Christian Conduct

CHRISTIAN CONDUCT by Robert Steinbrook

Read Passage: Romans 12:9-14 KJV

Text: verses 10-11

Intro:

1. Story of Bible College trying to teach manners and proper conduct. My first few dinners I was too nervous to eat; later was comfortable with proper conduct.

2. New Christians can experience the same kind of nervousness at Church. examples

3. Christian conduct is more than just knowing the songs and the language of church

4. Our text today deals specifically with How a Christian should conduct themselves

5. In order to fully understand our text we need some background on this chapter.

A. Paul Starts out in 12:1-2 addressing the crisis of Entire Sanctification, “Full Surrender” Rest of the Chapter deals with living the Sanctified life.

B. One must experience verses 1-2 before they can live verses 9-14.

C. God doesn’t want to reform us, He wants to transform us!

Trans: Four principles of Christian conduct are presented in our text. They are practical Christian principles, which will strengthen us spiritually, and help us prepare for a place in God’s kingdom. The first principle is found in the first part of verse 10; “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love.”

I. BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE

1. Adam Clarke comments on this passage:

“We are to love a brother Christian with the affection of a natural brother.”

2. William Barclay said

“When this love exists, differences may arise occasionally, but they are soon ironed

out and forgotten.”

3. Song we sing “Family of God” by Bill Gaither

1st verse “You will notice we say brother and sister ‘round here, It’s because we’re a

family and these are so dear; when one has a heartache, we all share the tears, and

rejoice in each victory in this family so dear”

4. Church is more than a place of worship.

A. It should be a family. B. It should be constantly looking for new people to love.

5. This love calls on the absent and takes interest in the visitor.

Trans: The second principle of Christian conduct mentioned in our text is found in the last part of verse 10; “In honour preferring one another.”

II. IN HONOUR PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER

1. What the world tells us

Find fault and belittle those around us, get Jealous and be selfish; I’m better!

2. What God tells us

View others as more valuable than yourself; Put the interest of others first.

3. illustration – man that sold only ox and gave the money to the Church, had to plow by hand. when asked if he had a regrets, he said he only regreted that he had just one ox to sell.

Trans: The third principle of Christian conduct mentioned in our text is found in the first part of verse 11; “Not slothful in business.”

III. NOT SLOTHFUL IN BUSINESS

1. slothful means - idle, tardy, slow, poky, lazy

2. Adam Clarke “An idle, slothful person can never be a Christian”

3. Paul is referring specifically to God’s business in this text.

4. What are you doing for the Lord?

There is work to be done! Lost souls need your help, the Church needs your help, Jesus needs your help because you are His representative in this messed up world!

5. We buy into the “I’m not ready yet” lie. We say things like:

I’ll work for Jesus when I get myself straightened out, I’ve got problems.

I’ll work for Jesus when I get caught up financially, I’m too broke.

I’ll work for Jesus when I get to feeling better, I’m too sick.

I’ll do some work for Jesus later on, when I get more time.

6. Friend, If your problem is keeping you from working for Jesus, Satan will make sure your problem is never solved! Repeat

7. If God was done with you or didn’t need you, He would take you on to Heaven.

If you are a living and breathing Christian God still needs you.

Trans: The fourth and final principle of Christian conduct mentioned in our text is found in the middle of verse 11; “fervent in spirit.”

IV. FERVENT IN SPIRIT

1. William Barclay said:

“Those who yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit are bound to be fervent and enthusiastic about God’s business, because the Holy Spirit is enthusiastic about it.”

2. Jesus said in Rev. 3:15-16

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

3. We all need times of Revival.

Revival at the Church; But also Revival in our hearts. We’ll lose our passion!

4. illustration – How many of you have watched a fire burn? What happens if leave it alone? It needs to be poked, stirred and fed with fuel. Same is with us spiritually.