The Marks of a mature Church
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Paul is wrapping up this monumental letter with a pastoral tone.
After heavy doctrine (Romans 1–11) and practical duty (Romans 12–15), he pauses to encourage the believers and explain his ministry.
Paul’s life is cause for amazement and reflection. In the context of the times in which he lived, his situation appeared absurd. On one side there was Rome, metropolis of the world, heart of the Empire, insufferably proud on her seven hills, shaking the earth with the march of her fabled legions. On the other side was this little Jew, with scarred face and feeble body, ostensibly impotent amidst such power, armed only with something he called the “good news.” Yet he changed the history of Rome, Western civilization, and indeed our own lives.
Obviously there was something about this little man that set him apart from the rest. What made him different is what makes our text so interesting, because now, having finished the argument of the book of Romans, Paul tells us why he wrote it and how he views his mission. Verses 14–33 of chapter 15 are an exposition of the anatomy of the greatest missionary heart ever.
Question to set the stage: What makes a church strong, and what makes a ministry fruitful?
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, 16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. 17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
Introduction:
One of the greatest encouragements in life is when someone we respect expresses confidence in us. Think about a teacher who told you, “I believe in you,” or a coach who said, “You can do this.” Those words often stay with us longer than the correction they gave.
The Apostle Paul has spent most of this letter teaching, warning, and exhorting. He’s tackled heavy doctrine about sin, salvation, sanctification, and service. By the time we reach chapter 15, you might expect the believers in Rome to feel weighed down by all the truth he has laid on them. But instead of ending with a heavy hand, Paul speaks with a warm heart. He says, “I am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”
This is not flattery. It’s confidence—rooted in what God is doing in His people. Paul sees evidence of maturity in the church at Rome, and it encourages him to keep pressing forward in his own ministry.
What makes a strong church? It isn’t the size of the building, the number in attendance, or the programs on the calendar. According to Paul, it is believers who are growing in goodness, grounded in truth, and gifted to help one another.
And yet, Paul doesn’t stop there. He uses this moment of confidence as a bridge to remind them of his calling, his ministry, and his mission—to take the Gospel where Christ is not yet known.
So today, we’ll see that a confident church is one that is maturing in Christ, ministering by grace, magnifying Jesus, and committed to reaching the lost.
I. The Confidence in the Church (v.14)
I. The Confidence in the Church (v.14)
This is really where Paul ends the discussion on the weaker brother/stronger brother…
Paul begins with encouragement: “I am persuaded of you, my brethren…” That word persuaded means “fully convinced.” Paul is not doubting their faith — he is confident in the work of God among them.
A. Goodness in Character — “full of goodness.” - (Vs. 14a)
Paul is writing to the church to tell them I know you are good people (sincere, following God) - Obviously speaking, “There is none good no not one…”
Paul is saying, i’m not writing to rebuke you, i’m not writing because you are a church that is falling apart (Jews and Gentiles…) I’m writing because I know that you have a good spirit, I know that your a healthy church. Many times what we should understand is when we need the word of God most is when we are healthy…
Ex. Just because you hear a message on sin or a message that deals with areas of concern…
It can at times feel that the preacher is rebuking you… It’s not that at all it’s that at many times as healthy Christians we need healthy messages, and the best time to receive a message is when we don’t need it, but we need reminded of it so we won’t need it…
Their lives showed the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Maturity in Christ always produces holiness in character.
B. Grounded in Knowledge — “filled with all knowledge.” - (Vs. 14b)
So, it’s not as if I am teaching you something brand new, it’s not as if the subject hasn’t been touched on before. You have knowledge in these areas, but just because you have the right spirit, and just because you have knowledge doesn’t mean you don’t need reminders.
Just because you hear sermons that may sound repetitive that’s not a bad thing, and just because the preacher is reiterating a biblical principle that you have heard before that’s not a bad thing, but rather a good thing…
Ex. Moms and Dads, Repeating themselves, so it is etched and embedded in the heart of their child.
The mark of a mature church is a community of believers who are hungry to hear God’s word taught…
They were not ignorant; they were being discipled in truth…
Knowledge guards against deception and builds stability (Colossians 1:9–10
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
C. Gifted in Counsel — “able also to admonish one another.” - (Vs. 14c)
Paul didn’t write because he felt the Roman Christians couldn’t discern what was right before God or admonish each other to do right. Rather, he wrote to remind them, encouraging them to do what they knew was right.
What gives us the ability to admonish other people? What gives us the wherewithal to say the hard thing?
The word admonish means “to warn, instruct, or encourage.”
