|
 |
Introduction
|
|
|
|
Bible Reading:
|
|
|
 |
OT Timeline:
|
|
|
|
OT Contemporary Books:
|
|
|
 |
Review
|
|
|
|
Romans: From Rags To Righteousness (Part 7)
|
|
|
|
Raw Material
|
|
|
|
Sermon Illustration:
|
|
|
|
Our mission is not to permanently destroy the world’s system. It’s there to provide a “powerful delusion” for those who refuse to believe the truth. Our mission is to continually unravel the world’s system as a witness to the power and authority of God’s Kingdom.
|
|
|
|
For the Message:
|
|
|
|
Let the Ephesians 1 passage transform your thinking (Romans 8:5-6, racism as “2nd-hand smoke”)
|
|
|
|
Romans 8
|
|
|
|
You can do it too - let God design your relationships.
|
|
|
|
You have what you need! Use what you have!
|
|
|
|
God: “They have been given my Spirit; teach them to listen to him.”
|
|
|
|
The more Word you plant in your heart, the easier it will be for you to hear God’s Spirit.
|
|
|
|
Romans 12:1-2
|
|
|
|
The Spirit reminds us of what Jesus said - John 14 - 16
|
|
|
|
The proper use of suffering.
|
|
|
|
The way that I used TV to fight loneliness while Eva was away last night even though the Holy Spirit had told me to avoid TV during this period. This increased my vulnerability to sexual temptation.
|
|
|
|
Use freedom - don’t worship it
|
|
|
|
Lexical search on judging.
|
|
|
|
Preparation - Romans 5:1-11
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage - Romans 5:1-11
|
|
|
|
|
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
|
|
|
|
Study the Passage
|
|
|
|
NIV
|
|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
|
|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
|
|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God and we rejoice/boast in the hope of God's glory, in our sufferings, and in God himself.
|
|
|
|
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Like Abraham, we are declared righteous by putting our faith in God's promises and actions on our behalf.
|
|
|
|
We have peace with God: Shalom, well-being
|
|
|
|
We have something to rejoice/boast about:
|
|
|
|
We don't boast in the law as the Jews did.
|
|
|
|
We are like Abraham:
|
|
|
Against all hope he hoped for (expected) what God had promised him: that he would be the father of many nations. By doing this he gave God glory.
|
|
|
We hope for what God has promised us (righteousness) and we bring God glory by doing so.
|
|
|
Instead of falling short of God's glory (Romans 3:23-24) we expect God's glory (John 17:22; Romans 2:7-10; Romans 8:28-30)
|
|
|
|
We boast in our expectation of God's glory.
|
|
|
|
We boast in our sufferings because they are working for us.
|
|
|
suffering -> perseverance -> character -> hope
|
|
|
hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit
|
|
|
|
this love is demonstrated by Christ's death for us.
|
|
|
|
Since Christ's death justified us, when we were alienated from God, how much more will his life save us now that we are reconciled.
|
|
|
|
We boast in God - Jeremiah 9:23-24
|
|
|
|
Boasting: Romans 2:17; 2:23; 3:27; 4:2
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Jesus gives us rest - Matthew 11:28-30
|
|
|
|
Jesus gives us peace - John 14:27
|
|
|
|
Parable of the sower - Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
You can experience peace.
|
|
|
|
You can rejoice in suffering.
|
|
|
|
Jesus' death has reconciled you to God. His life is saving you.
|
|
|
|
Formulate the Homiletical Idea:
|
|
|
|
|
Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
|
|
|
|
Walk in peace with God.
|
|
|
|
Expect your suffering to work for you.
|
|
|
|
Boast in the Lord - not in your good works!
|
|
|
|
Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
|
|
|
|
Outline the Sermon
|
|
|
|
Standing Issues
|
|
|
|
From a word Bishop gave me:
|
|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
|
|
Make it plain:
|
|
|
|
Use accessible language.
