Why I do something is more important than what I do, and there is only one reason that pleases God: love. I could do the most noble thing in the world, and if I do it for the wrong reason, it means nothing to Him. I may have benefitted someone else but spiritually I haven't pleased God. If I've done it selfishly or fearfully or pridefully or begrudgingly, I receive no reward from Him at all. The only benefit I'll get is whatever human approval comes my way (Mt 6:1-4). Even great spiritual achievements such as mighty faith or prophetic revelations bring me no approval from God if not done for the right reason. Anger, self-righteousness, pride, competitiveness all leave me a disappointing failure. And the reverse is also true. If I do even the simplest act because I love someone, I will be rewarded for it in eternity and probably in this life as well. So obviously it's very important for me to understand what love is. We should acknowledge right up front that only God knows why I do things (Lk 16:15), but I'd still be wise to examine my own heart to see if love appears to be at work there (1Co 2:11), and if not then I need to drop everything else I'm doing and find some because, as far as God is concerned, I've been wasting my time (1Co 13:1-3). It's not that what I've been doing is wrong necessarily, it's why I've been doing it. Something in my attitude about myself may need to die, and something that comes only from God needs to take its place. I need a miracle... I need His love.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!

Paul is teaching the churches In Rome how to live successfully In a non-Christian society. Most of their neighbors and family were not believers and many were growing suspicious or even hostile. And with Nero as emperor, the government was certainly no friend. In a few more years it would become a bitter enemy, so if believers weren't careful, their situation could deteriorate very rapidly. Yet just because they were vulnerable politically didn't mean they were weak spiritually. Paul doesn't for a moment counsel them to compromise or hide their faith. They were still called to reach that city for Christ. What he does is coach them on how to stay effective at winning souls In the midst of that dangerous environment. He explains how believers should respond when someone has treated them cruelly, how to guard the Lord's reputation, and how to witness to the toughest opponent. He doesn't want them drawn into fights that don't really matter, so they can stay focused on what does.

Every lesson he gives them applies to us as well. We too need to learn how to live in peace in a non-Christian society, even with those who treat us cruelly. Why? So they too can find peace with God.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!

Hope is an amazing quality. In a moment I can go from being tired, discouraged, aimless and withdrawn to being energized, focused, grateful to be alive and engaged with others. It all depends on whether or not I have hope. And unfortunately hope is not constantly present in me at the same level. It waxes and wanes. Sometimes I have a lot and other times little or none. And it's not hard to tell which condition I'm in. It only takes a glance or a few minutes of conversation before its presence or absence shows through. There's a sparkle or dullness in the eyes. There's confidence or dread in the way I talk about matters. Either I expect defeat, or I expect victory. I expect weakness, or I expect strength. I expect loneliness, or I expect love. I expect failure, or I expect success. My attitude reflects my assessment of what's possible. It's the way I see the situation. It's what looks real to me at the moment. Either I believe something good is going to happen, or I do not.

To a group of people facing hostility, poverty and abandonment Paul said, "In hope, rejoice!" He was reminding them that hope, and the joy it produces, is absolutely vital to persevering through hard times. Without hope they would soon run out of energy to keep going.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!

It's only natural that most of us came to the Lord because we have needs. In some way we needed Jesus to help us. Our focus was on ourselves. We were lost or hurting, so we came to the Savior. And that's the way it should be. But as we grow in Christ that inward focus turns outward off of ourselves. Though we never stop coming to Him for our own needs, that compulsive drive to care for myself lessens and a genuine concern for others increases, I find myself loving and caring, noticing needs or people I never noticed before, wanting to do something to help. And I'm not responding out of guilt feeling somehow I should do something. It's real change. My heart is being warmed with new love for others. I'm spiritually moving from childhood to adulthood.

In this passage Paul is calling believers in Rome to move into spiritual adulthood, to love one another at a deeper level. With so many in need it was time to share generously and pursue hospitality.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!

We often refer to joining the military as "answering the cali to serve our country." Every person who hears that call is forced to make a very serious decision. The very act of putting on a uniform means that person has accepted the possibiiity that they might die defending us. They choose to put our safety ahead of their own. And joining the military means a radical change in lifestyle. You join a community. You're taught to submit and work cooperatively with others. You develop special skills that others on your team will depend on. You're trained to endure hardship and in the process form deep loyalties toward one another to such a degree that many are willing to risk their own lives to rescue one of their own who is injured or has been captured.

In this passage Paul makes it clear that God expects this same level of commitment from us toward His Church. Following Jesus places profound demands upon us. What's asked of us is no less, and in many ways more, than what's asked of a soldier. We too are called to commit ourselves to one another and have courage under fire. We too accept the possibility that we might die fulfilling our duty. We too must learn to submit and work together as a team. We too have special skills given to us which others in our team depend on. We too must learn to endure hardship and in the process form deep loyalties, to the point that we will risk our own lives to rescue one who's injured or been captured. And like those in the miiitary, we do all this to save others. In our case, people's eternity depends on us fulfilling our duty.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!

