October 11, 2026 - Physical vs. Spiritual
Notes
Transcript
Question:
Has anyone in here ever had a broken heart?
Has anyone in here ever broken their neck?
Another Question:
What intrigues us more - A movie thriller about… hatred?
Or a movie thriller about … Murder?
Another Question:
Who’s the most famous person you ever met? (Athlete? Actor/Actress?)
When I tell people that I’m related to (was) Princess Grace Kelly - they always give the ol - Oooo look
How many of you felt God’s presence in your life - this past week?
What do these questions reveal to us?
More specifically - what do the ANSWERS to these questions reveal to us?
We, as humans, FALLEN humans - are more intrigued by - more in tune to - more impressed by - more desirable of -
The physical
OVER and ABOVE - the Spiritual.
Don’t believe me?
Would we rather sleep in on a Saturday...or wake up at 5 am to go to a prayer meeting?
Would we rather receive prayer from our brothers and sisters, or receive $10,000?
NOW - think through that answer - especially when THIS NEXT question comes...
Would we rather GIVE someone prayers, or $10,000?
I THINK - we’d rather RECEIVE the $10K - and GIVE AWAY the prayers.
Week after week - we come ever closer to the end of this book = of Romans.
I KNEW coming into this book - Rachel and I spoke about it...
Our church may not look the same coming out the other side of this thing.
WHY? - Because it is = FULL of hard things.
If your theology is such that you just breeze through Romans without being ABSOLUTELY challenged - then I question your theology.
It’s VERY EASY - to just READ OUR THOUGHTS into the text...
It’s EASY to just ignore what doesn’t FEEL GOOD and move on...
But we’re called to more than that.
AND SO - We’re very close to the end now… A few more sermons to go.
But very RECENTLY - Paul has been calling us to - challenge ourselves in how we WELCOME others.
The stronger in faith are to welcome the weaker in faith...
And today in our passage, we’re going to focus in on the MAIN thing....
There’s a story AROUND the main thing, but we’ll focus on the main thing.
22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.
23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,
24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.
29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
There’s an interesting situation that is playing itself out in this text...
And it’s something that actually plays itself out - ALL throughout scripture.
Paul let’s it be known that he’s been wanting to visit the church in Rome and the people there - for years...
BUT - that he’s been busy spreading the gospel...in obedience.
And during this time - something interesting has taken shape...
In the LANDSCAPE of this passage - the backdrop would be one where A NEED had arisen in the Jewish Community in Jerusalem.
WHY?
A couple of reasons...
SLIDE:
Famines in first-century Palestine
Persecution of the Jewish-Christian Community
In Acts 11 we find an instance of an EARLIER famine in the region...
28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
And this here had prompted an EARLIER relief effort....so it wasn’t uncommon.
Same with persecution...
22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind
So we KNOW - that persecution was on the menu...
And so - for the saints in Jerusalem… it would NOT have been strange that they needed assistance!
Who does Paul call upon?
25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
Macedonia and Achaia...
Now - to look deeper into this - and not just settle on - Well - yeah these churches in Macedonia and Achaia (the church in Corinth)...
It’s good for us to understand that it’s the GENTILES that Paul is referring to here...
And we can find evidence of this COLLECTION EFFORT in Paul’s letters to the Corinth church...
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
So it’s clear that Paul had spent time - leading the charge in getting this COLLECTION together for the saints...
The deeper point BEING - this is Gentiles - MOVING - to help the Jews.
And now WHY was Paul focused on doing this?
Is there a deeper reason than just to HELP out...?
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
Ok - here it is...
First thing I want us to see...
SLIDE: A Debt Incurred: Gentiles Received Spiritual Blessing
A Debt Incurred
A Debt Incurred
What did the verse say?
27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
This is very interesting… to say the least.
The Gentiles - had RECEIVED - or COME TO SHARE in the Spiritual blessings of the Jewish Nation....
And we hear this throughout the Bible...
