Sermons

“TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL” 

Romans 16:1-23

Big Idea: Being “unashamed of the gospel” means living together for the gospel.

1.Living together for the gospel involves striving together for the gospel. (1-16, 21-23)

2. Living together for the gospel involves standing together for the gospel. (17-20)

“AMBITION FOR GOD’S MISSION” 

Romans 15:14-33

Big Idea: Fulfillment of The Great Commission is Fueled by Gospel Ambition and Made Possible Through Gospel Partnerships

Faithfully fulfilling the mission of God (Romans 15:14-33):

1) A holy and bold Gospel ambition (v. 14-21)

1a) “through whom (Jesus) we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” - Romans 1:5b

1b) “And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20

1c) "As many were astonished at you – his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind – so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.” – Isaiah 52:14-15

2) Strategic and sacrificial Gospel partnerships (v. 22-33)

2a) Ways to support as a sending church:

1) Give generously to help financially and practically (v. 24)

2) Pray fervently (v. 30-31)

3) Refresh and encourage faithfully (v. 32-33)

“ABOUNDING IN HOPE” 

Romans 15:1-13

Big Idea: Remembering Christ’s Welcome of Us Unleashes Christ’s Welcome to Flow Faithfully Through Us

The Jesus way of life (Romans 15:1-13):

1) Jesus is our model and motivation: Welcome others like Him (v. 1-7)

1a) Fuel sources to faithfully welcome others like Jesus

1) Looking to the Son of God as your model and motivation (v. 3)

2) Anchoring in the word of God for your endurance and encouragement (v. 4-5)

2) Jesus is our means: Abound in hope in Him (v. 8-13)

2a) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” – Romans 1:16

2b) Abounding in hope (v. 13):

1) Believe in Jesus Christ personally

2) Root your heart and life in Jesus wholeheartedly

“WALKING IN LOVE” 

Romans 14:13:2 

Big Idea: Disciples of Christ must choose love over license 

Walking in love (Romans 14:13-23): 

1) Am I hindering or helping? (v. 13-16) 

1a) Diagnosing the dispute: (from: Matthew Haste) 

1) Is it an issue of command? 

2) Is it an issue of wisdom? 

3) Is it an issue of conscience? 

4) Is it an issue of preference? 

1b) “If you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.” - John 14:15 

2) Am I building the kingdom of God or destroying it? (v. 17-20a) 2a) Walking in genuine Christ-centered love: 

1) Look up 

2) Lay it down 

3) Lift other believers up 

3) Am I helping others grow spiritually or stumble sinfully? (v. 20b-23)3a) Gospel freedom flow chart (below)

Romans 13:8-14

Big Idea: Welcome Other Believers As God Has Welcomed Us.

3 Truths necessary to cultivate a heart of welcome:

1. We have the same God: Jesus Christ (vs. 1-4)

Example of Peter from Acts 10:10-16 - 10: “and he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means,Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.”

1 Peter 2:16 - 16 “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants [a] of God.”

2. We have the same goal: honoring God (vs.5-9)

3. We have the same judge: God Himself (vs. 10-12)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10

Romans 13:8-14

Big Idea: Disciples Of Christ Should Live And Love Like Christ Everyday In View Of That Day.

Living and loving like Jesus:

1) In view of Jesus’ sacrifice for us: Love others like Him faithfully (v. 8-10)

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked him (JC) a question to test Him. ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
– Matthew 22:35-40

“If you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.”
- John 14:15

2) In view of Jesus’ second coming for us: Walk daily properly (v. 11-14)

WAKE UP:
1) Walk properly (v. 13a)
2) Armor up with the Light (v. 12b)

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”
– Ephesians 6:10-18

3) Keep pursuing holiness and righteousness (v. 13b)
4) Eradicate the flesh (v. 14b)
5) Unload the works of darkness (v. 12b)
6) Put on the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 14a)

Romans 13:1-7

Big Idea: The Gospel Changes How God’s People Relate To The Government.

1. How should Christians relate to the state? With God-defined submission. (1a)

2. Why should Christians submit to the state? Because rulers are God’s gift for our good. (1b-5)

3. What should it look like when Christians relate to the state? As godly as possible. (6-7)

Romans 12:9-21

Big Idea: Being A Faithful Disciple Of Christ Means Loving All Others Genuinely Like Christ.

Faithful disciples of Christ:

1) Genuinely love wholeheartedly like Christ (v. 9-13)

2) Genuinely love in heavy times like Christ (v. 15-18)

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”
- Matthew 5:9

3) Genuinely love hard to love people like Christ (v. 14; 19-21)

How to genuinely love hard to love people like Christ:
1) Bless them and don’t persecute them (v. 14)

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
- Matthew 5:44

2) Repay them mercifully (v. 17)
3) Leave the vengeance to God (v. 19)
4) Serve them authentically (v. 20-21)

Romans 12:3-8

Big Idea: Living Consecrated To God Means Living Committed To The People Of God.

Committed to biblical community:

1) Am I committed to pursuing personal humility? (v. 3)

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
– Philippians 2:3-11

2) Am I committed to pursuing biblical unity in the local body? (v. 4-6)

“...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. ... Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
– Ephesians 4:12-13, 15-16

3 Biblical Principles That Propel Pursuing Biblical Unity In The Body (v. 4-6):
1) No-one can do everything but everyone can and should do something (v. 4, 6)
2) Interconnectedness and investment not independence and isolation (v. 5)
3) Unity not uniformity (v. 4)

3) Am I committed to pursuing using my spiritual gifts faithfully? (v. 6-8)

Romans 12:1-2

Big Idea: The Right Response To The Mercies Of God Is A Wonderful, Wholehearted, An Obedient Full Surrender Of Our Bodies And Minds To God.

In view of God’s mercies:

1) Offer your life to God in full surrender (v. 1)

“And He (Jesus) said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
– Luke 9:23

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’”
- Galatians 2:20

In view of the mercies, God’s mercies:
1) Am I genuinely living daily as a living sacrifice?
2) What/Where am I holding back from God?
3) Where/To what is Jesus calling me to die today?
4) What is Jesus asking me to offer Him?
5) What next step in worship, faith, and obedience is Jesus calling me to take today?

2) Offer your mind to God in full submission (v. 2)

2 aspects of offering our minds to God daily (v. 2):
1) Do not be conformed (v. 2a)
2) Be transformed (v. 2b)