Gift and Limit of Government (Romans 13:1-2)

Gift and Limit of Government (Romans 13:1-2)

In Romans 13:1–2, Paul teaches Christians to submit to governing authorities because all authority ultimately comes from God. In this sermon, Zach Carter slows down to ask where civil authority comes from, why it is real, and why it is also limited. Tracing the biblical story from creation, family, and cultural dominion to the post-fall need for public justice, he shows that Christians must neither idolize the state nor treat lawful authority as optional. Because Jesus Christ has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, believers can honor civil government while reserving their final allegiance for Christ the King.

Under Authority; Under God (Rom 13:1-7)

In Romans 13:1–7, Paul teaches Christians how to live under governing authorities without confusing Caesar for Christ. Government is instituted by God, appointed as a servant for public good, and given real but limited authority to preserve justice in a fallen world. In this sermon, Zach Carter explains how Christian submission to civil authority is not rooted merely in fear of punishment, but in conscience before the Lord. Because Jesus is Lord, believers can honor authority, pay what is owed, practice faithful citizenship, and refuse to give the state the hope, trust, and worship that belong to Christ alone.

Marks of Genuine Love (Rom 12:9-21)

In Romans 12:9–21, Paul shows us that Christian love is never mere sentiment, niceness, or conflict avoidance. Genuine love is morally ordered: it abhors what is evil, clings to what is good, honors others, serves the Lord, opens the door in hospitality, blesses enemies, and refuses retaliation. In this sermon, Zach Carter explains that the life offered to God is a life of sincere love—a love that seeks the good of others and overcomes evil with good. This passage is not a moral checklist for earning God’s favor, but a Spirit-formed portrait of what the mercies of God produce in the people of God. Because Christ loved without hypocrisy, humbled himself for sinners, blessed those who cursed him, and overcame evil through the cross and resurrection, Christians are now called to embody that same love before a watching and needy world.

Grace-Filled Members (Romans 12:3-8)

What does humility look like in the body of Christ? In Romans 12:3–8, Paul teaches that grace does not erase the Christian, nor does it inflate the Christian. Grace teaches us to think truthfully. We are not the whole body, but we are members of the body. We have nothing to boast in, but we do have something to offer. This sermon considers how Christ gives different gifts to his people so that the whole church might be built up. Some gifts are public. Others are quiet, hidden, and easily overlooked. But in the economy of grace, no member is unnecessary, and no act of faithful service is insignificant. Because Christ gave himself for the church, we now offer ourselves to one another as living sacrifices—serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy for the good of the body he purchased with his blood.

The Scars of Jesus (John 20:19-31)

Every scar tells a story. Some are visible, others are hidden beneath the surface—scars of grief, disappointment, loss, and disillusionment. In John 20:19–31, the risen Jesus comes to his fearful and disbelieving disciples, not with condemnation, but with peace. He shows them his scarred hands and side so that they might believe, and then he sends them into the world by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this sermon, we see how Jesus seeks his disciples in their disbelief, saves them by showing his scars, and sends them out to continue his mission. Thomas’s doubt is not treated as an obstacle too great for Jesus, but as the very place where Jesus meets him with grace. The scars of Christ become the sign of his resurrection, the proof of his finished work, and the foundation of our faith. Because Jesus has been raised, we no longer live behind locked doors in fear. We are called to believe, to receive his peace, and to bear witness to the good news that sins are forgiven in his name