A Missionary Report
Romans 15:22-33
Introduction
The church has sent missionaries since the very beginning
-God initiated this by calling people to go
-Paul was the first missionary sent to nonJews
 
Missions is all about sharing Jesus
-Paul evangelized and started churches
 
Missions can also include encouraging existing churches
-Paul collected money for poor Christians in Jerusalem
 
How God can use a missionary report
-Encourage supporters- God used them to share Jesus!
-Enlist new supporters
-Call out new missionaries
-Share Jesus with unbelievers


Elements of a Missionary Report
1.  Clear Communication
-Personal- brothers and sisters
-Details and future plans
-learn about our missionaries at namb.net and imb.org
 
2.  Discussion of offerings (collecting support money)
-How previous contributions were used
-Expectation that listeners will support future mission work
-St Joe gives away at least 10% to mission work
   -IMB, NAMB, SCBI
   -New Life Ministries, Bible Life Community Church
   -Safe Families for Children
 
 
3.  Prayer Requests
-Prayer for spiritual boldness
-Prayer for physical strength
 
 
How to respond to a Missionary Report:
Give God all the glory
-God sends, provides and works through missionaries
-Our offerings all came from God in the first place!
 
 
Support Missions Generously
-Keep giving to St Joe- automatically
-give to special missions offerings
 
 
Pray for Missionaries
-imb.org, namb.net
 
Surrender your life to missions
 
 
Surrender your life to Jesus Christ
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Glorify God Together
Romans 15:1-13
Introduction
Circle within a circle illustration for Romans 14:1-15:13
-inner circle = Core beliefs we must agree on
-outer circle = what we can agree to disagree on agreeably
-outside the circle = what we all agree is Biblically wrong
 
Triangle Illustration
-our upward relationships with Christ
-our side-by-side relationships with one another
-Follow Jesus = more unity/closeness with one another
 
I want listeners to glorify God together by following Christ’s example and striving for Christian unity
 
Follow Christ’s example
1.  Live for the benefit of others  vs 1-2
-bear the weaknesses of others
   -they will never outgrow their weakness if we keep tearing
      them down and flaunting our freedoms in Christ!
-please others, build them up
 
2.  Notice how Christ lived  vs 3
-He endured criticism
  -Jesus
 
-He fulfilled scripture, lived it out, trusted it
 
 
3.  Live in harmony to glorify God 
-begins with prayer for one another!  Vs 5-6 is Paul’s prayer
-Look at Christ to look like Christ!
-end goal= glorify God, not to be happy or be popular!
 
 
 
Accept one another
1.  Remember how Christ accepted us!  Vs 7
-Philippians 2:5  Adopt Christ’s attitude
 
2. Remember God’s plan vs 8-12
-God used the Jews to bring salvation to the Gentiles!
-God always planned to save the Gentiles!
-The Roman Church fulfilled prophecy!
 
 
3.  Depend on God to create unity!  Vs 13
-Paul prays for them again!
-Following Christ and glorifying God through unity will produce:
    -joy
    -peace
    -overflowing hope empowered by the Holy Spirit!
 
 
Summary of Romans 14:1-15:13
1.  Agree to disagree agreeably!
 
2.  Practice Christian Freedom Carefully
 
3.  Glorify God together!
 
What now?
How will you build up a weaker Christian this week?
 
How will your lifestyle attract people to Jesus and this local church family?
 
Is God leading you to give your life to Jesus Christ?
 
Is God leading you to belong to this church?
 
 
 

How To Practice Christian Freedom
Romans 14:13-23
Introduction
 
  
How to practice Christian freedom
1.  Value relationships over rights vs 13-15
-Don’t let your freedom cause a weaker Christian to stumble
-Abstaining from something does not mean you agree with the
   Weaker brother or sister
-respect the weaker Christian’s conscience   vs 14b
-“walking according to love”  this tests what you value most!
 