|
|
|
|
Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
|
|
|
|
Sitting at a stop light
|
|
|
|
Driving through a green light
|
|
|
|
Approaching a yellow light
|
|
|
|
Being cut off in traffic
|
|
|
|
Going shopping
|
|
|
|
Going to a mall
|
|
|
|
Going to school; sitting in class
|
|
|
|
Going to work; sitting in your office;
|
|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Introduction
|
|
|
|
Welcome to another service at the Hampton Inn & Suites.
|
|
|
|
Welcome Cards -
|
|
|
|
“I want to call your attention to the Welcome Card that you were given on your way into the auditorium”
|
|
|
|
These cards do two things for us:
|
|
|
|
They help us get to know our new visitors better.
|
|
|
|
They also give anyone (visitors or members) a chance to express a need or to give us feedback.
|
|
|
|
By filling it out you will help us to better serve you.
|
|
|
|
We're going to provide time for you to complete the cards at the end of our service, but we encourage you to start filling them out now.
|
|
|
|
Please use this card:
• if you’re a first time visitor or if you’ve never filled one out before,
• to tell us about a decision you made today,
• to ask us for more information, or to give us feedback.
Please include your contact information unless we already have it. At the end of service we’ll ask you to complete the card and then place it in the designated box or give it to someone from our staff on your way out.
|
|
|
|
Transition
|
|
|
|
Thank you for your sharing during our business meeting last week.
|
|
|
|
Review and Correct teaching on Jewish feasts.
|
|
|
|
Spring Festivals
|
|
|
|
Passover (Pesach) ---> Jesus' Crucifixion
|
|
|
|
Unleavened Bread ---> Jesus' Burial
|
|
|
|
First Fruits ---> Jesus' Resurrection
|
|
|
|
Shavuot (giving of the Law) ---> Pentecost
|
|
|
|
Fall Festivals
|
|
|
|
Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) -->
|
|
|
|
Atonement (Yom Kippur) -->
|
|
|
|
Tabernacles (Sukkot) --->
|
|
|
|
Purpose of previous Sermon (Part 6)
|
|
|
|
Understand that righteousness comes by believing what God says.
|
|
|
|
Listen to what God is saying.
|
|
|
|
Believe what God tells them.
|
|
|
|
Purpose of previous Sermon (Life Church Vision)
|
|
|
|
Keep it real.
|
|
|
|
The real gospel is righteousness by faith!
|
|
|
|
Make sure that each of us understands the real gospel.
|
|
|
|
Make sure that each of us communicates the real gospel.
|
|
|
|
Drink from the river.
|
|
|
|
Make it easy for others to drink.
|
|
|
|
easy to connect with us,
|
|
|
|
easy to stay with us,
|
|
|
|
easy to grow with us,
|
|
|
|
easy to serve with us!
|
|
|
|
Read Romans 4:1-5
|
|
|
|
Read Romans 4:18-25
|
|
|
|
Read the Passage - Romans 5:1-11
|
|
|
|
|
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God and we rejoice/boast in the hope of God's glory, in our sufferings, and in God himself.
|
|
|
|
What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Like Abraham, we are declared righteous by putting our faith in God's promises and actions on our behalf.
|
|
|
|
We have peace with God: Shalom, well-being
|
|
|
|
We have something to rejoice/boast about:
|
|
|
|
We don't boast in the law as the Jews did.
|
|
|
|
We are like Abraham:
|
|
|
|
Against all hope he hoped for (expected) what God had promised him: that he would be the father of many nations. By doing this he gave God glory.
|
|
|
|
We hope for what God has promised us (righteousness) and we bring God glory by doing so.
|
|
|
|
Instead of falling short of God's glory (Romans 3:23-24) we expect God's glory (John 17:22; Romans 2:7-10; Romans 8:28-30)
|
|
|
|
We boast in our expectation of God's glory.
|
|
|
|
We boast in our sufferings because they are working for us.
|
|
|
|
suffering -> perseverance -> character -> hope
|
|
|
|
hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit
|
|
|
|
this love is demonstrated by Christ's death for us.
