 Sermon Series Resources
November 1 "Saints - Those Who Make Room"
Romans 16: 1-16
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: -Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission. -Paul did not start the church in Rome. Many believe that Simon Peter did. -1 million people in Rome... 100 or so in the church. |
Read Jon's Scripture Paraphrases
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October 25 "Dreaming God's Bigger Dream"
Romans 15:25-33
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: -In Paul's original work, there were no chapter and verse numbers. Thoughts are divided that weren't originally divided. -Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission. -Paul understood Christianity to be the means whereby our "image of God" - damaged by sin, could be recovered along our divinely assigned roles as God's partners in mission and ministry. |
October 18 "Food, Drink and Sacred Days" Romans 14:1-17
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: -In Paul's original work, there were no chapter and verse numbers. Thoughts are divided that weren't originally divided. -Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission. -Paul, formerly Saul and formerly a legalistic religious fanatic, once persecuted Christians until confronted by Christ himself.
Key Words and Phrases: flesh - but life lived in the tradition of sinful Adam, held hostageby sin, destined for deathliness. “weak in faith” - those who have not yet thought through the full consequences of the saving grace of God as the foundation of faith. |
October 11
"You Know What Time It Is!"
Romans 13:1-14
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: -In Paul's original work, there were no chapter and verse numbers. Thoughts are divided that weren't originally divided. -Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission. -Paul was writing to a church in ROME, the greatest power in the world, whose leaders and rulers demanded - not loyalty, but worship. Key Words and Phrases: Worship - the full-bodied response to the love, grace and mercy of God. “this world” - this present age Discernment - the capacity to see clearly Dembers - not members of a club, but different parts of the same Body. flesh - but life lived in the tradition of sinful Adam, held hostage by sin, destined for deathliness. |
October 4
"Burning Coals and Other Adventures in Body Ethics"
Romans 12:9-21
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: -Paul wrote Romans more for the gathered believers in Rome than for the individual believers. -Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission. -What you are hearing from me in this series is not new, but it is Wesleyan. Key Words and Phrases: Worship - the full-bodied response to the love, grace and mercy of God. “this world” - this present age Discernment - the capacity to see clearly
Members - not members of a club, but different parts of the same Body Peace - harmony, not just the absence of conflict |
September 27 "Gallup, Gifts, Graces and Your Part in the Mission"
Romans 12:13-8
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: -Paul understood Christianity to be the means whereby our "image of God" - damaged by sin, could be recovered along with our divinely assigned roles as God's partners in mission and ministry. -Paul wrote Romans more for the gathered believers in Rome than for the individual believers. -Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission. Key Words and Phrases: Worship - the full-bodied response to the love, grace and mercy of God. Transcendent Reality - For us, the transcendent reality is the new era begun in the RESURRECTION! Members - not members of a club, but different parts of the same Body. |
September 20 "Living Sacrifices!?!" Romans 12:1-2
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: - Paul does not consider the Cross and the Resurrection to be a change in God's strategy for Redemption. Instead, Paul understands Christ to be the manifestation of God's faithfulness to that very dream. - Paul understood Christianity to be the means whereby our "image of God" - damaged by sin, could be recovered along our divinely assigned roles as God's partners in mission and ministry. - Paul wrote Romans more for the gathered believers in Rome than for the individual believers. - Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission Key Words and Phrases: Worship - the full-bodied response to the love, grace and mercy of God. “this world” - this present age Discernment - the capacity to see clearly |
September 13 "To Him be the Glory Forever" Romans 11:33-36
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: - The stories of the Old Testament are always present and close to the front of Paul’s mind. - Even more, the Cross and Resurrection occupy Paul’s every thought. - Paul, formerly Saul and formerly a legalistic religious fanatic, once persecuted Christians until confronted by Christ Himself. BTW, Paul was baptized and changed, completely. Key Words and Phrases: Gentiles - non Jews, the nations. Glory - honor, adoration, a testimony to the greatness of God |
September 6 "Unenlightened Zeal" Romans 9:14-10:4
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: - The stories of the Old Testament are always present and close to the front of Paul’s mind. - Even more, the Cross and Resurrection occupy Paul’s every thought. - Paul does not consider the Cross and the Resurrection to be a change in God's strategy for Redemption. Instead, Paul understands Christ to be the manifestation of God's faithfulness to that very dream. Key Words and Phrases: Righteousness - that place where a person enjoys saving relationship or a place of good standing with God. Faith - Another way of expressing faith is trust. To trust is to commit oneself and to reconfigure oneself in relationship. |
August 30
"For I Am Convinced..." Romans 8:31-39
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: - The stories of the Old Testament are always present and close to the front of Paul’s mind. - Even more, the Cross and Resurrection occupy Paul’s every thought. - Paul understood Christianity to be the means whereby our "image of God" - damaged by sin, could be recovered along our divinely assigned roles as God's partners in mission and ministry. Key Words and Phrases: Creation - This God-created Life, all of it. “God is for us…” - just like it sounds, God is ours and we are His. We are on His side, members of His family. |
August 23
"We Were Saved in HOPE!" Romans 8:18-30
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: - Paul wrote Romans more for the gathered believers in Rome than for the individual believers. - What you are hearing from me in this series is not new, but it is Wesleyan. - The stories of the OT are always present and close to the front of Paul’s mind. - Even more, the Cross and Resurrection occupy Paul’s every thought. - Paul understood Christianity to be the means whereby a person or a group of people could recover the "image of God" - marred or confused or covered up by sin, and as a result recover his, her (their) divinely assigned role(s) or vocation(s) as God's partner(s) in mission and ministry.
