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The Marks of a Christian: Generous in Love & Hospitality

August 13, 2017 Preacher: Series: The Marks of a Christian: Generous in Love & Hospitality

Scripture: Romans 12:9–21

Key Truth: The marks of a Christian are generosity in love and hospitality to those inside the church and those outside the church, particularly those in opposition.

 

Introduction:

Q: Who do you pay attention to? Why? Is it because they bear the image of God or because they are of some benefit to you?

“Giving a stranger full attention communicates that he or she is interesting and worthwhile; we pay attention to the people we value.”

Christine D. Pohl, Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition

 

Generous in Love and Hospitality in the Church:

Romans 12:9-13: 

“The relation in which Christians stand to each other, is that of members of the same family. As, however, it is not a relation constituted by birth, nor secured by the adoption of a name, there is no evidence of its existence but that which consists in the exercise of that ‘brotherly affection’….”

Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans

Q: What are some barriers to you being generous in love and hospitality to those in the church? What helps you most to be generous in love and hospitality to those in the church?

 

Generous in Love and Hospitality in the World:

Romans 12:14-21 

“Mutual love, sympathy and honour within the brotherhood of believers are to be expected, but something more is enjoined here—love and forgiveness to those outside the fellowship, and not least to those who persecute them and wish them ill.”

F.F. Bruce, The Epistle of Paul to the Romans: An Introduction and Commentary

Q: What are some barriers to you being generous in love and hospitality to those outside the church? What helps you most to be generous in love and hospitality to those outside the church?

 

Romans 12:9-21 teaches us that we are to be generous in love and hospitality to those:
-inside the church
-outside the church, particularly those in opposition