|
|
|
|
Since Christ's death justified us, when we were alienated from God, how much more will his life save us now that we are reconciled.
|
|
|
|
We boast in God
|
|
|
|
Boasting: Romans 2:17; 2:23; 3:27; 4:2
|
|
|
|
Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Jesus gives us rest - Matthew 11:28-30
|
|
|
|
Jesus gives us peace - John 14:27
|
|
|
|
Parable of the sower - Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
|
|
|
|
What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
You can experience peace.
|
|
|
|
You can rejoice in suffering.
|
|
|
|
Jesus' death has reconciled you to God. His life is saving you.
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea:
|
|
|
|
|
Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
|
|
|
|
Walk in peace with God.
|
|
|
|
Expect your suffering to work for you.
|
|
|
|
Boast in the Lord - not in your good works!
|
|
|
|
Walk in peace with God.
|
|
|
|
Keep meditating on these passages and others like them that promise peace with God. Let the Word go to work on you.
|
|
|
|
Medicine doesn't work unless you take it.
|
|
|
|
Renew your mind - Romans 12:2
|
|
|
|
Expect your suffering to work for you.
|
|
|
|
Working out - strength training
|
|
|
|
One of my mental barriers to exercise was dealing with the fatigue of pushing myself to my physical limits in exercise.
|
|
|
|
The fatigue and inability to complete an exercise felt like failure to me
|
|
|
|
In reality, your muscles have to be pushed to the point of failure in order to get stronger.
|
|
|
|
Pushing the limit causes small tears in the muscle. When your body repairs this damage the muscle becomes stronger.
|
|
|
|
Working out - aerobic exercise
|
|
|
|
I faced a similar barrier when I would push myself on the treadmill and feel that exhaustion of not wanting to walk any further.
|
|
|
|
In reality, your heart has to be pushed to that point in order to get stronger. You have to get to the point where you are breathing heavily (but not out of breath) in order to build aerobic fitness.
|
|
|
|
Boast in the Lord - not in your good works!
|
|
|
|
The law makes us conscious of sin - Romans 3:20
|
|
|
|
Rules don't sanctify us - Galatians 3:1-14; Colossians 2:13-23
|
|
|
|
Boast in the Lord - Jeremiah 9:23-24
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
|
|
|
|
New Material
|
|
|
|
Preparation
|
|
|
|
Expository Preaching
|
|
|
|
Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage
|
|
|
|
Study the Passage
|
|
|
|
NIV
|
|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
|
|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
|
|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Subject
|
|
|
|
Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why
|
|
|
|
Complement
|
|
|
|
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
Formulate the Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
|
|
|
|
Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
|
|
|
|
Make it plain
|
|
|
|
Use accessible language and modern parables.
|
|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Outline the Sermon
|
|
|
|
Misc
|
|
|
|
General
|
|
|
|
Use examples that appeal to men.
|
|
|
|
Make the Life Church Basic Training project-oriented - give everyone a ministry project.
|
|
|
|
http://home.regent.edu/ruthven/2Worlds.htm
|
|
|
|
You learn a lot about a person's spiritual maturity by how they respond to a rebuke.
|
|
|
|
Always impart faith along with with the purpose of the sermon - Heb 4:2
|
|
|
|
Develop a confession of faith regarding talking to God
|
|
|
|
I can talk to God and he talks to me.
|
|
|
|
I don't have to know how God is guiding me. I just need to trust his Word that he is guiding me.
|
|
|
|
Not many fathers - 1Cor 4:6-17
|
|
|
|
Fathers must influence.
|
|
|
|
In search of a father.
|
|
|
|
Don’t waste discipleship opportunities.
|
|
|
|
Give people a way to demonstrate their hunger (as a qualification for discipleship).
|
|
|
|
Faith comes by hearing - Romans 10:17
|
|
|
|
Prep congregation for unchurched
|
|
|
|
This Day In Black History: . . .
