1 Timothy – Josh Hanson Ministries

The Purpose of Trials

Josh — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:16:04 +0000

‌SCRIPTURE: James 1:2-4 (ESV)

DATE: 1-11-26

As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And there’s one thing I want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshiping with us for the first time — if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.

SERIES INTRO

We’re continuing our series in the book of James this weekend. And — as I mentioned last week — I have a personal fondness for this book because it was the first book of the Bible that I memorized from beginning to end. And James is a great first book to memorize because it’s essentially a book of mini-sermons. It focuses on one topic — then goes on to another topic — then another — and so on. Our brains — or at least my brain — appreciated the kind of focus James offered me in my first attempt at memorizing an entire book of the Bible.

So give it a go — I dare you to try and memorize James. You’ll be doing yourself a favor — and all of us, too — because I can’t think of a downside of more of us putting God’s Word to memory.

INTRODUCTION

Last week was an overview of the book and its author and — today — we’re going to dive into the text itself. So — if you have your Bible — please turn with me to James chapter one. We’ll be in James chapter one today — looking at verses two through four. Here’s what we read in James chapter one — beginning in verse two.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

In these verses we find a call to joy, an explanation of the trials we face, and we learn the purpose of the trials we experience. A call to joy. An explanation of what trials are. And the purpose of the trials we experience in life.

A CALL TO JOY

We’ll begin with a call to joy. We’re in verse two.

James 1:2 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

James begins by calling us to joy in our trials — and this is a command. We’ll get to the specific kinds of trials we face in a moment — but know that most trials include some form of suffering. James knows this — and yet — he begins his letter by calling his readers — and us — to joy.

So right away — we’re faced with a seemingly impossible scenario — at least impossible if you’re a mere mortal like me: For the scenario we’re called to is one of joy in the midst of suffering. So how is that possible? How is it possible to have joy while facing trials in life? That’s the question we’ll be answering in this sermon.

But — before we get to our answer — I want to ask you: When you suffer — or if you’re in the midst of suffering right now — how’s your joy? James isn’t saying don’t grieve. He’s not saying don’t pretend as if you’re not experiencing sorrow — he’s not negating those kinds of emotions. But he is saying that — for the person who follows Jesus — in the midst of trials, sorrow, and suffering — there will be joy.

So — I’ll ask again: How’s your joy?

Now — if you’re not a Christian — I can imagine the idea of joy in the midst of trials and suffering seeming absurd to you. Trials are something to avoid — at least that’s what we’re told by culture — so who’d expect to have joy?

And — for those of us who believe in God — James is challenging the false idea that God never wants you to face trials, or moments of discomfort, or challenges, and so on. But — remember — James is Jesus’ younger brother. And James is well aware of what his older brother went through. And if Jesus experienced trials and sufferings in life — why would we think that we won’t?

And — even more than this — instead of just accepting that we’ll face trials and suffering — James takes us a step even further — a step that’s in the footsteps of Jesus our Savior. For we…

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

And — in looking to him — the One who looked at and past the cross — to the joy that was set before him — the eternal love and pleasure of his Heavenly Father — in looking to Jesus we’re able to — imperfectly, yes — but we’re able to look past the trials and sufferings we face in this life to the joy that’s set before us — the eternal love and pleasure of the One who created us and who died for us. Thus we can count it all joy when we face trials in this life.

THE TRIALS WE FACE

But what kinds of trials is James referring to? We’re back in verse two.

James 1:2–3 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith…

A great question to begin with is: What would James have meant by the world “trials”? The word that James uses — which we translate as “trial” in English — has the sense of “being examined” in our verses. Where something — or in this case, someone — is “examined closely for potential flaws or mistakes or opportunities for growth.” The specific opportunities for growth — that James may’ve been thinking of — would fit the broad category of trials and suffering due to persecution that his readers would’ve experienced.

In history — the experience of persecution has had a variety of effects on Christians. Some Christians — due to persecution — find themselves faced with strong temptations. Some denied Christ in order to not experience physical pain. Others gave in to the temptation to not speak out against something that went against God’s Word in order to keep their job. Often these Christians will live the rest of their life with a guilt that they can’t shake.

But there’s another response to persecution that results in a different kind of trial. One that John records for the church in Smyrna.

Revelation 2:10–11 NLT

10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. 11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

Instead of giving in to the trial — there’s the man or woman who doesn’t deny Christ and is killed for his or her faith. He experiences the trial of facing death head on — while his wife and children experience the trial of no longer having a husband and father. There’s the follower of Jesus who chooses to speak up for truth and experiences the trial of losing her job for not giving in to the expectations of her employer or co-workers. She then may face a testing of her faith — because — there’s no guarantee that God will make sure she gets another job just because she stood faithfully for him.

What are some of the kinds — or categories — of trials we face today?

We experience relational trials — whether it be parenting, in our marriages, a friendship at work or in the church. But as James will later warn us…

James 4:1–3 ESV

1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

And what’s our response? We want to say to James, “Well that’s not true when I’m the one in the conflict! I’m standing for the truth. I’m standing for what’s right. I’m, I’m, I’m…” It’s amazing how — though quarrels and fights are abundant in our world today — no one seems to take James at his word: That quarrels and fights among people in the church — by the way — come from passions and desires that are at war within us. We murder to get what we want — James says. We covet and fight with one another.

We face physical trials. For many — these are medical situations. The number of people on my prayer list who are facing physical trials usually hovers just over twenty — and those are just the situations I’m aware of. And physical trials can’t help but influence our walk with God. Waking up in pain every day — is painful! Yet some of the most joyful and joy-filled people among us face physical trials every day. Deb Oman and Lyn Loewen come to mind.

For others of us — it’s the physical trials of those we love. Where you long for news like what Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi about their friend who was ill.

Philippians 2:25–30 ESV

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Oh what joy — did you see it — joy! — when someone we love finds healing from the physical trial they’ve been facing. Yet there’s joy to be experienced in and during the trial as well.

There are emotional trials. The violence we see in the news — the comparison trap of social media that we’re all strangely addicted to. We love to be outraged — to be shocked — to be angry. And every now and then we need a break and just need something pretty stupid to laugh at — my personal favorite has anything to do with people tripping and falling.

And both the news and social media have figured out how to control us all like puppets on a string. I know — you’re the exception to the rule. “The algo hasn’t gotten its claws in you,” the pastor said facetiously.

And there are trials of temptation. As the apostle Paul writes…

1 Timothy 6:9 ESV

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

There’s a temptation — the same word translated as trial in James — when one’s desire to be rich ensnares them: It leads to ruin and destruction. Of course — the danger of this kind of trial is that we never think we’ll be ensnared by it, right? Only “those” kinds of people get trapped by it — not people — well — like me. I’m above being trapped by money, or porn, or power, or alcohol, or — fill in the blank. This kind of thinking is the first step in the direction of the “senseless and harmful desires” that lead people to ruin and destruction.

The age of information in which we live and consume ideas — is an age of good ideas and bad ideas — of godly ideas and ungodly ideas — it’s an age with teaching that honors Christ and teaching that’s promoted as Christianity but dishonors Christ. It may not seem like a trial but every day people are — instead of having their faith tested — are having their faith destroyed by lies that seem so clever that they sound like the truth. Paul warns us of this when explaining the importance of being part of a local church when he writes…

Ephesians 4:11–16 NLT

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

In the midst of this world that’s like waves of the ocean — that keep going back and forth — into the shore, back out to the ocean — instead of getting tossed around by the winds and waves of culture — we’re to be steady — anchored — built on a firm foundation that’s a solid rock. And this steadiness only comes by rooting oneself deeply in one’s faith. Knowing what you believe, why you believe, and — most importantly — living as if you actually believe it.