  
2.  Follow the Holy Spirit   vs 16-18
-Following God is more important than exerting your rights!
-vs 16  Our “freedoms” should never cause people to slander
   You or the community of faith
-Christianity is not about rules/freedoms about eating/drinking
 
Evidence we are following the Holy Spirit: vs 17-18
  -Righteousness
 
  -Peace
 
  -Joy
 
Vs 18b-  “human approval”  common understanding among
      Believers that we are following God’s leadership
 
  
3.  Aim for peace and building up one another  vs 19-23
-pursue- intentionality
 
-pursue what promotes peace
 
-and builds up one another
   -don’t tear down what God is raising up spiritually- vs 20
 
-Abstaining is better than exerting your freedom if
   it cause a Christian to stumble
 
-How to enjoy your eating and drinking freedom
   -don’t do what you doubt is right
   -live by faith- don’t try to earn God’s favor!
 
Final notes:
1.  This is not talking about clear Biblical commands
2.  The weaker Christian is not in charge-  some churches
      Defer to weaker consciences and create  legalism
 
 
What is your next right step?
 
 

How to agree when we don’t agree
Romans 14:1-12
 
1.  Accept one another
-Don’t argue over “disputed” matters
-Weak in their faith- Jews still clinging to ceremonial rules
-Strong in their faith- Non-Jews who treated everything as clean
-This was NOT about whether or not they were saved, or had a
    false belief in how to be saved by grace alone
-Today:  Christians differ on lifestyle choices
    -we are not talking about clear commands from the Bible
    Examples-Don’t steal, Don’t commit adultery or fornication,
                     Don’t get drunk but be controlled by the Holy Spirit
-Accept/receive = receive into one’s circle of acquaintance,
   As brothers and sisters, intimate fellowship
 
Motivations for Accepting One Another
-vs 4 We are all servants of God
     -We will all stand or fall in front of God, not each other
-vs 5  Only God knows intent
     “Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind”
 
2.  Honor the Lord with our decisions
-We do not belong to ourselves!  God owns our decisions
   -1 Corinthians 6:12  Everything is permissible…not everything
       is beneficial. 
  -Don’t be mastered by anything, God is our master!
      Illustration:  avoid lifestyle choices that tempt you to sin
-vs 7-8  We live to the Lord-  1 Corinthians 5:15
    -All our thoughts, ideas and actions, ambitions and decisions      
      must be pleasing to the Lord!
 
-7-9  We die to the Lord- “The circumstances of a believer’s death, as is his life, are determined not by his will or in the consideration of his own interests, but are wholly in the hands of the Lord, who sets the time for death in accordance with his own interests and purposes.”  Douglas Moo, NICNT, p 861
-We belong to the body of Christ, not a body of individuals!
    -We must be considerate of others when we make decisions
    -Ephesians 5:  Submit to one another out of love for Christ
        Illustration:  avoid lifestyle choices that cause disunity or
                           tempt other brothers and sisters to sin
 
-Note:  Paul never condemns the weaker Christians!
-The New Testament gives us far more PRINCIPLES than rules
-Believers must focus more on what we commonly believe than
  continually find areas of disagreement!
 
3.  Remember:  We will answer to God for our decisions!
-The foot of the cross is level!
-The foot of the judgment seat of Christ is level too!
    -we are all brothers and sisters standing before God
-vs 10  We will all be judged in the end
    -everyone mentioned here are true followers of Christ
    -Revelation 20:11-15  unbelievers cast into hell forever
-vs 11  Worship is the great equalizer- we all kneel to Jesus
-vs 12  We will all give an account of ourselves to God someday
    -if our strict lifestyle was genuine, God will honor us
           If it was legalism and lack of trust in God’s free grace,
           We will answer for this sinful attitude
   -if our liberal lifestyle was genuine, God will honor us
           If our liberality was an excuse to not submit our whole
           Selves to Christ and other believers, God will show us!
 
Practice agreeing with other believers who you don’t agree with!