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Paul - here in Ephesians - uses 3 COMPOUND WORDS starting with ...
SUN - which means - together with...
...Emphasizing that the Gentiles are...
SLIDE:
Fellow Heirs (sugkleronomos): Sharing in the inheritance of God’s children.
Fellow Members of the Body (sussomos): United as one organism with Jewish believers.
Fellow Partakers of the Promise (summetochos): Participating in the same spiritual blessings and covenants.
But we HAVE to notice the PATHWAY (direction) of this exchange...
What were the details?
SLIDE:
Gentiles <— Spiritual Blessing <— Jews
Debt Incurred
Gentiles —> Material Blessing —> Jews
NOW - in this scenario - how are the material things - PERCEIVED by the Gentiles?
So whatever the THING is -
Money
Time
Food
Could be any material good...
But in our text - it’s MONEY.
It’s MONEY - and it’s PERCEIVED as - an INSTRUMENT...!
And it was - - NECESSARY!
Paul didn’t HAVE to use this language - of - debt!
But he does!!
It was something OWED to the Jewish people..!
What can we pull from that!?
I believe that the principle Paul is putting forth - and applies to us today is...
When people BLESS US spiritually - we are indebted to them...
NO - I don’t think it’s a formula...
BUT I DO think - that our DEFAULT response to something like this SHOULD grow into - - YES - HOW can I BLESS that person?
RECIPROCITY - should be base-level - DEFAULT in the Christian faith!
And some might think - Well - MAN! that seems oppressive doesn’t it?
Well… NO! And here’s why!!
That SAME DEBT that was INCURRED when the spiritual blessing was RECEIVED by the Gentiles......
SLIDE: A Debt Delighted In: Gentiles Joyful to Give
A Debt Delighted In
A Debt Delighted In
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
They were PLEASED to do it!
It was their DELIGHT to reciprocate the BLESSING bestowed upon them...
And to DO IT = with their physical material wealth!
And you might be thinking - WELL - It MUST BE NICE to have SO MUCH money to be able to just give it away to WHOMEVER and WHENEVER you want!
What do these verses say?
The Macedonians were - PLEASED, HAPPY, DELIGHTED....to partake in blessing those in need - FINANCIALLY!
Let’s see the context of this giving!!
At one point - Paul decides to write to the church in Corinth… and he’s trying to ENCOURAGE them to be partakers of this collection for the saints in Jerusalem!
What does Paul do?
Let’s see....
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
Wow - what did I say before?
“It MUST BE NICE to have SO MUCH money to be able to just give it away to WHOMEVER and WHENEVER you want!”
Was THAT the case?
NO - but why would we THINK it was the CASE?
We would THINK that would be the case - that they were RICH and WELL OFF - - BECAUSE the text told us - THEY WERE PLEASED to partake and GIVE!
If THAT’S the case - we don’t NATURALLY ASSUME that these people were POOR themselves!!
Struggling THEMSELVES!!
But think about IT...
PAUL SAID - the Gentiles were INDEBTED to the saints in Jerusalem!
Did Paul DENY the Macedonians giving?
Did he say - LISTEN - THAT’S NOT WISE!!
DON’T DO IT!!!
NO - they actually gave - BEYOND THEIR means...
And Dave Ramsey said - - Amen? No - IDIOTS!!
But THAT’S what they did...
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
What?? Fools??
No - Paul points to - - GOD - and - PRAISES God - - for working this out..!
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
“WE WANT YOU TO KNOW - about the GRACE of God that’s been given among the churches of Macedonia!!
He says - NO - you NEED to KNOW about this...!
These poor churches… God’s POURED OUT His grace on them...
AND THEY END UP - BECAUSE of THAT...
GIVING to the poor saints...
BEING POOR themselves - they - GAVE!!
God’s GRACE MOVED - and the churches ended up with LESS MONEY....
And MORE .… what?
Well - lots of things!
More obedience...
More grace themselves!
More UNITY within the church (between Jew and Gentile!)