For some of us it would be a big step to start focusing on what you should believe as someone who follows Jesus. If you don’t know where to begin — I’d suggest starting with the Essentials of our Faith statement. You can find it on our church website — gatewayepc.org — on the “who we are” page.

But I’ll do you a favor and read them to you now — it’s always good for us to be reminded of the Essentials of our Faith.

All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. On this sure foundation, we affirm these additional Essentials of our faith:

1. We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To him be all honor, glory and praise forever!

2. Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through his miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and his virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day, he arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.

3. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling our hearts, he gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.

4. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits his righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, thereby justifying them in his sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.

5. The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting, she awaits the return of her Lord.

6. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth-personally, visibly, and bodily-to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20)

7. The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

If you have any questions about the Essentials — please stop by the Resource Center before you leave. Someone will be available to either answer your question or take down your info so someone can follow up with you this week.

If you’ve got the Essentials down and want to dive deeper into what you believe — I’d suggest studying the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Catechisms — also available on our “who we are” page. If it interests you — we did a whole series on the Westminster Confession of Faith on our church podcast.

Know what you believe and know why you believe it. For it’s not enough to know the “Bible answer” as if you’re studying for a test — you’ve got to know why you believe there’s only one God or why only those who put their faith in Christ alone are saved or why we’re to proclaim the gospel until Christ returns.

And — finally — we must live like we believe what we say we believe. Think about it — when it comes to politics — what you believe dictates how you behave. You vote for a certain candidate — don’t vote for the other candidate — or don’t vote altogether — because of something you believe about politics. What you believe leads to how you behave.

If you’re a parent — your belief about education — public school, private school, or home school — influences what your family does.

If you believe that Pepsi tastes better than Coke — or vice versa — you probably prefer to drink the one you think is better. Just like if you believe that Nike makes a better shoe than Reebok. What you believe affects what you do.

And then we come to the beliefs of the Christian faith. For example, to be a Christian means you believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way a person will spend eternity in Heaven — and that those who die without faith in Jesus will spend eternity in Hell. And — that means — you can’t be a Christian and be apathetic about sharing the gospel. For sure — you may not be the next Billy Graham — but neither can you ignore Christ’s command to go and make disciples of all nations. But according to a recent study by the Barna Group — more and more Christians in the US aren’t sharing the gospel. We say we believe these things about salvation, heaven, and hell — and yet — sharing the faith is increasingly becoming optional to Christians in the US. Why?

Because we’re giving in to trials instead of allowing their purpose to be fulfilled in our lives.

THE PURPOSE OF TRIALS

Which leads to the purpose of trials. Now — if we’re honest — most of us wish this wasn’t in the Bible. Trials are never fun — but that doesn’t mean they’re not for our good. And that’s what James is telling us. We’ll start in verse two one last time.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I want to read our verses in another Bible translation to help us better see what James is saying.

James 1:2–4 NLT

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

So trials — or troubles of any kind — come into our lives so that our faith is tested — remember — James is specifically speaking to those of us who follow Jesus. And — when our faith is tested — its ability to endure has an opportunity to grow. Like muscles — which only grow and get stronger through the enduring activity of regular exercise — so too our faith must be tested so that it grows stronger and stronger in its ability to endure the trials of life. And this continues throughout our life until our faith reaches its God intended goal: perfection and completion — which doesn’t happen in this life — but in the life that’s to come.

So some not so great news: Throughout this life here on earth you’ll continually experience trials. But — in knowing this — you can now view them as growth opportunities for your faith. For the only other alternative — which many people unfortunately choose to take — is to allow trials in this life to destroy your faith instead of strengthen it.

Now — you should know that James isn’t the only one who tells us that this is the purpose of trials. Notice how similar Paul’s words are on this topic. Paul writes…

Romans 5:3–5 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Like James — Paul says, “Have joy when you find yourself facing problems and trials in life — for they help you develop endurance.” Paul then goes on to say, “And endurance develops your character. And character strengthens the hope of your salvation, which will never lead to disappointment because you will know that God loves you” and — as Paul says elsewhere — “is working out everything for the good of those who know God and are called according to his purpose.”

So the goal of these trials — their purpose — is to lead us on the path whose destination is our perfection. And here’s some encouragement from God’s Word that — I hope — will ignite an even greater desire in your heart to endure whatever trials you are — or may face. Elsewhere in the Bible we read…

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The good work that God began in you — a good work that began the moment you responded to the gospel by believing in Jesus Christ — God has guaranteed that he will bring his good work to completion — or perfection — in your life. And what is that good work? Your eternal salvation. Which means — for those who believe in Jesus Christ — you will endure this trial and every trial. You will pass the test — for God has guaranteed your success with the blood of his Son.

CONCLUSION

In the book of Genesis — we find the story of Joseph. He’s his dad’s favorite — and his brothers hate him for it. In fact — they hate him so much that they want to kill him. But — instead of killing him — they sell him into slavery to a group of people headed to the faraway land of Egypt. And for years Joseph experiences trial, after trial, after trial. And betrayals. And false accusations. And imprisonment. Nothing good. Nothing fun. Nothing pleasurable.

But God — being sovereign — which means he’s in control of all things — God was orchestrating all of these events in Joseph’s life to prepare him to be the one who would save Egypt — and many neighboring nations — from starvation during a devastating famine. By enduring trial after trial after trial — Joseph rises to become second-in-command in Egypt. And this former slave and prisoner — because his faith was strengthened through enduring all of those trials — was now ready for the responsibility he would be entrusted with.

Some of the people he saved were his family members — his father, his brothers, and their children. And at the end — here’s how Joseph summarized his many years of enduring trials. He said…

Genesis 50:20 NLT

20 You (his brothers) intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

What his brothers meant to cause him harm — God used for Joseph’s good — all of those trials only strengthened his faith in his God. Similarly — but on a grander scale — what was meant to harm Christ — the cross and all of its evil and brutality — God intended for good. For he brought his Son to the cross — the trial of all trials — so that Jesus would be the one who saved the lives of many people for all eternity. And — as we saw earlier — Jesus endured the cross with joy.

Early on in this sermon I told you that I’d answer the question of how it’s possible to have joy in the midst of trials and suffering — the answer is this: By believing that God is sovereign — that he really is in control of all things — for that’s the truth we hold fast to — which leads to our endurance — which will lead us to our perfection and completion. For only a sovereign and in-control-of-all-things God can take what is meant for our demise and use it to lead us to our perfection in his eternal presence.

And believing that your God is sovereign — when you know in the depth of your soul that the God you believe in is in control of all things — can’t help but give you joy. For no matter what is set before you — you are looking to your Savior who loves you and endured the cross so that he might be your joy in all things. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, may you fix all of our eyes on your Son right now. And may Jesus be our joy.

Holy Spirit, comfort those who are suffering. For those who are lonely — may they have a sense of your presence. For those who feel unloveable — may they know your love. For the hopeless — give hope. To the joyless — give joy. Spirit, we ask these things not because we deserve them — but because we know it delights you to give them.

And — Jesus — for the joy set before you — you endured the cross. The joy you saw was eternity with your Father and with us — your people whom you love. Jesus — I don’t know who it is — but I know someone right now needs to know that you love them — that they were part of what you saw that gave you joy — would you tell them right now, “It was you — you gave me joy.” And may we have ears to hear and receive your sweet love for us.

