Living Love: Paul's Urgent Call to Discipleship
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans as a "textbook" for Christian life. I highlighted how Paul's teachings, while not always easy to understand, offer practical and useful advice for living in a world that often doesn't make sense. I emphasized Paul's message that love is the answer to any problem we might encounter, and that the commandments are summed up in the word "love your neighbor as yourself". I also discussed how Paul's teachings encourage us to live as though we've already passed the test of being a disciple of Christ, and to engage in good behaviors that lead to success.
In the second part of the sermon, I delved deeper into Paul's teachings on love and respect. I explained how Paul's message is not about a meek or quantitative kind of love, but rather a love that forgives rather than retaliates and promotes peace instead of conflict. I also discussed Paul's warning that time is running out for this present world and that we should live now as though we've already passed the test. I concluded by encouraging us to live as disciples of Christ and to use love as our answer to the challenges we face in our daily lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Paul's teachings in Romans offer practical advice for living a Christian life, with love being the primary answer to any problem we might encounter ([46:48]).
- The commandments are summed up in the word "love your neighbor as yourself", and this love is a forgiving and peace-promoting kind of love ([48:13]).
- Paul warns that time is running out for this present world, and encourages us to live now as though we've already passed the test of being a disciple of Christ ([52:32]).
- We should engage in good behaviors that lead to success and live as disciples of Christ, using love as our answer to the challenges we face in our daily lives ([53:54]).
Study Guide
Takeaways from the sermon:
1. Love is the answer to any problem we might encounter. It is the fulfillment of the law and the primary answer to everything. Love God, love your neighbor, and even love your enemies. This is the Christian answer to any question about a disciple's behavior. ([49:45])
2. Paul's letter to the Romans can be considered a textbook for the Christian life. It offers practical and useful advice for living in a world where things may not make a lot of sense. It provides clear directions with practical applications to deal with real-world problems. ([46:48])
3. Time is running out for this present world. The day of the Lord is close at hand. It's time to stop trying to parse the question and get busy checking the most important box - love. Live now as though you've already passed the test. ([52:32])
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 13
2. Exodus 20
Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says "owe no one anything except to love one another" in Romans 13?
2. How does Exodus 20 relate to the concept of love being the fulfillment of the law?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's teaching in Romans 13 about love being the fulfillment of the law relate to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20?
2. What does it mean to "live now as though you've already passed the test" in the context of our Christian walk?
Application Questions:
1. How can we practically apply the concept of love being the answer to any problem we encounter in our daily lives?
2. When was the last time you chose love as the answer in a difficult situation?
3. How can we live now as though we've already passed the test in our Christian walk?
4. Can you share a time when you felt time was running out and how did your faith guide you during that time?
5. How can we better love our neighbors in our current context?
Devotional
Day 1: Love is the Fulfillment of the Law
Paul's letter to the Romans provides us with a clear and practical guide to living a Christian life. He emphasizes that love is the answer to all problems we might encounter. Love is the fulfillment of the law, and it is through love that we can truly live in the community of God's people. Love promotes peace instead of conflict and forgives rather than retaliates. It is this kind of love that we should strive to embody in our daily lives ([46:48]).
Romans 13:8 - "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you could have shown more love. How can you apply Paul's teachings to similar situations in the future?
Day 2: Love is the Answer to Faithfulness
Even when confronted with the power and injustice of the world, the Christian answer must be love. This is not a weak or quantitative love, but a love that forgives and promotes peace. It is through this love that we can remain faithful to God, even in the face of adversity ([50:29]).
Romans 13:7 - "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."
Reflection: How can you show love in a situation where you feel confronted with power or injustice?
Day 3: Live as Though You've Already Passed the Test
Paul encourages us to live as though we've already passed the test of faith. We should engage in good behaviors that lead to success and live as though we are already disciples of Christ. This mindset can help us navigate the challenges and conundrums we face every day ([52:32]).
Romans 13:12 - "The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."
Reflection: How can you live your life as though you've already passed the test of faith? What changes can you make to embody this mindset?
Day 4: Textbooks and the Christian Faith
Just as textbooks provide us with necessary information for our studies, the teachings of the Christian faith provide us with necessary guidance for our lives. These teachings, especially those on love and faithfulness, are both useful and necessary for dealing with real-world problems ([42:44]).
2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
Reflection: How can you apply the teachings of the Christian faith to a real-world problem you are currently facing?
Day 5: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
Paul echoes Jesus' teachings that the greatest commandment is to love God and love our neighbor. This love is the answer to any question a disciple might face. It is through this love that we can truly fulfill the law and live in accordance with God's will ([49:45]).
Galatians 5:14 - "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Reflection: How can you show love to your neighbors this week? What actions can you take to fulfill this commandment?
Quotes
1. "Paul says that the answer to the questions on the Civics tests of being faithful to God is love and respect pay to all what is due then Paul says taxes to those to whose taxes are due respect to whom respect is due honor to whom honor is due even when confronted with the power and the Injustice of the world the Christian answer Must Be Love." - 50:26
2. "The kind of love that Paul is talking about is the Love That Forgives rather than retaliates. It's a love that promotes peace instead of conflict. In fact, says the Apostle, we need this shorthand answer of love for almost all the questions because the reality is the time is running out." - 54:22
3. "There's no easy answers but the answer begins with love, an unconditional willful sacrificial christ-like love. Friends, in the end, love it's the answer to everything." - 54:22
4. "There are certain pieces of information that indeed are both useful and necessary to our daily lives and that's especially true when it comes to the Christian faith. For that, we need clear directions with practical applications in order to deal with real world problems." - 42:31
5. "Paul writes owe no one anything except to love one another for the love for the one who loves another is the has fulfilled the law. The Commandments you shall not commit adultery you should not murder you shall not steal you shall not covet and any other commandment are some summed up in this world word you shall love your neighbor as yourself." - 38:47
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