The Heart Behind the Ministry, Part 2

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Romans 1:13-15

13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

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The Heart Behind the Ministry, Part 2— Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 1:13-15
Sermon Series: Romans (9th sermon)
May 10, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What does it mean to say that Paul situates his laser beam ministry within his larger ministry?
2.  Why is Paul so intent on reassuring his readers? What does this imply for us as we relate to one another?3.  What hindered Paul from going to Rome? How should we respond to good desires that go unmet over a long period of time?
4.  How would Paul’s delay have humbled the Roman Christians? How do we avoid becoming self-important or self-absorbed as a church?
5.  Why does Paul describe his ministry in agricultural terms? What does it look like for us to pursue fruit while leaving the results to God?
6.  Why does Paul describe himself as a debtor? How does this encourage us towards evangelism?
7.  To use John MacArthur’s language, how does this text show us that “the gospel is the great equalizer”?

References: Romans 15:19-24; 1 Corinthians 2:2; John 15:16; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7; Philippians 1:12-14; 1 Corinthians 9:16-17.

The Heart Behind the Ministry, Part 1

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Romans 1:8-12

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

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NOTE:  Allow 30-90 seconds after clicking the START-arrow or Download-button for playback to begin.

The Heart Behind the Ministry, Part 1— Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 1:8-12
Sermon Series: Romans (8th sermon)
May 3, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   Why does Paul begin his letter by revealing his heart towards his readers? What does this tell us about the relationship between love and doctrine?
2.   How would Paul’s gratitude towards God have encouraged his readers? How does this apply to us as we minister to fellow Christians?
3.   How does gratitude protect against envy?
4.   Why does Paul bring God forward as a witness? What effect would this have had on the Roman Christians?
5.   How does Paul describe his prayers in this passage? What would this kind of praying look like in our lives?
6.   Discuss how Paul’s words encourage “longing with patience” as we work through this COVID-19 situation as a church.
7.   What does the clarification in v. 12 imply about all Christians?

References: Ephesians 4:12; 5:20; Colossians 3:17; Romans 11:33-36; Colossians 3:23; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 15:23; 2 Corinthians 5:2; 1 Peter 2:2.

The Mission of the Letter, Part 2

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Romans 1:5-7

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Click HERE for video of this sermon.

NOTE:  Allow 30-90 seconds after clicking the START-arrow or Download-button for playback to begin.

The Mission of the Letter, Part 2— Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 1:5-7
Sermon Series: Romans (7th sermon)
April 26, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How do these verses remind us that ministry is about people? How can this be overlooked in practice?
2.   What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think “Christian”? How does Paul summarize it?
3.   What does it mean to say that God’s love for us is before time, in the fullness of time, and in our time?
4.   Why is it unbiblical to refer to only some Christians as “saints”?
5.   What does the greeting “grace and peace” entail?
6.   How does this passage encourage us to focus on God’s initiative and acts when we think or talk about who we are as Christians?

References: Romans 1:13; 8:30; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:4-5; Galatians 4:4; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1:6; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Romans 5:1, 2; Psalm 145.

The Mission of the Letter, Part 1

Romans 1:5-7

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Click HERE for video of sermon

NOTE:  Allow 30-90 seconds after clicking the START-arrow or Download-button for playback to begin.

The Mission of the Letter, Part 1— Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Romans 1:5-7
Sermon Series: Romans (6th sermon)
April 19, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How does it change your mindset when you view your own service or ministry as a gracious gift to you from God?
2.    What does it mean to say that if we’re not doing something through Christ, we’re not doing it for God?
3.   What does Paul mean when he refers to “the obedience of faith”? How does this deepen our understanding of salvation?
4.   How can we trace the mission of God all the way back to Genesis? Why should it eradicate all racism?
5.   What do the immediate and ultimate aims of God’s mission teach us about evangelism?

References: 1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 Timothy 1:13-15; Romans 12:3; 15:15; 2 Corinthians 12:9; John 15:5; Romans 16:26; 10:16; 11:23, 30; 6:15-18; 11:13; 15:18; Genesis 12:3; 49:10; Isaiah 49:6; Daniel 7:14; Philippians 2:9-11.