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Series: What Is God’s Vision For New Hope? ? ? Romans: Extending the Gospel “for His Name’s Sake” Vision #4: A Community that Stewards all wealth & “stuff” for the Glory of God (Rom 15:23-28; next wk Rom 15:16 & other texts) Use these notes if you find them helpful, but I think most are better served by listening with an open Bible (Acts 17:11) heart & mind, than by writing. – Pastor Jeff
Intro:
*** Rom 15:24-28 reveals that we worship God extravagantly when we generously, sacrificially, & joyfully ______ our ________ to extend the gospel for His name’s sake. Rom 15:24-28 clearly implies that we worship God extravagantly when we generously, sacrificially, & joyfully _____ our ________:
I. … to fund ______ -like & __________-like disciple-making ministries (Rom 15:24 & 28, 15:16-23).
II. … to care for the ________ locally & globally (Rom 15:25-26).
III. … to develop & multiply united “glocal” __________ that are as socially __________ as humanity (Rom 15:25-27).
Concl:
Digging Deeper into today’s Bible verses & themes
The collection for the poor in Jerusalem was very, very important to Paul & the Gentile churches he planted. Read, compare, reflect on & pray over these 1. many passages that refer to &/or teach about this offering: 1 Cor 16:1-4; 2 Cor 8 & 9; Rom 15:24-28; Acts 21:13ff; 24:17. See also Gal 2:10-11. What does this teaching mean for you? For New Hope & other Christ centered local churches? 2. Many passages in the NT also call us to “good works”. Upon 1st reading them it seems to many that the Apostles are only talking about assorted ways of living out our faith in Christ. However when you read them more carefully & slowly you soon notice that financial benevolence to the poor is also in mind. It seems that the Apostles are affirming that believers & churches exist in part to “seek the welfare of the city”. As you read these passages ask “What do these passages tell us about seeking to benefit the city & surrounding culture in which we live”? How is God calling us to do this locally & globally (what Bob Roberts calls “glocal ministry”)? · We begin with some OT context: o Jer 29:4-7 (in which God commands the exiles in Babylon to seek the welfare of Babylon!) o Similarly read & reflect on the life of Daniel in the book of Daniel. Notice that Daniel is commanded & empowered by God to live in Babylon, to serve & benefit pagan kings but without spiritual compromise. See all of Daniel - note especially Dan 8:27, · In the NT read the following verses & note the repetition of our doing “good works”. What are these? How does the repetition of believers doing “good works” impact our understanding of the proper way for believers & churches to live in the public arena as benefactors of those in our community & beyond? See 1 Tim 2:1-2, 8, 9-10; 1 Pet 2:11-17; Rom 13:1-7; Tit 3:1-2, 14; 1 Tim 5:9-10; Tit 2:4-5; 1 Tim 5:13-15; Tit 2:3-5, 6-7; & 2 Thess 3:10-13 & other texts 3. The term “glocal” is one I am borrowing from Pastor Bob Roberts who develops it in his book Transformation: How Glocal Churches Transform Lives & the World. See also www.glocal.net for more info. I am finding his material very helpful in seeking to better understand what it means to be the “church” doing God’s will.
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