Paul’s Sphere of Glory – Romans 15:17-21

 I know that most of you couldn’t possibly care any less, and none of us probably should, but there is a debate going on in the world of sports about who should, and who shouldn’t, go into the various sports “Halls of Fame.” For example, the...

Paul’s Ministry – Romans 15:17-21

 There are two kinds of military commanders – those who send their troops into battle & those who lead them. Similarly, there are two kinds of teachers – those who instruct and those who are examples. I suppose that the best kind of teacher is both an...

Seeing the Unseen – Romans 15:20-21 (Isaiah 52:13-15)

 Paul enjoyed boldly going where no Christian missionary had ever gone before. Despite working in some of the largest cities around the Mediterranean, he still enjoyed taking the gospel into those regions where unknown peoples lived and died without Christ. As we...

To Infinity and Beyond – Romans 15:20-24

 My message in some ways parallels Pixar Animation’s movie “Toy Story.” In perhaps the most famous line in that movie, and one which has become synonymous with Pixar itself, Buzz Lightyear, the spaceman toy, shouts as he takes off, or falls off...

The Fulness of the Blessing of the Gospel – Romans 15:23-29

 Last Spring, the Little’s came to church one Sunday and in their pickup there were a number of scrawny, pie-cherry trees. We took a couple of them home, and one or two other families did as well. Under the direction of my girls, I planted our two in the back...

Spiritual Blessings and Carnal Duties – Romans 15:23-27

 Paul is writing from Corinth, sometime during his Third Missionary Journey. As we said a couple weeks ago, it could have been written during his long first stay in the city, or it might have come when he made a quick second stop in Corinth, after gathering a small...

Why? – Romans 15:30-33

 Let’s pretend that the Lord has laid on the preacher’s heart a message on the subject of tobacco. Let’s say he has heard that a couple of his young people are beginning to use chewing tobacco. So he reaches into his file of notes and pulls out a...

Paul’s Plea for Prayer – Romans 15:30-32

 If Albert Einstein approached you and asked for your opinion about some scientific matter, wouldn’t you feel honored? If Bill Gates asked you to loan him a hundred dollars, wouldn’t you be curious? If the President Obama called you and asked what you...

Arriving with Joy – Romans 15:30-33

 I begin with an apology for jumping the gun – I should know better. I said last week that we were finishing our look at chapter 15 with last Sunday night’s message. But the Lord has brought me back to it once again. I think that this will be our last week...

The God of Peace be with You all – Romans 15:33

 It appears that with these words we come to the conclusion of the Book of Romans – the letter to the Romans. These words are generally called “the benediction” – a prayer for the blessing of God upon the readers. Often these benedictions come...