CCF Sunday Messages

As we continue in Romans chapter 14, this will be our second of three messages concerning “gray matters:” those issues of opinion, preference, and conviction that are not clearly outlined in God’s Word.  If we are going to live by grace and not law, then we have to figure out some things!  Am I free, in terms of the security of my relationship with God, to watch R rated movies, get a tattoo, eat any kind of food I want, have a glass of wine or go to yoga class?

Last week we learned that we cannot pressure other people to conform to our convictions!  People should not live to please us.  Jesus is their master, not me!  

This week we discuss the balance of freedom and love.  I think we know instinctively that in a healthy community, freedom has limitations, right?  That is why laws exist: to protect freedoms.  I am free to own things and another person is not free to steal them from me! Yet, I think we all recognize that we live in a time where everyone demands their rights!  This seems to be the most important thing to many: my personal rights!

But in the church where there is grace and not law, how do we handle Christian freedom and rights?  Am I free to enjoy a bottle of wine?  I have the right to watch what I want to watch, wear what I want to wear, and eat what I want to eat, right?  After all, I am free in Christ and I would never compromise that.

Listen in and learn what real freedom is and how walking is love is more important that walking in freedom!

One of the cool things we enjoy at Calvary Chapel Fluvanna is tremendous diversity — all kinds of diversity. We have age diversity, some racial diversity, economic diversity, and the one I want to discuss today is “spiritual diversity”.  What does that mean?  

It means that on any given Sunday, sitting in the seats are people that are fairly new believers and those that have been believers a long time. It means we have former Catholics, Episcopalians, Mennonite, Mormons, Methodists, and Baptists; and I am sure I left some out!  Every one of these believers comes with their own convictions about how Christians should behave: what we can enjoy and what we should restrict!  

Is it necessary to get dressed up in a suit and tie or can I come to church in casual clothing?  Can I watch R rated movies?  What about dancing?  What about music choices?  Is it better to homeschool or send our kids to public school?  Do dietary laws still apply today?  Can I do yoga?

These, and many other things, fall into the category of “gray matters”.  There is a reason people in the church debate certain issues and that is because they are debatable!  The Bible does not give a black and white answer but tradition, generation, and church culture may influence our convictions about certain things.  So how do we handle this?  What do we do when we see someone else enjoying what we think they should be resisting?   The root of legalism is making my personal convictions everyone’s command!

I believe this will be hugely educational and helpful as we look for wisdom and love in the middle of debatable issues in spiritual life!  These things that threaten to divide and polarize can actually help us learn grace.

Listen in as we study through this first section of Romans chapter 14 and discuss these "gray matters!"

One of the cool things we enjoy at Calvary Chapel Fluvanna is tremendous diversity — all kinds of diversity. We have age diversity, some racial diversity, economic diversity, and the one I want to discuss today is “spiritual diversity”.  What does that mean?  

It means that on any given Sunday, sitting in the seats are people that are fairly new believers and those that have been believers a long time. It means we have former Catholics, Episcopalians, Mennonite, Mormons, Methodists, and Baptists; and I am sure I left some out!  Every one of these believers comes with their own convictions about how Christians should behave: what we can enjoy and what we should restrict!  

Is it necessary to get dressed up in a suit and tie or can I come to church in casual clothing?  Can I watch R rated movies?  What about dancing?  What about music choices?  Is it better to homeschool or send our kids to public school?  Do dietary laws still apply today?  Can I do yoga?

These, and many other things, fall into the category of “gray matters”.  There is a reason people in the church debate certain issues and that is because they are debatable!  The Bible does not give a black and white answer but tradition, generation, and church culture may influence our convictions about certain things.  So how do we handle this?  What do we do when we see someone else enjoying what we think they should be resisting?   The root of legalism is making my personal convictions everyone’s command!

I believe this will be hugely educational and helpful as we look for wisdom and love in the middle of debatable issues in spiritual life!  These things that threaten to divide and polarize can actually help us learn grace.

Listen in as we study through this first section of Romans chapter 14 and discuss these "gray matters!"

We continue is this very practical section of the book of Romans, as Paul shows how grace influences our relationships, even our relationship with governing authorities, from elected officials to sports referees!  Having left us with a discussion about paying people what they are owed — including our taxes — we come again to more personal relationships.

Have you ever over-slept?  You know the feeling: one too many snoozes of the alarm, falling back asleep and then waking up to see that you are late!  Ok, now the stage is set.  Your imagination is engaged and you are wondering what in the world this has to do with Romans 13!  The image of oversleeping is not mine, but Paul’s!  He imagines the scene but in a spiritual context!  He encourages a dozing church to wake up and smell the coffee.  He challenges them to get dressed and get going.

