Porter Podcast

Series:  Romans

Loving the Hard to Love

Romans 12:14-23

Christian love is evidenced most clearly in response to difficult people. 

Loving the Hard to Love

·      Christians must bless people who mistreat them. 

·      Christians must empathize with those experiencing different circumstances.  

·      Christians must engage people who appear different.  

·      ‌‌Christians must associate with people who do not provide personal advantage. 

·      Christians must trust God, seek peace and forgive even when harmed. 

Practical steps when you are wronged

ü Think before you act.

ü Remember your witness.

ü Attempt to deescalate.

ü Trust God’s justice.                        

ü Actively show kindness to the offender.

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Romans 12:21 

Today’s Takeaways

We will encounter people who are difficult to love.

What a person does to us must not dictate our response.

We can trust God to bring justice (in His time).

We can respond in love, even when offended, if we will focus on Jesus. 

Series: Romans

Love Like a Believer

Romans 12:9-13

4 Greeks Words for “love”

·      Ero (eros) = physical or sensual desire 

·      Storgeo (storgos) = affection that feels responsibility

·      Phileo (philos) = fondness for someone because of a connection/relationship

·      Agapao (agape) = God’s love.   

An initiating, constant, unconditional love.

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I John 4:8

A Believer’s Love

Love should be authentic.  

Love should hate evil and cling to good.      

Love should be loyal to fellow believers.             

Love should acknowledge the value of others.   

Love should be joyful in service.                                          

Love should be evidenced by faithfulness in hardship.                                                 

Love should help those in need. 

Love is not something we generate. Love is something that overflows.

Today’s Takeaways

1) Our love is the defining characteristic of true belief.  

2) Our love for others is the greatest testimony to the power of the Gospel. 

3) We love each other because God first loved us.

4) We maintain our love by focusing on the cross.

Series: Romans

Equal, Connected & Gifted

Romans 12:3-8

The Gospel’s Effect on Church Life 

1.  It creates a healthy image of self and others.

Humility is to be the primary characteristic of the people of God.

Pride is disrespectful to God and is the root of a believer’s struggles.

God has given all of us the same standard of faith: faith in the finished work of Christ. 

2. It creates a deep connection with other believers.

God has designed us to need each other.

Trusting Christ does not diminish uniqueness; however, an unselfish individuality is developed. 

3.  It motivates believers to live for the good of others. 

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gifts are talents/skills/abilities/traits that are given to believers that helps us accomplish God’s work.    

Every believer has been gifted by God to serve.

God is the determiner of gift distribution.

Every gift is for the common good.

How can I know my spiritual gift?      

·      Ask yourself, “what spiritual activity brings me enjoyment?”       

·      Reflect on moments that you have excelled in service.      

·      Take inventory of activities that others have affirmed in you.

·      Do something and you will figure it out.

Today’s Takeaways

Realize every person in God’s church is valuable... including you! 

Don’t let uncertainty about gifts keep you from serving

Be faithful to your church community... they need you.

Series: Romans

A Reasonable Response

Romans 12:1-2

In the first 11 chapters of Romans, Paul tells us what the gospel is; in the last 5 chapters, he shares how we should live if we believe it.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

The family relationship of fellow believers is foundational to the way we live our individual Chrisitan lives.

The logical, reasonable response to what God has done for us is to devote our lives to God. 

Living Sacrifices 

1.    We sacrifice our lives to God by offering our physical bodies to Him.

We have physical cravings, needs, and abilities that are to be lived out in light of following Christ.  

2.    We sacrifice our lives to God by renewing our mind.

“Renewing your mind” is accomplished by refocusing on the gospel, in particular the cross. 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church 

and gave himself for her.

Ephesians 5:25

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

I Peter 1:21

bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.

Colossians  3:13

Surrendering your life to God is the key to knowing God’s will for your life. 

 Today’s Takeaways

Remember giving your life to God is a response to God’s mercy not an attempt to gain God’s favor. 

Surrendering every aspect of your life to God is the only logical response to the gospel. 

The problem with a “living sacrifice” is it often tries to  get off the altar! 

If your motivation for serving God has grown cold, renew your mind by refocusing on the cross. 

Genesis 37-50

Genesis 12:25

Series: Jesus in Genesis

Rest in Jesus

Genesis 6-9

Noah’s Life & Flood Account

·      Noah is a descendant of Seth 

·      The accounts in Genesis are foundational for the rest of the Bible.  

What is significant about the Flood

Recurring theme (type):  Salvation through judgement 

2)  Typology:  

3)  Biblical Theology: 

The World before & after the Flood

Genesis 1:26-27

How we see Jesus in the Account

Genesis 3:15

Genesis, and therefore the rest of the Bible, is all about the seed of the woman overcoming the seed of the serpent.

Summary

1. What does the Scripture teach about God? 

2.  What does the Scripture teach about us?

3.  What does the Scripture teach us to do?  

Series: Jesus in Genesis

A New and Better Adam

Genesis 1-3

What does Genesis have to do with the Gospel? 

1)  Genesis means “origins” or “beginnings” 

2)  The accounts in Genesis are foundational for the rest of the Bible.  

Bible Study Tools

1)  Hermeneutics:

2)  Typology:  

3)  Biblical Theology: 

The Account of Adam

Genesis 1:26-27

How we see Jesus in the Account

Genesis 3:15

Genesis, and therefore the rest of the Bible, is all about the seed of the woman overcoming the seed of the serpent.

Summary

1. What does the Scripture teach about God? 

2.  What does the Scripture teach about us?

3.  What does the Scripture teach us to do?  

Series: Romans

Responding to Mystery

Romans 11:33-36

The original audience of Romans had two struggles: 

1) to understand grace and 

2) to comprehend the universal nature of the gospel. 

30 As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, 31 so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.

Romans 11:30-32

Real Christian faith begins with a realization of personal brokenness and a realization of one’s inability to fix it. 

The irony of the gospel is we receive eternal life through the death of Christ whom we murdered.  

Paul responds to the gospel message with a doxology or a prayer/song of praise.

Oh, the depth of the riches 

and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments 

and untraceable his ways!
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.
 “For as heaven is higher than earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 

Today’s Takeaways: 

God is bigger than you can imagine. 

His ways and judgements cannot be known without divine revelation. 

The more we understand His revelation, the more we should be inspired to worship. 

Mystery does not decrease worship, it demands more. 

Series: Romans

Israel: God’s Chosen People

Romans 11

Paul deals with the universal problem of sin by showing that God’s sacrifice of Jesus, not human effort, is the solution.    Through faith in Christ, a person will be in right standing with God. 

Did God fail Israel? 

God has not failed Israel because some Jews believed. 

True Israelites aren’t those who inherit Abraham’s genes, but those who embrace Abraham’s faith.

God has always preserved a remnant who trust in Him.

God has not failed Israel because the path to righteousness has always been grace.  

God has not failed Israel because even Israel’s rejection was a part of God’s plan.

God always redeems difficult, evil, and burdensome things and works in a way to bring good to His people.

God has not failed Israel because God is not finished with their story.

In the future, multitudes of Jewish people will come to Christ, and it will seem like a national conversion.

Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11:1-2

A warning to us

eternal security:  Once saved (really saved), always saved 

Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today,

 so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.

 14 For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly

 until the end the reality that we had at the start.

Hebrews 3:12–14  

A distinguishing mark of saving faith is endurance. 

TODAYS TAKEAWAYS:  

1.    Put your trust in Christ, not your spiritual heritage. 

2.    Never give up on lost people in your life.

3.    Realize that God is always at work, even when you don’t see it.

4.    Ask God to help you be faithful.