We pray all of this in your name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

No matter the trials you are facing — or will face — may you endure them with joy — knowing that your loving God has guaranteed your eternity with him. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.

Authority (pt 2)

Josh — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 11:02:42 +0000

‌SCRIPTURE: Romans 13:1-7 (ESV)

DATE: 7-27-25

INTRODUCTION

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend and we’re in the practical application section of Paul’s letter. You may remember that — after eleven chapters of rich theological truths — Paul gets to the “so what” in chapter twelve. Meaning he addresses how all of the theology — that’s found in the first eleven chapters — is to play itself out in how we live. That’s the journey we began earlier this year with Paul’s big “therefore” statement — when he writes…

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Because of the theology he’s taught us — Paul now tells us to live our lives as sacrificial offerings to God — where our lives are acts of worship that make our God look glorious to the world. And one way our lives can make God look glorious to the world — that Paul addresses in our verses — leads us to what may be the most controversial subject I’ve ever preached on.

So with that teaser — if you have your Bible — please turn with me to Romans chapter thirteen. We’ll be in Romans chapter thirteen today — looking at verses one through seven. There Paul writes…

Romans 13:1–7 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Last week we saw that what this text teaches us is pretty straightforward — it’s not hard to understand. But we’re returning to this passage because — though it’s straightforward and easy to understand — applying this text is where things get hard. Which is why we’ll spend today — and next week — looking at some implications of this text and how we’re to live differently — in our submission to authority — because of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Now — if you’re here and wouldn’t call yourself a Christian — know that — just like last week — today’s sermon will include talking about politics — but not how you might think. You see, when we talk about submitting to authority, one area of life where this can’t be ignored is in the area of government. That’s why I said this may be the most controversial subject I’ve ever preached on because — generally speaking — politics is a religion in our country. And we’re a nation full of fully devoted followers of the religion of the Republican and Democrat parties. And these religions — like all religions — don’t like to be messed with — even when a truer and more authoritative religion comes along.

So we’ll be addressing submission to political authorities — in addition to submission and authority in other areas of life beyond politics — the home, the church, the workplace, and so on.

Last week we focused on what Paul says in our verses and the important doctrine of the sovereignty of God that this text teaches us — a doctrine we must first believe in order to have any hope in knowing how to apply what this text teaches. Next week — we’ll focus on many implications and scenarios and “what about’s” you may’ve been thinking about all week long — including when to obey and when to disobey authority.

But before we can talk about when to obey or disobey — we need to look at authority from two perspectives — which is what we’re going to do today. We’ll look at authority from the perspective of being in authority over others. And then we’ll look at authority from the perspective of being under the authority of others. Being in authority — which — if we have to pick one or the other — this is most people’s choice over being under the authority of others.

But before we get to these two perspectives on authority — we need to first turn somewhere that may surprise you — to the Ten Commandments.

AUTHORITY AND THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT

Back in 2023 — if you were with us — you may remember that I preached through the Ten Commandments. One of the sermons was titled God’s Family. Does anyone remember what commandment I preached on for that sermon? The fifth commandment which is…

Exodus 20:12 ESV

12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

You may be thinking, “What does this commandment have to do with submitting to authority?” In that sermon, I said, “The word honor means to consider someone or something as worthy of respect. It means to show them reverence — meaning appreciation — and awe — which means a sense of admiration. To give someone honor has the idea of giving weight or a heaviness to them. And — to honor someone — is to treat them as significant.”

I also said, “You can dishonor someone by physical actions and you can dishonor someone by your attitude towards them. And this second one — in particular — is the part of the commandment we don’t want to submit ourselves to. We get that spitting in someone’s face or calling them a derogatory name is dishonoring and unacceptable — so we’ve learned to control our actions and — most of the time — our words. But breaking this commandment is just as easily done by our thoughts about people. Hoping that their plan fails. Wanting to see them get what they deserve. Not even saying a bad word about them, but deep down — in the depth of your soul — desiring ill will towards them.”

We then looked at how this commandment applies to the local church — which is a spiritual family — and how the authors of the New Testament use the same language — one of honor — to describe our relationship with those in authority over us.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

And just as children are commanded to obey their parents — Christians are commanded to…

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

In response to these verses I said, “And the way you help your leaders give an account for your soul with joy is by obeying them — and submitting to them — as your pastors submit themselves to Christ and to each other. And this is not something to be taken lightly — neither on the part of the elders who will give an account to God some day for how they lead — nor on the part of you — the congregation — who will give an account to God some day for how joyful you made it for your pastors to lead you. Pastors are not to imitate ungodly, abusive authority just as congregation members are not to imitate rebellious, unsubmissive, ungodly children.”

Last week I had us turn to the Westminster Confession of Faith — our denomination’s doctrinal standard. Today I’m going to have us look at the Westminster Larger Catechism. As you may know — when I’m not preaching — staff and elders have been preaching a series based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The shorter catechism was written for children and has less questions and answers — which is what a catechism is — questions and biblical answers. But with less questions it was shorter in length — thus its name — the shorter catechism.

The larger catechism was written primarily for adults and has more questions and answers making it longer in length — resulting in its catchy title. The one hundred and twenty-third question of the larger catechism is…

Q. 123. What is the fifth commandment? A. The fifth commandment is: Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

The next question asks…

Q. 124. To whom does father and mother refer in the fifth commandment? A. Father and mother refer not just to our parents but…specifically to those whom God has ordained to be over us in positions of authority, whether in our family, the church, or civil government.

Now I just reviewed the sermon I preached two years ago on this commandment — but know that there’s much biblical warrant for applying this commandment to these other relationships. For example — in First Timothy — Paul describes our relationship with our fellow Christians using familial terms.

1 Timothy 5:1–2 ESV

1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

And — in the Old Testament — there are examples of those in authority being referred to as a father — Naaman being one example in Second Kings. All that to say the application of this commandment goes beyond our earthly parents.

Continuing in the larger catechism we read…

Q. 125. Why are those over us referred to as father and mother? A. The terms father and mother remind those in authority that, like fathers and mothers, they are responsible for and should act in a loving and tender way, appropriately reflecting their particular relationship, toward those under them; and those under them are also encouraged to accept their authority more willingly and cheerfully, as if they were their parents.

Leading us to the next question…

Q. 126. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment? A. In general, the fifth commandment outlines our obligations to others, depending upon our particular relationship to them, whether over, under, or equal to them.

Over, under, or equal to them. We’re not going to focus on the “equal to” relationships in our lives today — just the relationships where someone is either over us — in authority — or under us — in submission. And we’ll begin by addressing those who are in authority.

TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY

Something interesting I discovered — while preparing for this sermon — is that some scholars believe that Paul expected Caesar to read his letter. Paul’s writing this letter to Christians living in Rome — which the Roman Empire is named after. Paul had some run-ins with the Roman government by this point. Some date his arrest in Jerusalem to be as early as 55 AD — and he wrote Romans around 57 AD — so potentially after his arrest. Paul also knew that Christians in Rome were experiencing the beginnings of conflict with the government.

But with this expectation — that Caesar may read his letter — imagine the boldness in making the statement…

Romans 13:1–4 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Paul calls Caesar God’s servant. “Caesar, I know your title is emperor — I know that you have people worship you like you’re a god — but I want you to know that you’re accountable to the One true God — for you are his servant.” Talk about fighting words. Who tells the emperor that he’s not at the top of the pecking order? Only someone who really believes in the sovereignty of their God, that’s who — see last week’s sermon.

