God's Pattern for Healthy Churches

God's Pattern for Healthy Churches

Text: Romans 15:14-16. 14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. There's a lot of confusion in churches today about what the church is and what her function is. Paul begins his closing remarks to the church at Rome by pointing out 3 marks of every healthy church: 1) a confident recognition of who the people of God are; 2) a constant reminding of the people of God about the Word of God and; 3) conscientious ministers who are mindful that their service is primarily to the LORD. It's in realizing who the Church is and what she is to do that the people of God are strengthened and fully prepared for the LORD's imminent return. Are you ready?

Why We Glorify God

Text: Romans 15:10-12 10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” 11 And again: “Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” 12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.” In quoting these Old Testament passages, the Apostle Paul shows us several reasons why the nations of the world (the Gentiles) GLORIFY GOD: 1) for Jesus Christ's work in us; 2) for our inclusion in the family of God; 3) for the wideness of our inclusion and; 4) for His amazing salvation in Christ. Join us today and test whether you are glorifying God in your spirit for the same reasons the Apostle identified in this text!

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.