Ministry Mindset

Introduction:

Ecclesiastical Maturity

Mutual Encouragement (v.14a)

I can cause an emotional reaction in each and every one of you through the simple use of names.

A loved one lost

A childhood friend or bully

A difficult co-worker

For Paul when the church at Rome came to mind his emotional response was:

Satisfaction or confidence

He felt that he could trust them.

That really goes a long way in relationships.

Especially in the progress of mutual goals.

Paul expressed his confidence in them in two ways. Ways that in his mind are clear marks of a spiritually mature church.

Relational Goodness (v. 14b)

They were actively engaged in good works.

Goodness is much more than just being nice. It implies someone who stands up for what it right and true.

Paul uses spacial terminology to describe the scope of their goodness when He says that they are full of goodness. In other words it is fundamental to their identity and character as a local body of Christ.

If you will permit me a little latitude I would put it this way, their behavior matched their theology.

Sound Doctrine (v. 14c)

Our doctrine is that set of beliefs which we teach.

In fact that is where the word doctrine came from.

One of the biggest mistakes Christians make is when they begin to divorce their behavior from their theology.

Through the years many have done so in ways that they thought were altruistic.

We need to spend less time teaching and preaching and more time feeding the homeless.

Very quickly a desire for social change becomes a embrace of social gospel.

Of course the opposite can also be true of those who hold sound doctrine but live in flagrant sin.

I can think of no greater compliment to a church than to say their behavior and attitudes match their theology.

We seek to be good because God is good.

We seek to be merciful because God is merciful.

We seek to be gracious because God is gracious.

These concepts are not primarily social or moral they are first theological.

If you want societal change you must start with sound doctrine.

If you want personal change you must start with sound doctrine.

Justifiable Boldness

At times if we look at just the surface of Paul’s words we might find them to be a touch arrogant. He admits as much here though he calls his words, “bold”. He gives three reasons why he feels justified in being so bold.

Necessary Reminders (v.15)

If you ever feel like coming to church is just rehashing the same thing over and over remember these two things.

You don’t know it all.

You need to hear it again.

Paul is basically admitting that they had heard all this before, and they needed to continually hear it again. I for one am grateful because of these reminders that Paul gave we have in the book of Romans the most robust and theological explanation of the gospel we could hope for.

Bold in Calling (v. 16)

Allow me to pose a scenario to you. Imagine you are a soldier in Alexander the Great’s army. You and your platoon are about to disembark when someone you have never seen before shows up and starts giving our orders and not just giving them out but demanding that they be followed. What is your first question? Who put this guy in charge? Right as you are about to run your mouth you notice a glint of gold on his finger which you quickly recognize as the kings signet ring. Suddenly all your words die on your lips.

You are supposed to be bold when you are bearing the kings message.

Paul was bold in his calling.

Bold in Christ (v. 17)

Paul was also bold because of the source of his calling.

The king’s ring only means something because its the king’s.

It is those first three words in v. 17 which make Paul’s boldness and pride justifiable, “in Christ Jesus.”

Application

On a personal level it is not always what you hear at church it is just as important how you hear it. You might come and hear the same basic gospel message you have heard a thousand times but this is the time that the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to something you have never considered before.

Personally and as a church family we should be bold in our calling and in our Savior.

Gospel Ambitions

Singular Focus (v. 18-19)

Paul was a man of unique an singular focus. He gave his life to the cause of Christ.

We too have a singular focus as a local body of Christ.

Gospel oriented ministry

Which encompasses both evangelism and edification

Specific Calling (v. 20)

Paul’s calling was specific, he was the apostle to the gentiles.

Our calling is no less specific.

I am called to be the most Christ-like husband, father and pastor that I can be.

Wherever you are placed by God you have a specific calling.

Promise Fulfilled (v. 21)

There have always been those, like Paul, who are called of God to unreached people groups.

Paul points to an Old Testament text that shows this was always God plan.

Conclusion:

We should be known for our goodness and doctrine.

We should be bold in our calling and our Savior.