Extending the Gospel with Passion & Sincerity
God’s sovereignty over salvation does not in any way mitigate our responsibility to passionately & persuasively present the gospel message to all types of people.
Series: Romans
Verse by Verse
May 4, 2008
• Romans 1-16
Verse by verse exposition of the book of Romans
Getting Serious About God’s Priorities
Romans 10:1
To fulfill our calling as ambassadors of Christ we must be more passionate and prayerful about expanding the kingdom of God and extending the Lordship of Christ.
Taking On the Gospel’s Biggest Obstacle
Romans 10:2-5
Our most frustrating challenge (and fervent prayer) in evangelism is seeing people moved from trusting in their own efforts to resting in the finished work of Christ.
Acquiring a Clear Picture of What We’re Praying For
Romans 10:6-13
As ambassadors of Christ we must clearly understand & fervently pray for the biblical effects of genuine repentance & faith in the lives of those we seek to win for Christ.
Sacrificing for People We’ve Yet to Meet
Romans 10:14-18
Because it is God’s plan to use our evangelism to expand his kingdom, we must be prepared for growth & willingly sacrifice any personal interests that stand in the way.
Modern Israel and Our Jewish Messiah
Romans 10:19-11:12
Knowing that God is using his relationship with us to provoke jealousy in Israel should be one of the many biblical motivations to pursue a vibrant spiritual life
Looking to the End as a Humble Gentile
Romans 11:13-22
We must humbly respect the Jews for their place in salvation-history while we cling to grace, eschewing any self-confidence, as we consider God’s dealings with Israel
Election and God’s Future for Israel
Romans 11:23-36
We should joyfully anticipate the faithful fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Israel by gratefully worshipping the all-wise Architect of salvation history.
Crystal Clear About Why We Serve
Romans 12:1
Because we are objects of God’s unmerited favor we ought to give ourselves fully to live for him completely in all we do, think and say.
A Radically Different Identity
Romans 12:2
We must willingly incur any and all costs of being identified with Christ and zealously living for him in a culture that is hostile to our values, standards and commitments.
Serving Without Pride
Romans 12:3-5
As God begins to utilize us as his sold-out servants we need to vigorously fight our prideful tendency and see ourselves and all Christians as products of grace.
Making Our Church Stronger
Romans 12:6-8
God requires that every Christian enthusiastically utilize the variety of personal investments that he has made in each of us to advance his cause and care for his church.
Sincerely Loving God's People
Romans 12:9-10
“Sold-Out Servants” must care for their fellow congregants with a selfless, Christlike love which is full of respect and genuine concern for the others’ good.
When You Feel Like Slowing Down
Romans 12:11-12
God forbids his people to be lazy and lethargic, instead he commands and enables us to always serve the body of Christ with zeal, passion and perseverance.
Excelling In Generosity
Romans 12:13
God does not allow his people to “keep to themselves,” instead he requires that we get actively involved in meeting the needs of our brothers & sisters in Christ.
Learning Counterintuitive Responses
Romans 12:14, 20-21
Knowing God will either graciously convert or justly judge those who mistreat us, we must be ready to respond to them with counterintuitive prayers and acts of kindness.
Empathy for God’s Embattled People
Romans 12:15-16
As God’s children we are required to selflessly band together to support, encourage and strengthen one another when any of us are suffering, persecuted or attacked.
Caring About Christ's Reputation
Romans 12:17-18
When we are mistreated we must respond strategically not emotionally, being more concerned about Christ?s reputation than the satisfaction of personal revenge.
Working to Rest in God's Justice
Romans 12:19
When treated unjustly we must patiently entrust our situation to a just and loving God who promises that one way or another he will settle the score on every sinful act.
God’s Surprising Use of Governments
Romans 13:1-2
Because our perfect God uses imperfect governments to accomplish his goals in the world, we should affirm their authority and seek to live peaceably under their rule.
Human Laws & Christian Conduct
Romans 13:3-4
As long as obedience to Christ is not made impossible, we must respectfully obey the laws of our government (& they would do well to remember their divine stewardship).
When Earthly Kingdoms Clash
Romans 13:4
As Christians we must recognize that though the Church does not thrive or survive by means of military action, earthly governments in the present age necessarily do.
Obedience, Honor & April 15th
Romans 13:5-7
While earthly governments are far from what they should be, we must respectfully obey their laws and dutifully pay our taxes as an act of devotion to Jesus Christ.
Aiming at Love
Romans 13:8-10
We can simplify our Christian duty to keep God’s moral laws by consciously seeking to love and serve others as Christ did.
Envisioning The End
Romans 13:11-12
A thoughtful focus on the imminent return of Christ will serve as a major motivation for Christians in their fight against sin and their pursuit of holiness.
Exemplifying Christ
Romans 13:13-14
We should pursue progress in our sanctification by imitating Christ’s forceful and strategic response to sin and temptation.
Sorting Out God’s Orders from Our Opinions
Romans 14:1-6
We must learn from the first century church to thoughtfully identify our own debatable issues and never confuse them with God’s clear statements of right & wrong.
Living In Light of Our Coming Judgment
Romans 14:4-12
All of our decisions about “gray areas” need to be carefully and soberly considered in light of our future accountability at the bema seat of Christ.
Choosing To Be Done With Selfish Living
Romans 14:7-9
Christianity assumes and requires that Christians are consciously and purposefully living for the glory, honor and benefit of God – not themselves!
Working Harder At Love & Unity
Romans 14:13-21
We must lovingly anticipate the potential negative impact our “gray area” decisions might have on others, and always be willing to sacrifice our freedom for their spiritual good.