Creation - This God-created Life, all of it. Hope - the belief, the anticipation, the expectation that God will fulfill His promises and finish what He started. “predestined” - From the beginning, God has been looking for a body. For better or worse, God has chosen to use people to reach people and everything else in Creation. |
August 16
"No Condemnation Now, So Relax!" Romans 8:1-17
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: - Paul understands baptism in terms of the Exodus. Like the fleeing slaves, believers emerge from the baptismal waters with a new lease on life, new identity, new opportunity. - In Paul's original work, there were no chapter and verse numbers. Thoughts are divided that weren’t originally divided.
Key Words and Phrases:The Law - (the Torah) given as a gift of God’s grace for the purpose of sketching out the dream of God for all of Life (including my own life). The Law then measures our attempts and efforts to live out His dream. Sanctification - the provision, given by God in Christ, for rescue and recovery. Condemnation - a guilty verdict and “death sentence” from God at the final judgment. "according to the flesh" - not the physical body, but life lived in the tradition of sinful Adam, held hostage by sin, destined for deathliness. "according to the Spirit" - life lived in response to God’s gifts of grace and love, liberated from sin and death |
August 9
"Tongue Twister" Romans 7:14-25
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind: - Paul, formerly Saul and formerly a legalistic religious fanatic, once persecuted Christians until confronted by Christ Himself. BTW, Paul was baptized and changed, completely.
- In Paul's original work, there were no chapter and verse numbers. Thoughts are divided that weren’t originally divided.
- For Paul, the ultimate goal or hope of Christianity included an individual’s eternal destination, but it never stopped there. Paul understood Christianity to be the means whereby a person (or a group of people) could recover the “image of God” -marred or confused or covered up by sin, and as a result recover his/her (their) divinely assigned role(s) or vocation(s) as God’s partner(s) in mission and ministry.
Key Words and Phrases: The Law - (the Torah) given as a gift of God’s grace for the purpose of sketching out the dream of God for all of Life (including my own life). The Law then measures our attempts and efforts to live out His dream.
"I" - Paul uses this term to refer not only to himself, but also to his people, the Jews.
Sanctification - the provision, given by God in Christ, for rescue and recovery. |
August 2
"Splish Splash" Romans 6:1-14
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind:
- Paul, formerly Saul and formerly a legalistic religious fanatic, once persecuted Christians until confronted by Christ Himself. - In Paul's original work, there were no chapter and verse numbers. Thoughts are divided that weren’t originally divided. - Paul wrote Romans more for the gathered believers in Rome than for the individual believers. - For Paul, the ultimate goal or hope of Christianity included an individual’s eternal destination, but it never stopped there. Paul understood Christianity to be the means whereby a person (or a group of people) could recover the “image of God” -marred or confused or covered up by sin, and as a result recover his/her (their) divinely assigned role(s) or vocation(s) as God’s partner(s) in mission and ministry.
Key Words and Phrases: Sin - Choosing against the dream of God for all of Life (including my own life), opting instead for an alternative dream or Kingdom.
