October 27, 2024

Clearwater Community Church - FL

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October 27, 2024

Overcome Evil by Doing Good

October 27, 2024 • Pastor Josh Kee • Romans 12:17–21

Romans 12:17-21 Sermon Notes

Series: A People Transformed by God’s Grace

Title: “Overcome Evil by Doing Good”

A people transformed by God’s grace…

1. Do not compound evil with evil (17a)

_ To repay evil with evil makes us as guilty as the one who has committed evil against us

_ Evil begets evil, without end

_ Q: In light of the holiness of God, whose evil deeds are justified?

_ For further study and reflection: see Prov 20:22; Matt 5:12, 39; 2 Cor 5:10

2. Give careful thought aimed at doing good to all (17b)

_ God’s mercy transforms how we think so we can test and discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect (Rom 12:2)

_ “pre-meditated consideration” of doing what adorns the gospel – not reactionary

_ Pay careful attention to what you meditate on because your thoughts precede your actions

_ For further study and reflection: see Matt 5:16; 2 Cor 8:21; Phil 4:4-5; Titus 2:6-3:8; 1 Pet 2:9-12

3. Make every effort to live peaceably among others (18)

_ Do what you can to make peace (Matt 5:9) – proactive; be ambitious for peace

_ Do not provoke unnecessarily, stir up strife, or fuel discord – instead, be reasonable (Phil 4:5)

4. Leave vengeance in the hands of God (19)

_ Our identity has changed – enemies turned to the “beloved” of God (Eph 2:1-5; 1 Jn 3:1-3)

_ God’s wrath is more terrifyingly exact and just than any vengeance we could execute

_ Do not take that which belongs only to God (Deut 32:35; Ps 94:1; Heb 10:30)

5. Live contrary to the flesh (20; see Romans 13:14)

_ Repetition of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:38-48; Luke 6:27)

_ Application of 12:14 – Christians actively “bless” (do good to) even their enemies

_ It is better to repay with kindness than vengeance (Prov 25:21-22)

Main Idea: (21)

Those who have been changed by God’s grace are not overcome (conquered) by evil, rather they overcome (conquer) evil by doing good (see Titus 3:1-11).

Application Questions:

1. Have you ever repaid evil with evil by taking revenge on someone? What was the effect on you? Did it satisfy? Did it make peace? Did it heal?

2. Linger over God’s holiness. Are you justifying any evil (sinful attitudes, actions, desires, etc.) in your life because of a wrong done against you?

3. Why do you think we’re reluctant to be merciful toward those who hurt us? What are we afraid will happen?

4. Do you desire exacting justice toward yourself as much as you desire it for others? Do you desire mercy for others as much as you desire it for yourself? Confess any area where you are withholding mercy. Ask God to meet you in the hurt and change your heart by his grace.

5. What would happen if God treated you with justice without mercy? Who in your life needs mercy from you? Spend some time with the Lord and ask him to transform your mind according to his mercy toward you.

6. Spend some time with Romans 8:5-9 and Galatians 5:16-25. What happens if we live to satisfy our flesh? How do we walk contrary to the flesh? Who’s power are you relying on?

7. Who do you need to bless and do good to in response to God’s Word this week?

November 17, 2024

November 17, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Romans 13:8–10

Theme: Paying Our Debt of Love Passage: Romans 13:8–10 Theme: Pay Your Debts Characteristics of Debt: o Owed to another o Assumed because we don’t initially have o Obligates us 1. Minimize and eliminate financial debts (8a). 2. Maintain one debt: The debt of love owed to one another (8b). a. Perpetual b. Transactional Why must we love one another? · Loving others encapsulates and undergirds all biblical commandments (9). · Loving others keeps us from doing evil toward others (10a). · Loving others fulfills the law’s requirements (8c, 10b). Main Idea: A people transformed by God’s grace fulfill the law by loving one another. Application Questions: · Why do you suppose Paul used the negative concept of debt to describe the Christian’s relationship to fellow believers? · How was the debt to love one another defined as transactional? · Is it possible for one to be a Christian and not be loving toward other believers? What biblical proof can you offer to back up your answer (hint: see John 13:34–35; 1 John 3:10, 4:7–21)? · What is meant by the dual statements in vv. 8 and 10 that loving one another fulfills the law? How does love fulfill the law? · How are you continually paying your debt to love your Christian brothers and sisters? What steps do you need to take to live out this command over the next weeks?

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Romans 13:5–7

Theme: Christian Submission to Government, Part 2 Passage: Romans 13:5–7 Theme: A people transformed by God’s grace submit to the governing authorities (13:1a) Reasons from last week (13:1b–4): Governing authorities are established by God (13:1b–2). Governing authorities are to enact God’s justice (13:3–4). Results from submitting (13:5–6): You avoid government’s wrath. You maintain a clear conscience. You display a godly testimony. Actions to do: Give the governing authorities what they are owed (7): In finance In disposition Main Idea: A people transformed by God’s grace submit to governing authorities as a witness that Christians are citizens of Christ’s kingdom. Application Questions: In looking at the results found in vv. 5–6, how would you prioritize them in order of importance or precedent. Which should come first and why? What is your conscience? Can conscience be wrong? How does the command to submit to governing authorities help you maintain a clear and calibrated conscience? Could displaying a godly testimony result in wrath or punishment? Provide some biblical examples. How might this occur today, and what should the Christian do? How can a Christian fail to submit to governing authorities in areas of finance? Are there any areas financially with which you struggle submitting? Why is our disposition toward governing authorities important? How can we have a proper disposition in attitude and speech toward those with whom we politically disagree?

November 3, 2024

November 3, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Romans 13:1–4

Theme: Christian Submission to Government Passage: Romans 13:1–4 A people transformed by God’s grace submit to the governing authorities (13:1a). Why? Governing authorities are established by God (13:1b–2). All authority derives from God (1b). God institutes our leaders (1c). Consequently, Rebellion against government is against God (2a). Rebellion against government will result in His judgment (2b). Governing authorities are to enact God’s justice (13:3–4). They are God’s servants for your good (4a). Therefore, do what is right. They are God’s servants, His agents of wrath, to punish wrongdoers (4c). Therefore, be afraid if you practice evil. Main Idea: A people transformed by God’s grace submit to governing authorities as an act of obedience to our God who has established them. Obey God (Acts 5:29) and submit to governing authorities (John 19:10–11). Pray for your leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–2). Application Questions: How are we to understand submission to governing authorities? What does rebellion mean in v. 2? What other passages or scenes in scripture inform our understanding of this text? What is Paul’s primary basis for submission? To what other institutions or individuals does scripture call us to submit? How might this impact the way that we understand this command here in v. 1? Are there caveats or exceptions to Paul’s straightforward command for us in v. 1 to submit to governing authorities? Why do you think Paul didn’t provide any here? Why is it so important that Paul twice references governing authorities as God’s servants? How should this affect the way in which believers understand the role of government in God’s world? How do we go about respecting this command and following its intention if our governing authorities do things that are immoral or even evil? Can you think of instances when it would be justified to obey God over human authority (Acts 5:29)? How has this passage challenged you to act toward the governing authorities over your life?