Next week we’ll touch on the purpose of government — to promote what is good and stop what is bad — as God defines good and bad — but for now — let’s return to the Westminster Larger Catechism and the instruction it gives to all who are in authority.

Question one hundred and twenty-nine asks…

Q. 129. What is required of those in authority towards those under them? A. As is appropriate to the position of power they have received from God and to the particular relationship involved, those in authority should love, pray for, and bless those under them. They should teach, advise, and warn them, approving, praising, and rewarding those that do well while disapproving, blaming, and punishing those who do wrong. They should also protect those under them and provide the things they need for soul and body. Those in authority should also be examples of serious, wise, and holy behavior so as to bring glory to God and honor to themselves and thereby maintain the authority God has bestowed on them.

I don’t think any of us would have issues submitting to authority if those in authority fulfilled these requirements established by God. Love, pray for, and bless those under your authority. Teach, advise, and warn them. To those who do well — approve, praise, and reward. To those who do wrong — hold them accountable — because you love them. Protect those under you. Provide for them. Be an example to them.

As Paul tells Timothy — who’s pastoring in Ephesus…

1 Timothy 4:12–16 ESV

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Pastors — who have authority in the local church — are to be an example to their congregation — something God expects of all in authority to be for those who are under their leadership.

Husbands — set an example to your wives.
Parents — set an example to your children.
Those in government — set an example to the citizens.
Bosses — set an example to your employees.
And so on.

Returning to the catechism — the next question asks…

Q. 130. What are the particular sins of those in authority? A. In addition to failing to do what is required of them and using their position for self-aggrandizement and for their own glory, ease, profit, or pleasure, the sins of those in authority include: commanding things that are unlawful or that cannot be accomplished by those under them; persuading, encouraging, and rewarding those under them for doing evil; dissuading, discouraging, and not rewarding them for doing good; excessive punishment; carelessly exposing or allowing them to do wrong and to be put in the way of temptation or danger; provoking them to anger; and anything that dishonors themselves or undermines their authority by being unjust, imprudent, too severe, or lax.

These are the behaviors that concern us when we’re under authority, right? But does the fact that authority can be abused give us biblical justification to not submit?

TO THOSE UNDER AUTHORITY

That’s where we turn now because Paul’s command is about submitting to authority. Our verses aren’t about how one should behave when in authority — though Paul does imply some things for those in authority — but the thrust of his mandate is to those under authority.

So back to the behaviors that concern us when we’re under authority: Does the fact that authority can be abused give us biblical warrant for disobeying Paul’s mandate? It doesn’t.

For example, David submitted to King Saul’s authority even after God had anointed him — David — to be king. David even refused to speak ill of Saul — much less rebel against his authority. Did he flee for his life? You bet he did! But he still respected the fact that Saul was king — so he fled while submitting himself to Saul’s authority as king.

And don’t forget that Paul’s words about submitting to authority come after he wrote…

Romans 8:35–37 ESV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Paul acknowledges that Christians are being slaughtered and killed — he didn’t forget this a few chapters later when he writes about submitting to authorities. And — listen — I’m just like you. This is incredibly challenging to everything I want to be true. I want God’s Word to say something like, “Don’t submit to those who slaughter you” or something like that. But Paul — inspired by the Holy Spirit — doesn’t write that. He acknowledges that the Roman Empire is killing them — and yet — he says, “Submit to them anyway.”

And — when we reject this mandate to submit — we sin. For when God’s Word mandates or commands us to do something — when we don’t do it — we sin. Like I said last week and this week — this isn’t going to be a popular sermon.

And since this sermon can’t lose much more popularity — let me ask: What’s your favorite sinful way to respond to authority? Few of us are bold enough for straight up — in your face — rebellion — we like our paycheck too much for that — we don’t want to go to jail — and so on — so what’s your go to sinful response to authority that still keeps your life pretty comfortable?

Complaining to your spouse.
A growing resentment towards a government official.
Social media slander.
Wasting time at work to “pay back the man.”

The sin of those in authority over us does not excuse our sinful response. For our submission to them is — as I said last week — ultimately a display of our submission to Christ — who submitted himself to sinful authorities even when it cost him his life.

What does the larger catechism have to say to those of us who are under authority?

Q. 127. What kind of honor is owed to those over us? A. Those over us deserve respect in our hearts, our words, and our actions. We must pray and give thanks for them, emulate their virtues and gifts, willingly heed and obey their lawful commands and advice, submit to their correction, be faithful to them, and defend and support their persons and authority, as is appropriate to their rank and position. We must also tolerate their imperfections and infirmities and cover them with our love, so that we will be an honor to them and to their authority.

And question one hundred and twenty-eight asks…

Q. 128. What are the particular sins against those in authority by those under them? A. The sins of those under authority against those over them are: any failure to perform what is required by them; being envious of, holding in contempt, or rebelling against their person or position as reflected in their lawful advice, commands, and correction; cursing at or making fun of them or any kind of stubborn resistance and disgraceful display that brings shame and dishonor to their person and authority.

And if you’re looking for a scriptural escape clause — know that the Bible is unified on this topic.

Titus 3:1–2 ESV

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

No escape clause. Submit to rulers and those in authority. Speak evil of no one.

Colossians 3:18 ESV

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

No escape clause. Wives submit to your husbands.

Ephesians 5:18–21 ESV

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

No escape clause. Christians submit to one another.

1 Peter 2:13–19 ESV

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

No escape clause. Submit to every human institution and — by the way — honor the emperor. Yes. The guy who’s slaughtering you.

Next week we’ll look at times when we must disobey those in authority and — spoiler alert — biblically justified disobedience to authority usually results in extreme persecution — like getting thrown into a fiery furnace, a lion’s den, or actual death.

Which may cause someone to wonder, “Are we free to publicly disagree with those in authority over us?” Yes. But how we do so is incredibly important

What do we see biblically? We have the example of Daniel who publicly criticized two kings in his day — Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. After interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream — the dream where God warns him about his pride — Daniel concludes his interpretation with…

Daniel 4:27 ESV

27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

As you probably know — Nebuchadnezzar doesn’t listen to Daniel’s warning. But notice how respectful Daniel was to the king.

John the baptist publicly rebuked King Herod for his relationship with his brother’s wife.

Mark 6:18 ESV

18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Which resulted in John’s imprisonment and eventual beheading because — even when respectfully given — some will want our heads for what we say.

And then there’s Paul — the guy who wrote the words that are challenging all of us. He’s been arrested…

Acts 22:30–23:3 ESV

30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. 1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”

Paul’s not a fan of having his face beat in. Yet watch what happens next.

Acts 23:4–5 ESV

4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

Paul immediately acknowledges that his reaction to getting punched in the face went against God’s Word. When he first spoke — in reaction to being struck — he wasn’t aware that Ananias was the high priest — and thus an authority over Paul in the Jewish religion. But as soon as he’s told what position Ananias held — Paul confesses that what he did — in response to getting hit — was wrong. He doesn’t justify himself. He doesn’t point the finger at what caused him to speak out. He admits to being wrong. What submission to God’s Word and those he placed in authority.

CONCLUSION

Oh there’s much we can learn from Paul when it comes to submitting to God’s Word on this issue! Yes — those in authority will be held accountable for how they steward their responsibilities — but when their accountability becomes our main focus — we lose sight of what we will give God an account for: Our submission to those he’s put in authority over us. For every authority God puts in your life is there to make you more like Christ. And that’s God’s goal for you — to become more like Jesus.

