5.10.50 11.8.2020 When Grace Comes to Town God’s Church Fulfills us. Romans 12.3-21
When Grace Comes to Town • Sermon • Submitted
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Entice: Many people swing wildly from self-love to self-hate.
By always examining ourselves in the mirror of other peoples opinions we set ourselves up for disappointment.
By always examining ourselves in the mirror of other peoples opinions we set ourselves up for disappointment.
Engage:
How big is your mirror?
How big is your mirror?
How small?
How small?
Maybe it’s the whole cultural project of Empire?
Facebook/Twitter/YouTube/TikTok?
Facebook/Twitter/YouTube/TikTok?
People of your age/sex/social/economic class? The opposite sex/age & etc?) You get the idea. If you are looking at the wrong thing it will never fulfill you regardless of how large or small.
Expand: Most passages of scripture-pericopes- to use the "technical" term-have a verse, word, theme, phrase or clause which controls the meaning for the whole pericope. This is true of today's text:
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Your way of thinking about yourself, the assumptions upon which you operate and the conclusions you draw will largely determine your fulfillment.
If you think
too highly
too highly
of yourself you will be
a bully.
a bully.
If you think
too lowly
too lowly
you will always be playing
the victim.
the victim.
The right estimate to have of yourself is the estimate God has; and this can be determined by thinking objectively and faithfully about self.
Excite:Your life has meaning. It can and should be fulfilling. The Church is here to help you in this process of discovery.
Explore:
Real fulfillment in life comes when we agree with Jesus about how He equips and employs each individual part of His Church.
Real fulfillment in life comes when we agree with Jesus about how He equips and employs each individual part of His Church.
Explain: Paul wants us to think correctly so that we can act responsibly.
Responsible thinking will lead us to a…
1. Wise use of diverse gifts.
1. Wise use of diverse gifts.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
1.1. Recognize them.
1.1. Recognize them.
1.2 Relish them
1.2 Relish them
1.3. Release them.
1.3. Release them.
Responsible thinking will lead us to a…
2. Lavish distribution of Love
2. Lavish distribution of Love
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
2.1 It is Real.
2.1 It is Real.
2.3 It Rejoices.
2.3 It Rejoices.
2.2 It is Responsive
2.2 It is Responsive
Responsible thinking will lead us to a…
3. Restrained response to Resistance.
3. Restrained response to Resistance.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
3.1 Speech
3.1 Speech
3.2 Empathy
3.2 Empathy
3.3 Harmony
3.3 Harmony
3.4. Humility
3.4. Humility
3.5 Faithful
3.5 Faithful
3.6 Hospitable.
3.6 Hospitable.
3.7 Good.
3.7 Good.
No Apologies...
No Apologies...
The Church of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, is more important than our country. Our loyalty to Christ more central than loyalty to party, tribe, clan or nation. Human empires have and will conquer the world. They appear and disappear. Cultural permanence is an illusion. Our King has conquered death. Our Emperor has emancipated sinners. Our Sovereign saves us to serve. If you want to have Joy give everything else up to serve this Jesus.
The most fulfilling, liberating life I know is in Jesus and in His Church. To be His subject, to be His disciple, to be His servant makes life complete. I invite you to join this liberated band this group of survivors who have left behind the empires of this world and the constraints of culture to follow only the Sovereign Savior.