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Series: Romans Speaking of Sovereignty (Part 2) Romans 9:14-29   Recap Romans 9 and 10 appear to create a tension between human responsibility and God’s sovereignty.    Mystery is a part of the Christian faith, and that is ok.     Mystery acknowledges Divine supremacy, and it provides space for faith.    Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists  and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6   Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not rely on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5   Romans 9:14-29   Justice:  getting what you deserve Grace:  getting what you don’t deserve Mercy:  NOT getting what you deserve    ‌Humankind’s basic problem: we resist the ways of God.  God’s glory is His purpose in all things.      TODAY’S TAKEAWAYS      God is sovereign over salvation . . . rest in it!     For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13     God is more merciful than we can imagine . . . remember that!     “What will amaze us as we look backwards from eternity is not the severity of God’s justice but the greatness of his mercy.”  Oswald Sanders     God commands us to share the gospel . . . obey Him!         God’s ways are above us . . . be humble!

Series: Romans Speaking of Sovereignty (Part 1) Romans 9:1-13     Romans 9-10 is the most extensive discussion of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibilityin the Bible.         Scriptures never contradict; nevertheless, we do not have the capacity to resolve everything.       Our knowledge of the Gospel should heavily burden our heart for the lost.     Spiritual kinship, not ethnic origin, determined who was a true Israelite.      Salvation rests in God’s election, not man’s effort or worthiness.       Today’s Takeaways     There is a tension between sovereignty and responsibility; be aware.         Mystery is a part of our faith; be humble.      Oh, the depth of the richesand the wisdom and the knowledge of God!How unsearchable his judgmentsand untraceable his ways!34 For who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been his counselor? Romans 11:33-34     The security of salvation depends on God; be grateful.

Series:  More than Conquerors Is God on Our Side? Romans 8:28-29   What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Romans 8:31    Circumstances or present realities are not the determiner of God’s favor.   I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33   We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28     God Is on Our Side   God has already established our future.            God has proven His love.      Jesus said the world would be against us.   Paul wrote that our flesh is against us.   We know the devil is against us.  Only God’s opinion matters.     God has declared us righteous.      Psalm 44         For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17        God’s love has never left us.    37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39  

Mother’s Day  2023 What Every Child Needs Ephesians 6:1-4   Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. 4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4     3 cultural shifts affecting parenting ·      Technology ·      Attitudes toward Sexuality ·      The Decentralization of the Family     God has designed the family to be the place where His image bearers develop/learn.        Even great homes exhibit signs of the fall.       5 things every child needs    Every child needs unconditional love.   Every child needs consistent discipline.   ·      corrective discipline  ·      protective discipline   ·      developmental discipline   Start a youth out on his way;even when he grows old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6      Every child needs intentional gospel instruction.       Every child needs incremental freedom.       Every child needs a positive role model.       Regardless of effort, most parents feel like failures at times.  May the Gospel remind you that your past is not your identity; and today, in Christ, you are a new creation.   

Series: Romans Hope in Suffering Romans 8:18-30   I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world. John 16:33    Why does God allow suffering?             ·      Sometimes suffering is used for correction. ·      Most suffering is the result of living In a fallen world.     Suffering in Hope   Christians can hope in suffering because today is not the end of their story.        There is a now and a not yet aspect to the Christian life.       Creation was intended to host humanity and bring them joy; however, it has endured our abuse and witnessed every sinful act.  And therefore, it groans for deliverance.      Christians can hope in suffering because the Spirit helps them.             Christians can hope in suffering because God uses suffering for a purpose.    We know that all things work together for the good of those  who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28     2 purposes for suffering ·      God’s purpose in all things is to make you more like Jesus.      ·      God’s purpose in all things is to build anticipation about the future glory.      Today’s takeaways   Everyone suffers, but only those who love Jesus have real hope.    Christians should have realism about the present    Christians should have gospel optimism about the future

More than Conquerors Series Part 2Life in the Spirit Romans 8:12-18College Pastor Hagan York 

