“The Christian and Civil Authorities”

(Romans 13:1-7)

 INTRODUCTION

Last Sunday, Paul exhorted us to avoid retaliation, and to overcome evil with good. Today he shifts his attention to our civic duty in relationship to government.

THE RESPECT FOR RULERS (vv.1-2)

THE REASON FOR RULERS (vv.3-4)

THE RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS RULERS (vv.5-7)

• Pay taxes

• Pay revenue

• Pay respect and honor

CONCLUSION

Beloved, the duties placed on you as a Christian toward the earthly governments are clear and simple...

• Be subject to governing authorities

• Pay what is due in taxes and respect

• Pray for all those in positions of authority

• Give thanks to God for the authorities

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

1 Timothy 2:1-4

“The transformed christian life” (3)

(Romans 12:17-21)

INTRODUCTION

Two Sundays ago, Paul began to discuss the practical outworking of the transformed life within the church. He started with what it means to have genuine love for one another. Last Sunday, he continued by teaching on how to practice love towards our enemies. Today, he exhorts us to avoid retaliation, and to overcome evil with good.

LIVE IN HONOR, NOT DISHONOR (vv. 17; 21)

LIVE IN HARMONY, NOT HOSTILITY (v.18-20)

APPLICATION

• Are you overcoming evil with good, or do you repay evil with evil? 

• Are you living in peace with all, as much as it depends on you? Is there a relationship you need to mend? 

CONCLUSION

Beloved, remember, learn from, and follow the example of our Lord, Jesus.

“He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.”

1 Pet 2:23 NLT

“The transformed christian life” (2)

(Romans 12:14-16)

INTRODUCTION

Last Sunday, Paul began to discuss the practical outworking of the transformed life within the church. He started with what it means to have genuine love for one another. Today, he continues this practical application by teaching on how to practice a kind of love for the church’s enemies that does not excuse or perpetuate injustice.

GENUINE LOVE IS GRACIOUS (v.14)  

GENUINE LOVE IS SENSITIVE (v.15)

GENUINE LOVE IS AGREEABLE (v.16)   

APPLICATION

• How well are you practicing these exhortations to love?

• Our passage calls us to repent where we have fallen short to practice these exhortations, and to a fresh renewal of commitment to do them as God’s people.

CONCLUSION

Beloved, it is God's good, acceptable and perfect will that Christians be a people whose love is marked by grace, empathy, and humility. 

“The transformed christian life” (1)

(Romans 12:9-13)

INTRODUCTION

After discussing the need for being transformed by the renewing of our minds (v.2), Paul turns to discuss its practical outworking within the church. This is where Christianity becomes real. He starts with what it means to have genuine love for one another.

GENUINE LOVE

• Genuine love is sincere.

• Genuine love is committed.

• Genuine love is putting others first.

• Genuine love is not slothful, but fervent.

• Genuine love is joyful.

• Genuine love is patient.

• Genuine love is constant in prayer.

• Genuine love is practical.

APPLICATION

• Are you practicing this kind of genuine love towards others in this faith family?

• Is your life as joyful and other-oriented as it should be?

CONCLUSION

Beloved, God through Jesus has shown us what genuine, sin-hating, self-giving, sacrificial, love looks like.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

“gifts of grace”

(Romnans 12:3-8)

INTRODUCTION

 Last Sunday, Paul appealed to us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Today, he tells us what the church will be like when each person humbly uses their God-given gifts for the greater good of the body of Christ.

HUMILITY (v. 3)

UNITY (vs. 4-5)

 DIVERSITY (vs. 6-8)

APPLICATION

· Take advantage of the opportunities our church offers to use your gifts.

· Try serving in at least one area where you can use your gifts.

CONCLUSION

Beloved, there is much work to do. Let us be diligent to do it, 

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,  as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:10-11

“Not Conformed, But Transformed”

(Romnans 12:1-2)

INTRODUCTION

Having dealt with deep doctrinal matters in the previous 11 chapters such as sin, salvation, sanctification, and sovereignty, Paul now shows what service to the living Lord looks like for us who have been saved by God’s free, unmerited grace. He now puts forth the ethical implications and practical applications of the gospel for daily living for those who have been redeemed. He moves from belief to behavior and from doctrine to duty. 

PRESENT YOUR BODY AS A LIVING SACRIFICE (v. 1)

DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD (v. 2)

BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND (v. 2)

APPLICATION

· Keep in mind the rich mercy of God to you

· Yield your entire self to Him

· Resist conformity to the thoughts and actions of this world

· Focus on God’s word and fellowship with Him

CONCLUSION

Beloved, by the transforming and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, present yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

“Awaiting A New Advent”

(Revelation 21:4-7)

INTRODUCTION

The whole of Scripture is both a lesson in history and a promise for the future. Christmastime spurs us to look back and to look forward. We reflect on the wonder of the nativity, in which the eternal Son of God came to us as a lowly infant. But we also anticipate the future day when the resurrected Christ will come again, inaugurating the new creation. The God who came down at the first Christmas is surely, gloriously coming back again. God in Christ will return to make this world brand-new, restoring paradise and gathering the redeemed into it.

WE WILL BE MADE SPIRITUALLY AND BODILY NEW (vv. 2; 4)

WE WILL ENJOY A NEW CLOSENESS WITH GOD (vv. 3; 6-7)

WE WILL LIVE IN A NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH (vv. 1; 5)

APPLICATION

• Live a life that is ready for the Lord’s return.

CONCLUSION

Beloved, when we think about Jesus’ advent, let us not just think of the first, but also the second. The King came down to earth to save us from sin; He came also to save us and prepare us for eternal life with Him in His perfected kingdom.

“Christmas in the Letters”

(Galations 4:4-7)

 INTRODUCTION

In Genesis we were reminded that our creator God is a promise-keeping God. It taught us to expect that He would send a Deliverer to restore this fallen world, and that in Him all the nations of the world will be blessed. The Prophets provided for us a blurry image full of hope, expectation, and vague details about God’s redemptive plan. And then the Gospels gave us a crystal-clear lens through which we can see that Jesus is the one in whom all our hopes, all God’s promises, and all our longings are fulfilled. The New Testament letters offer a theological interpretation of Jesus’ life and ministry. Today, in Galatians, Paul describes the wonder of being adopted into God’s family through Jesus. He shows us that Christmas is a big deal. It changed everything with respect to our relationship to God the Father.

FROM BONDAGE – Sin and the Law (4-5)

TO BLESSINGS – Sonship and Inheritance (6-7)

APPLICATION

• If you are Christ’s by faith, you are adopted; if you are adopted, then you can be sure that you are loved with a divine love so deep that eternity is too short to plumb it.

CONCLUSION

Beloved, to fully comprehend the joy of Christmas you need to fully comprehend the necessity of Christmas. God works to rescue, accept, and love men and women out of their sin and into His forever, spiritual family.