If that was true for them at that time, I think it is more true for us and the contemporary church.  Listen in as Pastor Steve takes us through the second half of Romans chapter thirteen.  See if you can hear the alarm, or are you still asleep?

We continue is this very practical section of the book of Romans, as Paul shows how grace influences our relationships, even our relationship with governing authorities, from elected officials to sports referees!  Having left us with a discussion about paying people what they are owed — including our taxes — we come again to more personal relationships.

Have you ever over-slept?  You know the feeling: one too many snoozes of the alarm, falling back asleep and then waking up to see that you are late!  Ok, now the stage is set.  Your imagination is engaged and you are wondering what in the world this has to do with Romans 13!  The image of oversleeping is not mine, but Paul’s!  He imagines the scene but in a spiritual context!  He encourages a dozing church to wake up and smell the coffee.  He challenges them to get dressed and get going.

If that was true for them at that time, I think it is more true for us and the contemporary church.  Listen in as Pastor Steve takes us through the second half of Romans chapter thirteen.  See if you can hear the alarm, or are you still asleep?

As we open up Romans chapter 13 we have our chance to discuss politics and religion from God's word on the same morning!  That should make for an interesting study!

As followers of Jesus in the first century and the 21st century we have discussed our relationship to God and to each other.  What about our relationship to government?  How does our thinking about government need to change?  Whether you are a Jew living in ancient Rome or an African American living in Palmyra, human government has always been controversial, right? God has much to say to us about how we handle authority and the authorities in our lives. Paul speaks of it in Romans 13 and Peter mentions it in 1 Peter 2.  Paul discusses this with Timothy in 1 Tim 2 and to his other ministry intern, Titus, in Titus 3.  Even Jesus discussed his own Kingdom which was not of this world.

Where does authority come from?  Is God sovereign over both good and evil rulers?  What about the topic of "separation of church and state?"  Was our own country founded on rebellion against authority? We will grapple with all these important questions as we open up Romans chapter 13; listen in as Pastor Steve unpacks this important chapter.

As we open up Romans chapter 13 we have our chance to discuss politics and religion from God's word on the same morning!  That should make for an interesting study!

As followers of Jesus in the first century and the 21st century we have discussed our relationship to God and to each other.  What about our relationship to government?  How does our thinking about government need to change?  Whether you are a Jew living in ancient Rome or an African American living in Palmyra, human government has always been controversial, right? God has much to say to us about how we handle authority and the authorities in our lives. Paul speaks of it in Romans 13 and Peter mentions it in 1 Peter 2.  Paul discusses this with Timothy in 1 Tim 2 and to his other ministry intern, Titus, in Titus 3.  Even Jesus discussed his own Kingdom which was not of this world.

Where does authority come from?  Is God sovereign over both good and evil rulers?  What about the topic of "separation of church and state?"  Was our own country founded on rebellion against authority? We will grapple with all these important questions as we open up Romans chapter 13; listen in as Pastor Steve unpacks this important chapter.

Sunday messages from Calvary Chapel Fluvanna

This section of Romans 12 is an extremely practical passage revealing God’s outline for relationships in His family and beyond. Through these verses we see what the church can be when our opinion of ourselves is lowered because our opinion of God is elevated: genuine love, family-like affection for each other, continuing in prayer, blessing those who curse us, and much more!

As we study verses 9-21 we will be having a necessary and frank discussion about relationships God-style!  How are our relationships with each other transformed when God is at the center of our lives?  How is the church transformed when we think differently about each other and our priorities.  How can we invite people to a holy (different) God when the church behaves just like the world?

You do not want to miss the practical and challenging teaching of Romans 12:9-21; listen in as Pastor Steve shares these important truths!

This section of Romans 12 is an extremely practical passage revealing God’s outline for relationships in His family and beyond. Through these verses we see what the church can be when our opinion of ourselves is lowered because our opinion of God is elevated: genuine love, family-like affection for each other, continuing in prayer, blessing those who curse us, and much more!

As we study verses 9-21 we will be having a necessary and frank discussion about relationships God-style!  How are our relationships with each other transformed when God is at the center of our lives?  How is the church transformed when we think differently about each other and our priorities.  How can we invite people to a holy (different) God when the church behaves just like the world?

You do not want to miss the practical and challenging teaching of Romans 12:9-21; listen in as Pastor Steve shares these important truths!