Glorifying God is the essence of our mission at Providence Church, and Paul shows us that loving one another is at the heart of that mission. When we defer our rights in order to love one another, we show that we love our brother more than we love ourselves. In a culture that asserts the individual over the community, this is a clear witness to how much we value Christ.
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The Cross of Christ is the darkest moment in human history. As Jesus is crucified, he cries out in apparent abandonment from his father, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” As he does this, he draws our attention to David’s words in Psalm 22. The beauty of the cross is that it doesn’t end there. The first words in Psalm 22 are dark, but the final words are triumphant. This is the Easter story that we celebrate, and the heart of the Christian faith.
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The idea of unity within the church has almost become a punchline to a joke, yet according to Paul (and Jesus) this is central to the witness of the church to a watching culture. What does it mean to live life together and to maintain our convictions? Should we even hold convictions? What is the way forward when disagreements occur within the life of the church? Paul helps us greatly and gives us a path to follow for our unity and life together.
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This life is fleeting and will soon be past. Paul wants to make sure we don’t go through this life believing that this is all there is. There is an end to this life and we need to live as if we believe this is true. For Christians, this is our ultimate hope and also serves as clear call to our mission here on earth.
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What expectations do you bring to the table when it comes to God? What do you expect from Him? What do you think your life should look like? And then,what happens when those expectations go unmet? This has been the reality for many and the Carroll’s ongoing journey of adoption is a picture of unmet expectations. Listen to Justin Carroll tell his story and what he has learned as they continue in this difficulty journey.
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Paul gives us the picture of how a disciple is to live and relate to others. He tells us that it is our love that defines us as disciples. If this is true, it has a profound impact on how we determine what really matters in life and within the church. We must change the scorecard and how the church functions if we are to survive in an increasingly secular society.
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As Christians we find ourselves living in a constant tension: citizens of God’s kingdom and citizens of an earthly kingdom. This was true of Christians in Rome and is still true for us in America today. How do we navigate that tension? What is the nature of the relationship of Christians and our government? Jacob Lemons walks through Romans 13 and give some practical advice on working out our dual citizenship.
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What does it look like to live as a disciple in today’s world? This is the question Paul seeks to answer in the final verses of Romans 12. The transformed life doesn’t stop inside the walls of a church, but is carried into our everyday lives. Paul gives us a clear path toward living a godly life, but that path doesn’t begin with us. It’s about serving others.
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The front porch was once a place where neighbors gathered and friends lingered. In today’s hurried world, it can be almost impossible to duplicate that kind of community. However at Providence we are committed to being that kind of place—where you can be yourself, share your greatest joys and deepest troubles. In Romans 12 Paul gives us a picture of what that can look like. So grab a lemonade and take a seat, we’d love to get to know you.
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Do you know your “gift-mix”? Do you have supernatural “gifts” that enable you to do extraordinary things? These are often the questions we ask when we want to know how God can use us in the church, but is this really what Paul had in mind? We take a look at Romans 12 and the idea of spiritual gifts. What we see is that Paul’s teachings have a lot more to do with looking to others than looking to ourselves.
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How you see yourself and how you present yourself are usually not reflections of your true self. The power of the gospel transforms how view ourselves. No longer do we need to run and hide, no longer do we need to present a false image, instead we are free to be honest and authentic with ourselves and with others…all because of the transforming power of the gospel.
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The world presses on us in every direction to form us into the shape it wants. The Christian life, however, is not one of conformity, but instead transformation. To be transformed, you can’t try to do it with balance, but a full on, passionate pursuit of Jesus.
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Jesus and Paul both lay down some pretty serious challenges about discipleship. What does it mean to truly follow Jesus? What is a disciple and what does it mean to live like one? Paul challenges and urges us to build our lives on God’s mercies and to give our lives to Christ and his mission. Have you done that? Are you a disciple?
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The Christian life is built upon a rock solid foundation. As Paul transitions into chapter 12, he reminds us that the gospel is the driving force for the Christian life. Discipleship doesn’t begin with our efforts, but Christ’s work.
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God’s promises are true and he is faithful, and Paul wants to make sure the Jew and Gentile both understand that. In Romans 11, Paul answers the question that he has left open for most of the book: Is God done with Israel? In so doing, Paul shows us a picture of a God that is sovereign, gracious, and faithful. Can we trust God? Paul’s answer reverberates with praise.
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