|
|
|
|
Music
|
|
|
|
Everything Is On The One - Parliament/Funkadelic
|
|
|
|
Keep Their Heads Ringing - Dr. Dre
|
|
|
|
Today Was A Good Day - Ice Cube
|
|
|
|
My Mind Playin' Tricks On Me - Getto Boys
|
|
|
|
Cosmic Slop - Funkadelic
|
|
|
|
Let Me Clear My Throat - DJ Kool Feat. Biz Markie & Doug E. Fresh
|
|
|
|
Specific
|
|
|
|
Teach men what to do with their strength. Pimp or Papa?
|
|
|
|
Structure the service to fight consumerism. Make sure that everyone has a way to contribute to the service (i.e. setting up, cleaning up, etc.)
|
|
|
|
Prayer Teaching:
I’ve got so much to do today - I need to pray (Martin Luther?)
We need God’s help in our day to day lives:
|
|
|
|
“Luck” management
|
|
|
|
Character management
|
|
|
|
I need God’s Word to live.
|
|
|
|
Start every day with a Word from God. - Matthew 4:4
|
|
|
|
For the message:
|
|
|
|
Illustration:
|
|
|
|
What do I have to do Lord?
|
|
|
|
|
Children need rules because their brains are not fully formed yet. Adults need rules in situations where relationship has not yet been established. 1Tim 1:9-11
|
|
|
|
Review and Correct teaching on Jewish feasts.
|
|
|
|
Romans: From Rags To Righteousness (Part 7)
|
|
|
|
Raw Material
|
|
|
|
Sermon Illustration:
|
|
|
|
Our mission is not to permanently destroy the world’s system. It’s there to provide a “powerful delusion” for those who refuse to believe the truth. Our mission is to continually unravel the world’s system as a witness to the power and authority of God’s Kingdom.
|
|
|
|
For the Message:
|
|
|
|
Let the Ephesians 1 passage transform your thinking (Romans 8:5-6, racism as “2nd-hand smoke”)
|
|
|
|
Romans 8
|
|
|
|
You can do it too - let God design your relationships.
|
|
|
|
You have what you need! Use what you have!
|
|
|
|
God: “They have been given my Spirit; teach them to listen to him.”
|
|
|
|
The more Word you plant in your heart, the easier it will be for you to hear God’s Spirit.
|
|
|
|
Romans 12:1-2
|
|
|
|
The Spirit reminds us of what Jesus said - John 14 - 16
|
|
|
|
The proper use of suffering.
|
|
|
|
The way that I used TV to fight loneliness while Eva was away last night even though the Holy Spirit had told me to avoid TV during this period. This increased my vulnerability to sexual temptation.
|
|
|
|
Use freedom - don’t worship it
|
|
|
|
Lexical search on judging.
|
|
|
|
Is it possible to be at peace with God when you are violating his will. What if you "feel at peace" with him?
|
|
|
|
Preparation - Romans 5:1-11
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage - Romans 5:1-11
|
|
|
|
|
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
|
|
|
|
Study the Passage
|
|
|
|
NIV
|
|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
|
|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
|
|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God and we rejoice/boast in the hope of God's glory, in our sufferings, and in God himself.
|
|
|
|
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Like Abraham, we are declared righteous by putting our faith in God's promises and actions on our behalf.
|
|
|
|
We have peace with God: Shalom, well-being
|
|
|
|
We have something to rejoice/boast about:
|
|
|
|
We don't boast in the law as the Jews did.
|
|
|
|
We are like Abraham:
|
|
|
|
Against all hope he hoped for (expected) what God had promised him: that he would be the father of many nations. By doing this he gave God glory.
|
|
|
|
We hope for what God has promised us (righteousness) and we bring God glory by doing so.
|
|
|
|
Instead of falling short of God's glory (Romans 3:23-24) we expect God's glory (John 17:22; Romans 2:7-10; Romans 8:28-30)
|
|
|
|
We boast in our expectation of God's glory.
