Jan. 19, 2025

Series: Transformed    1-19-25

THE GOSPEL AND YOU

(Romans 1:8-17)

PAUL’S DESIRE:

Romans 1:10 ¹⁰ I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 

PAUL’S STRATEGY:

Acts 25:9–12 ⁹ Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” ¹⁰ Paul answered… ¹¹ “I appeal to Caesar!” ¹² After Festus… declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

PAUL’S PURPOSES:

Romans 1:11-12 ¹¹ I long to see you… ¹² that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 

• To __________ the church in Rome. (Paul writes Romans 57 AD)

** ______________ CLASH

• Late 30s AD…
• 49 AD …
• 54 AD… 

       ** ______________ CRISIS

       ** ______________ TENSIONS & DISUNITY

Matthew 5:17 ¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

PAUL’S MOTIVATION:

Romans 1:13 I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. 

“I am greatly concerned about the salvation of __________________, 

who is not greatly concerned about the salvation of ________________!”

PAUL’S OBLIGATION:

Romans 1:14 (ESV) ¹⁴ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

2 Corinthians 11:23–27 ²³ I have… been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

Mark 10:45 ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

PAUL’S EAGERNESS:

Romans 1:15 ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 

• THE KEY: BE _____________________!

 “Evangelism is helping people discover how God is already at work in    their lives.” Sam Williams

• People are most likely to Seek God when they are in _______________ or under ______________.

PRESSURES OF SHARING:

NEGATIVE - I Don’t Want to be like ________________

POSITIVE - I Cannot be like _______________________

PAUL’S PRIDE:

Romans 1:17 ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 

• It’s God’s _____________, not mine!

• I’m just a ____________ of the Holy Spirit. (To Get the Power there!)

• I can’t Convince, Convict or ____________ anyone. (That’s the Holy Spirit’s job)

1 Peter 2:9 ⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a (“peculiar” KJV) people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9 (MES) “You are the ones chosen by God… God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night and-day difference he made for you.”

YOUR STORY: 

(There’s Power in a Story!)

   1. It is _____________!  (There are no others just like it.)

   2. It is ________________.  (It’s all yours.)

   3. It is Easy to __________________.  (Or at least it should be.)

   4. You’re the _______________ on it.  (Nobody can Argue with it.) 

   5. People Relate to & _______________ Stories. (They’re Endearing.)