In this episode of The Afterthought Show, Zane and Pastor Chris Chadwick reconnect after a busy summer of travel. They dive deep into Pastor Chris's recent sermon on Romans 15, exploring the profound implications of Paul's letter for the modern church.The central theme is unity. Discover how the Old Testament saints serve as an example of faithfulness, what it practically means to "glorify God" in your daily life, and why being an active encourager is a biblical command, not just a nice suggestion.The conversation culminates in a powerful discussion on church membership. Pastor Chris unpacks how the command to "receive one another" is a direct call to formal commitment within a local church body, arguing that to neglect membership is to rob God of the glory He deserves. This is a crucial conversation for any believer seeking to honor Christ through their commitment to His church.

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**Chapters:****(00:00) Intro & Summer Travels**Zane and Pastor Chris catch up after two months of traveling, from Florida and Ohio to Texas and Oklahoma.**(02:08) A Question of Dignity: UFC at the White House?**The hosts share their thoughts on holding a UFC event on the White House grounds, discussing the dignity of political settings.**(03:34) The Mystery of the Missing Keys**Zane is in a bad mood after misplacing his church keys, and Chris has some theories.**(04:46) Diving into Romans 15: The Supreme Example**The main discussion begins, focusing on a sermon from Romans 15 and how verses often memorized out of context relate directly to church unity.**(08:21) The Old Testament's Role in New Testament Living**How do the Old Testament scriptures help us live out our New Testament faith with patience, comfort, and hope?**(09:30) Practically and Theologically Glorifying God**What does it mean to glorify God? It's more than raising hands in worship; it's a lifestyle of repentance and living out the gospel daily.**(13:00) Unity Without Compromising Doctrine**Unity is the objective, but not at the cost of watering down doctrine or morals. The discussion covers unity in truth versus division over preferences.**(15:40) Beyond Silence: The Command to Encourage**It's not enough to simply not say bad things; we are called to be active, intentional encouragers to build one another up.**(23:23) Why Church Membership is Not Optional**Pastor Chris explains how the term "receive ye one another" in Romans is a clear command for formal church membership, not just casual fellowship.**(29:00) Are You Robbing God of His Glory?**A powerful quote from the sermon notes: abandoning submission to church membership for preferential reasons robs God of His glory.**(31:50) The Surprising Theme of the Entire Book of Romans**A lightbulb moment: After 15 chapters of deep theology, Paul's concluding argument for the entire book of Romans is a call for unity in the local church.**(34:55) How Four Years in Romans Changes a Preacher**After preaching through the book for four years, Pastor Chris reflects on how it has reinforced the importance of theological depth and the sufficiency of Scripture.**(36:45) A Pastor's Plea: The Danger of Being Unchurched in the Military**A passionate appeal for the necessity of church membership and accountability, especially for those in the military who frequently relocate.**(43:05) Final Thoughts & Outro**