|
|
|
|
We boast in our sufferings because they are working for us.
|
|
|
|
suffering -> perseverance -> character -> hope
|
|
|
|
hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit
|
|
|
|
this love is demonstrated by Christ's death for us.
|
|
|
|
Since Christ's death justified us, when we were alienated from God, how much more will his life save us now that we are reconciled.
|
|
|
|
We boast in God - Jeremiah 9:23-24
|
|
|
|
Boasting: Romans 2:17; 2:23; 3:27; 4:2
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Jesus gives us rest - Matthew 11:28-30
|
|
|
|
Jesus gives us peace - John 14:27
|
|
|
|
Parable of the sower - Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
You can experience peace.
|
|
|
|
You can rejoice in suffering.
|
|
|
|
Jesus' death has reconciled you to God. His life is saving you.
|
|
|
|
Formulate the Homiletical Idea:
|
|
|
|
|
Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
|
|
|
|
Walk in peace with God.
|
|
|
|
Expect your suffering to work for you.
|
|
|
|
Boast in the Lord - not in your good works!
|
|
|
|
Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
|
|
|
|
Outline the Sermon
|
|
|
|
Standing Issues
|
|
|
|
From a word Bishop gave me:
|
|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
|
|
Make it plain:
|
|
|
|
Use accessible language.
|
|
|
|
Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
|
|
|
|
Sitting at a stop light
|
|
|
|
Driving through a green light
|
|
|
|
Approaching a yellow light
|
|
|
|
Being cut off in traffic
|
|
|
|
Going shopping
|
|
|
|
Going to a mall
|
|
|
|
Going to school; sitting in class
|
|
|
|
Going to work; sitting in your office;
|
|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Introduction
|
|
|
|
Welcome to another service at the Hampton Inn & Suites.
|
|
|
|
Welcome Cards -
|
|
|
|
“I want to call your attention to the Welcome Card that you were given on your way into the auditorium”
|
|
|
|
These cards do two things for us:
|
|
|
|
They help us get to know our new visitors better.
|
|
|
|
They also give anyone (visitors or members) a chance to express a need or to give us feedback.
|
|
|
|
By filling it out you will help us to better serve you.
|
|
|
|
We're going to provide time for you to complete the cards at the end of our service, but we encourage you to start filling them out now.
|
|
|
|
Please use this card:
• if you’re a first time visitor or if you’ve never filled one out before,
• to tell us about a decision you made today,
• to ask us for more information, or to give us feedback.
Please include your contact information unless we already have it. At the end of service we’ll ask you to complete the card and then place it in the designated box or give it to someone from our staff on your way out.
|
|
|
|
Transition
|
|
|
|
Thank you for your sharing during our business meeting last week.
|
|
|
|
Review and Correct teaching on Jewish feasts.
|
|
|
|
Spring Festivals
|
|
|
|
Passover (Pesach) ---> Jesus' Crucifixion
|
|
|
|
Unleavened Bread ---> Jesus' Burial
|
|
|
|
First Fruits ---> Jesus' Resurrection
|
|
|
|
Shavuot (giving of the Law) ---> Pentecost
|
|
|
|
Fall Festivals
|
|
|
|
Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) -->
|
|
|
|
Atonement (Yom Kippur) -->
|
|
|
|
Tabernacles (Sukkot) --->
|
|
|
|
Purpose of previous Sermon (Part 6)
|
|
|
|
Understand that righteousness comes by believing what God says.
|
|
|
|
Listen to what God is saying.
|
|
|
|
Believe what God tells them.
|
|
|
|
Purpose of previous Sermon (Life Church Vision)
|
|
|
|
Keep it real.
|
|
|
|
The real gospel is righteousness by faith!
|
|
|
|
Make sure that each of us understands the real gospel.
|
|
|
|
Make sure that each of us communicates the real gospel.
|
|
|
|
Drink from the river.
|
|
|
|
Make it easy for others to drink.
