Consider the results if you sent out to your membership the version of Romans 12 that I’ve prepared and pasted in below. Only you attach the following instructions with it.
Letter to the Membership
“Dear ___________(member’s name)
I’m sharing with you a summary of Roman’s 12 which Paul offers as some of the marks of a true Christian. What I would ask of you is to briefly reflect on this passage and respond with 100 words or less stating what you think would be the effect of the church living according to this criteria as we seek to respond to the anxiety of our society and speak to some of the difficult issues that confront us.
What we would like to do is, after we have allowed three weeks for people’s responses, to summarize the basic opinion of our membership and share it with the congregation as a whole. That can provide some interesting material for our worship and study experiences and hopefully lead to our spiritual growth.
Romans 12
LET LOVE BE GENUINE
Love one another with mutual affection
Outdo one another in showing honor
RELATION WITHIN COMMUNITY
Rejoice in hope
Be patient and suffering
persevere in prayer
BEING GRACEFUL TOWARDS OTHERS
Contribute to the needs of Saints
Extend hope to strangers
Bless those who persecute you
Rejoice with those who are joyful
Weep with those who are weeping
LIVE IN HARMONY
Do not be haughty but associate with a lowly
Do not claim to be wiser than you are
RESPONDING TO IMPERFECT WORLD
Do not repay evil for evil
but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all
Live peaceably whenever possible
Do not be overcome with evil with overcome evil with good.
BEFORE YOU SEND IT
If you want to really make this interesting, find several pastoral colleagues who are willing to participate in the same process. Then later, you could have a Zoom conference among the congregations and share your different responses. Wouldn’t it be fun if some of the congregations were in another geographical area or even part of a different cultural background?
Times are difficult enough these days. You might as well have some fun and perhaps spiritual growth events for your membership.
I’d love to hear the result of your experience.
