9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.Do not be wise in your own opinion.17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it iswritten, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rom 12:9-21
Q & A：
- Why does it seem “natural” even for believers to be self-centered, offended, take vengeance into our own hands, repay evil for evil and succumb to the desire of the flesh? What does the passage “it depends on us to live peaceably with all men” reveal to you about the importance of making the choice to walk in love or repay with evil and what being a new creation should really be like? (Rom 12:17-18; Gen 2:16-17; John 3:3; 2 Cor 5:17)
- Explain the key difference between Phileo (conditional) love and Agape (unconditional) love, and why it is difficult to love our neighbors as ourselves? How can we express genuine love without hypocrisy, by contrasting self-centered to God centric mindset and behavior? (Rom 12: 9-10; 1 John 3:18; Rom 5:8)
- Knowing that any fool can start a quarrel but it is honorable for a man to strop striving and a divided church brings shame to the name of Jesus, discuss how we can be a peacemaker in the midst of strife, contention and division? (Prov 20:3; Matt 5:9)