Series: Romans the Battle over the Law Romans 7:1-25   When we receive God’s gift of grace, it changes us. This process is called sanctification.   Believers debate whether Chapter 7 deals with the Christian’s life pre-faith or the Christian’s life post-faith. Paul talks of his pre-Christ life in verses 1-13 and his life as a believer in verses 14-25.    Romans 7     the bad news     The law is not bad, but it does not have the capacity to make you good.     Coveting exposes the internal problem of the heart.      Paul uses flesh to describe the sinful cravings which are opposed to God.  It is often referred to as our sinful nature.     Believers have two natures:  One godly, another sinful.       The two natures are constantly at war inside of the believer.     the good news   What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25     You can live in a way that pleases God.         Even though you may have ongoing battles, the war has been already been decided.          God uses your ongoing struggles to grow your appreciation of grace.           Appreciating grace is what wins ongoing battles.       The irony of the Christian life is that the only ones who live holy are those who understand that their acceptance by God is not conditioned on their holy living. 

Easter 2023 WHAT IF? I Corinthians 15:1-21     Why the Resurrection Is “Most Important”   The resurrection is the foundational historical event of Christianity.                                                     I Corinthians 15:3-8   Why We Believe the Resurrection Is True    ·      The revelation of Scripture   ·      The eyewitness accounts              ·      The rapid acceptance of the message     Faith in the resurrection has transformed lives.        I Corinthians 15:9-11   ·      Believers seek to follow His commands. ·      Believers trust that God is in control. ·      Believers desire to maintain faith, even when the unimaginable occurs.     What If?                                I Corinthians 15:12-19       Faith in the resurrection is the source of Christian hope.       Steps To Belief   1.  Understand the message.    Romans 10:17   2.  Examine the facts.      3.  Spend time with changed believers.     4.  Take a step of faith.     If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Series:  Romans A Free Slave ROMANS 6:15-23   We all give our lives to something.    Grace is not a license to sin.   the ownership indicator = obedience   Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?  Romans 6:16   The exchange of masters happens in the heart.     We must not confuse liberty with license.     ‌There is a difference between forced obedience and free obedience.   Principles of Spiritual Bondage   The Progression Principle:         What you do leads to more of the same.         The Conscience Principle:    Your master provides your “want to’s.”     The Outcome Principle:    Every direction leads somewhere.                                          Death affects humanity physically, spiritually and experientially.   You can either serve sin and get what you deserve, or you can trust Christ and get what you don’t deserve.    Today’s Takeaways   1.    Remember sin will not rule over Christ’s people.   2.    Offer your body to Christ. He gave Himself for you.    3.    Realize the path of Christ is life giving, now and forever. 

Series: Romans Dead to Sin A New Identity Romans 6:1-14     “In Christ” Realities   People who trust Christ have a changed identity.       In Christ/United with Christ = connected to Him in a complete, permanent way.   Therefore, we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.  Romans 6:4   People who are identified as “in Christ” are changed.     When we are “in Christ,”  ·      there is a death of self.  ·      we receive a new life in Christ.   Water baptism is an important, powerful picture of our union with Christ.      People in Christ are changed immediately and incrementally simultaneously.              Defeating sin is not automatic, but it is possible.        Live “in Christ” Now   1.  Believe what God’s Word says about you.    So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin  and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11    2.  Commit every area of your life to Christ.   But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God,  and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. Romans 6: 13      Let your life illustrate the power of grace to changes people’s lives.  

Series: Romans A Better Adam Romans 5:12-21   Sin has infected everyone, everywhere.   Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. Romans 12:12   death through sin       Death comes to man in a physical way: Aging, decay, and physical death; but death is also spiritual.    “why do people sin?”     ‌1.   We are born this way.      Original Sin: Because of Adam’s first sin, all humanity is predisposed to sin.   Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5 2.  We all choose sin personally.      13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression.  Romans 12:13-14 before the law of Moses     Sin is willful disobedience; therefore, people are not held accountable for what they do not know. Nevertheless, death reigns in all people, because all people do know.    a new and better Adam Adam is considered the federal head (representative) of the human race.     Just as Adam is the representative of sinful humanity, Jesus is the federal head of a new,recreated humanity.            ‌‌Just like death came to all through a representative, life will come to all who will trust Jesus to represent them.   19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 12: 19   TODAY’S TAKEAWAYS       ‌This world, as we know it, is not as God intended.   All of humanity is sinful because of Adam and because of personal choice.   Everyone is either in Adam or in Christ.   A person’s first story does not have to be his/her last story.

