate back to the sermon “I am a Debtor” – 10 Jan)

 

 

3.         PRAY

 

Pray as a group:

 

Loving God,

 

You inspire us with love for all persons

and concern for the well-being of all creation.

We acknowledge that prejudice is sin

We know that in our own power we cannot change our thinking

So, we invite You to work on changing our heart and mind.

Give us today the strength and courage

to transform the compassion of our hearts

into acts of peace, mercy, and justice.

Forgive us for the arrogance that leads to moral blindness,

for desires for vengeance and retaliation,

and for willingness to sacrifice others for our own security and avarice.

We ask all this in the name of Jesus

who came among us to show us the way.

 

~ adapted from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

 

>>Please refer to the PMC Mobile App, “MyPMC”, for our weekly prayer guide.  [Click on “PRAY”, then “Let’s Pray”]

 

 

4.         GOING DEEPER

 

a.                   “Without Christ, we are indeed ‘worthless’ (v12)”

“If we truly understand the reality of our sinful nature,

we will readily extend grace and forgiveness to those around us.”

 

Do you agree with the above statements?  Discuss and suggest practical steps to live out God’s truth.