January 19, 2025 – Romans 12:9-21

Lesson Date: January 19, 2025

Focal Scripture Passage: Romans 12:9-21

AIM: To lead students to discover instructions for Christ-like behavior, and to compare their behavior to the Bible’s instructions so they can make necessary changes.

Before class: Read the notes on Romans 12:9-21 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the letters “WWJD” on the board.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct everyone’s attention to the letters “WWJD” written on the board.  Ask: “What do the letters ‘WWJD’ stand for?” (they represent the question, “What would Jesus do?”).  Ask: “Have you ever seen or worn a ‘WWJD’ bracelet?” (they probably have).  Ask: “Why do people wear ‘WWJD’ bracelets?” (to remind them to behave in a way they think Jesus would).

Tell the students that stopping to ask ourselves what Jesus would do in a given situation is a good idea, but we may not always have time to comb through all four of the Gospels to see if Jesus ever faced a situation similar to ours.  Ask: “Wouldn’t it be easier if we had a concise list of Christ-like behaviors and instructions to tell us how to live?” (yes).

Tell the class that the title of today’s lesson is Christ-Like Behavior.  Tell them we will discover a list of instructions concerning our attitudes, actions, and even how to respond to those who treat us badly.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind everyone that we are studying the New Testament book of Romans.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Are You a Living Sacrifice?; we discovered several marks of Christians who yield themselves to God as living sacrifices).
   • Ask if anyone would recite last week’s memory verse (Romans 12:1-2).
2. Christ-Like Attitudes.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 12:9-10.
   • Ask: “What does the first part of verse 9 tell us about our love for others?” (it must not be hypocritical, selfish, or insincere; in other words, it must be genuine).
   • Ask: “Was Jesus’ love for others hypocritical or insincere, or was it genuine?” (it was so genuine that He gave up His life for us).
   • Ask: “What does the rest of verse 9 tell us?” (to hate evil and cling to what is good).
   • Ask: “Did Jesus do that?” (yes, He hated evil so much that He died for our sins).
   • Ask: “What does verse 10 say about how we should treat others?” (we should be kind to others and always put others first).
   • Ask: “What are some ways Jesus did that?” (He cared about the physical and spiritual needs of others, putting their needs ahead of His own).
   • Read Romans 12:11-12.
   • Ask: “What does verse 11 say about our attitude toward work and service?” (we should be diligent and fervent in all we do, and we should serve the Lord).
   • Ask: “Can you think of ways Jesus did those things?” (He was a carpenter, which required diligent work, and then He devoted the rest of His life to serving His Father).
   • Ask: “What attitudes does verse 12 say we should exhibit?” (we should be hopeful, patient, and prayerful).
   • Ask: “Did Jesus exhibit those attitudes?” (yes).
   • Ask: “How can we possibly do these things? How can we have Christ-like attitudes?”
   • Read Romans 12:1-2 and tell the students that to have Christ-like attitudes we must have yielded hearts and renewed minds.
   • Summarize: We should strive to have Christ-like attitudes, including sincere love, hatred for evil and love for good, kindness and deference toward others, diligence in our work and service to the Lord, and we should be hopeful, patient, and prayerful.
3. Christ-Like Relationships.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 12:13-14.
   • Ask: “What does verse 13 say about how we should relate to others?” (we should be generous and hospitable, giving of ourselves and our resources to help others).
   • Ask: “Can you think of ways Jesus did those things?” (He was always giving to and doing for others, and He welcomed those who came to Him).
   • Ask: “What does verse 14 say we should do when people persecute or hurt us?” (we should bless them and not curse them).
   • Ask: “Is that easy or natural to do?” (no).
   • Ask: “Did Jesus do those things?” (yes, and in Matthew 5:44 He told us to, “bless them that curse you”).
   • Read Romans 12:15-16.
   • Ask: “What does verse 15 tell us to do?” (rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep).
   • Explain that this means we should empathize with others’ joys and sorrows.
   • Ask: “Does that sound like something Jesus would do?” (yes).
   • Ask: “What does the beginning of verse 16 tell us about Christ-like relationships?” (we should always seek unity; in other words, we shouldn’t be argumentative).
   • Ask: “What does the rest of verse 16 say about Christ-like relationships?” (we should not be high-minded or proud, but should humble ourselves).
   • Ask: “Did Jesus relate to others in this way?” (yes; Philippians 2:7-8 says Jesus “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”).
   • Ask: “How can we possibly do these things? How can we relate to others the way Jesus did?”
   • Read Romans 12:1-2 and tell the students that to have Christ-like relationships we must have yielded hearts and renewed minds.
   • Summarize: We should strive to relate to others in Christ-like ways, including being generous and hospitable, blessing those who persecute us, empathizing with others in their joys and sorrows, seeking unity, and being humble.
4. Christ-Like Response to Enemies.
   • Tell the class that none of us try to make enemies, but it seems that enemies find us.
   • Ask: “How should we respond to enemies and those who seek to hurt us?”
   • Ask a volunteer to read Romans 12:17-18.
   • Ask: “What does the first part of verse 17 tell us about responding to enemies?” (we shouldn’t stoop to their level or try to “get even” with those who hurt us).
   • Ask: “Did Jesus try to ‘get even’ with His enemies?” (no, He loved them).
   • Ask: “What does the rest of verse 17 tell us?” (be honest).
   • Ask: “What does verse 18 say about responding to enemies?” (we should always try to seek peace if possible).
   • Tell the class in Matthew 5:9 Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
   • Read Romans 12:19-21.
   • Ask: “What does verse 19 say about responding to our enemies?” (we should not try to avenge ourselves, but hold our temper).
   • Ask: “Who will eventually take vengeance on those who hurt us?” (God).
   • Ask: “Can you think of a time when Jesus held His temper and refused to take revenge?” (when He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane).
   • Ask: “What does verse 20 tell us to do for our enemy?” (be generous toward him).
   • Explain the following:
     • Verse 20 is quoted from Proverbs 25:21-22.
     • It refers to an ancient custom in which a person who was truly repentant would carry a pan of hot coals on his head, representing his burning shame and guilt.
     • Doing good to one’s enemy may cause him to feel guilt for his wickedness and lead him to repent (Rom. 2:4).
   • Tell the class that Jesus generously did good for those who later turned on Him.
   • Ask: “What does verse 21 tell us about how to respond to evil?” (we shouldn’t give in to evil, but we should overcome evil by doing good).
   • Tell the class that Charles Spurgeon, speaking of this verse, said, “We must either be conquered by evil, or we must conquer evil. … Conquer or be conquered. … If anyone has done you a wrong, do not only forgive it but avenge it by showing him kindness as well.”[i]
   • Ask: “How can we possibly do these things? How can we respond in a Christ-like way when people hurt us?”
   • Read Romans 12:1-2 and tell the students that to have a Christ-like response to enemies we must have yielded hearts and renewed minds.
   • Summarize: We should strive to respond to enemies in Christ-like ways, including not trying to get even, being honest, seeking peace if possible, not trying to avenge ourselves, being generous toward our enemies, and overcoming evil by doing good.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct everyone’s attention once again to the letters “WWJD” written on the board.  Ask: “What do those letters stand for?” (“What would Jesus do?”).  Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is Christ-Like Behavior, and that we have discovered clear and succinct instructions about:

