Sermon Tone Analysis

*Be Bold, (God never intended for us to speak in Italics) Romans.

15: 14-21*

Secular:

* Elizabeth… friend

* She was a co-worker…

* We share the very same birthday… she called me her brother…

* Elizabeth played for the company slow-pitch team

* She could hit a ball!

* She could NOT run…

* Good hit… coming around 3rd…

* I knew… not in her interest… or ours as a team

* The team thought… she could make it… I knew different

* As she rounded third…

* Big dad voice… ELIZABETH NO!

* ELIZABETH back to third…

* The ball made it to home long before she would have…

*  The stands were quiet… the teams were quiet…

*   Elizabeth piped up… It’s okay… He is my brother… he loves me! 

* I was bold… protecting her… protecting the team… and I did it out of love…

Biblical:

Romans 15:14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.

15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation; 21 but as it is written, "THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND."

Personal:

*    Bold isn’t bad

*  We need those to Christ and close to us to be passionate about the most important relationship we have!

* To the glory of God and to his testimony in us and to our faith

Bridge:

* Wimp Christianity… is without truth and caring

* Genuine faith is bold, loving, and takes a stand for God, for His people, for his message and truth

*  God never intended us to whisper his truth but to BE BOLD.

*  Be BOLD in our Faith

* BE Bold in our Ministry

* Be Bold in our Purpose

 

Body:

*Be BOLD in our Faith*

Romans 15:14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.

15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God…

* Bold…but saw them as fellow believers… my brethren

* Not some blanket universalism

* This was to the church… language of assumption… and justifies the intensity

* VERY BOLD… lots at stake

* Keyed their car…

* Justified

* Intensity

* God’s Word Commends 3 Virtues…

* Remember Chief amongst sinners… All fail and fall short of the glory of God… same author

* #1 Virtue – Goodness

* Remember the *Clay Pot*… full of goodness

* Our goodness isn’t the standard… It is Christ

* Wasn’t admiring their personality or talents

* Was admiring the filling of the Spirit of God… Fruit of the Spirit… the goodness of God manifest in his believers

* Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

~*~* Calling them family… fellow soldiers….

Co-labourers… Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

* Recognize the Goodness of God by Faith… see it in each other

 

* #2 Virtues… Knowledge

* From Goodness (the indwelling of Christ in faith)… comes knowledge… a burning desire for the Word… knowing the Gospel… knowing Christ…

* This church knew, held, and practiced biblically sound doctrine… (Paul wasn’t addressing specifics /like other letters/… he is commending… but also commanding…)

* Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

* Genuine faith… genuine believers… Indwelt by Christ… saturated in his Word… committed to living for the Glory of God

* 1 Timothy 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

* Knowledge true knowledge… is of Christ

*  #3 Virtue – to Admonish

*  Encourage, Warn, and Advise (Noutheteo)

*  Comprehensive word for Counselling

* Comprehensive word for Discipleship

* They are commending for applying Word to each other!

*  We live in a professional world… where we believe only in secular psychology can do competent valuable counselling

* Unfortunately… psychology is based in the world… in selfish goals… and is often in opposition to God’s Word

* We have tried to appropriate the world’s tool

*  We have the supreme tool in bringing perspective and health to each other… the intentional application of God’s Word!

* Do you believe…

*  SECTION A - THE BIBLE

* Throughout history God has revealed Himself in a variety of ways, and God has preserved the substance of this revelation in the Bible.

When we say "the Bible," we mean the sixty-six books of the Old Testament and New Testament.

These books were written by divinely chosen authors as they were prompted and guided by the Spirit of God.

Although those writers were genuine authors and in most cases not just secretaries taking dictation, the work of the Spirit was so complete that everything written in the biblical books taught the truth without any errors.

* Strictly speaking, this inerrancy of the Bible applies to its books as originally written, but we can be confident that we have the original text of the Bible in the copies and translations we possess today because God has preserved those writings.

In any attempt to define what we ought to believe or how we ought to live, only the Bible can be used as a final authority.

Traditional interpretations of the Bible and confessions of faith are useful guides, but they are always open to correction based on further study of the Bible.

Any cooperation with others who profess to be Christians must be based on a shared commitment to the unique authority and complete truthfulness of the Bible.

* 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

* How does cognitive behavioural therapy jive with a bible that speaks of the realm of God which is our spirit made perfect in him which is at war with our human flesh… how does our effort give us victory in that war?

* Often our efforts serve as a distraction as we attempt to pollute the truth of God with the schemes of man…

* It is our very humanness that got us where we are at…

* Trust in his Word…

* Power of the True and Living Word of God to Bear!

* Goodness, Knowledge… brought to Bear in Admonishing

/All giftings all responsible/

*  Romans 12:6a Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly…

* Different giftings…

* Admonishing is not unique… (some better than others… but all called)

* God has gifted every believer in every congregation….

To give us… by his sovereign grace… the every gift necessary for his church

* Apart from specific gifting

* All are called to admonish, counsel, disciple…

* Just as all are called to Gospel ministry

* Colossians 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.