October 20, 2024

Clearwater Community Church - FL

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October 20, 2024

Others over Self

October 20, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Romans 12:14–16

Theme: Others over Self

Passage: Romans 12:14–16

Main Idea: A people transformed by God’s grace elevate others over self.

The one who elevates others over self ...

1. Responds to animosity with blessing (14).

a. Wish God’s blessing on your enemies.

b. Resist the natural desire to destroy them.

2. Enters the real-life experiences of others (15).

a. Rejoice with those rejoicing.

b. Weep with those grieving.

3. Focuses thinking on unity with fellow believers (16).

a. Minimize high thoughts of self.

b. Associate with the lowly.

c. Admit that your thoughts and opinions aren’t always right.

Application Questions:

· What differentiates Christian thinking from simply having an optimistic mindset toward the things of life? (look back to 12:1–3)

· Is it possible to truly elevate others over self in our thinking and approach to life? Why or why not? What obstacles prevent us from doing so?

· How can we go about blessing those who oppose us?

· What does rejoicing with those who are rejoicing look like for you? How about weeping with those grieving?

· In what ways are you challenged in your thoughts about yourself? What needs to be minimized in your self-thoughts? How can you go about addressing this?

November 24, 2024

November 24, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Romans 13:11–14

Theme: Spiritually Dressing for Success Passage: Romans 13:11–14 What time is it? (11–12a) · It’s time to wake up (Be alert). · It’s time for Christ to soon return. · It’s time to focus on the Lord’s work. Knowing Christ will soon return, live like a people transformed by God’s grace. How? (12b–14) 1. Put off works of darkness, and put on the armor of light 2. Order your life around basic decency, not perversity. 3. Put on Jesus Christ’s works, and resist the flesh’s desires. Main Idea: A people transformed by God’s grace display Jesus Christ in their actions and decisions by pursuing what one day they will be. Application Questions: · Considering Christ’s return, where do you need to focus time on Christ’s work? How are you going to go about doing that? · What works of darkness need to be taken off in your life? How do you need to put on the armor of light? · Of the three areas that we are to walk in decency rather than perversity, which area is a potential weakness for you? Why? · What does it mean for the believer to put on Jesus Christ? How are you at putting on Christ in your own life? What’s one area of your life that you need to absolutely resist to which your flesh is drawn? How are you going to address that?

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?