So pray for the salvation of those in authority over you.
If they’re a Christian — pray for their growth in godliness and Christ-like character.
Ask God to lead them in their responsibilities.
Pray for their success — for God will only bless success that brings him glory.
Pray for your response to those in authority over you.
And thank God for the opportunity he’s giving you to grow by submitting to the authority he’s put in your life.

For when you do — and when I do — we’ll show the world the submission that our Savior displayed while here on earth. For Jesus did say…

John 6:38 ESV

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

And he said…

John 8:29 ESV

29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

And we can — and will — please God when we submit to him — by submitting to those he’s placed in authority over us — trusting that there is no authority in our life except which comes from him. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Father, you are sovereign. We continue to meditate on what it means for you to be in control of all things — including all who are in authority. For none are in authority except those whom you’ve put there. That’s true for those who make you look glorious by stewarding their responsibilities well. And that’s true for those who — like Caesar — need to take heed that they’re working for you whether they realize it or not — for they will give an account for how they use the authority you’ve given them.

Spirit, give comfort to those who fear authority — who’ve been abused by authority — who’ve seen the destruction that those who misuse authority can cause. Remind them that all in authority will give an account to you. You’ll make the final judgment — and your decision will be just.

And — Jesus — you submitted yourself to your Father’s authority and to the human authorities who used what God had entrusted to them to bring about your death. You are our Savior and our example of what a life looks like that makes our Heavenly Father look glorious through our submission to authority. Ultimately — may our submission to others come from our lives being first and fully submitted to you.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — these are tough thoughts — challenging ideas — yet a clear picture of the “therefore” life we’ve been called to live. We need your power to do so. Your grace to do so. Your protection to do so. Your mercy to do so. Please give us everything we need to make you look glorious through our submission. And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

May you go — submitting your life to Christ — and trusting him as you submit to others. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.

SERMON TITLE: Authority (pt 2)

‌SCRIPTURE: Romans 13:1-7 (ESV)

SPEAKER: Josh Hanson

DATE: 7-27-25

TURN MIC ON / WELCOME

INTRODUCTION

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

Romans 13:1–7 ESV

So we’ll be addressing submission to political authorities — in addition to submission and authority in other areas of life beyond politics — the home, the church, the workplace, and so on.

But before we get to these two perspectives on authority — we need to first turn somewhere that may surprise you — to the Ten Commandments.

AUTHORITY AND THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT

Exodus 20:12 ESV

12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

And just as children are commanded to obey their parents — Christians are commanded to…

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

Q. 123. What is the fifth commandment? A. The fifth commandment is: Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

The next question asks…

1 Timothy 5:1–2 ESV

1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Continuing in the larger catechism we read…

Leading us to the next question…

TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY

But with this expectation — that Caesar may read his letter — imagine the boldness in making the statement…

Romans 13:1–4 ESV

Question one hundred and twenty-nine asks…

As Paul tells Timothy — who’s pastoring in Ephesus…

1 Timothy 4:12–16 ESV

Pastors — who have authority in the local church — are to be an example to their congregation — something God expects of all in authority to be for those who are under their leadership.

Husbands — set an example to your wives.
Parents — set an example to your children.
Those in government — set an example to the citizens.
Bosses — set an example to your employees.
And so on.

Returning to the catechism — the next question asks…

These are the behaviors that concern us when we’re under authority, right? But does the fact that authority can be abused give us biblical justification to not submit?

TO THOSE UNDER AUTHORITY

So back to the behaviors that concern us when we’re under authority: Does the fact that authority can be abused give us biblical warrant for disobeying Paul’s mandate? It doesn’t.

And don’t forget that Paul’s words about submitting to authority come after he wrote…

Romans 8:35–37 ESV

Complaining to your spouse.
A growing resentment towards a government official.
Social media slander.
Wasting time at work to “pay back the man.”

What does the larger catechism have to say to those of us who are under authority?

And question one hundred and twenty-eight asks…

And if you’re looking for a scriptural escape clause — know that the Bible is unified on this topic.

Titus 3:1–2 ESV

No escape clause. Submit to rulers and those in authority. Speak evil of no one.

Colossians 3:18 ESV

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

No escape clause. Wives submit to your husbands.

Ephesians 5:18–21 ESV

No escape clause. Christians submit to one another.

1 Peter 2:13–19 ESV

No escape clause. Submit to every human institution and — by the way — honor the emperor. Yes. The guy who’s slaughtering you.

Which may cause someone to wonder, “Are we free to publicly disagree with those in authority over us?” Yes. But how we do so is incredibly important

Daniel 4:27 ESV

As you probably know — Nebuchadnezzar doesn’t listen to Daniel’s warning. But notice how respectful Daniel was to the king.

John the baptist publicly rebuked King Herod for his relationship with his brother’s wife.

Mark 6:18 ESV

18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Which resulted in John’s imprisonment and eventual beheading because — even when respectfully given — some will want our heads for what we say.

And then there’s Paul — the guy who wrote the words that are challenging all of us. He’s been arrested…

Acts 22:30–23:3 ESV

Paul’s not a fan of having his face beat in. Yet watch what happens next.

Acts 23:4–5 ESV

CONCLUSION

So pray for the salvation of those in authority over you.
If they’re a Christian — pray for their growth in godliness and Christ-like character.
Ask God to lead them in their responsibilities.
Pray for their success — for God will only bless success that brings him glory.
Pray for your response to those in authority over you.
And thank God for the opportunity he’s giving you to grow by submitting to the authority he’s put in your life.

For when you do — and when I do — we’ll show the world the submission that our Savior displayed while here on earth. For Jesus did say…

John 6:38 ESV

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

And he said…

John 8:29 ESV

29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

PRAYER

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

May you go — submitting your life to Christ — and trusting him as you submit to others. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.

Genuine Love

Josh — Fri, 09 May 2025 05:39:00 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:9-13 (ESV)

DATE: 5-11-25

And — Happy Mother’s Day — especially to my mom — who’s joining us online from Florida — and to my wife — Emily.

SERIES INTRO

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend. To everyone’s delight — we’re moving on from verses four through eight which we looked at for nine — count ‘em — nine sermons! And — today — we’ll begin a ten week series on verse nine. Totally kidding.

But we will begin in verse nine of Romans chapter twelve. So if you have your Bible — please turn with me to Romans chapter twelve.

While you’re finding Romans chapter twelve — next week we’ll have our friend and ministry partner Mike Kuhn back with us. Mike spoke at Gateway back in 2019 — and it’ll be good to have him with us next weekend. Then — the weekend after Mike’s with us — Ed Grable — our North Main Campus pastor — will be preaching as part of our Westminster Shorter Catechism series. And now you know what’s coming up over the next two weeks.

So with that — here are the words in Romans chapter twelve — beginning in verse nine.

Romans 12:9–13 ESV

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

INTRODUCTION

It’s been awhile — so let me remind all of us what Paul’s doing in this section of Romans. Romans chapter twelve is the pivotal point in Paul’s letter. After eleven chapters of rich theology — explaining to us who God is, who we are, what sin has done to us and God’s creation, and God’s plan to right the wrong we’ve caused — after eleven chapters of rich theology — Paul turns to the “so what” question.

Imagine — after three hundred and fifteen verses — having explained the gospel, faith, sin, salvation, and so on — imagine someone in the back of the room yelling, “Hey Paul, so what?” Or “What now?” Or “Why does any of this matter?” Or “What’s your point?”

This is what Paul turns to in chapter twelve — he’s telling us why our theology matters. He’s showing us how — what we believe — changes the way we live.

