Unity in Christ: Embracing Our Call to Serve

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of being one church in multiple locations, drawing inspiration from the Apostle Paul's letters to various early Christian communities. This unity in diversity allows us to advance the kingdom of God more effectively than if we were isolated. As we embark on a new teaching series, "Romans: The Foundation of Faith," we delve into the book of Romans, written by Paul, who was once a staunch opponent of Christianity but became a fervent advocate after his conversion. This series will not be a verse-by-verse study but will capture the essence of Paul's teachings, focusing on Romans 1:1-17.

Paul's transformation from a Pharisee to a follower of Christ underscores the power of surrender. He identifies himself as a slave of Christ, chosen by God, and sent to preach the good news. These three elements—surrender, being chosen, and being sent—are foundational for a thriving Christian life. Without surrender, our faith remains shallow and unsustainable. Recognizing that God chose us fosters humility and gratitude, while understanding our mission to be sent prevents a consumerist mindset in our faith journey.

The good news, as Paul articulates, is centered on Jesus Christ, who came from heaven, was born of a virgin, and was raised from the dead. This is the cornerstone of our faith, and it is through this belief that we are saved by grace, not by our works. Paul's letter to the Romans was written during a time of conflict between Jewish and Gentile believers, highlighting the need for unity and understanding in the church.

Paul's prayer for the Roman church reflects his deep spiritual maturity and awareness of the spiritual battles that accompany growth in faith. He prays day and night for the believers, recognizing that where God is at work, the enemy seeks to disrupt. This model of constant prayer is a call for us to intercede for our families, communities, and churches.

Finally, Paul emphasizes the importance of having a strong vision, a sense of obligation, and eagerness in pursuing God's call. These three elements ensure that our desires align with God's purpose, preventing burnout and frustration. As we reflect on these teachings, we are encouraged to examine our own lives, seeking a fresh call from God and a renewed eagerness to serve Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Unity in Diversity: Being one church in multiple locations allows us to advance God's kingdom more effectively. This unity mirrors the early church's expansion and highlights the importance of collaboration in spreading the gospel. [00:00]

- Foundation of Faith: Paul's transformation from a Pharisee to a follower of Christ emphasizes the necessity of surrender, recognizing God's choice, and being sent. These elements are crucial for a sustainable and impactful Christian life. [27:20]

- The Good News of Jesus: Our faith is anchored in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This belief is the cornerstone of salvation, reminding us that we are saved by grace, not by works. [31:47]

- Power of Prayer: Paul's commitment to praying day and night for the Roman church exemplifies the importance of intercession. This continuous communication with God is vital for spiritual growth and protection against the enemy's attacks. [35:51]

- Aligning with God's Purpose: A strong vision, sense of obligation, and eagerness are essential in discerning God's call. These elements prevent burnout and ensure that our desires align with God's purpose, leading to a fulfilling and impactful life. [41:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - One Church, Multiple Locations
- [03:30] - Introduction to Romans Series
- [06:15] - Paul's Transformation
- [09:00] - Understanding Paul's Background
- [12:30] - The Conflict in Rome
- [15:45] - Paul's Greeting and Identity
- [18:20] - The Importance of Surrender
- [21:00] - The Good News of Jesus
- [24:30] - Faith and Salvation
- [27:20] - Paul's Prayer for the Church
- [31:47] - The Power of Continuous Prayer
- [35:51] - Aligning with God's Purpose
- [41:38] - Vision, Obligation, and Eagerness
- [49:30] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 1:1-17

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Observation Questions:

1. How does Paul describe his identity and mission in Romans 1:1? What are the three key elements he mentions? [27:20]

2. What historical context does the sermon provide about the conflict between Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome? How did this affect the church's unity? [31:47]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Paul's continuous prayer for the Roman church? How does this reflect his spiritual maturity? [35:51]

