Porter Podcast

Series: Romans

How will they hear?

Romans 10:11-17

After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.

Revelation 7:9   

The Gospel in Romans

God has clearly revealed Himself; yet, all have rejected Him. 

Any rejection of God deserves wrath.  

God has made salvation possible to all people who will trust Jesus.

Everyone has a personal responsibility to transfer their trust to Christ.

“Everyone who calls on the Lord” is an invitation for you. 

Romans 10:14-17

The world’s greatest problem is lostness; and we do whatever it takes to get the gospel to those who have not heard.  

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant,

 but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest

 to send out workers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:37-38

The urgency of the mission requires all of us to do something.  

Some will reject the message; but success is determined by who goes, not who responds.

Today’s Takeaways

Understand the need for the nations to hear the Gospel.

Support those who feel called to Go.

Put your “Yes” on the table.

Live as you have been “sent” in your current position.

Take advantage of your privilege... say “yes” to Jesus!

Series: Romans

Whosoever

Romans 9:30-10:13

The focus of Romans 9 is on God’s sovereignty in salvation. The focus of Romans 10 is on our role in it.    

The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29

There are hidden things about God that we may never understand, and there are revealed things that lead us to His will and obedience. 

God is NOT the cause of someone rejecting Him.  

Romans 9:30-10:13

Before you sin, the law is a fence to reveal the parameters of the kingdom of God.  After you sin, the law is a barrier fence keeping you from re-entry into the kingdom of God. 

God gave the Jewish people an invitation to trust in Jesus, but they trusted in themselves. 

Good intentions will not save you.  In fact, they can be dangerous for your soul.

2 Approaches to Being Right with God:

·      Attempt to establish your righteousness based on what you do. 

·      Trust Jesus to secure your righteousness based on what He has done!  

You are not saved by your zeal for Him, but rather by His zeal for you. 

The Consistent Pattern of Salvation:  

·      When you are saved, two things happen:

confession and belief.

·      When you are saved, two truths are acknowledged:  Jesus is LORD and He rose from the dead. 

For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him 

will not be put to shame,

Romans 10:11  

Today’s Takeaways

Faith alone creates assurance in the believer! 

Every person must transfer their trust from themselves to Christ in order to be saved!

Series: Romans

Speaking of Sovereignty (Part 2)

Romans 9:14-29

Recap

Romans 9 and 10 appear to create a tension between human responsibility and God’s sovereignty. 

Mystery is a part of the Christian faith, and that is ok.  

Mystery acknowledges Divine supremacy, and it provides space for faith. 

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:5

Romans 9:14-29

Justice:  getting what you deserve

Grace:  getting what you don’t deserve

Mercy:  NOT getting what you deserve 

‌Humankind’s basic problem: we resist the ways of God. 

God’s glory is His purpose in all things. 

TODAY’S TAKEAWAYS   

God is sovereign over salvation . . . rest in it! 

 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:13

God is more merciful than we can imagine . . . remember that! 

 “What will amaze us as we look backwards from eternity is not the severity of God’s justice but the greatness of his mercy.” 

Oswald Sanders

God commands us to share the gospel . . . obey Him!  

God’s ways are above us . . . be humble!

Series: Romans

Speaking of Sovereignty (Part 1)

Romans 9:1-13

Romans 9-10 is the most extensive discussion of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibilityin the Bible.    

Scriptures never contradict; nevertheless, we do not have the capacity to resolve everything.  

Our knowledge of the Gospel should heavily burden our heart for the lost.

Spiritual kinship, not ethnic origin, determined who was a true Israelite. 

Salvation rests in God’s election, not man’s effort or worthiness.

Today’s Takeaways

There is a tension between sovereignty and responsibility; be aware.

Mystery is a part of our faith; be humble. 

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?

Romans 11:33-34

The security of salvation depends on God; be grateful.

Series:  More than Conquerors

Is God on Our Side?

Romans 8:28-29

What, then, are we to say about these things?

If God is for us, who is against us?

Romans 8:31 

Circumstances or present realities are not the determiner of God’s favor.

