Good Day Passionate Youth Reaching Out, today is Monday May 30. My name is Grant and this is Start Up, helping you start your day with an upward focus.

Starting with today’s episode, we are going to go through the book of Romans together. Romans was written by the Apostle Paul to the Church in Rome.

Romans 1:1–7 (HCSB)

1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news — 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— 3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness. 5 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name, 6 including yourselves who also belong to Jesus Christ by calling: 7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the introduction of Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome, and he starts by saying what he intends to right about. This is a letter about God’s good news. And even though its news, it is past present and future news. Its past news because for centuries God had been telling his people through his prophets that a saviour would be coming. Its past news because at this point in history, Jesus had already come and accomplished Gods work. Its present news for Paul’s 1st century readers because they could presently experience the Salvation of Jesus Christ. And its future news for the readers as well, as the good news about Jesus would continue to go forward and spread, until a day comes when every knee in heaven, on earth and under the earth will bow down to Jesus, and every tongue from the whole world will one day proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Paul is making the claim that Jesus himself as appointed Paul as an apostle with a commissioning to bring about obedience and faith in all the nations towards Jesus Christ.

Wow, what an introduction to the letter. Paul had a mandate from God to spread his news, but so do all who are Christians. We have been commissioned by Jesus to go and make disciples, teaching everyone to understand and obey Jesus teachings. This letter from Paul to the Romans will help us to do that better.

Here is this weeks challenge.

Take a walk around your neighbourhood, at least once this week, and as you walk pray for your neighbours. Ask for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done in your neighbourhood, as it is in heaven. As you are praying, keep your eyes and your heart open to opportunities that God might give you have a conversation or lend a helping hand to the people that you encounter.

Our weekly Friday youth events have changed to monthly youth events for the summer, and the next event is not until Friday June 24 at McMahon Stadium. Until then you can still stay connected with our church and youth group by attending the Sunday School and Church services on Sunday morning and by being a part of a D Group.

If you want to find out more about our youth group, you can find us online at hbcyouth.ca. We are also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, just search for Hawkwood Youth.

https://www.facebook.com/HawkwoodYouthPYRO/

https://twitter.com/HawkwoodYouth

https://www.instagram.com/hawkwoodyouth/