You may remember me showing you how — in the first eleven chapters — there was very little for us to do — few commands for us to obey. In fact — there are only seven commands in the first eleven chapters.

But things take a significant turn in chapter twelve. Now there’s lots for us to do. Many commands for us to obey. Commands that must not be taken out of the context of the rest of the letter — for these commands are to be obeyed because of the theology found in the first eleven chapters.

To say this another way — what we do is to be based on what we believe. Truth be told — we can’t help but live this way. What we believe influences what we do. Which means: what we believe really, really matters — because — not everything we believe is true.

For example, one of the lies we so easily believe is, “If I do this, God will love me.” And that’s not only not true — that’s not biblical Christianity — though it has all of the same elements as biblical Christianity. “If I do this, God will love me” is not biblical Christianity — instead — biblical Christianity is, “God loves me, so now I do this.” And the “this” can be the same thing.

“If I come to church, God will love me.” Not biblical Christianity.
“Because God loves me, I go to church.” Biblical Christianity.
“If I’m generous with my money, God will love me.” Not biblical Christianity.
“Because God loves me, I’ll be generous with my money.” Biblical Christianity.
“If I serve others, or stop cussing, or read my Bible, or pray or ___ (fill in the blank), God will love me.” Not biblical Christianity.
But “Because God loves me, I will serve others, stop cussing, read my Bible, pray, and ___ (fill in the blank)” — that’s biblical Christianity.

Which means — all that Paul now tells us to do — can be done for all the wrong reasons. Especially if we forget why he’s telling us to do all that he commands. For he’s told us why — back in verse one of our chapter — when he writes…

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Paul’s appeal to us — to obey the directives he’s about to give — is based on the mercy of God that he’s described in the first eleven chapters. That — in response to all that Paul’s taught us about God, ourselves, sin, salvation, and the hope offered to us in Jesus Christ — we’re to live differently.

So — I beg you — please don’t separate all that we’re about to hear — commands we’re to obey — ways we’re to live differently — don’t separate them from the truths we’ve already encountered. For what you believe will affect what you do. And — if you don’t believe what Paul’s written in the first eleven chapters — obeying his commands will be based on something else you believe — which is not Paul’s intent. For his purpose in writing this letter is that you will live differently — and will do so because you believe the gospel — the news of what Jesus has accomplished for you in his life, death, and resurrection.

WHO DEFINES LOVE?

So let’s look at one way that believing the gospel changes a person. Let’s return to verse nine. There Paul writes…

Romans 12:9 ESV

9a Let love be genuine.

Everything that follows — in our verses — is an expansion of — a detailed explanation of — what Paul means when he says: Let love be genuine.

One of the issues we face right away — is how we all have our own definition of what it means to be loving — and — for that love to be genuine — genuine here means “sincere, real, without hypocrisy” — the word we’d use today is “authentic.”

Something similar can happen with Jesus’ words when he was once asked, “What’s the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied with…

Matthew 22:37–39 ESV

37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Then we each go on to define what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves in a million different ways instead of allowing Jesus to define for us what it means to love our neighbors — and — to love God. I think that most of us would raise our hand if I asked if you thought you were a pretty loving person. Who wants to admit to not being a loving person, right? But we often evaluate ourselves against our own definition of what it means to be a loving person — or kind or generous or good or — fill in the blank.

Yet — here at Gateway — we’re followers of Jesus who strive to be both Word and Spirit Christians. Which means that the Word of God — the Bible — is our final authority on all matters — including what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves or — back to Paul — to let our love be genuine. We don’t impose on Paul our definition of what it means for our love to be genuine — he — being inspired by the Holy Spirit — defines for us what it means for our love to be genuine.

TWELVE CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUINE LOVE

So — with that being said — and as we allow Paul to define for us what it means for our love to be genuine — here are the twelve characteristics he lists of genuine love. That’s right — twelve markers of genuine love. Twelve opportunities to evaluate how you’re doing at practicing authentic love because of what you believe. Some of these you may be doing well — others not so much — none of us have reached perfection. But the person who believes in Jesus won’t settle for a love that’s anything less than genuine. So let’s discover what genuine love is like.

First — love that is genuine…

Romans 12:9 ESV

9b Abhor(s) what is evil,

Abhor isn’t a word we use often these days — and this is the only use of the Greek word translated as abhor in the New Testament — though its equivalents in Hebrew are used much more regularly.

Psalm 97:10 ESV

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!

Psalm 119:104 ESV

104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:163 ESV

163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.

Proverbs 8:13 ESV

13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Proverbs 13:5 ESV

5 The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.

Proverbs 28:16 ESV

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

And — though a different Greek word — about Jesus the author of Hebrews writes…

Hebrews 1:9 ESV

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

If it wasn’t clear — the word abhor means to hate — and I mean — really hate. To strongly hate — to violently hate. But what are we to abhor? All that is evil.

Similar to the question I asked you about love — who defines for you what is evil? Because — if we’re told here that — for our love to be genuine — we must abhor what’s evil — our definition of evil is very important. And — old repeated news here — for the follower of Jesus — God’s Word defines for us what is evil. Not CNN or Fox News. Not our feelings or personal opinions — for we’re not our final authority — God is. And he’s told us what is evil. So how does God define evil?

Evil — as described in the Bible — includes “the presence or manifestation of moral or spiritual corruption, wickedness, or malevolence in opposition to God’s will and the principles of goodness, righteousness, and holiness.” (Logos Factbook)

Biblical examples of evil include — and we don’t have time to list them all…

Idolatry
Taking God’s name in vain
Not honoring your mother and father — an important reminder on Mother’s Day.
Stealing
Greed
Coveting
Jealousy
Lusting
Adultery
Pornography
Lying
Gossip
Slander
Atheism
False religions
Not submitting to the authorities God has placed over you.
And so on.

And we’re to hate all that is evil — because — and this is the second characteristic of genuine love — we’re to…

Romans 12:9 ESV

9 hold fast to what is good.

And — just like love and evil — God defines for us what is good. And — it’s to this God defined good that we’re to hold fast to — cling to — the idea here is of being glued or welded to.

Now — the somewhat easy part for us — when we allow God’s Word to define for us good and evil — is that we can take the short list of evil — that I just rattled off — and create an opposite list for what is good — that we’re to hold fast to.

So instead of idolatry — which is evil — we’re to worship the One true God.
Instead of taking his name in vain — which is evil — the good we’re to hold fast to is speaking words that honor and glorify God’s holy name.
We’re to honor our mother and father.
We work hard so that we can provide for our own needs and are generous to others.
We’re content with what God’s given us.
We’re faithful in our relationships — not lusting after others like objects to be used — which is evil — but treating each other with complete purity and holiness.
We speak words of truth about one another to one another.
We submit to the authorities God has placed over us.

God did not leave us to chaos — where each of us is meant to determine for ourselves what’s evil and what’s good. He’s graciously told us what is evil and what is good so that our love can be genuine. This isn’t a mystery — God’s made it clear. The question for us is this: What do we really believe? For what we believe is determining how we live.

Do you agree with God’s definition of good and evil? Is God’s Word the final authority in your life? If so, I’m sure there’s something God’s defined as evil that you’ve yet to reject to the degree that you need to. And there’s something good you don’t love as much as you can. How does God want to help you — even right now — to love more genuinely by turning from some form of evil and towards a more biblical definition of what is good?

