Mercy Shown Out

Connecting with Romans 12:1–8

Paul has called us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. He then reminded us that together we are one body, with different members who have each been given opportunities to serve.

Verses 9–21 now answer the question: What does life inside that body actually look like?

Getting started

Choose one question:

• When can you tell that someone’s care for others is genuine rather than merely polite?
• Which is harder for you: showing warmth, serving steadily, or responding well when someone treats you badly?

Read the passage

Romans 12:9–21

1. Mercy shown inside the body

Read verses 9–13 again.

“Let love be genuine.”

• What is the difference between genuine love and merely appearing loving?
• Why do “abhor what is evil” and “hold fast to what is good” belong with genuine love?
• How do verses 10–13 make love practical and visible?
• Where has God already placed you to love and serve someone this week?

2. Mercy shown by sharing one another’s lives

Read verses 14–16 again.

• What would it look like to bless someone who opposes or mistreats you?
• Why can it be difficult to rejoice with those who rejoice?
• Why can it be difficult to weep with those who weep?
• How do humility and willingness to associate with the lowly protect life in Christ’s body?

3. Mercy shown towards enemies

Read verses 17–21 again.

• What responses to evil does Paul forbid?
• What positive actions does he command instead?
• What does “if possible, so far as it depends on you” add to the command to live peaceably?
• Why does leaving vengeance to God free Christians to do good to enemies?
• According to Paul, what would it look like to be “overcome by evil”?
• How does overcoming evil with good show out the mercy of God?

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Respond

• Which command in this passage most exposes an area where you need to change?
• Who is one person you could honour, welcome, help or encourage this week?
• Is there a difficult relationship in which you need to pursue peace without pretending the wrong does not matter?

Respond in prayer

Take a moment quietly to choose one command from the passage that you especially need God’s help to obey.

Then pray together:

• thank God for his mercy in Christ;
• ask that his mercy would be seen in the way this Hub treats one another;
• pray for the opportunities God has already given each person to love and serve;
• ask for joy in hope, patience in suffering and faithfulness in prayer;
• pray that we would overcome evil with good.

Keep connecting

Hubs are one part of life with Uni Bible Group. Here are some other good ways to keep growing, meet people and hear about Jesus.