Grace Bible Church - Romans Study

Dealing with Dissension

Sun, 01 Jun 2003 13:00:00 -0400

It has taken a year, but today we will complete our study of the book of Romans. I have personally enjoyed going through this book and have found it very beneficial to my own walk with the Lord. I trust that the same has been true for you.

Ministry Made Personal

Sun, 25 May 2003 13:00:00 -0400

How much do you like to hear you name? I guess that depends on why it is being used. None of us like to hear our name called if the one using it is mad at us or suspects us of doing something wrong. But what about when you hear your name called by someone you know loves you? Or how about when it is being said in order to recognize you in some special way either because of a good relationship you have or because of something good you have done? We like to hear our names then.

Paul's Prayer Requests

Sun, 18 May 2003 13:00:00 -0400

Turn to Romans 15. This morning we will be concluding our study of this chapter. Last week we saw Paulâ€™s passion and plans in verses 14-29. This week we will examine his prayer requests. These requests are not something tacked on to the end of his discussion as a sign of piety. That may be the way that some people treat prayer, but not Paul. His prayer requests are a integral part of his passion to reach new places with the gospel of Christ and of his hope of seeing his plans for fulfilling that passion completed. Look at verse 30.

Paul's Passion and Plans

Sun, 11 May 2003 13:00:00 -0400

Passion. A word that can bring many different ideas to mind. In our society the word "passion" often has either a negative or a sensual connotation, and so one writer quipped that "the end of passion is the beginning of repentance." But Websterâ€™s dictionary tells us that "passion" can refer to an intense emotion or enthusiasm without regard to the type of emotion or the specific cause of the enthusiasm generating it.

Getting Along with One Another, Part 3

Sun, 04 May 2003 13:00:00 -0400

We have been looking at the topic of how Christians who come from very diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds are supposed to get along with each other within the church. Some groups have concluded that it is either not possible for this to happen or just not wise to try to do it because there are too many conflicts over differences in personal preferences and practices. Instead they advocate churches that are made up of people that are culturally and ethnically the same. While there may be some merit to this idea and historically this has been the common practice by churches, there is a major problem. The Bible presents the church as an ethnically and culturally diverse body from the very beginning of its existence.

Getting Along in the Body, Part 2

Sun, 27 Apr 2003 13:00:00 -0400

How are Christians to get along with one another when they come from such diverse backgrounds? This is not just an issue for the manner in which churches from different nations or regions relate to each other. For a church such as Grace Bible in which there are diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds among its members, this can be a very personal issue. There are many matters that are not directly addressed in the Bible, and conflict can arise over differences in personal standards. How are those conflicts to be resolved when there is not a clear Scriptural solution as to which standard is right and which one is wrong? I think it should be easy for us to consider that both personal standards could be wrong, but could both standards be right? How Christians get along with each other in the midst of these kinds of conflicts will be a reflection of their spiritual maturity and love for Jesus Christ and one another.

Getting Along in the body, Part 1

Sun, 06 Apr 2003 13:00:00 -0400

When I was in my late teens and early 20's, there was a family of Vietnamese refugees that lived in next door to us. It was an eye opening experience as we tried to understand one another. As a welcome to our neighborhood, my mom gave them a plate of cookies. That began a series of gift exchanges of various food items. I am still not sure what some of them were. The most elaborate was a roast duck they brought over one time, but I did not get to try it. My mom didnâ€™t want to eat a duck that still had its head attached. We gave it to the neighbors on the other side of us, who said it was quite good. My dad and I went next door once for a meal celebrating the grandfathers' birthday. We learned that day that they did not use much sugar, if any at all, even in their deserts. That made me wonder what they had thought of all the cakes, cookies and other sweets we had given to them. Perhaps about the same as my mom thought of a duck with its head on.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Wed, 02 Apr 2003 12:00:00 -0500

Turn to Romans 13:8 as we continue our study of this book. Remember that all that Paul says in this chapter is based upon what he has said in chapter 12:1,2 Our relationship with God, other Christians and all other people is based on having the right response to what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. The only reasonable response to our salvation through faith in Christ is to present ourselves as living and holy sacrifices acceptable to God. We are transformed into living sacrifices through a mind that is changed by the truth of Godâ€™s word which is then put into action by our will in doing what God desires instead of continuing in selfishness.

