Messages

If you’ve been around church for much time at all, you probably recognize that as Christians we should be reading our Bibles. But the unfortunate truth is that most Christians aren’t spending time in the Word of God nearly as much as they should be, which may be caused by not understanding how valuable scripture truly is. When we are healthy in our spiritual discipline of Bible intake, we will better know our Lord and become better disciples of Jesus. 

Have you ever connected eternal life with service to others? Jesus does. Jesus' words define what love is and His actions demonstrate what love is: Service to others is how we express our love for God. Please join us as we learn to carry out the answer to the question, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Is there a practice from the way of Jesus to break free from the power that our body and its desires have over us? A way to break free from the underlying pleasure principle that is driving us, that is leaving us all immature and unable to be the people God longs for us to be? YES, it is a practice known as FASTING.

Paul ends the book of Romans with a few parting instructions. He speaks of unity among the believers, being steadfast in obedience and he sends along a few words of greetings from those who are with him. And he ends his letter where he begins, restating his goal: that all gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith.

No one does ministry alone. In every successful ministry endeavor, there are always people behind the scenes that make sure the mission is accomplished. It was true for Paul and it is true for us. In this section of the letter, Paul sends greetings to some of the most important men and women who have played a pivotal part in his ministry.

As we near the end of this letter. Paul shares with the church his future travel plans. Through this text, we get a reminder that these are real people who lived in a real place in real-time. We see how this letter fits inside the timeline and life of Paul's other ministries and letters. We also get a picture of the local church's role in advancing the Gospel.

How do we respond to those who are spiritually less mature than we are? Just like Jesus did for us. We bear with their failings as Christ does with ours. We endeavor to build them up, as Christ does us. We accept them just as Christ accepted us.

"It is for freedom that Christ sets you free” Gal. 5:1. We are no longer bound to the law. Does that mean we can do anything we want, short of sin? Not exactly. Being a part of the family of God and being a part of the body of Christ, means that we don't have the freedom to do things that hurt other people's faith, even if we are free in Christ to do it. Part of dying to ourselves, and putting others first, is giving up our rights for the sake of others and putting their needs first.

Not everything is black and white when it comes to living out our faith. Paul makes it clear, there are disputable matters. So how do you know what you can do and can’t? What you should do and shouldn’t? The answer is you do what honors your master. And what honors the master for one servant, may not honor the master for another.

We have never been closer to the coming of Jesus than we are right now. How would you live if you knew he was coming soon? How would you treat people? How important would obeying Jesus be? Is there anything you are doing that you would stop? Anything you aren’t doing that you would start? Our salvation is nearer now than it has ever been. It’s time to live like it.