This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Joy In Proclaiming The Gospel", Romans 15:15-27, 5/30/2021

 THE JOY IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL

Romans 15:14-27

 

ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SERVE

V:14. I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

A.    Paul gives us his mission statement.

1.     He was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews).

Acts 13:2

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

2.     Although it is not known, it believed that the church in Rome

Got its start After Pentecost.

3.     Paul had not made it to Rome when he wrote this letter but knew

Of its progress from Jews who had been expelled from the city

By Claudius in  41 BC. Aquila and Priscilla  were two who were expelled

Acts 18:1-2.

4.     Paul worked with them making tents.

5.     At the time of the letter to the Romans, the church in Rome was mostly

Gentiles.

B.     Paul wrote to the church at Rome as if he had been their teacher

And knew their spiritual growth.

1.     He wrote as if he knew the church was prepared to teach others the

Word they learn well.

2.     It is our job to minister the Gospel of Jesus to others so they are

Prepared to offer themselves to Christ as living sacrifices.

FIND THE JOY IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL

V:17. Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

A.    Paul took pleasure in his service to God in teaching the Word to the lost.

1.     It should give us joy in seeing the spiritual growth of others that

We have had the opportunity to proclaim Jesus.

2.     We should keep in mind that it was the Word the convicted the

Hearts and minds of others and that God used us in that work.

3.     Like a mother seeing her child develop, we should take pleasure

In the growth of others in the Lord.

B.     We should reflect on our own lives and give God credit for what He has

Accomplished through us.

1.     We are a living testimony that others need to hear to encourage

Their spiritual growth and development.

2.     We are a work in progress.

C.     There is a time when we need to look in the mirror and ask the question

Have we used the talents and gifts that God has given us to the best of

Our ability to glorify Him in our work?

1.     Everywhere we go, we have the job of proclaiming the Gospel.

Did we do that?

2.     To everyone we have met, we had the job of uplifting and encouraging

Them in the Lord. Did we do that?

3.     Paul took pleasure in boasting in the Lord in the work he had accomplished.

1.     It is ok for us to boast in the Lord for what He allowed us to accomplish.

2.     Our boasting in the Lord provides us with encouragement to

Continue serving the Lord.

3.     We should make a decision each day to serve the Lord with

Gladness.

DEVELOP AN AMBITION TO SERVE

V:20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:

 

"Those who were not told about him will see,

and those who have not heard will understand."

 

A.    When getting up in the morning, do you have the ambition to proclaim

The gospel to someone who has not heard it?

1.     We cannot know who has heard the Gospel. But can say we

We took the opportunity to proclaim it.

2.     One of the things I do in preparing to teach is to meditate on the

Word and allow the Holy Spirit to speak an understanding fresh to

Me.

3.     Not that I don’t value commentaries, but If I base my understanding

Solely on another man's commentary, then I gain nothing fresh.

B.     The job of the Holy Spirit is to teach the Word to us,

John 14:26-27

 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

 

1.     The Holy Spirit didn’t stop teaching once some theologian completed

His/her commentary.

2.     Each one of us is a life that the Holy Spirit teaches.

3.     It is good to read what the Holy Spirit has guided others to write.

The Holy Spirit will use the efforts of others to guide us to a

New and deeper understanding.

4.     The audience we have may be totally different from others and need

Fresh anointing from the Lord through us.

 

 

BE PREPARED FOR GOD TO OPEN NEW DOORS

V:22. This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

V:23. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey thereafter I have enjoyed your company for a while.

A.    When one door closes, God opens another door of opportunity.

1.     As long as we have breath, we have the Lord’s work to do.

2.     Paul had long wanted to go to Rome, but God had work for him

To do where he was.

3.     God will give you the desires of your heart, but in His time and

When you are ready.

B.     We don’t know what God has in store for us, but we must enjoy the

Journey, He has chosen for us.

1.     God will prepare the place and the time for us to move into the

Next stage of our journey with Him.

