Week 2 Discussion: Ralph's Message Ties Right in

Link to Ralph's sermon and the website (in case the link gets updated).
Ralph's text: Romans 12: 1-8
Title of the message: Could you do it now?

The three things it tells us to do:

1. Offer ourselves as living sacrifice
1. We are always worshipping, not just during the Sunday services
2. How we live, day to day, is what God will see and judge us.
   
2. Do not conform to the pattern of this world (the "American Dream"???)
3. Think of yourself with sober judgment

We then must find our spiritual gifts and use them for God's purpose (a lot like giving everything up to the poor/needy and following Jesus, isn't it?). What are the gifts?

1. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
2. If it is serving, let him serve;
   
3. If it is teaching, let him teach;
4. If it is encouraging, let him encourage;
   
5. If it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;
   
6. If it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
7. If it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
   

How do you know what your gifts are? What is that thing that you do which:

• Everyone around you always remarks that "you have a gift for that?"
• Whenever you do it, things seem to work out and you perform it easily and well.
• Whenever people say, "give it to him/her because they are good at it" and you secretly thank them because you really like doing it, too.
• You find a place or other opportunity to do it just because you like to (remember Ralph talking about preaching to himself within his closed car?)