|
|
|
|
easy to connect with us,
|
|
|
|
easy to stay with us,
|
|
|
|
easy to grow with us,
|
|
|
|
easy to serve with us!
|
|
|
|
Read Romans 4:1-5
|
|
|
|
Read Romans 4:18-25
|
|
|
|
Read the Passage - Romans 5:1-11
|
|
|
|
|
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God and we rejoice/boast in the hope of God's glory, in our sufferings, and in God himself.
|
|
|
|
What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Like Abraham, we are declared righteous by putting our faith in God's promises and actions on our behalf.
|
|
|
|
We have peace with God: Shalom, well-being
|
|
|
|
We have something to rejoice/boast about:
|
|
|
|
We don't boast in the law as the Jews did.
|
|
|
|
We are like Abraham:
|
|
|
|
Against all hope he hoped for (expected) what God had promised him: that he would be the father of many nations. By doing this he gave God glory.
|
|
|
|
We hope for what God has promised us (righteousness) and we bring God glory by doing so.
|
|
|
|
Instead of falling short of God's glory (Romans 3:23-24) we expect God's glory (John 17:22; Romans 2:7-10; Romans 8:28-30)
|
|
|
|
We boast in our expectation of God's glory.
|
|
|
|
We boast in our sufferings because they are working for us.
|
|
|
|
suffering -> perseverance -> character -> hope
|
|
|
|
hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit
|
|
|
|
this love is demonstrated by Christ's death for us.
|
|
|
|
Since Christ's death justified us, when we were alienated from God, how much more will his life save us now that we are reconciled.
|
|
|
|
We boast in God
|
|
|
|
Boasting: Romans 2:17; 2:23; 3:27; 4:2
|
|
|
|
Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Jesus gives us rest - Matthew 11:28-30
|
|
|
|
Jesus gives us peace - John 14:27
|
|
|
|
Parable of the sower - Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
|
|
|
|
What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
You can experience peace.
|
|
|
|
You can rejoice in suffering.
|
|
|
|
Jesus' death has reconciled you to God. His life is saving you.
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea:
|
|
|
|
|
Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
|
|
|
|
Walk in peace with God.
|
|
|
|
Expect your suffering to work for you.
|
|
|
|
Boast in the Lord - not in your good works!
|
|
|
|
Walk in peace with God.
|
|
|
|
Keep meditating on these passages and others like them that promise peace with God. Let the Word go to work on you.
|
|
|
|
Medicine doesn't work unless you take it.
|
|
|
|
Renew your mind - Romans 12:2
|
|
|
|
Expect your suffering to work for you.
|
|
|
|
Working out - strength training
|
|
|
|
One of my mental barriers to exercise was dealing with the fatigue of pushing myself to my physical limits in exercise.
|
|
|
|
The fatigue and inability to complete an exercise felt like failure to me
|
|
|
|
In reality, your muscles have to be pushed to the point of failure in order to get stronger.
|
|
|
|
Pushing the limit causes small tears in the muscle. When your body repairs this damage the muscle becomes stronger.
|
|
|
|
Working out - aerobic exercise
|
|
|
|
I faced a similar barrier when I would push myself on the treadmill and feel that exhaustion of not wanting to walk any further.
|
|
|
|
In reality, your heart has to be pushed to that point in order to get stronger. You have to get to the point where you are breathing heavily (but not out of breath) in order to build aerobic fitness.
|
|
|
|
Boast in the Lord - not in your good works!
|
|
|
|
The law makes us conscious of sin - Romans 3:20
|
|
|
|
Rules don't sanctify us - Galatians 3:1-14; Colossians 2:13-23
|
|
|
|
Boast in the Lord - Jeremiah 9:23-24
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
|
|
|
|
Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion ?
|
|
|
|
Welcome Cards - refer to script
|
|
|
|
We're almost ready to close this portion of our service, but first we want to give you a chance to respond to what you've heard.