2.     We should see every assignment as an opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of others as we serve the Lord.

3.     We assist others with our service as others assist us with their

Service of the Lord.

4.     We have all been designed as equal partners in the spread of the

Gospel of Jesus Christ.

5.     The church in Rome was already growing but would benefit from

Paul’s teaching.

 

TAKE A BLESSING TO OTHERS IN NEED

V: 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

A.    God sets up occasions for us to visit other locations.

1.     In Paul’s case, it was the contributions from other churches

That he was entrusted to deliver to the poor saints in Jerusalem.

2.     Our reputation of honesty and dedication is important in the

Spread of the Gospel.

3.     Think about how God protected Paul in his journey by ship and on land

To deliver the donations to the Church in Jerusalem.

4.     God is our refuge in times of uncertainty and unknown dangers.

B.     Nothing can stop the work God has for us.

1.     Each one of us has been designed as a blessing to others.

2.     While others may bless us with their service, we may bless others

With our kindness and generosity.

3.     God gives each of us the responsibility and the ability to be a blessing to others.

 

THANK GOD FOR USING US FOR HIS PURPOSES.

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst. Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston,

Bible Study Series: What We Learn From Apostle Peter

 

THE APOSTLE PETER

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

 

 

PETER THE MAN

 

*The Jewish children were taught the Torah in the Synagogues starting at 5 years     

   old.

*The Jewish child was trained in the oral traditions starting at 15 years

   Old.

 

*At 15 years of age, he learned his trade.

 

*The Jewish males were expected to read the Torah and preach sermons

   In the Synagogues.

*Peter  was married

    Jesus healed his mother in law   Luke 4:38

*He was a fisherman

  Fishermen were gruff, unkempt, used vulgar language,

  And had boisterous tempers.

  He was a Galilean. He grew up in the village of Bethsaida

 As a fisherman, he was strong and determined.

 

 

   * Jewish males learned a trade 15 years old

   *He was a Godly man

      The Jews prayed 3 times a day.

        Morning prayer at sunrise

        Afternoon prayer at 3 pm

        Evening prayer at nightfall

       They prayed before a meal

       They prayed after a meal

 

*Trained in the Word of God from child age.

 

PETER THE DISCIPLE

He was a disciple of John before Jesus

He heard the Word and believed what he learned

He and his brother were looking for the Messiah

Peter and his brother Andrew were the first disciples Jesus called.  Mark 1:16

 

At the call of Jesus, Andrew and Peter left their trade and followed

Jesus.

Peter was trained under Jesus for 3 ½ years.

Peter was vocal and opinionated. He was bold.

When he was wrong, he was all wrong

When he was right, he was all the way right.

 

When Jesus said He was going to Jerusalem to be crucified, Peter

Rebuked Jesus in private.  Jesus said to Peter get behind me Satan   Mark 8:33

 

 Jesus asked the question, who do you say that I am?  Peter said thou are

The Christ.  Mark 8:29

 

When the disciples were in the boat tossed by waves and saw Jesus

Walking on water, It was Peter who said to Jesus if It is you. Called me out

On the water. Matthew 14:28

 

Peter became one of Jesus favorite disciples.

It was Peter, James, and John who Jesus took to the mount of

Transfiguration.   Matthew 17:1

 

PETER THE APOSTLE

The Lord had to do a number on Peter to break down his pride.

At the last supper, Jesus told Peter, that He had given Satan permission

To Shift him like wheat.   Luke 22:31

 

Jesus told Peter before the cock crowed, he would deny Him three times.

Matthew 26:34

When he did this, Peter knew his sin and was grieved in the heart.

Matthew 26:75

 

PETER THE LEADER OF THE CHURCH

 

Peter became a powerful apostle when he received the Holy Spirit on

The day of Pentecost.

 

From that day on, Peter took the lead of the disciples.

After Peter's first sermon, 3000 were converted.   Acts 2:40

 

Peter and John become preaching partners.