The Christian and Government

Sun, 23 Mar 2003 12:00:00 -0500

The timing of our study of Romans 13:1-7 could hardly be better. Our passage this morning instructs us on the origin and purpose of government. Given the debating that has been going on for quite sometime about the role and authority of government in prosecuting a war, we need to understand what God says about it. It is also always very relevant for us to understand the relationship of the Christian to government, but perhaps even more so when we look at our calendars and see there are only about three weeks left to file your Federal & State income taxes.

Practical Christian Living, Part 5

Wed, 19 Mar 2003 12:00:00 -0500

We have been studying Romans for the past 14 months. I trust that you now understand that when a person places their faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, there are radical changes that take place. When a person is justified through faith in Christ, they have a change of masters . They are freed from bondage to sin and the devil and made slaves of God and righteousness. They are then progressively changed to be conformed into the image of Christ as they present themselves as living and holy sacrifices acceptable to God and are transformed by the renewing of their minds .

Practical Christian Living, Part 4

Sun, 09 Mar 2003 12:00:00 -0500

We have been studying Romans 12 and what Paul has to say about the practical ramifications of being a Christian. When a person becomes a Christian there are changes that will occur in that personâ€™s life as a result of their new beliefs. Paul states very directly in Romans 12:1 that the only reasonable response of worship that we could have to Godâ€™s mercies to us in Jesus Christ which have resulted in our salvation is that we should present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices that are acceptable to God. We have spent the bulk of our time in closely examining what Paul says about how being a living sacrifice acceptable to God should work out in our everyday lives.

Practical Christian Living, Part 3

Sun, 02 Mar 2003 12:00:00 -0500

This morning we are going to continue in our study of Romans 12. Paul has presented deep theology in the first 11 chapters, and now he is applying these theological truths to practical, every day living. In view of Godâ€™s mercies to man in Jesus Christ who, being God in human flesh, lived a sinless life and willingly laid down His life on the cross as the substitute sacrifice in atoning for our sins, then rose again from the dead on the third day proving Himself and His promises of salvation from sin for those who believe in Him to be true, there should be a corresponding response by those who profess such faith. They are to present themselves as living and holy sacrifices which are acceptable to God. This is the reasonable response of true worship of God. Such a person is then changed over time to be a reflection of Jesus as they are transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Practical Christian Living, Part 2

Sun, 23 Feb 2003 12:00:00 -0500

There are many kinds of friendship ranging from casual acquaintances to best friends. But what is the nature of the love in friendship that God desires for us to have for one another? Perhaps the following story of two men in WW I gives us an idea of it.

Practical Christian Living, Part 1

Sun, 16 Feb 2003 12:00:00 -0500

Have you ever met someone who professed to be a Christian, but their life style made you seriously question their claim? Even non-Christians know that there are certain characteristics of behavior and attitude that should mark the Christian. When those characteristics are obviously lacking, then there becomes a question as to whether a personâ€™s claim to be a Christian is actually true.

Spiritual Gifts, Part 5

Sun, 09 Feb 2003 12:00:00 -0500

For several weeks we have been examining Spiritual Gifts. We have covered those gifts listed in Romans 12 and similar gifts mentioned in other passages. This morning I want us to examine the "sign" gifts of 1 Corinthians 12. This passage is often misunderstood due to the strong influence of the Charismatic movement. Much of what people commonly understand about this passage is based in experience and not on what the text actually says. Our goal is to live according to what God actually says and not on what people say based on their experiences. Turn to 1 Corinthians 12.