This morning's scripture passage is found in Romans chapter 12 verses 1 through 8.

If you wish there's a Bible in the pew in front of you and it's on page 1351 in that Bible.

Romans chapter 12 verses 1 through 8.

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and

holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

For through the grace given to me, I say to every man among you not to think more highly of

himself than he ought to think.

But to think so is to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

For just as we have many members in one body and all members do not have the same function,

so we who are many are one body in Christ and individually

members one of another.

And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly if prophecy according to the proportion of his faith, if service in his servant, or he who teaches in his teaching, or he who

exhorts in his exhortation, he who gives with liberality, he who gives with liberality he who leads with diligence and he who shows mercy with

cheerfulness.

Lord when we undertake a text like this on a morning like this, we feel very inadequate and

are eager now and much in need of your enabling grace to handle this text in a way that fits with its tenor as well as its content.

And so I pray for ears to hear and mind and a heart speak that will capture both.

Lord, these are w wavy things we're about here.

And I pray that you would make them plain

and that you would work in the hearts of your people

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