Series: Romans: By Faith Love on Display Romans 5:5-11   Justified = Just as if I had never sinned   why we have confidence that God loves us   The Holy Spirit provides an internal witness to believers.    This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  Romans 5:5   The cross is God’s sufficient proof of His love.     6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died  for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that  while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8   Christ died for undeserving people.   God’s love is unconditional.   Our Gospel is not performance based.   Undeserved love is the distinguishing facet of Christianity.    Believers are promised they will not face God’s wrath.   How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.  Romans 5:9   3 types of wrath: ·      Internal ·      External ·      Eternal   Reconciliation = restoration of broken relationship   In Jesus, God accepts me as His child.      10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom  we have now received this reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11   But to all who did receive him, he gave them the  right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, John 1:12 

Series:   by Faith Why Faith? Romans 4:1-25     what is faith?    Faith = Trust      To be right with God a person transfers trust from himself/herself to Christ.        why does Paul insist on faith alone?   ·      Faith is the only hope to obtain God’s righteousness.         ·      Faith is the way God gave righteousness to the people of the Old Testament.       ·      Righteousness by faith alone is logical.    “Logidzomai” (Greek) is a banking term which means to add to your account.      ·      Faith alone is God’s universal, eternal means of dispensing His righteousness.     Today’s Takeaways   Human effort cannot obtain divine approval.     Faith’s power is measured by faith’s object.     Faith in Christ is enough to secure your salvation.                 Is your security in Christ or in yourself?   God takes complete responsibility for ensuring our salvation. 

Series: Romans Christ Alone Romans  3:21-26   Christianity is an exclusive religion: Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with God.   If you believe that is true, why?       Righteousness = having right standing with God   the law problem  ·      The law never changes a heart. ·      The law actually awakens sin. ·      The law leaves us guilty before God.   The righteousness of God is through faith  in Jesus Christ to all who believe Romans 3:22     Sin is anything against God’s design.    Sin violates God’s glory in the created universe.   In Romans, justification refers to a legal declaration of righteousness.   how are we justified?    through redemption:       buying back; bringing back from  destruction; or restoration     through sacrifice:              Propitiation: an offering to assuage wrath or a payment to cancel debt   Jesus didn’t simply die for you; He died instead of you.   The cross reveals God’s Justice and Mercy simultaneously.     Why we believe Jesus is the only way:   All people are sinful and by nature separated from God. Justice demands God must punish sin. Only a perfect Christ can atone for sin. Hope of redemption is only found in Jesus. His method of salvation, faith, is possible for everyone.

Wind, Snakes, and Your Mother's Womb College Pastor Hagan York 

Series: Romans        Basically Good or Basically Bad?   Romans 3:1-20   A key theological and sociological issue is “what is the nature of man?”    Historical Christianity contends that the nature of man is sinful.     Romans 3:1-8   Privilege does not fix the human heart.       Majority does not equal correct.        Romans 3:9-20   We are all contaminated.    Sin affects every area of our life.    Sin ruins our standing before God.      what about good actions?    ·      To be “truly good” something must be good in both form and motive.     ·      Good actions must be evaluated by a larger context.      why am I not as “bad” as some people?     ·      The restraining power of the Holy Spirit   ·      The fear of retribution   ·      The "self-righteous" cloak of Satan     Christianity teaches there is nothing we can do about our sin.    For us to be delivered from sin an outside agent is necessary.     Christ died to deliver us from the judgment of our sins.    For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. Romans 1:16