And that UNITY showed more tangibly in this way!
More JOY!!
And what’s REALLY on display here today?
If we had to point to a THEME today...it would be this...
SLIDE:
Physical vs. Spiritual
These are the 2 sides at play today!
And we see how in THIS case (our text today) - that God was honored!!
But there are plenty of cases in the Bible where the SAME 2 sides are at play… and God is NOT honored!
Let’s visit those cases… to see if the MATERIAL side is viewed the same way as the Macedonian’s viewed it!
In 2 Kings we read of a guy named Naaman - who had leprosy...
The prophet Elisha comes and HEALS him...
And after being healed = Naaman wants to GIVE Elisha a gift...
A MATERIAL gift...
Elisha refuses! - And so Naaman - leaves...
Well - Elisha’s servant Gehazi - knew what was going on and so he tries to intercede and tries to GET SOMETHING FROM Naaman...money and clothing.
What happens?
Elisha finds out about it - and then tells his servant Gehazi...
27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.
How was this different than the Macedonians?
The Macedonians used money as a TOOL to BLESS others!
Gehazi tried to use NAAMAN’s good will - to increase Gehazi’s material gain!
Result? - Judgment on Gehazi
How about the story of Ananias and Sapphira?
You may have heard of the story - but do you know the backdrop of the story...?
Let’s start with the backdrop...
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
We remember these verses right? This is the backdrop to Ananias...
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
NOW - how did Ananias view the physical - Material side?
As an instrument to bless others… SORT of… right?
BUT - there was deception attached to this transaction...
It seems - based on the end of chapter 4 - these people agreed to sell their lands and houses and bring the proceeds.
So when Ananias and Sapphira didn’t ACTUALLY do that…
They were called out...and paid for it.
How about the Rich Young Ruler?
He comes to Jesus and asks - Good Teacher - what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus and he have a conversation - and ultimately Jesus tells him...
21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
What did Jesus do here?
He put - PHYSICAL (sell all you have) into the ring against - Spiritual (treasures in heaven)
What would the Macedonians have done??
Better question - what did they do?
They GAVE beyond their means in order to BLESS...in order to RECIPROCATE...
AND GOD wanted us to know that.
What did the ruler do?
22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
This ruler did not view his possessions like the Macedonians...
THEY JOYFULLY GAVE...in their poverty...
This Ruler sorrowfully walked away… IN HIS WEALTH
So - - how did the Macedonians do it??
I think the text from 2 Cor tells us...
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—
5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
And so - HOW did the Macedonians do this?
it says in v5
“They gave themselves FIRST to the Lord...and THEN by the will of God - to us!”
What does that mean?
SLIDE: A Debt of Self: Giving Self for the Cause of Christ
A Debt of Self
A Debt of Self
back to the text
We gotta read ALL of it again!!
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
these POOR people - BEGGING EARNESTLY for the FAVOR of taking part in the relief of the SAINTS!!
These people - UNDERSTOOD the difference between Physical and Spiritual...
They had surrendered their entire lives to God - and so the giving of the money - was simply an expression of THAT TRUTH!
To THEM - Giving money to those who SPIRITUALLY BLESSED them - INDIRECTLY by the way...
was NOW - a NATURAL movement of love
AND AGAIN - they had never MET the people they were blessing...
Never had a conversation with them!
Never shared a meal with them...
YET - SO EAGER to HELP - they BEGGED to help!!
It’s says - God’s GRACE was POURED OUT ON these people - and this was a manifestation of THAT!
SUMMARY
A Debt Incurred
A Debt Delighted In
A Debt of Self
Would we rather receive prayer from our brothers and sisters, or receive $10,000?
Would we rather GIVE someone prayers, or $10,000?
SLIDE:
The Macedonians put on display the immeasurably greater gift of the spiritual over and above the material, and in doing so, blessed their brothers and sisters in Christ (Jew or Greek), and glorified God and His supremacy over this world.
May we seek to believe, and feel, and live this way...
Lets pray