 

When confronted by a beggar at the temple. He said silver and gold

I have none, But what I do have I give you. He took the beggar

By the right hand and helped him up. The beggar leaped into the temple. Acts 3:6

 

When there was a problem with the food distribution to the widowers,

Peter directed the disciple to chose 7 men to handle that problem

Creating the first deacons of the Church.   Acts 6:3

 

Peter established the Job of the Preacher; Pray and study the word.

Acts 6:4

 

What can we learn from Peter’s relationship with Jesus?

 

1.     We are a work in progress.

2.     Peter was anointed as an apostle on the day of Pentecost.

3.     We need the study of the Word.

4.     We need to be trained for our call to service.

5.     We need to bold about the Gospel.

6.     Do not take offense when you are chastised by the Lord.

7.     We need to take our call to service with our whole heart.

8.     We need to prepare to teach and preach the Word.

9.     We need an active prayer life.

10.We must trust Jesus for all our needs.

11. We must drop our agenda and take on Christ's agenda.

12. Take the job of discipleship as a blessing from God.

Bible Study Series: What Is Your Burden? Habakkuk 1:1-10

 

WHAT IS YOUR BURDEN?

 

Habakkuk 1:1-10

 

INTRODUCTION

The people of Israel had become wicked and violent. They were

God’s chosen people and they had corrupted them themselves.

They had been chastised by God for hundreds of years, but never

Changed. I guess you could say they were on the last straw that

Broke the camels back. God decided to give them a punishment

That they would not have conceived.

 

God revealed to Habakkuk His plan to send the Babylonians to

Destroy their cities and their beloved temple.

 

The US is in a similar situation. It appears that violence in the home

And violence against men and women of color is escalating at

An alarming rate.

 

Last weekend, there were 10 mass murders, 17 dead and 33 wounded.

So far in 2021 there have been 194 mass shooting.                  

 

I would say we are in the last days before Jesus returns to get His Church                       as described in Matthew 24:6-7

Matthew 24:6-8

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

 

 

You have been enlightened to the destruction described in Revelation.

Knowing this, how do you feel about those who are perishing?

Do you have any responsibility?

What can you do even if you wanted too?

In this text, God gives us some pointers.

 

THE BURDEN OF ENLIGHTENMENT

V:1. The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.

A.    When you study God’s Word, He will make you

Aware of that which He wants you to be concerned

About.

1.     It is the Word that puts you in tuned with the

Will of God.

2.     I believe God has a purpose for every circumstance

In our lives.

B.     When God puts something on your heart, it is a call to action.

1.     It is not something for you to pass on to others.

2.     We miss opportunities to serve when we ignore

God calling.

3.     Not only do we miss opportunities to serve, we miss

Opportunities to grow.

4.     Others missed the opportunity to be encouraged by

The council that God has given us when we are silent.

 

THE BURDEN OF PRAYER

V:2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.

A.    In order for you to know what is going on, God has to make you see

The sin and destruction around you.

1.     God has a way of making you grieve in the heart at what you see.

2.     Habakkuk looked at the sins of Israel and knew God’s promise of

Punishment for disobedience.

                If  you look at the history of Israel, you know God  punished them    

                Severely for their sins.

3.     Knowing, this Habakkuk complained to God as to why He had

Not taken care of the problem.

B.     Habakkuk communicated with God in prayer but did not get an answer.

1.     God is not on our schedule.

2.     He does not answer prayers in our way or in the ways He answered

Before.

3.     We can expect an answer, and know He will answer, but not

Own our terms,

4.     God expects our prayers. He expects our concerns.

5.     God has to grieve our hearts, before our prayers become

Real for victims of violent crimes.

6.     I have sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters that

Are at risk for existing.

7.     Until we replace the names on the crime victim reports with

Our own family members, we are not going to grieve enough.