Two characteristics of love down — ten to go. We’re gonna need to pick up our pace. Paul continues defining genuine love with…

Romans 12:10 ESV

10 Love one another with brotherly affection.

Here we’re told to love each other with brotherly affection — with philadelphia — which is why it’s the city of brotherly love. Think of this as family affection towards one another. As you may know — our desire is to be a family around here — thus — our love for one another should be family-like. Similar to what Paul describes in another of his letters when he writes…

1 Timothy 5:1–2 NLT

1 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. 2 Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

Or as the apostle Peter tells us…

2 Peter 1:5–10 ESV

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

When faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness and — yes — brotherly affection and love are our family characteristics — we’ll be closer to reaching our full maturity in Christ as a church.

How are you helping us to be a godly family around here? How are you loving others with a family affection?

Next Paul tells us that genuine love includes…

Romans 12:10 ESV

10 Outdo(ing) one another in showing honor.

To show honor is to hold someone in high regard — to consider them of high value. This is what Paul reminds us is Christ’s view of us when he writes — in one of his other letters…

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

The word “price” — in “you were bought with a price” — is meant to demonstrate the value — the honor — the high regard Christ has for us. For the price he paid was high — infinitely high — his perfect life. And — if this is the value he has for people — why would we allow our honor to be any less? After all, we’re told…

Philippians 2:3 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

And we’re to do so because we remember all that Christ has first done for us — including the honor he’s given us.

Continuing in his definition of genuine love — Paul writes…

Romans 12:11 ESV

11 Do not be slothful in zeal,

You may remember that Paul recently used the word zeal — back in verse eight — when he says that those with the spiritual gift of leadership are to lead with zeal. To lead with zeal means to be eager, quick, and diligent in your leading. But now he tells us that genuine love means we’re to not be slothful in zeal.

Slothful is an interesting word — but first — you need to get the cute animal out of your mind. In our verse Paul’s wanting us to think along the lines of “lazy, idle, or reluctant.” Jesus used this same word once in a parable — one of his short stories meant to teach a moral lesson — and it’s used in quite the warning!

In speaking about the Last Day — the day he’ll return to earth — Jesus said…

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The slothful servant is the one who wasn’t diligent in his responsibilities — who didn’t take seriously the work he was to do for his master — who wasn’t zealous and quick to fulfill his duty for his master. And the consequence for his slothfulness was being cast into the outer darkness — the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth — eternal torment.

Now remember — this is a parable — a short story meant to teach a moral lesson. A lesson about what? Jesus’ return. Will he find you being a faithful servant or a slothful one when he returns?

Connecting this back to Romans — the faithful servants are those who practice genuine love — which Paul continues to describe with…

Romans 12:11 ESV

11 be fervent in spirit,

The word “fervent” means to “be enthusiastic, to be excited, to boil, to seethe, or to be hot” and we’re to be fervent in spirit. Now — for a few reasons — including that Paul just mentioned gifts of the Spirit and that Jesus — our Lord — is mentioned with the next characteristic — I believe this enthusiastic, excitement, hot love is about us not quenching the Spirit in our lives. As Paul said back in chapter eight of our letter…

Romans 8:5–6 ESV

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

And…

Romans 8:13–14 ESV

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

And…

Romans 8:26–27 ESV

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Meaning — our love for God and each other — is to be a supernaturally empowered love because we’ve passionately set our minds on the things of the Spirit, and with red hot intensity we put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, and we boil over in our prayers knowing that the Spirit of God intercedes on our behalf. For this kind of Holy Spirit empowered life loves differently.

And this kind of love means we…

Romans 12:11 ESV

11 serve the Lord.

Since we spent nine sermons looking at a variety of ways the Spirit of God empowers us with spiritual gifts that are to be used to make Jesus look glorious as we serve — we won’t spend any more time on this characteristic of love.

Another characteristic of love — according to Paul — is that — in response to what we believe — we…

Romans 12:12 ESV

12 Rejoice in hope,

This appears to be a shortened version of something Paul wrote earlier in Romans…

Romans 5:2–5 ESV

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Which — since suffering is mentioned — Paul tells us also that — to love — means to…

Romans 12:12 ESV

12 be patient in tribulation,

Again — we’re dissecting what genuine love is according to God — a genuine love for God — which leads us to love others — includes having a hope that’s based on knowing that God is doing all things for his glory. That — when the end comes — God will look glorious. Sin won’t. Death won’t. The people we glorify today won’t. God will be glorified forever and ever. Which — being our hope — is our reason to rejoice. Why? Because God wins — we win.

And this hope endures all things. Including suffering in this world — or tribulations — as Paul describes it. A word Paul uses twenty-four times in his letters. A word Jesus uses when he says things like this about the last days…

Matthew 24:7–9 ESV

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

And — later about the last days — he says…

Matthew 24:21–22 ESV

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

And then — about the end of the end — Jesus said…

Matthew 24:29–31 ESV

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Therefore — regardless of the kind of suffering we face — or what tribulation we find ourselves in — we must be patient — or as the word is often translated — we must endure. Did you know that enduring tribulation and suffering is a sign of the genuineness of your love for God and others? According to God it is.

Which is why to practice genuine love we must also…

Romans 12:12 ESV

12 be constant in prayer.

A sign of genuine love is a constant prayer life. The opposite of a constant prayer life is a “random, occasional, sporadic” prayer life according to one commentary on this verse. Just as genuine love for another person displays itself in regular, constant communication — so does our genuine love for God — it will display itself in regular, constant prayer.

Genuine love also means we…

Romans 12:13 ESV

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints

Did you know that your financial giving to the saints — the people of God gathered in a local church — is a sign if your love is genuine or not? Now — to be sure — someone can financially give and do so for all kinds of wrong reasons — go back and listen to my sermon on the gift of giving where I address this — but for us — here in this verse — what Paul’s saying is that we can’t claim to be someone who practices genuine love if we don’t financially give to the needs of the saints — at least we can’t do so with any sort of integrity.

Jesus — after all — did say…

Matthew 6:24 ESV

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

What does your financial giving and generosity to the church say about the genuineness of your love?

Finally — genuine love means that we will…

Romans 12:13 ESV

13 ~~and~~ seek to show hospitality.

Hospitality has taken on a definition today that’s synonymous with fellowship. Biblically — though — the word hospitality also means showing “kindness to a stranger.” We know this because of how the word is used in the book of Hebrews — where we read…

Hebrews 13:2 ESV

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Just a reminder that demonstrating genuine love includes showing hospitality to people we’re close to and even to people we don’t know that well.

CONCLUSION

So there’s Paul’s lengthy detailed definition of what genuine love is. A definition that I don’t think it’s possible to walk away from and say, “Nailed it!” We all have room to grow in our loving genuinely. Which means we all have room to grow in understanding what it means to first be loved by God. Because — remember — the genuine love that Paul wants us to practice is a response to what we believe about God’s love for us.

For when we believe in God’s love for us — we begin to practice genuine love. And — when we have moments like this — where we see what it means to love genuinely — we realize there’s more of God’s love for us to grasp, and believe, and cling tightly to — so we go back to his Word and his promises to us. And — in response — we love with a more genuine love than before. And then we go back to God’s Word and his truths and promises and glorious love for us and — in response — love even more genuinely. And so on and so forth until Jesus returns or calls us home. But until that day — dear friends — grow in knowing and believing and receiving God’s love for you. For — as you do — your love will grow to new heights and depth and width in being genuine love as defined by God. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Loving Father, thank you for loving us with a love that’s genuine. All that we’ve read about genuine love today is the love we first experienced in being loved by you.

Holy Spirit, increase our understanding of what it means to be loved with your never-ending, always pursuing, infinite and glorious love for us.

