Sermons from May 2023 (Page 4)
Romans 14:13-23
Liberty Limited by Love Introduction: Let’s begin this morning by reading our Scripture text, Romans 14:13-23. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. {14} As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. {15} If your brother is…
Romans 15:1-13
The Imitation of Christ Introduction: This is Advent Season. The normal thing we do on these Sundays before Christmas is to interrupt whatever series we are on and turn to some aspect of the birth of Christ for our themes. Especially would that seem appropriate when our last several messages in the Book of Romans have been on the very un-Christmas-y topic of what to do when other Christians disagree with us regarding our lifestyle choices. Yet as I studied the first half…
Romans 15:14-16
The State of the Church Introduction: Four years ago today I preached a sermon with an identical title to today’s. I opened with these words: In a few weeks President Bush will be addressing Congress and the Nation with his annual State of the Union message. In it he will undoubtedly stress his accomplishments over the past year, take credit for winning the Gulf War and for helping to end the Cold War, acknowledge some of the problems facing us, suggest a few…
Romans 15:14-33
The Ministering Mentality Introduction: I grew up in the Roman Catholic church. There are three inevitable things about your life if you grew up as a Catholic boy in St. Louis. The first thing is you went to mass every day. The second is you served mostaccioli at your wedding reception. And third, you played soccer. Until the 1980’s, about the only people playing soccer in America were Catholic school boys in St. Louis. In the summer after fifth grade, I went to a soccer camp…
Romans 16:1-16
Brothers and Sisters in Christ Introduction: A pastor I know wrote the following: A special blessing in my life over the past four years has been getting to know a friend who is a medical doctor. He has a fascinating story about how he came to Christ. After suffering through two disastrous marriages and divorces, he went on a search for meaning and purpose in his life. He decided to volunteer one day a week to work in an AIDS clinic in San Francisco. There…
Romans 16:17-20, 25-27
How to Handle Trouble in the Church Introduction: Listen to the Word of the Lord, as found in Romans 16:17-20 and 25-27: I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. {18} For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. {19} Everyone…