#110 Romans 12:3-10 Sermon

Good morning everyone! My name is Elliott. I am a missionary from Fresno California. I have been working in missions and the church for the past nine years or so and the last couple as a missionary. Last year our family was living in Harlem in New York City. And this year we have been traveling around the US working with YWAM. This past year we have been to around 40 states.

Matthew asked me to talk to you guys this morning about the importance of being on a team in God’s kingdom.

Introduction

How many of you have ever been on a team? (Raise hand). Great! What sport was it? Was it soccer? Basketball? Maybe something like chess or video games? (Pause for answers.) I've been on a few teams myself. One thing I learned is that when you’re on a team, it's not all about you it's about the team. When one person wins, the whole team wins, and when one person loses, the whole team loses together.

Let me tell you a story. When I was five years old, I joined my first soccer team. I didn't know what I was doing, but I was having fun. I was kind of playing my own game, not really listening to my coach or working with my teammates. I just wanted to score a goal. So one day, I got the ball and ran with it as fast as I could. I was so excited as I kicked the ball into the net only to realize I had scored a goal for the other team! I had messed up because I wasn’t playing as part of the team. I was thinking only about myself.

Being on a team means working together, listening to your coach, and using your skills for the good of the whole team, not just yourself. If you don’t, you might end up scoring for the wrong team like I did!

Teamwork in the Bible (Romans 12:3-10)

Now, if you have your Bible with you, go ahead and open it to Romans 12:3. Let’s read Romans 12, starting at verse 3, all the way to verse 10.

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

These verses were written by the Apostle Paul, and he’s talking about being on a team a spiritual team. But this isn’t just any team. It’s a team that’s part of something even bigger the body of Christ, which means all the Christians together. In this passage, Paul teaches us what it means to be on God’s team and how to work together.

The Situation in Rome

Let me give you a little background. Paul wrote this letter to Christians in Rome, who were kind of like two teams fighting against each other instead of working together. Some of the Christians were from Jewish backgrounds, and they cared a lot about following certain rules like what food you could eat, what clothes you could wear, and how you should celebrate holidays. Then there were new Christians who didn’t grow up with those rules. They were just trying to follow Jesus in their everyday lives. These two groups were arguing and not getting along.

It was a mess! Instead of working together, they were acting like separate teams, and it was hurting the whole church. This is why Paul wrote to them he wanted to help them understand that they are all on the same team. In Romans 12, he explains how they should treat each other, how to use their gifts for the team, and how to stay focused on the bigger goal.

Lesson 1: Don’t Think Too Highly of Yourself (Romans 12:3-4)

Paul starts in verse 3 by saying, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

In other words, don’t be full of yourself. When you’re on a team, it’s easy to start thinking, “I’m the best! I’m the most important person on this team!” Maybe you’ve been the star player on a sports team or the best musician in your band. But Paul is reminding us that we shouldn’t think we’re more important than others. When I was playing soccer as a kid, I thought I didn’t need to listen to my coach or my teammates, but I was wrong. I ended up scoring for the wrong team!

Instead, Paul tells us to think with "sober judgment," which means thinking clearly and humbly about ourselves. You’re good at something, sure, but that doesn’t mean you’re better than everyone else. It just means you have a role to play on the team.

Paul continues in verse 4 by saying, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function.” Think about your body for a moment your arms, legs, eyes, and ears. Each part of your body has a different job, right? Your eyes see, your ears hear, your legs help you walk, and your hands help you pick things up. But if one part of your body doesn’t work, the whole body suffers. It’s the same with a team. Each person has a different role to play, but every role is important.

Lesson 2: We’re All Part of the Same Team (Romans 12:5-6)

In verse 5, Paul says, “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” This means that even though we’re all different, we are still part of the same body, the same team, in Christ. Each of us has a unique role, and we belong to each other. We’re connected! Imagine if you were playing soccer and your team had 10 goalkeepers and no one to play offense. You’d never score! Or what if your basketball team had 5 centers but no guards to pass the ball? You’d lose every game because you wouldn’t have the right players in the right positions. It’s the same with the body of Christ. We need all kinds of people with different gifts to make the team strong.

Paul explains in verse 6 that we all have different gifts, and that’s a good thing! He says, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” God has given each of you special gifts, talents, and abilities to help the team. Maybe you’re a good listener, or maybe you’re good at encouraging others. Maybe you’re good at organizing events or teaching. Whatever your gift is, God wants you to use it for the good of the whole team, your church, your youth group, and even your family.

At your church Sunday morning service only happens because there is a team of people working together. How many people would show up to church if nobody cleaned the church? Or if there were no greeters? Or if the worship team didn’t show up? Or the pastor? It is only by working together that a team can exist.

Just like in a sports team, where each player has a role that contributes to the success of the whole, in the body of Christ, each of us has a gift that contributes to the team’s success. Whether it’s teaching, encouraging, serving, or giving, every gift is valuable. God has given you something special, and He expects you to use it not for yourself, but for the good of the whole team. When you use your gifts, you’re helping the team win. Sometimes we might feel like our gift isn’t as important as someone else’s. Maybe you think, "I’m not a great speaker like so-and-so" or "I’m not as good at helping others." But the truth is, every gift matters. Without each person using their gift, the team is incomplete. If you’re not sure what your gift is, ask God to show you, and pay attention to the things you’re passionate about or naturally good at. Whatever your gift may be, God wants you to use it for His glory and for the benefit of others.