Having just encouraged us to fulfill God's call on our lives (Ro 12:1-8), Paul immediately turns to address the quality of our relationships because if we can't work together harmoniously, everything he has just taught us falls apart. Yes, each of us must discover our calling, and yes, we need to pursue the full dimension of God's plan, but if we don't learn how to get along with each other, none of it matters. Love really is the highest quality (1Co 13:1-3,13). In the remaining chapters of this letter, we discover there were numerous areas of controversy among the believers in Rome. Differing opinions on matters had hardened and were separating friends, quenching love and enflaming pride. It had become urgent that they rebuild their love for one another because love is the foundation upon which all ministry rests. So, most of these last chapters are Paul's pastoral counsel to them about how to love. But what may surprise us is what he puts at the head of his list. The first thing he says is: "Don't pretend to love!"

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!

It takes time and serious exposure to the Word of God to change the way we think. It also requires a new skill: the ability to listen to the Holy Spirit. We usually come to Christ with some pretty deep programming. Old values, perspectives and attitudes don't just fall away overnight. In fact, some appear to remain with us the rest of our lives and become familiar enemies we have to diligently put aside over and over again. One such enemy which affects us all in one way or another is pride. It clouds our thinking, Paul says, like alcohol dulls the mind of someone who's drunk. It distorts the way we see ourselves and others, and as we'll observe today, one of the most terrible things it does Is to prevent believers from fulfilling God's call on their lives. The way to escape, Paul says, is to let the Holy Spirit reprogram the way we think. He wants to teach us true humility. And that's why in these verses Paul shows us new ways of thinking that free us to discover and fulfill our call.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!

Paul urgently appeals to every believer who understands the mercy we have received from God, to respond by completely devoting themselves to His service. This, he says, is the only appropriate way to thank Him. We surrender our lives to Him as completely as if we had placed our bodies on an altar like an animal about to be sacrificed, only in our case we are not there to be slaughtered but rather recruited into His service (Ro 14:7; 1 Co 6:19,20; 2Co 5:15). He compares this offering of ourselves to those presented in the tabernacle and temple. Just as sweet-smelling smoke rose up from that altar, the surrendered lives of believers will be received by God as a well-pleasing offering (Php 4:18). This is the worshipful heart out of which all other expressions of worship flow. And it is this deep attitude which transforms a person's entire life into an act of worship (Ro 1:1).

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!

When God calls us to salvation, He also summons us to serve Him. The great task of winning lost people is simply too urgent to allow anyone to sit on the sideline and watch. Jesus shows us God's view of this situation when He says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech (ask, beg) the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest" (Mt 9:37,38). He's telling us there are lots of people who are searching for God but who don't know how to be saved. He says the reason so many are dying without God is because there are so few people actively telling others about Him. In other words, for more people to be saved, there have to be more people doing what God has told them to do. It's tragic to think there are those who would have come if only someone had told them how.

Which brings us to the subject of calling. Each of us is urgently needed in the harvest field. Each of us has been summoned to serve the Lord of the Harvest in a specific place, in a specific way and at a specific time. God has issued a call to each of us, and He never changes His mind. He never takes His call back. But sadly many believers go through life unaware of His call. They don't know their assignment, and the result is they don't step into the place waiting for them in the harvest field.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. 

Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's book Study Verse by Verse: Revelation at no charge, we are still giving this book out as well!

What is a revival? It's a move of God which draws people to Himself with such power that it cannot be explained by human activity. What's taking place is not the result of some well-run ministry. Past revivals saw large numbers of people return to the faith in which they were raised; they came back to the Christianity they had rebelled against or ignored. But today the situation in America is different-much of the nation has lost its respect tor the church. Christians are generally viewed as self-righteous scolds who love to judge others but hypocritically practice the same things. And sadly that impression of us is borne out by surveys that show that on average our moral and relational health is no greater than that of our society. Evidently we lack the power to live holy lives.

Meanwhile, many in this society are becoming desperate. They've become addicted, their families are unable to stay together, they are controlled by anger, fear, lust, depression... compulsive forces which have grown so strong they are tempted at times to act out and do something outrageous. So people are frightened and want help but there's no real, affordable help available. People helplessly watch as their marriages, careers, friendships, or dreams decompose before their eyes, and it's becoming increasingly obvious that the secular world has no real help to offer. So people look to the church, but we appear in just as bad a shape. The only difference is that we are in denial. Because of this much of America has grown immune to the gospel. The gospel looks powerless because Christians look powerless.

What are people looking for? A power that can set them free so they can stay married (happily), raise their children, keep their jobs and rise in a career without seif-imploding or live free of depression without being constantly medicated. If there were a power that could actually set me free so I could live with energy and joy, if I could truly put the past behind me and start ail over again, if God could really do that, millions of people would turn to Him.

So here's the key to the next revival: when people see family and friends who they know well and have watched be cruelly held in bondage, wasting their potential, and then find the power to change... hope will ignite and many will long for that same power so they too can be free.

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Revelation at no charge, we are still giving this book out as well!