Romans 15

Imitate Christ

Romans 15

I would like to continue with our series on the book of Romans.

This book is considered Paul’s masterpiece, a very well-constructed summary of Christian Theology.

Considered by many one of the most important books ever written on the Christian faith.

Last week on chapter 14 we talked about preferring one another, Paul tells us to not judge and reject each other but to accept our brothers and sisters, He masterfully avoids the words Jews and gentiles and uses the words weak and strong, but he describes the weak as those who are bound in traditions and get offended with irrelevant matters and calls the strong those who are free, but his approach was to call us to prefer one another in love.

Rom 14:13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

I was reading this old article on psychology today by Jim Taylor PH.D

Narcissism Is Alive and Well in America

Is narcissism in America an epidemic?

Do you know the story of Narcissus? The very handsome fellow in Greek mythology who, because of his indifference and disdain toward others, was punished by the gods by falling in love with his own image. He was so enraptured by his beauty that he was unable to pull himself away from his own reflection that he wasted away and died.

narcissism is alive and well and living in America, narcissism is a personality characteristic associated with self-absorption, egocentrism, an overestimation of one's own importance and abilities, a sense of entitlement, and a disregard for others.

One study found that 30 percent of young people were classified as narcissistic according to a widely used psychological test. That number has doubled in the last 30 years.

These findings aren't surprising to anyone who pays attention to the "it's all about me" culture in which we currently live.

We live on an I centered generation.

We have devices like

I phones, I pads, I pods, I tunes, I watches. Apple says the I is for internet but all their products is for our gratification, so fits very well into the culture.

This is the age of the selfies.

According to Google 93 million selfies are taken each day, worldwide, since 2015.

82% of youth 18-34 in the US are selfie takers since 2018.

The writers of a book called Narcissism in America said we live in a culture that not only tolerates narcissism but encourages Narcissism.

Where are all this coming from?

Is The result of a culture who asks and answer the question, what is the meaning the purpose of life? Why am I here? Everyone asks this question.

61% of Americans 3 out of every five Americans say the main purpose of life is enjoyment and personal fulfilment.

Today We are on chapter 15

Let’s pray

Imitate Christ

This is how we overcome selfish living

1 Be patient.

With your brothers and sisters.

Rom 15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Paul is including you and I as a strong Christians,

The idea is that you bear, carry, take up, a scruple of conscience. hesitation, second though)

You help them to carry their load, it doesn’t mean to have a very limited amount of patience towards them.

to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves! Is a very hard concept

when we take in consideration that 3 out 5 of Americans believe that their goal in life is to be Happy, and to enjoy themselves .

Worse than that is to think that 50% of believers, church goers, believe the same way, how can we possibly think about someone else our neighbors, ahead of ourselves?

When we have God’s people trying to be as cool as everyone else, we begin to embrace their same ideas and values, and we will display the same level of selfishness.

The church of Christ are to be counter cultural.

instead of pleasing ourselves we are to be patient with others, with their hangups.

Maybe the Christian music you listen too,

2 Be Pleasing to your brothers and sisters

Rom 15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

We are still talking about brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, who you are modeling a more mature walk with Christ.

There is not a commercial on tv or social media, of products that you should bless your neighbor with, is all about you, during valentines although you can’t afford, you should give Jewelry, is the only thing for the one you love, if you can’t you should feel bad about it. The rest is all the things you need deserve it or can’t live without it.

Don’t fall into this trap of pleasing yourself, please your neighbor.

Follow Jesus example.

Rom 15:3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

Php 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

Php 2:7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Php 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Php 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

Php 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Php 2:11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What we deserve fell on Him.

3 We need to read and Know scripture

, bible recap, join us on Bible Recap

Rom 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Rom 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

Rom 15:6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 Welcome others just as Christ welcomed you

Rom 15:7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Jesus gave us a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father welcoming us

Luk 15:11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.

Luk 15:12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

Luk 15:13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

Luk 15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

Luk 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

Luk 15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

Luk 15:17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

Luk 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Luk 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'

He knew what he had done and deserved,

Luk 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Luk 15:21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

Luk 15:22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Luk 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.

This parable is about A loving, forgiving, and welcoming Father, this son had reject him and his household disrespected him, wasted his money, and now he wanted to come be back as a servant, what an awesome dad.

I don’t know how Christ has welcome you, but I remember how He welcomed me into His Kingdom, and many of my friends, with open arms and a big smile on His face, not because we deserved it, He loves us!

Here in our Island we had great examples of Godly people who came to serve God in the Hawaiian islands.

like Father Bond of Kohala, Lorence Lions, Imiola, cattle ranch donating 90% of their income to support missions, Loren Cuningham with youth with a mission, sometimes donating everything they had for missions, life is not all about ourselves .

Imitate Christ

Overcame selfish living

Be Patient

Be pleasing to your brothers and sisters

Know your bible

Welcome others just as Christ welcomes you.

Have you asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3:16

To receive Him we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, asking Him to be your Lord and savior, not that you deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?

Heavenly Father I’m sinner, I’m sorry for my sins, I’m willing to turn away from my sins.

I receive Christ as my savior,

I confess him as Lord

from this moment on I want to follow and serve him,

in the fellowship of his church,

In Jesus name. Amen!

1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke itand said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks thiscup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Heb 9:14 dead works, acts, sins

E mau aku ka loko maika’i o ka Haku, Iesu Kristo; me ke aloha a ke Akua, a me ka launa pu ‘ana mai o ka Uhane Hemolele ia ‘olua, a me makou apau. Amene.