This is really a process that Paul is giving us, 1st it’s your spirit, 2nd it’s your knowledge… We probably shouldn’t be rebuking people, or challenging people about their behavior or attitude, we probably shouldn’t be admonishing others unless we have the right spirit with the Lord ourself and the right knowledge that we are able to give them the truth.
It could be said then, that if you do have a good walk with the Lord, and you do have a measure of scriptural knowledge, then you also have along with the ability to admonish the responsibility to admonish.
Think about that passage in 1 Thessalonians 5, where the Apostle Paul wrote the church at Thessalonica, a young church, a church full of young converts, yet the Apostle Paul encouraged that church know them or acknowledge them that were in leadership over them. Why? because they had the unpalatable job of having to admonish.
Thats not a job that leaders relish, (Well I just want to tell people things they don’t want to hear…) If you want to tell people things that they don’t want to hear your probably not a good minister, but if you don’t tell people things that they need to hear in spite of the fact that it might be uncomfortable your also probably not a good leader.
A good leader is one who will say the hard things but doesn’t really want to say…
Ex. Camp and high school boy receiving bad counsel…
Paul really zeroes in on this concept here…
A mature church doesn’t only receive from the pulpit; the members build each other up (Colossians 3:16
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
💡 Application: A church is strong not simply because of a strong pastor, but because of strong people—believers who are maturing, helping, and sharpening one another.
II. The Calling of the Apostle (vv.15–16)
II. The Calling of the Apostle (vv.15–16)
Paul’s heart is first a heart that sees its mission as entirely sacred. Here Paul appropriates the vivid imagery of a Hebrew priest ministering at the altar in the Temple.
Paul acknowledges that though they are mature, they still need reminders.
A. A Reminding Ministry — “I have written the more boldly… putting you in mind.” - (Vs. 15)
Perhaps he refers also to the fact that he was a stranger to them.
More boldly than might have been expected from a stranger. The reason why he showed this boldness in declaring his sentiments, he immediately states—that he had been specially called to the office of instructing the Gentiles.
Paul said listen, I have said some things to you that are bold. As we may say today, in your face. Some things that may be tough to hear to our face, but some things that you needed to hear.
Ex. Review verse 14, What Paul has just reminded them of…
Spiritual maturity doesn’t mean we stop needing reminders.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
B. A Received Ministry — “because of the grace… given me of God.” - (Vs. 15b)
Paul never saw ministry as something he earned; it was grace.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Every servant of Christ must see their work as a gift, not an achievement.
C. A Reconciling Ministry — “that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles… that the offering up… might be acceptable.” - (Vs. 16)
Here we are exposed to Paul’s remarkable self-conception. Though he is involved in the dusty, mundane business of traveling the ancient world on foot, suffering from exposure, threats, beatings, and rejection, in his heart of hearts he sees himself in priestly garb in the Temple, lifting up the souls of men which then ascend as a sweet-smelling fragrance to Christ. Fully apprehended and appreciated, this is a dazzling picture.
Paul pictures his ministry as a priest bringing an offering — but the offering is not grain or lambs.
The offering is people! Saved, sanctified, and acceptable through Christ (Isaiah 66:20
20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations Upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, To my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, As the children of Israel bring an offering In a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.
💡 Application: Our ministry is not about us. It is a grace we’ve received, and our goal is to present people to God as a living sacrifice.
III. The Commendation of Christ (vv.17–19)
III. The Commendation of Christ (vv.17–19)
Paul does some sublime boasting, sublime because he is boasting about God.
Paul shifts the focus away from himself. “I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.”
A. His Boast in Christ — Paul refuses to glory in himself. - (Vs. 17)
Paul is not going on about what a great preacher I am, what a faithful servant I am…
Paul mentions here at least three marvelous happenings in his life: 1) Gentiles came to belief, 2) signs and miracles accompanied his ministry, and 3) he himself preached the entire 1,400 miles from Jerusalem to Illyricum, which is in present-day Yugoslavia. Not bad—especially in sandals! But Paul takes no credit. Christ did it through him.
Ex. How contrary this is to the way things usually happen. More often we are like the Little Leaguer… The Little leaguer who hit his first homer
That is so like us! We step to the plate for Jesus, barely tip the ball, but he arranges for us to get home—and we take all the credit!
Every success in ministry is Christ’s success.
