The Book of Romans
To God Glory Forevermore
May 2, 2021 • Greg Pinkner • Romans 16:25–27
This week, Greg finished our series on Romans. He taught from Romans 16:25-27. Greg references Paul's thesis stated in Romans 1:16-17. To be righteous is to be what God requires of us, and Paul says we can only achieve this through faith. Romans shows us that we must put our faith in Jesus and the cross. We cannot simply believe the facts of Christ's life, we must trust in Him and have the obedience of faith.
Pursuing, Protecting, & Restoring Unity
April 25, 2021 • Rick Dunn • Romans 16:17–23, 1 Timothy 6:3–6, Jeremiah 14:14, Matthew 7:14
This week, Rick teaches on Romans 16:17-23. In these verses, Paul speaks about false teachers and false prophets. Those who are false teachers are longing for status, money, and power and we as humans are easily drawn to these things. As believers, we must battle against these things and work towards unity. We do this by not diluting the truth or diminishing the grace of the Gospel, but by serving with the truth of the Gospel.
New People, New Family, New Mission
April 18, 2021 • RD McClenagan • Romans 16:1–16
This week, RD teaches on Romans 16:1-16. In these verses, Paul lists out 28 names of people active in the church of Rome and who were living out the mission of Jesus. This group of people were all from different classes and economic statuses, they were different genders, and different races and ethnicities. However, Paul uses this to show that there is not a specific type of person that can become a Christian - it is open for everyone. Through Christ, they were given new life and became new people, they were given a new family in the church, and a new mission for their lives.
In the Context of Grace
April 11, 2021 • Greg Pinkner • Romans 15:14–33, Isaiah 52—53
This week, Greg teaches on Romans 15:14-33. In Romans 15:14, Paul moves into speaking about what it means to be a mature Christian. He lists three hallmarks: being full of goodness, filled with knowledge of the gospel, and able to instruct each other. In verse 17, Paul sets up his thesis: that in Christ Jesus, he has reason to be proud of his work for God. There are places that God wants to reveal himself to us that we will not find unless we are walking and working toward what he has for us. To be recipients is not how Christ has set our lives up to be. He has called us to be ministers and workers and to walk in obedience with him. Only we can fulfill the acts of God that he has put before us. God will allow us, through grace, to accomplish for his kingdom what we can't on our own.
That We Might Glorify God
March 21, 2021 • Greg Pinkner • Isaiah 11, Romans 15:8–13, Psalm 18:45, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117
This week, Greg teaches on Romans 15:8-13. In these verses in Romans, Paul wraps up his argument that he began in Romans 1. He speaks on how the Gospel came first to the Jews through circumcision and then to the Gentiles through baptism. Paul then looks back on verses from the Old Testament to show that the promises of the Gospel in Christ were the plan of the whole Old Testament.
As He Welcomed Us
March 14, 2021 • Greg Pinkner • Romans 15:1–7, Psalm 69:6–8, Psalm 69:21–23
This week, Greg teaches on Romans 15:1-7. In Romans 15, Paul continues his theme on coming together as one people of God. However, he shifts his focus from what we can't do to what we should do. He calls us to be what our neighbor needs - to build him up, not tear him down. We are to look out for others, not to make our own way easier, but to support them. The deep call of the Gospel of Jesus is to be a people together in the action of glorifying God. We need to welcome our brothers and sisters, be truthful, kind, and gentle, bearing their weaknesses and their sinfulness as Christ did for us.
Faith, Fidelity, and Grace: Reflections on Romans 14
February 28, 2021 • Rick Dunn • Matthew 15:16–21, Colossians 3:12–17, Romans 14
This week, Rick reflects on the last 3 weeks of teaching from Romans 14. The focus of Romans 14 is to show us how we learn to live together. Rick uses Matthew 15:16-21 and Colossians 3:12-17 to reflect what is taught in Romans. The law was set up to show our need for grace, to lead us to our need for forgiveness, and to show us what is in our hearts. This grace of faith has made us alive and can cause us to be willing to live for Him. At the conclusion, Rick asks us to pray for 3 things: hope and healing in our hearts and the hearts of those we know are hurting, for the alignment and forward movement of our church and unity in the body, and that out of this church that Christ would stir vision and dreams in a broken world.