4. What are the three elements Paul emphasizes as essential for aligning with God's purpose, as discussed in the sermon? [41:38]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of being a "slave of Christ" and how does this concept challenge modern Christian perspectives on freedom and autonomy? [27:20]

2. How does the sermon explain the role of unity in diversity within the church, and why is this important for advancing God's kingdom? [31:47]

3. In what ways does Paul's transformation from a Pharisee to a follower of Christ illustrate the power of surrender in a believer's life? [27:20]

4. How does Paul's commitment to prayer serve as a model for intercession in our own spiritual lives, according to the sermon? [35:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you struggle with surrendering to Christ's authority? How can you begin to address these areas this week? [27:20]

2. Consider the concept of being "chosen by God." How does this understanding impact your sense of identity and purpose? How can you cultivate gratitude for this in your daily life? [27:20]

3. The sermon highlights the importance of being "sent" by God. What steps can you take to move from a consumerist mindset to actively participating in God's mission? [27:20]

4. How can you incorporate continuous prayer into your daily routine, following Paul's example of praying day and night for others? What specific needs or people will you commit to praying for this week? [35:51]

5. Reflect on the unity and diversity within your own church community. What practical steps can you take to foster greater understanding and collaboration among different groups? [31:47]

6. Identify a specific vision or calling you feel God has placed on your heart. How can you develop a stronger sense of obligation and eagerness to pursue this calling? [41:38]

7. Think about a time when you felt spiritually stagnant. What actions can you take to seek a fresh call from God and renew your eagerness to serve Him? [52:45]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional.

Quotes

Seriously, that's how we're doing? I think, look, you gotta clap a little bit more just to warm yourself up a little bit, all right? All right, come on, come on. Look, I'm saying a big hello to everybody worshiping with us at all of our campuses. I don't know about you guys, but man, it is a blast being one church in multiple locations. I can't tell you how many times people will be at the Kearney campus from one of the other campuses and I get a chance to meet you or I get a chance to run into people randomly at different stores and they look at me and I look at them and I can tell they know who I am and I have no clue who you are. And you guys have been so gracious at other campuses, introducing yourselves, so one church, multiple locations. Guys, that just means this, like, our church went from addition to multiplication. Like, one church can grow so much, but how fast can five churches grow? And what I mean by that is how many souls can be saved, how many lives can be changed? Like, we are advancing the kingdom of God, working together better than we could if we were just alone. And so, man, it is a joy being one church, multiple locations. [00:18:37] (66 seconds)

Paul starts out by letting us know if you truly want to be a follower of Jesus, you have to start with an attitude of all out surrender to the authority of Christ in your life. And then you have to continue that way. And then without surrender, you have to start with an attitude of all out surrender to the authority of Christ in your life. Without surrender, without seeing yourself as a slave to Christ, I am not my own anymore. I've been bought by a price, the price of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and his blood that was shed for me. Then you think you're the one that's in control. And Paul would drive home the idea and he would say to you, if you think you're the one that's in control, your Christianity is shallow and it will not last the storms of life. [00:28:43] (39 seconds)

Humility rises when you go, God, thank you for choosing me. So you come to God with an attitude of gratitude and you say, God, thank you that you chose me to be on team Jesus. But then thirdly, Paul says, look, if you really want a salvation that thrives in your life, be more like me. Because I'm saying these things because Paul later on in his writing says these words, follow me as I follow Christ. So I'm trying to help you follow in the teachings of the Apostle Paul so that we could also follow Christ because that was his mission. So he says, I was sent by him. [00:30:09] (35 seconds)

So how is Jesus the good news? He came from heaven. He was born. He was born of a virgin. He was raised from the dead. He is Jesus Christ our Lord, meaning he is the good news. And without him, there is no way to be saved. This has to become the essential doctrine of the core of your faith. That this is who you surrendered to. This is who you are following. This is the Jesus that is portrayed in the Bible. This is the Jesus you raise your hands to and you sing about. This is who he is. He didn't come from here. [00:34:19] (35 seconds)