“Paul will glory only in what Christ has done through him. He is sure that Christ has done great things through him, and he is glad that he can draw attention to those things. But he is not trying to attract adulation. It is what Christ has done that is his theme.” (Morris)
24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, That I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: For in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
B. His Burden for Obedience — “to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.” - (Vs. 18)
Once again Paul is not bragging, but recounting what God has done through him… Then He is quick to point out that He will not take the credit for anything that God has not done in Him…
We have to be very careful of what Paul is saying here because it can be very easy to ride the coattails of other believers…
Sometimes we could say well I wouldn’t go to a church that doesn’t preach the gospel, I wouldn’t go to a church that doesn’t believe in prayer, or I wouldn’t go to a church that doesn’t have a missions program… What’s interesting is what we wouldn’t go to often times we don’t participate in! Here is someone saying I wouldn’t go to a church that doesn’t preach that we should reach the world and yet in their own personal life they are not reaching the world…
The point here is we can’t take credit for what God is doing here in assembly or among others if we are not part of that… This thought process is a matter of pride by the way…
The Gospel produces transformed lives, not just professions of faith.
Real faith leads to real obedience…
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
C. His Boldness in the Spirit — “through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.” (Vs. 19)
Illyricum is modern Yugoslavia and Albania. This means that Paul’s ministry spread from Illyricum in the west to Jerusalem in the east. Now he is writing to people in Rome and while Paul has not been there yet he is saying, I have covered some ground… I have seen some things, some years have lapsed, miles have been trekked and God has really done some wonderful things…
The Spirit authenticated Paul’s ministry with power. When the Bible says Signs and wonders it is showing us that God used them to authenticate true preaching and teaching. Wonders had the indication that what they were seeing was something truly miraculous, While signs points people to understand who was behind the power of those miracles, “God”
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Today, the Spirit still empowers our witness through changed lives.
💡 Application: A mature church boasts only in Christ, pursues obedience, and depends on the Spirit’s power.
IV. The Commitment to the Unreached (vv.20–21)
IV. The Commitment to the Unreached (vv.20–21)
Paul closes this section by sharing his heart for missions.
A. His Aspiration — “to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named.” - (Vs. 20)
This has been his priority, his effort. Day after day, season after season. When I felt like it, when I haven’t felt like it. When they received it, when they haven’t received it. When they’ve accepted it, when they’ve rejected it. “I have strived to preach the gospel.”
Paul did not want to build on another man’s foundation. HIs philosophy was I want to preach the gospel where no one has gone before…
Basic to Paul’s dream was the obsession to preach where the gospel had not been preached, wherever that might be. He voices this explicitly in 2 Corinthians 10:16
16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.
This was an immense obsession. Other Scriptures, such as verse 24 of our text, indicate that he even wanted to go to Spain. No one really knows why—probably because Spain and Britain were seen as the end of the world. William Barclay thinks it may be because Spain was the birthplace of many contemporary geniuses such as Lucan, Martial, Quintillian, and Seneca. Maybe it was simply the lure of “untold millions still untold.”
We do not know exactly what Paul hoped to do, but our text tells us he hoped to visit Rome (to have some fellowship with the church he had never seen) and then catch a ship for Iberia and begin his Spanish campaign.
Rather he wanted to do pioneer work for the Lord — not because it was wrong or bad to continue the work begun through another man, but because there was so much to do on the frontiers.
A mature church must never be content with only itself—it must always look outward.
B. His Authority — “as it is written, To whom He was not spoken of, they shall see.” - (Vs. 21a)
Paul rooted his mission in Scripture (Isaiah 52:15
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; The kings shall shut their mouths at him: For that which had not been told them shall they see; And that which they had not heard shall they consider.
Missions is not a program of the church — it is the purpose of God. Paul saw his pioneering heart as obedience to the Scriptures, fulfilling the passage he quotes from the Old Testament.
C. His Aim — “they shall understand.” - (Vs. 21b)
The goal was that people who had never heard would believe and rejoice.
Revelation 7:9 reminds us this will be fulfilled in heaven: every tribe, tongue, and nation gathered around the throne.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
💡 Application: The mark of a mature church is not only inward strength, but outward vision—committed to sending the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So what are the marks of a mature church?
Goodness in Character — Spirit-filled lives.
Grounded in Knowledge — anchored in truth.
Gifted in Counsel — building one another up.
Grace in Ministry — serving by God’s calling.
Glory in Christ — boasting only in Him.
Gospel Mission — reaching the unreached.
Paul’s confidence in the Romans should be a challenge to us. Could he write the same words to our church?
Invitation
Invitation
Believers: Are you growing in goodness, knowledge, and counsel?
Servants: Are you serving by grace, not for recognition?
Mission-minded: Do you carry Paul’s burden for those who have never heard?
Unsaved: Paul’s ministry points us to Jesus — the One who died and rose again. Today, you can see Him, believe Him, and receive Him as your Savior.