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28  

God Is on Our Side

God has already established our future.   

God has proven His love.   

Jesus said the world would be against us.  

Paul wrote that our flesh is against us.  

We know the devil is against us. 

Only God’s opinion matters.

God has declared us righteous.   

Psalm 44

For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:17 

God’s love has never left us. 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39  

Mother’s Day  2023

What Every Child Needs

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-4

3 cultural shifts affecting parenting

·      Technology

·      Attitudes toward Sexuality

·      The Decentralization of the Family

God has designed the family to be the place where His image bearers develop/learn.   

Even great homes exhibit signs of the fall.  

5 things every child needs 

Every child needs unconditional love.

Every child needs consistent discipline.

·      corrective discipline 

·      protective discipline  

·      developmental discipline

Start a youth out on his way;
even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 

Every child needs intentional gospel instruction.

Every child needs incremental freedom.

Every child needs a positive role model.

Regardless of effort, most parents feel like failures at times.  May the Gospel remind you that your past is not your identity; and today, in Christ, you are a new creation.   

Series: Romans

Hope in Suffering

Romans 8:18-30

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.

John 16:33 

Why does God allow suffering?            

·      Sometimes suffering is used for correction.

·      Most suffering is the result of living In a fallen world.

Suffering in Hope

Christians can hope in suffering because today is not the end of their story. 

There is a now and a not yet aspect to the Christian life.

Creation was intended to host humanity and bring them joy;

however, it has endured our abuse and witnessed every sinful act.  And therefore, it groans for deliverance. 

Christians can hope in suffering because the Spirit helps them.  

Christians can hope in suffering because God uses suffering for a purpose. 

We know that all things work together for the good of those 

who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28  

2 purposes for suffering

·      God’s purpose in all things is to make you more like Jesus.     

·      God’s purpose in all things is to build anticipation about the future glory. 

Today’s takeaways

Everyone suffers, but only those who love Jesus have real hope. 

Christians should have realism about the present 

Christians should have gospel optimism about the future

More than Conquerors Series Part 2
Life in the Spirit 
Romans 8:12-18
College Pastor Hagan York 

Series: Romans

the Battle over the Law

Romans 7:1-25

When we receive God’s gift of grace, it changes us. This process is called sanctification.

Believers debate whether Chapter 7 deals with the Christian’s life pre-faith or the Christian’s life post-faith. Paul talks of his pre-Christ life in verses 1-13 and his life as a believer in verses 14-25. 

Romans 7

the bad news

The law is not bad, but it does not have the capacity to make you good.

Coveting exposes the internal problem of the heart. 

Paul uses flesh to describe the sinful cravings which are opposed to God.  It is often referred to as our sinful nature.

Believers have two natures:  One godly, another sinful.  

The two natures are constantly at war inside of the believer.

the good news

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

Romans 7:24-25

You can live in a way that pleases God.

Even though you may have ongoing battles, the war has been already been decided.   

God uses your ongoing struggles to grow your appreciation of grace.    

Appreciating grace is what wins ongoing battles.

The irony of the Christian life is that the only ones who live holy are those who understand that their acceptance by God is not conditioned on their holy living. 

Easter 2023

WHAT IF?

I Corinthians 15:1-21

Why the Resurrection Is “Most Important”

The resurrection is the foundational historical event of Christianity.                                                   

 I Corinthians 15:3-8

Why We Believe the Resurrection Is True 

·      The revelation of Scripture  

·      The eyewitness accounts             

·      The rapid acceptance of the message

Faith in the resurrection has transformed lives. 

    I Corinthians 15:9-11

·      Believers seek to follow His commands.

·      Believers trust that God is in control.

·      Believers desire to maintain faith, even when the unimaginable occurs.

What If?                               

I Corinthians 15:12-19

Faith in the resurrection is the source of Christian hope.

Steps To Belief

1.  Understand the message. 

Romans 10:17

2.  Examine the facts. 

3.  Spend time with changed believers.

4.  Take a step of faith.

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9