One of the things you see Paul recognizing in the depth of his spiritual maturity is that wherever God is at work, wherever believers are going public with their faith, Satan is right there to try to attack. If a church is growing like New Life is growing, Satan is right there trying to attack it. If your personal faith in your family or in your personal life is growing, Satan is right there trying to snuff it out. He's trying to attack it. And so what does Paul do in light of that spiritual maturity and recognizing that? He says these words, day and night, I bring you and your needs in prayer to God. Day and night. [00:39:08] (39 seconds)

incredible fruit of ministry. So in those two places that you just saw highlighted, that starts to define the strong vision, meaning when I'm with you, we're not just going to waste time. I've got an agenda. I'm going to encourage you. I'm going to preach to you. I'm going to share stories from other people around the world. I'm going to help you understand God's word in a better way. I have a vision to encourage you. But when I'm with you, I'm expecting that the ministry we're going to do together at the church and through the church to the community is going to produce a lot of good fruit. What would that good fruit actually look like? That looks like souls. People are going to get saved. More people are going to be a part of the local church. We're going to be evangelistic in our nature and what we do. And also, when I'm there, it's going to produce good fruit inside of you as well. I'm expecting these kind of things to happen. That's the vision that I have for you. [00:45:05] (49 seconds)

And I've exercised it a little bit and it's proven the fact that God is the one who called me. And so there's this obedience inside of me. I feel obligated to follow the obedience of God and to come to you. That's how I know that this is from God and not just from me. Okay. But thirdly, he says this in verse 15, I'm eager to go. I'm eager to go. Meaning like, look, I would drop everything right now. I would walk away from my job. Like I would walk in, I would tell him, look, I got to go in two weeks. I'm giving my two week notice. Like I would cash in my savings account. Like I'm all in. I know the cost of what I'm talking about. Paul knew the cost. Paul had been left for dead outside of communities after being beaten, right? I mean, Paul had been, and beaten with rods. Paul had suffered in many, many different types of physical ways because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, right? And more was to come in his life, by the way. It wasn't over yet. So Paul says this, you want to know the difference between just your desire and God's desire in your life? It starts with a strong vision. [00:46:41] (66 seconds)

And then it goes to a strong obligation or a strong call. And thirdly, you have to have an eagerness to want to do it. Now, here's what I've noticed. If you only have one of those, then you'll get burnt out. You'll get frustrated. And unfortunately, you'll lead other people astray. So. You can have a strong vision for something, but not be called by God. And if you launch out to do it just out of your vision, out of what you can see, you'll get frustrated. You'll frustrate others. You'll get burnt out and you'll lead people astray. You could have an eagerness. I want to make a difference. I want to go out and I want to do something big for God. Like I'm eager to do this, but you're you're not called by God, again, you'll get frustrated, right? You'll get burnt out and you'll lead tons of people astray. It's all three of them together. There has to be an obligation, a call from God. There has to be a clear vision. Like these are the things I sense that God wants us to accomplish. And there has to be this strong eagerness, right? That's inside of you that's willing to drop everything and abandon it as a slave to God, chosen by God so I can be sent by God. So he comes back and he tells us that these are the three things that every believer has to have in their life if they really want to thrive and if they want to find their purpose and their mission in life. Some of you are here today and this is what you've been missing. [00:47:41] (83 seconds)

And let me tell you what the work of the Holy Spirit is. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to highlight all three of these and bring them into alignment so that we can actually be sent. It's the work that he wants to do. In our lives. Paul wraps it up. So let's wrap this up together. And he says in verse 16 to 17, he goes, look, for I'm not ashamed of this good news about Christ. It is the power of God at work saving everyone who believes the Jew first and also the Gentile. The good news tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the scripture says, it is through faith that a righteous person has life. [00:48:43] (38 seconds)

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