Baptism - sacred moment at which everything changes about you: your allegiance, your status, your condition, your identity and your place of belonging
Old Self - your pre-baptized self, with its old allegiance, old status, old identity.
Instruments - literally “weapons” because of Paul’s understanding of the current battle
Grace - God’s total commitment of Himself and His inexhaustible resources to fallen humanity in Christ. |
July 26
"Adam and Jesus" Romans 5:12-21
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind:
- For Paul the ultimate goal or hope of Christianity included an individual's eternal destination, but it never stopped there. Paul understood Christianity to be the means whereby a person (or group of people) could recover the "image of God" - marred or confused or covered up by sin, and as a result recover his, her (their) divinely assigned role(s) or vocation(s) as God's partner(s) in mission and ministry. - Paul, formerly Saul and formerly a legalistic religious fanatic, once persecuted Christians until confronted by Christ Himself.
Key Words and Phrases: Grace - God’s unmerited favor, i.e., a gift. Death - an unwelcome intrusion into the dream of God. It Includes physical death, but speaks of a “deathliness” that reaches beyond.
Dominion - supreme authority |
July 19 "Peace, Patience and HOPE!" Romans 5:1-11
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind:
- What you are hearing from me in this series is not new, but it is Wesleyan
- In Paul's original work, there were no chapter and verse numbers. Thoughts are divided that weren’t originally divided.
- Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission
Key Words and Phrases: Justification - God’s activity and my response that results in my being seen by God as being in “good standing” or in a saving relationship with Him. Peace with God - Not subjective feelings, but an objective reality: We are no longer God's enemies, but His friends. Hope - "faith oriented to the future" (Rudolf Bultmann) Reconciliation - peace with God, accomplished by Christ's ultimate display of love and covenant- the cross. |
July 12
"Reckoned as Righteousness" Romans 4:16-25
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind:
- Paul, formerly Saul and formerly a legalistic religious fanatic, once persecuted Christians until confronted by Christ Himself. - Paul writes in the manner of someone unfolding a map stage by stage so that each new piece offers both a fresh vision and a sense of having been contained within what had gone before. - Paul's desire was to unify Gentile and Jewish Christians for life and mission.
Key Words and Phrases: The Promise- God's commitment that he would bring about salvation (Salvation - to be saved, salvaged or rescued from one kingdom or trajectory to another.) Faith - the capacity to see (or at least the willingness to see) the dream of God for all of Life (including my own life).
The Law - (the Torah) given as a gift of God’s grace for the purpose of sketching out the dream of God for all of Life (including my own life). The Law then measures our attempts and efforts to live out His dream.
Justification - God’s activity and my response that results in my being seen by God as being in “good standing” or in a saving relationship with Him. |
July 5 Guest Speaker: Rev. Jim Williams
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June 28 "Constancy and Newness" Romans 3:21-26
As you read Romans, keep these things in mind:
- “Romans is neither a systematic theology nor a summary of Paul’s lifework, but it is by common consent his masterpiece” (N.T. Wright). - Romans can be likened to a symphonic composition: “Themes are stated and developed (often in counterpoint with each other), recapitulated in different keys, anticipated in previous movements and echoed in subsequent ones” (N.T. Wright). - Be careful in relying too heavily on the headings in your Bible. These are later editorial additions. In Romans Paul does not write in way that lends itself to such easy compartmentalization. Rather, he was far more likely, in individual sentences, paragraphs and sections, to state a point in a condensed fashion and then steadily to unpack it, in the manner of someone unfolding a map stage by stage so that each new piece offers both a fresh vision and a sense of having been contained within what had gone before. (N.T. Wright).
Key Words and Phrases: Faith - yet another aspect of faith in Paul is as a response to proclamation, i.e., a response to the Gospel message. One summative way of expressing faith is trust. To trust is to commit oneself and to reconfigure oneself in relationship. It also implies confession or deliberate avowal. “Calling Christians ‘believers’ is really shorthand, for they are not persons who major in believing. Rather, they are persons who believe what the gospel says and whom it proclaims, and who entrust themselves to it deliberately” (Leander E. Keck). Grace - God’s unmerited favor, i.e., a gift.
Atonement - in this context the expiation or removal of sin, having in view the Jewish sacrificial system. But the implication of the removal is being one with God, quite literally “at-one-ment.”
Redemption - redeemed, bought at a price, brought back into relationship. |