Stumbling Blocks
February 21, 2021 • JC Neely • Romans 14:12–17
This week, JC teaches from Romans 14:12-17. In these verses, Paul focuses on how we are not to judge others or put stumbling blocks in front of them. Not only do we need to think about external hindrances like eating, drinking, what we watch, etc, but also internal hindrances like pride and envy. There may be things in our lives that we regard as good, but they may be a stumbling block for others. We need to walk in love and recognize those things so we do not do harm. Matthew 16:23, Christ tells us that stumbling blocks come when our focus is on things of man and not things of God.
Swing
February 14, 2021 • RD McClenagan • Romans 14:5–12
This week, RD teaches from Romans 14:5-12. In Romans 14, Paul focuses on how we are to use our freedom over matters in which there are disagreements when Scripture does not give an explicit command. In verses 5-12, he shows us how we are to trust and love each other through these secondary issues. We are to think deeply about the positions that we hold, we need to know our motivation for holding these positions, and we need to realize that we are not our own - Christ has to be our greatest authority.
We Will Be Upheld
February 7, 2021 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 5:13–15, Romans 14:1–6, Galatians 2:11–16
This week, Greg teaches from Romans 14:1-6. In Romans 14, Paul focuses on how we are to live together peacefully when dealing with issues that God has not given a specific command about. The Jews and Greeks that converted to Christianity came from different cultures, religions, politics, and races, and they were coming together to build a Christian church. They were dealing with issues such as food they were allowed to eat, drinking alcohol, and the correct day to worship. Greg walks us through what we do when we end up in similar circumstances.
Salvation is Nearer Now
January 31, 2021 • Greg Pinkner • Romans 13:11–14
This week, Greg teaches from Romans 13:11-14. He begins with a reminder of how Romans is divided: chapters 1-11 focus on Paul's explanation of the Gospel, and chapters 12 and following focus on how you are to live in light of the Gospel. The most fundamental aspect of living your life as a Christian is to realize that you are one. It is time to realize you are no longer in the kingdom of darkness. It is time to wake up and live in the kingdom of light, putting on the armor of light which is Jesus.
The Path of Sustainable Love
January 24, 2021 • Rick Dunn • Romans 13:8–10
This week, Sanctity of Life Sunday, Rick teaches from Romans 13:8-10 and other various texts. He speaks on the Foundations of Sustainable Love: human dignity and worth rooted in the image of God, human relationships rooted in the character of God, and human love rooted in being loved well by God.
Subject for the Lord's Sake
January 10, 2021 • Greg Pinkner • Romans 13:1–7
This week, Greg teaches from Romans 13:1-7, where we learn about the government's role in our lives as Christ-followers. He shows us the difference between obedience and being subject to our government. To be "subject to" is to recognize the rightful place and the rightful authority of those who have legitimate authority used legitimately. God placed authorities over us so that we can grasp the reality of external authority. If we are not able to subject ourselves to authority we can see, we will not be able to subject ourselves to authority we can not see.
To The Contrary
November 22, 2020 • Greg Pinkner • Romans 12:17–21
Greg teaches on Romans 12:17-21, To the Contrary. Along with Romans, Greg also looks at 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8, 1 Peter 2:23, and quotes from Martin Luther and John Calvin. Greg shows us how the word avenge in the text is actually closer to the word judgement, which puts a completely different spin on the text. The notion that we have to fix everything, Greg says, shows that we haven't fully submitted to Christ. He emphasizes that we have to seek to show God's grace and mercy, and leave the righteous vengeance to Him.
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
November 15, 2020 • Greg Pinkner • Romans 12:17–18
Greg teaches on Romans 12:17-18, blessed are the peacemakers. He also looks at Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 5:38-41, and Matthew 5:8 to help. Throughout the teaching, Greg asserts that we cannot pretend to do the work of Jesus when we're doing it in a way that is not Jesus. We have to live out loving our neighbors as ourselves, Greg insists, there's no Christianity without this. Greg reminds us that we fight our battles not with the weapons of the world, but with the fruits of the spirit. We have to remember that this is not our kingdom, Greg conveys, our kingdom is in Heaven.