• Christ-like attitudes,
• Christ-like relationships, and even
• Christ-like response to enemies.

Ask: “Is it easy to do these things?  Is it easy or natural for our attitudes, relationships, and response to those who hurt us to be like Jesus?” (no, it is very hard in our flesh).

Read Romans 12:1-2.  Stress the fact that the only way we can keep our attitudes, relationships, and response to enemies right is to first surrender ourselves to God as living sacrifices, and then to renew our minds by filling them with the Bible, Christian music, and godly influences.

Ask everyone to silently scan over Romans 12:9-12.  Ask: “How are your attitudes?  Do you have any attitudes that aren’t like Jesus would have?”

Ask everyone to silently scan over Romans 12:13-16.  Ask: “How are your relationships?  Do you relate to others in any ways that aren’t pleasing to Jesus?”

Ask everyone to silently scan over Romans 12:17-21.  Ask: “How do you respond when people try to hurt you?  Do you respond in ways that Jesus wouldn’t?”

Tell the class that we all fall short of Jesus’ perfect example.  Tell them we should confess our sins and ask Jesus to enable us to behave in ways that are pleasing to Him.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to confess their sins and ask for Jesus’ enablement.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Romans 12:10.  Tell them to ask God every day to teach them how to behave in a Christ-like manner.

[i] KJV Spurgeon Study Bible, Copyright © 2018 by Holman Bible Publisher, Nashville, Tennessee. Notes on Romans 12:21, pages1234-1235