|
|
|
|
Earlier in the service we mentioned the welcome cards and we encouraged you to begin filling them out.
|
|
|
|
Right now we want you to complete your welcome card. We especially want you to use this card if:
|
|
|
|
if you’re a first time visitor
|
|
|
|
if you’ve never filled one out before,
|
|
|
|
if you want to tell us about a decision you made today,
|
|
|
|
if you want to ask us for more information, or to give us feedback.
|
|
|
|
Please be sure to include your up to date contact information unless we already have it.
|
|
|
|
MC & Worship Team continue with tithes, offerings, and worship
|
|
|
|
Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26
|
|
|
|
|
“‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
|
|
|
|
Men's Prayer
|
|
|
|
Life Group Material
|
|
|
|
Life Group Word Material
|
|
|
|
|
These are sample discussion questions / topics. Your life group leaders may choose to adjust these questions, substitute new ones, or spend the Word section of the meeting in a different way altogether.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
|
|
|
|
Romans 5:1-11
|
|
|
|
|
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
|
|
|
|
Discussion Questions / Topics:
|
|
|
|
According to this passage, followers of Jesus have been "justified by faith" and have "peace with God" - meaning that there is no hostility in our relationship with God (i.e. we're not mad at him and he's not mad at us). Are you a follower of Jesus? If so, how does "peace with God" affect your life?
|
|
|
|
Paul writes that we "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God". In what ways is this true of you? In what ways is it not true?
|
|
|
|
In what ways are your sufferings building character in you? Do you rejoice in your sufferings? Discuss.
|
|
|
|
According to this passage, followers of Jesus are former enemies of God who have been reconciled to him through Jesus' death. How familiar are you with this concept? Does it make sense to you?
|
|
|
|
What impact has Jesus had on your attitude towards God? In what ways, if any, do you rejoice in God now?
|
|
|
|
Colossians 2:13-23
|
|
|
|
|
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
|
|
|
|
Discussion Questions / Topics:
|
|
|
|
In what ways has this passage applied to you in the past?
|
|
|
|
In what ways does this passage apply to you now?
|
|
|
|
Life Group Witnessing Activities
|
|
|
|
Galatians 3:1-14
|
|
|
|
|
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing — if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
|
|
|
|
Witnessing Questions / Topics:
|
|
|
|
Do you know anyone who is trying to be righteous by following rules? How would you explain righteousness by faith to them?
|
|
|
|
How can your life group do a better job of helping people to receive righteousness by faith? What can you do as individuals? As a team?
|
|
|
|
Scriptures For 11/28/2010 Life Church Sermon
|
|
|
|
|
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
|
|
|
|
|
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about — but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
|
|
|
|
|
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
|
|
|
|
|
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
|
|
|
|
|
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
|
|
|
|
|
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing — if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
|
|
|
|
|
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
|
|
|
|
|
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
|
|
|
|
|
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Here, for your convenience, are the Bible passages that we will be using in today's sermon at Life Church. We use the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible so that you can read it in modern English. You may have been accustomed to reading or hearing the King James Version of the Bible, which uses older English (with words like "thee" , "thou", "thine", "believeth", etc.). If so, don't be alarmed - the passages below are really from the Bible even though they are in modern English.
The Bible was originally written in three ancient languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. None of the people in the Bible, and none of the people who God used to write it spoke English. In fact, English did not even exist as a language when the Bible was written. The King James Version, first published in 1611, was a translation of the Bible from it's original languages into the every day English that people used back then - almost 400 years ago! They didn't just speak that way in church - they spoke that way with everyone. The King James Version was "modernized" in 1769, but, even so, English has certainly changed a lot since then! Since you probably don't speak Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, you're going to have to read the Bible in translated form. At Life Church we believe that since you're going to read an English translation of the Bible you might as well use an up to date one - written in the English you speak every day. God wants you to understand his Word so that you can put it into practice!
Life Church Web Site: http://www.lifechurchboston.org/
|
|
|