 

 

THE BURDEN OF UNEQUAL JUSTICE

V: 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

A.    That sounds like the justice system of 2021,

1.     We have enough laws for crimes.

2.     We don’t have enough people to enforce the laws we have.

3.     We are growing up a generation of people who don’t understand

That crimes against others is a crime against them.

4.     You may not be involved in street and family crimes, but you

Can get caught up in it unknowingly.

 

B.     We have an ideology that street crime is the problem.

1.     It is Corporate crime that promotes drugs and the use of guns.

The promotion by large corporations  keep drugs and guns popular.

2.     Our legal system is paralyzed from the top down, not the bottom up.

3.     Criminals will always be criminals, they live and they die and their

Victims with them.

4.     Those who promote the weapons of crime get rich and never get

Touched by crime.

a.     The NRA has spent millions of dollars to promote gun ownership.

b.     Over 300 congress members have received donations,

Some upwards of 7 million dollars.

5.     Drug companies have donated millions of dollars to congressmen

To promote their interest.

6.     It is men and women on the street that get affected by the top dogs.

 

 

Anybody know what this sign means?

 

It is the 3 finger peace sign that was featured in the movie Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the us in 2012.

 

It has been adopted by prodemocracy protests

In Hong Kong and Thailand.

 

They use this symbol as a show of solidarity.

And to promote Americans to help in their

Struggle

People watch what you do and say and are affected by you.

People around the world want the freedom that we have and take

For granted.

 

THE BURDEN OF DISCIPLINE

V:5 "Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something  you would not believe, even if you were told. 6 I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole seize dwelling places not their own.

A.    God’s justice seems to go against the grain.

1.     Instead of a swift punishment of a few, is a punishment that affect

Nations around the world.

2.     In this pandemic, God shows us that He is no respecter of person.

3.     The old, the young, the rich, the poor,  all races and nationalities

Are affected the same around the world.

B.     Only God could allow a virus to spread across continents and bodies of

Waters that separate us to bring us all together.

1.     This virus is ruthless and cannot be contained.

2.     It mutates and changes and keeps doctors and scientist.

Working to control it.

3.     This virus forces us to see that we are more alike than different.

 

WITH GOD WHO CAN STAND AGAINST US

V: 7 They are a feared and dreaded people; are a law to   promote their own honor. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour; 9 they all come bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. 10 They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them.

A.    God created an invisible enemy that fills the air with the power to

To being down nations, shut down economies and force us

To hide behind mask.

1.     Death looms in the air across the world.

2.     We are fearful of going to church to worship the God that

Created us.

3.     There is no place to hide. No place to go where this killer

Virus is not present.

4.     God reminds us as powerful as we think we are, we are not

Omnipotent (All Powerful).

5.     As smart as we think we are, we are not omniscience (Know Everything).

6.     We have the internet that allows to connect to everywhere

All the time, but we are not omnipresent (Everywhere all the time).

7.     God reminds us that He is all we need and more.

B.     God reminds us that personal worship brings Him into our lives

Along with His protection, provisions, grace and mercy.

1.     He reminds us that our prayers are heard by Him and acted

Upon to affect the entire universe.

2.     God reminds us that while the virus is invasive, that it has

No power over believers and can be wiped from the face of

The earth in a moment.

3.     While violence is spreading across America at an alarming rate.

It can be stopped by prayer.

James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

4.     What the Lord is telling us is that our prayers are important to

The lives of others in need.

a.     He is waiting on us to pray so others can get well.

b.     Our prayers are powerful and effective.

 

SUMMARY

How does God get us involved in the struggles of the world?

He burden us.

 

THE BURDEN OF ENLIGHTENMENT

 

THE BURDEN OF PRAYER

 

THE BURDEN OF UNEQUAL JUSTICE

 

THE BURDEN OF DISCIPLINE

 

THE HOPE OF VICTORY

Based on the text

Are you grieved by the loss lives of people you don’t know?

Do you have any responsibility?

What can you do?

 

Rev. M. Mitchell