Croutons

Download the handouts here – CROUTONS.book – Croutons week 1 – Croutons week 3

Posts 1 – 31 can be found by clicking “croutons” in the word cloud on the right column of the home page.

Romans 12:9-21 NIV

                ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

                ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

                ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Croutons?  Think of the text above as a loaf of bread.  If you cut it into slices you are thinking too big.  What we will do is divide this passage into small pieces, like croutons on a salad.  These are daily croutons of the word.

Daily Crouton: 

• Read just the portion listed for that day.  Go somewhere where you can say it out loud a few times.
• Think about each word in turn, for example, on day 1, “Love” what is it?  “Must” – this is not a suggestion.  “Be” as opposed to pretending.  “Sincere” means real and not mere outward correctness.
• Ask yourself some questions: Who can I love?  With whom is my love not sincere?
• Pray from the words, “Lord, forgive me for falling short.  Give me a more sincere love, especially for ____________  who is so annoying…..”
• Be silent and see if the Spirit of God brings something to your mind as you think about the words.
• Make notes to remember what you heard from the Lord.