  Series: Romans: Good News/Bad News Religious, Moral & In Trouble Romans 2:1-29   Righteousness = Right Standing with God   Some people believe morality and/or religion will earn them righteousness.   personal morality                         Romans 2:1-5     the judgment of God                     Romans 2:6-11   ·      God’s judgment is cumulative.                   ·      His judgement is just.                                  ·      The final judgment will be merit based.       ·      God’s judgment is universal.     ·      God’s judgment is impartial.          Romans 2:12-16   ‌Each person will be judged by the revelation they have.     God’s judgment will be based on obedience, not knowledge.    No one is good enough to stand judgment much less judge others.    the benefit of religion                   Romans 2:17-27     the heart of the matter                 Romans 2:28-29     ‌Today’s Takeaways   Judging others and failing to examine yourself is a strong temptation for religious people.     External practice does not equal internal purity.       God’s standard of judgement is perfection.     The Gospel reveals that we have a Savior.   The gospel is not: judgment is gone. The gospel is:  Jesus takes our judgment.       All judgment will be subject to the gospel.  

Series: Romans The Wrath of God Romans 1:16-32   For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. Romans 1:16-17   Righteous:  Right standing with God     Romans 1:18-20         Wrath:  displeasure, extreme anger     People experience wrath because of sin; not because they have rejected Jesus.     People are separated from God before they hear about the Gospel.     No one sins in ignorance!   Why all people are held accountable   ·      God has revealed Himself through His creation. (20)   ·      God has revealed Himself through man’s conscience. (21)       Romans 1:21-32             God’s wrath is first experienced internally.  (21-25)           God’s wrath is then experienced externally. (26-31)           God’s wrath will be experienced eternally.  (32)

Series:  Romans The heart of Paul Romans 1:8-17   In Chapter 1 Paul reveals his passion for the gospel and the people who trust Christ.     the people of God                         Romans 1:8-13   Paul has not met the church at Rome, yet, he has deep gratitude for them. Paul modeled partnership and a kingdom mindset.   Meeting together was/is important for believers. When believers gather, there is mutualbenefit and mutual encouragement.     the gospel message                     Romans 1:14-17     I am obligated...          Romans 1:14   The gospel is for every ethnic group, every social class, and every education level.  So I am eager to preach...       Romans 1:15   The gospel is always delivered through language.    For I am not ashamed...          Romans 1:16   the “shame” campaign   ·      The gospel declares mankind is sinful/wicked; the world says “most people are goodand this is hateful speech.”   ·      The gospel reveals that man is helpless; the world believes this disincentivizes people.    ·      The gospel contends there is one way to God; the world rejects claims of absolute truth.    Sometimes shame is external, sometimes it is internal. confidence in the gospel   1.        The gospel is powerful.   2.        It provides a possibility of salvation.   3.        While it is exclusive in content, it is available to all.     4.        The gospel reveals the righteousness of God.   changed lives =       demonstrated/transformative righteousness                                            changed verdict =  declared/forensic righteousness   God has designed the good news to be shared from person to person.     Every person you encounter today needs the gospel. 

Series: Romans—Good News/Bad news Set Apart for the Gospel Romans 1:1-7   Why Study Romans?    1)  The study of Romans has led to major transformation in individuals and communities.    2)  Romans details the core of our faith: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.     The Context of Romans   The book of Romans was written by Paul in 57/58 AD.  It was written to a young, influential,multicultural church in Rome.    The Occasion of Romans   1)  Paul is trying to garner support for a mission trip to Spain.   2)  He is defending the gospel of salvation by grace through faith.    3)  He is proposing how church unity can be accomplished around the gospel.      A Changed Man  Romans 1:1   A Gospel Message Romans 1:2-5a   The gospel is not “obey and God will accept you;” it is “God accepts you through Jesus so you can obey.”     An Apostolic Mission    Apostle = One sent with a message   Why We share  ·      God desires trust. ·      God is worthy of the praise of all people. ·      People need the gospel.   Today’s Takeaways   1.  The good news:  Jesus makes a way for people to know God.  2.  The good news is for all people who will trust in Christ. 3.  The gospel initiates and secures change in the way believers think and live.  4.  Believers are to carry the gospel to the world that desperately needs Him.