Fox Valley Church

 

The Christmas season affords us new opportunities to live on mission.  By telling the story of Jesus as God opens the door, it allows us to bring light and hope to people.  A big part of keeping Christ at the center is praying, planning and preparing for ways to tell people about the real meaning of Christmas.  

Passage: Acts 13:44-49 

Passage: Romans 4:1-25 

Theme:  Chapter four becomes an illustration of God’s righteousness through the great patriarch Abraham.  The Thrust is that we are made right with God through faith for there is no other way.  But it is not “faith” that saves, but faith in God’s grace.  Thus, it is grace and grace alone!  We are so accustomed to trying to earn favor or find a way to deserve something, but God cuts the crazy and extends a gift.  This lavished love changes our hearts and brings joy, freedom and righteousness. 

Passage: Romans 3:21-31 

Theme:  The Righteousness of God (also in 1:17) has been revealed through faith in Jesus Christ.  We could dwell on that one statement and never appreciate all that was done through our Lord against all unrighteousness. Being right with God is 1) by his grace, 2) through the Cross and 3) by faith. It is the blood of Christ that satisfies the holy wrath of God against evil.  Only God could do this to exclude ALL boasting!  God’s love is so amazing that He would send His One and Only Son on our behalf. 

Passage: Romans 3:9-20 

Theme:  Every human being throughout human history is found to fall short of God’s glory, for there is NO ONE RIGHTEOUS.  There is an “anti-God” posture in all of us; we are rebels by nature and by choice. There is a de-godding of God, a dethronement and then a move to make ourselves front and center.  We rob God of his glory. When this happens, we end up trying to make life work our way which leads to failure, frustration and following after the next best thing.  

Theme:  With the critique of all people, the focus shifts to self-confident Jews.  There is a pride that comes with being Jewish: relying on the law, bragging about a relationship with God, knowing God’s will, approving what is superior, instructed by the law, and understanding truth and righteousness.  There can be an unhealthy ethnic pride in all of us.  But, in their case, they fail to live up to their claims! (Don’t we all!)  It is a matter of the heart that matters when being right with God. 

Passage: Romans 2:17-3:8 

Theme:  Since we all have a “past,” we try to find ways to remove our guilt and shame, but it is not by our efforts, but by faith in God’s provision—Jesus Christ.  Our greatest problem is we are under the wrath of God because of our sin.  God alone provides the way forward and frees us from our shame.  What joy!

Passage: Romans 1:18-32

Theme:  The Apostle Paul tells the church that he is “under obligation” to  tell the story of Jesus, eager to get out there and do it!  And he is not embarrassed or ashamed to name the name of Jesus every where he goes. Do you have those same obligations to the gospel?

Passage: Romans 1:14-17

Paul’s prayer was not mere “throw away” words or just a polite beginning to the letter, but a reminder of the deep connections in this church because of Christ and through the gospel.

 

Romans 1:8-13

Theme:  What makes the good news so powerful is that the bad news is so very bad!  The pinnacle of the good news is the person of Jesus Christ, God dwelling among us in human flesh.  He wants to change us, our families and even the world.

Romans 1:1-7