Life in the Kingdom, Part 2

The Servant of All

Text: Romans 15:7-10 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.” 10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” In order for the Church to understand how to receive one another, we first need to understand how Christ received us. Paul expands our spiritual minds in today's text by teaching us that Christ's love is truly lavish. He is the Servant of all: 1) a Servant to the Jews; 2) a Servant to God and; 3) a Servant to the Gentiles.

One Passion

Text: Romans 15:5-6 "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." What are you passionate about? There is one passion that all the people of God share in common because the LORD puts it into our hearts: a passion for God's glory. The Apostle Paul demonstrates this passion by how he prays for the Church in today's text. He prays to the God who is the SOURCE and the MEANS and the GOAL of all things. Join us today as Pastor Jonathan shows what it means to be "like-minded toward one another" and how, specifically, we bring glory to God as we relate to one another in the Church.

The Glory of the Scriptures, Part 2: Hope!

Text: Romans 15:4b. In order for the Church to bear each other's burdens as the LORD commands, each of us must be instructed by the Scriptures. We must first learn patient endurance and then comfort, but we also need another key ingredient: hope. Do you have Gospel hope? Is your hope growing or languishing? What is it that can make your hope grow? Join us today as Pastor Jonathan explores this critical component of the glory of the Scriptures so that you are well-equipped to glorify God by pleasing your neighbor for his edification.

The Glory of the Scriptures, Part 1: Patience & Comfort

Text: Romans 15:4 "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Nestled in his instruction on how we are to love one another in the Church by bearing one another's burdens, the Apostle Paul includes some vital instruction on the glory of the Scriptures. He reveals that all the Scriptures are ultimately for the benefit of the Church and they teach us patient endurance and offer us comfort. Join us today as Pastor Jonathan shows 1) the usefulness of the Scriptures and, 2) how they are instructive to the Church.

Bear Them Up!

Text: Romans 15:1-3 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” The strong in the faith have a debt of love to pay toward the weaker in the faith: we are to bear them up! How do we do this? And why do we do this? Join us today as Pastor Jonathan shows us from the first three verses of Romans 15 with: 1) a word to the strong, 2) a word to all in the Church and, 3) the example for all to follow. May the Lord bless you all as you seek to do His will!