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As Paul nears the end of his letter, he concludes with one more appeal as he tells the Romans they need to be spiritually alert, watching out for those who create division or obstacles, who give false teaching, or who have a personal agenda that isn’t God’s. We need to spiritually protect ourselves and those in our care, practicing focused awareness and strategic ignorance, so we can be “wise in d...

Towards the end of his letter, Paul takes a break to express his gratitude to twenty-eight different people by name (and many more by reference). Paul has been travelling everywhere starting churches all over. We might understand if he didn’t remember the names of people, but here we see him sending personal greetings to over forty people. One of the ways you express gratitude is by taking a real...

Guest Speaker, Jack Tsai brought the message to us as we continue our journey through the book of Romans. We are looking at what it look likes to live out our faith between Sundays and Jack reminded us of God's mission. Through Paul's example we are encouraged to partner with God through our going, giving and praying.

Life with Jesus is full of invitations. These invitations serve as reminders of who God is and what He has called us to. It is this calling that should motivate our everyday life and set the focus of our ambitions. Paul’s reminder to us is that pursuing a life of purpose isn’t always easy, but in the end it is always worth it.

For generations, God promised a Savior, a Messiah, to free His people from oppression. They expected a political leader, a king. Then Jesus came, proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Many were excited, but it soon became clear He wasn't a political king, and His kingdom wasn't political. Since Jesus is our King, we don't stress over what is happening around us, instead we tie ourselves to t...

We live in a culture where so many people are sure they’re right, are in it for themselves, and love to hear their own voices giving their own opinions. In Romans 15, Paul calls us to something vastly different – humility. He writes that we are “not to please ourselves [rather] each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up” As we end our Breaking Up With Hate series – we...

As Paul continues discussing the issue dividing Christians at the time – whether they could eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol – he presents an unexpected conclusion - thoughtfulness. Paul was convinced that it was fine to eat such meat, but whether or not he ate it should not be based on his opinion, but on what was best for the person with whom he was eating. How do we today handle the...

In this sermon, we explore how we can navigate differences of opinion, both in Paul’s time and today. Paul’s advice was simple: acceptance. He urges believers to “accept the one whose faith is weak” and avoid judgment or contempt. Today, as we face our own divisive issues, Romans 14 reminds us to pursue unity by accepting one another as Christ accepted us, living in harmony despite our differences...

How do you live as a Christian in a culture and with a government that is often unfriendly towards or even against you? Paul’s invitation to the Roman Christians and to us is simple- to live lives of love. His invitation is one of both consistency and urgency- that our words and deeds would reflect the words and deeds of Jesus and that the priorities of our lives would serve as witnesses to the wo...

In Romans 13:1-7, Paul instructs Christians to “be subject to the governing authorities,” stating that “rulers hold no terror for those who do right” and “the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.” This may sound ... wrong. But it’s important to remember the context of Romans 13, which follows Romans 12, where Christians are taught to submit to and love their enemies. What does it mean...

In a culture filled with division, anger, and a desire for revenge, the teachings of Romans 12 stand in stark contrast. Christians are called to live a radically different life—blessing those who persecute them, living in harmony, avoiding arrogance, and refusing to repay evil with evil. Instead, we are called to do everything possible to live in peace and conquer evil by doing good. In this messa...

If we really love, we will move from selfish to selfless lives in which we really help others, especially those in need. In Romans 12:11 -13, Paul instructs us to “never be lazy” but instead to “work hard and serve ... enthusiastically,” to “practice hospitality” and that “when God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.” What might that look like for us today? How would it change the reputat...

In a world full of dissension, conflict, and anger, the church will stand out and be an attractive city on a hill if it lives out the love of God. That’s why Paul writes, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them” (Romans 12:9). How can we really love, and what impact could it make if we did?

Deep down, we long to be connected with others in authentic community. But for many of us, the process of building that authentic community is a mystery, or filled with memories of pain or abuse. We continue in Roman’s 12 as we discover that God has a plan for developing genuine, beautiful, intimate relationships because He wants each of us to experience that kind of connection with others.

There are three questions everyone, regardless of culture, economic status, or even religious conviction will ask themselves. Who am I? Where do I belong? And what am I supposed to do?

So many think of worship simply as singing songs to God on Sunday mornings, but Paul describes worship as offering our entire lives to God as living, holy sacrifices. What would it look like for us to actually live that way?

Paul’s heart is so motivated by the mission to tell everyone of the only One who matters. Paul’s passionate commitment to the gospel regardless of how uncomfortable it may be is what motivates his everyday for the people he meets. As a church, we have a longing and prayer to go into all the world with the hope of Jesus. We believe this is God’s heart, and this is our calling- to let go of our comf...

Paul unpacks the truth that salvation is for everyone while sharing his own personal longing and prayer of his heart for the people of Israel to be saved. Even when God’s people rejected Him, he did not revoke His promise. His proximity revealed His promise. Jesus came to live and walk among us and showed us how our proximity to God’s heart should reflect our proximity to those He loves. Regardles...

Paul unpacks the grief and passion he has for the people God has put in his path who don’t believe in Jesus. His heart is so motivated by the mission to tell everyone of the only One who matters. As a church, we want to live with this same kind of urgency, stopping at nothing so that everybody might have a chance to know Jesus. Romans 9 unpacks the relentless love of God for the world and stands a...

In a world marked by uncertainty, suffering, and separation, the apostle Paul delivers one of the most powerful declarations of hope in all of Scripture. Romans 8:35–39 is a triumphant reminder that nothing—no hardship, no persecution, no power in heaven or earth—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This passage isn't a denial of pain; it's a bold proclamation tha...

In the midst of suffering, weakness, and enemies, Paul’s desire is that we would know that God is for us and with us. God has not abandoned us in this life to fend for ourselves, He is protecting and interceding for us. There is nothing that can separate us from His love that provides and protects and His invitation is that we can experience His goodness in the midst of whatever we face.

We are invited to stand firm, remaining confident in what Jesus has done for us and in the many ways God has been working long before we were ever aware that He was. The good life is a life of confidence that God’s ways are life-giving and the identity He gives us as His children is sure. God doesn’t want us to live blown and tossed by the wind, but walking confidently in all that He has made for...

There is a promise for all who believe in Jesus, that there can be no comparison between the present hard times we go through and the coming good times God has set out for us. This hope allows us to wait with expectation and anticipation even if what we go through in our lives doesn’t always seem good. His invitation to us in the midst of the pain throughout our world and within our lives is to re...

In order to know who we are, we have to know who God is and what it really means to be His children. In Him, we are chosen to receive an unbelievable inheritance that is not just reserved for heaven, but begins now. Regardless of what hard times we may go through, we are promised that by His spirit, we can enter into the good times with him in the midst of what we face. He has chosen us to be His...

It’s easy to live disordered and distracted lives. Constantly focused on what more we need to do and never seeming to amount to what we hoped we would on our own. Romans 8 calls this the life obsessed with self. It is described as a life where our thoughts, priorities and decisions lead us to think more about ourselves than about God. The reality is, this focus on self leads us to a divided and de...