So, let’s think about how we can use our gifts. Maybe you’re great at organizing and could help plan events for your youth group. Or maybe you’re a really good listener, and you could be there for your friends when they need someone to talk to. No matter what your gift is, remember that it’s an important part of the team. And when everyone is using their gifts together, amazing things can happen. This is what it means to be part of the body of Christ we are all different, but we are working together for the same purpose. God didn’t make us to be solo players; He made us to be a team. So, let’s celebrate our differences, work together, and use our gifts to serve each other and honor God.

Lesson 3: Using Our Gifts to Serve the Team (Romans 12:7-9)

Paul gives us a list of examples of gifts in verses 7-9. He mentions prophecy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy. Each of these gifts is important, and each person on the team has something to offer.

Let’s break these down in a way that makes sense for us today. Prophecy: This might sound like a fancy word, but prophecy is about speaking God’s truth. Maybe you’re someone who’s good at standing up for what’s right and pointing others toward God’s word. Service: Some of you are great at helping others. Whether it’s setting up chairs for youth group, setting up for church, or helping a friend with homework, you can use your gift of service to make the team better. Teaching: Maybe you’re good at explaining things to others. You could help lead a Bible study. Encouraging: This is a big one! We all need encouragement, especially when things get tough. If you’re someone who’s good at lifting others up when they’re feeling down, your gift of encouragement is so valuable to the team. Giving: Some people have a heart for generosity. Maybe you’re someone who loves to give whether it’s your time, your energy, or even your resources. God can use your giving to bless others. Leading: Some of you are natural leaders. If you can help guide others and keep the team focused on the goal, God can use your leadership to help the team succeed. Showing Mercy: This is about showing kindness and compassion, especially to those who are hurting. If you have a heart for helping people who are going through hard times, your gift of mercy is a powerful tool on the team. No matter what your gift is, God wants you to use it to help the team grow and succeed.

Lesson 4: Love and Teamwork (Romans 12:10)

In verse 10, Paul says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” This is the heart of being on God’s team loving each other. A team that loves and respects each other is unstoppable. Think about your favorite sports team. When the players trust each other, support each other, and work together, they’re hard to beat. It’s the same in the body of Christ. When we love each other and honor each other, we can do amazing things together.

Paul says to “outdo one another in showing honor.” Imagine if everyone on your team was trying to show more love, more kindness, and more respect than anyone else. What kind of team would that be? It would be awesome! That’s the kind of team Paul is calling us to be a team that loves each other and works together for God’s glory.

We are all a part of several teams whether we realize it or not. Your family is a team, your friend group, your youth group, and there may be many more.

When we think about teams whether it's sports, school projects, or even family what makes the best teams stand out? It’s not just skill or strategy. It's the love and respect the members have for one another. They trust each other, they support each other, and they put the team's success over individual achievement. And that’s exactly what Paul is talking about here when he says to love one another with brotherly affection.

The Greek word Paul uses for “love” in this verse is Philodelphia, which refers to a strong, affectionate love, like the love that siblings share. This isn’t just a casual “I like you” kind of love. This is a deep, genuine care for the people on your team. It’s the kind of love that says, “I’ve got your back no matter what,” and it goes both ways. You care for them, and they care for you. This is what makes a team stronger than any individual effort could. Paul says that we’re to have brotherly affection for one another. Think about how you feel about your best friend, or maybe a close sibling. You might argue with them from time to time, but at the end of the day, you’d do anything for them. That’s what Paul is calling us to with our spiritual family. We’re not just a collection of individuals trying to get through life; we’re a team bound together by God’s love, and that bond is stronger than any disagreement, competition, or personal ambition.

Finally, Paul’s challenge to “outdo one another in showing honor” isn’t just a nice idea it’s love in action. This isn’t about being fake or just being polite. This is about genuine love that shows up in how we treat each other every day. It’s about looking for ways to serve, to encourage, and to honor each person on our team, whether that team is our family, our church, or our group of friends.

When a team is built on love and honor, amazing things can happen. The team becomes stronger, more united, and more focused on the goal bringing glory to God and sharing His love with the world. This is the kind of team Paul is calling us to be a part of, and it’s the kind of team that can make a real difference.

Conclusion

So, what does it mean to be on a team? It means working together, using your gifts, and putting the team first. It means not thinking too highly of yourself, but instead, thinking about how you can help the whole team succeed. It means understanding that we’re all part of the same body, with different roles and responsibilities, and that each role is important. And above all, it means loving each other and honoring each other.

Let’s pray. Ask God to help everyone use their gifts for His glory and to work together as part of His team.

Questions

I want to leave you with four questions to think about:

What gifts has God given you?

How can you use those gifts to help your team, whether it’s your family, your church, or your friends?

Are you putting the team first, or are you thinking only about yourself?

How can you show more love and honor to the people on your team?