The Life Giving Spirit

Living According to the Spirit

State preaching text

Romans 8:1–11 CSB

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

One sentence homiletical idea (main idea)

Believers are to live according to the Spirit.

Introduction - should be written in full-length sentences two or three paragraphs in length.

We have power! We have the power to overcome sin, and live a life in full assurance of God’s deliverance of us. Why? because We have the very Spirit of God in us.

Now we live in constant tension between our flesh, our sinful nature, and the Spirit of Christ which is at work within us.

Paul himself expresses this tension by writing,

Romans 7:24–25 CSB

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

Christians live a victorious life, even though their is a real battle with the flesh, because we are in Christ and have the Sprit.

Romans The Struggle Within / 7:7-25

AM I REALLY A SLAVE?

There is great tension in daily Christian experience. The conflict is that we agree with God’s commands but cannot do them. As a result, we are painfully aware of our sin. This inward struggle with sin was as real for Paul as it is for us. From Paul we learn what to do about it. Whenever he felt overwhelmed by the spiritual battle, he would return to the beginnings of his spiritual life, remembering how he had been freed from sin by Jesus Christ. When we feel confused and overwhelmed by sin’s appeal, let us claim the freedom Christ gave us. His power can lift us to victory.

I.  First Main Point - Believers may feel condemnation for many reason, satan uses past guilt and our failures to make us question, but we have assurance because we are in Christ

A.  Use Sub Points (sentence or phrase) for the following: What we could not do in the Flesh, Christ did for us.

1.  explanation- The law could not keep us from breaking it.

2.  illustration-

John 5:25 CSB

“Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

3.  application

II.  Second Main Point - written as full-length sentence

A.  Use Sub Points (sentence or phrase) for the following:

1.  explanation

2.  illustration

3.  application

III.  Third Main Point - written as full-length sentence

A.  Use Sub Points (sentence or phrase) for the following:

1.  explanation

2.  illustration

3.  application

Conclusion - should be written in full length sentences two or three paragraphs in length. Challenge and apply the sermon (state the homiletical idea in the conclusion).

*The number of main points and sub points will vary, but the main points should have multiple sub points. In the sub points explain, illustrate and apply the main point.