Plans, Prayers, Passion
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Heart of the Matter
Heart of the Matter
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Paul returns to the heart of why he wrote to the church in Rome
Remind them of the Grace he has and they have experienced and how that should lead them
My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Characteristic of ministry-
Received by grace
Centered in the Gospel
Questions:
What would you consider your “Mission Field”?
How do you view personal ministry? Is it an offering?
Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God. For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,
Characteristic of ministry-
Done for God's glory
Done by God’s power
According to God's plan
Question:
Paul wanted go where no one had gone. Does church planting today look like that? ( Central Florida - 1 church for every 2,000 people)
When is the Holy Spirit most able to be impactful in our lives and those around us?
because Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs.
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf.
Question:
How important is it to support mission activity? Financially / Prayer
Receiving others
Receiving others
Paul names 26 people by name, several churches and two unnamed saints. - Paul was a friend maker
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also. Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches. Greet also the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
Question:
What does it look like receive someone “in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints”?
In what ways does support and encouragement of those in ministry impact our church and beyond our walls?
Side note - Notice how Paul praises and speaks about these women. It follows Christ example and was very counter culture.
Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those who belong to the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Question:
What is the common bond?
Have you ever served or been a part of a group?
Notice how easy is to remember the feeling of being together?
Final Thoughts and Warnings
Final Thoughts and Warnings
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them, because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words. The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Timothy, my coworker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you. Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles—to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen.
Question:
What impact doe false teaching and divisive people have on a church?
What is the measure for determining?
“Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.
Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.
Doxology
Doxology
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles—to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen.
It is God who strengthens us
The mystery of the Gospel is our to share in unity
Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake. - Martin Luther