A love displayed most fully and vividly on the cross where you — Jesus — gave your life in love for us.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — draw many to believe in your love for them right now. And may all of us — who have received your love — be spurred on to let our love be more and more genuine. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

May you go practicing genuine love for each other in response to God’s love for you. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.

Gifts of the Spirit: Leadership

Josh — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 05:10:00 +0000

‌SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)

DATE: 4–27-25

INTRODUCTION

After a short break for Easter — we’re returning to our series in Romans this weekend — taking a look at the spiritual gifts that Paul mentions so we all understand what these gifts are and how they’re to be used in our faith family. The purpose of the spiritual gifts is something I’ve reminded us of many times before: Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific mission to the world. – Lexham Survey of Theology

Here’s what Paul says about the gifts — in Romans chapter twelve — beginning in verse four.

Romans 12:4–8 ESV

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

We started off by taking two weeks to explore the gift of prophecy. Then we looked at the gifts of service, teaching, and exhortation. And — just before Holy Week — we looked at the gift of giving. Which means that — today — we’re going to look at the spiritual gift of leadership, which Paul mentions next in his list where he writes…

Romans 12:8 ESV

8 the one who leads, with zeal;

WHAT IS THE GIFT OF LEADERSHIP?

So let’s begin by answering the question, “What is the gift of leadership?” The definition of this gift that I shared with you a few weeks ago is…

Leadership

The gift of leadership is the divine strength or ability to influence people at their level while directing and focusing them on the big picture, vision, or idea.

Now — in the original language of Greek — the word that we translate as “leads” — similar to other gifts we’ve looked at — has both a general application in Scripture — meaning — regardless if you have the gift there’s some “leading” that God expects you to do — and — the word also has specific uses that would appear to be for those who have this spiritual gift. Let’s briefly look at the general application — ways that leading applies to all who follow Jesus.

Paul — who wrote Romans — wrote many of the letters in the New Testament. One of his letters was to a man named Titus who was pastoring on the island of Crete. After reminding Titus of the ways sin had control over us — before we had faith in Jesus — Paul writes…

Titus 3:4–8 ESV

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

A few verses later — Paul writes…

Titus 3:14 ESV

14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

Now — you probably noticed that you didn’t hear me say the word “lead” anywhere in those verses. That’s because a different English word was used to convey a similar idea: the word “devote”. So here’s the general principle: Because of all that Christ has done for his people — in saving us not by our works — but by his perfect work — those who believe in him are to devote themselves — or lead themselves — to do good works — which Paul repeats a few verses later.

So again — in a very general sense — all Christians are leaders because — at the very least — we’re to be leading ourselves in living a life that’s a proper response to all that Christ has done for us. We’re not to live life on auto-pilot. We’re not to be passive and “let go and let God.” We’re to be actively engaged in putting our faith into practice. For that’s what it means to follow Jesus — we follow the One who intentionally and actively lived his life in love for us and calls us to intentionally and actively live our lives in love for him in return.

Here’s another general application for all of us — even those who don’t have this spiritual gift. To the Christians living in Thessalonica, Paul writes…

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 ESV

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

Another case where we don’t explicitly see the word “lead” but the same Greek word is used — but here it’s translated as “over”. So the general application here is to respect those who are over us — those who lead us. We’re to hold them in high regard because — in leading us — they’re displaying care for us — even when they admonish or warn us.

For many years — and it’s still a bit of a struggle for me today — allowing others to hold me in high regard was hard. I don’t like attention. I prefer to disappear in a crowd. But this is an area that God has — and continues to — grow me in. Especially to not dismiss or prevent you from obeying this biblical principle. So — thank you for your patience with me. And I’m still gonna be awkward — when you hold me in high regard — but hopefully less awkward than I once was.

One last general application — still Paul — but this time we’re looking at his letter to Timothy who’s pastoring the church in Ephesus. Paul writes…

1 Timothy 5:17–18 ESV

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

The word “rule” is the same Greek word as “lead” in Romans. Here — similar to what we just read — the application for all of us is to honor those who lead us. For those who rule — or lead — well — and this is specifically referring to leading in the church — should be considered worthy of double honor — a reference to the financial pay they receive — as made evident by Paul quoting something Jesus said in Luke chapter 10.

So to recap: All Christians are to — one — lead themselves in doing good works in response to being saved by Jesus — two — respect and hold in high regard those who lead us and — three — honor those who lead by taking care of them financially.

THE GIFT OF LEADERSHIP IN SCRIPTURE: DEBORAH

Now let’s look at a few potential examples of this spiritual gift at work in Scripture. We’re going to look at two passages from the Old Testament. First, we’ll look at a woman named Deborah. This is her story as found in Judges chapter 4.

Judges 4:1–10 NLT

1 After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. 2 So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. 3 Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help. 4 Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. 5 She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. 6 One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7 And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.” 8 Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.” 9 “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him.

So Deborah goes with Barak into battle. And things happen just as Deborah said they would. At one point in the battle she has to urge Barak on with the words…

Judges 4:14 NLT

14 “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle.

Being in a position of authority doesn’t mean someone’s a leader — that’s one lesson we learn. Barak’s a cowardly man in a leadership position — while Deborah — who definitely had the spiritual gift of prophecy — and likely leadership as well — led Barak — and his army — into a victorious battle.

I bring up Deborah as an example to make it clear that — though we’re a church that holds a complementarian view of the office of elder — that’s a fancy theological word that means we believe that the office of elder is reserved for men only — though we’re complementarian — we do believe that women are empowered by the Holy Spirit with the gift of leadership. And we need women — who are empowered by the Spirit in this way — to use their gift of leadership for our good as a congregation.

Now — you may wonder, “Why are you complementarian? If you believe that women can be empowered with the gift of leadership why don’t you allow them to serve as elders — the highest office of leadership in the church?” Here are two reasons why but — for more information — I suggest grabbing a copy of the booklet on leadership that’s available at your campus resource center.

Why don’t we allow women to be elders at Gateway — and I know that our friends in Bucyrus hold a different position — so feel free to put me on mute for the next minute or so. And — by the way — this is one of the characteristics of the EPC — our denomination — that I so appreciate. That churches can hold different views on this topic and not go their separate ways. Because — no matter our view on this topic — we all hold a high regard for Scripture — its authority, sufficiency, inerrancy, and so on — yet come to different interpretive conclusions.

So back to why Gateway doesn’t have female elders — I’ll give two reasons. First, nowhere in the New Testament do we see a woman referred to as an elder in a local church. Though the reason why we have female deacons is because we do see Phoebe — in Romans 16 — referred to as a deacon.

Second — and most compellingly — Jesus chose twelve men to be his apostles who originally held the highest office of leadership in the church. Some argue that Jesus chose only men because he was a man of his time — and rabbis didn’t pick women to be their followers. This argument always baffles me because…Jesus was not a man of his time! Jesus allowed women to financially fund his ministry, allowed a woman who was a prostitute to wash his feet — which was scandalous — had no problem having a private conversation with a Samaritan woman — just as equally scandalous — and so on. Jesus did not conform to the cultural expectations when it came to his relationship with women. Yet he only chose men to be his apostles — something we have to seriously consider when thinking through this topic.

But — here at Gateway — we honor women. We encourage women who have the spiritual gift of leadership to use their gift for God’s glory and our good — as we do our best to apply what we see in the New Testament when it comes to who God calls to the highest office in the church.

And — if you don’t know — on staff — three of our six departments — worship, connect, serve, go, next gen, and business/ops — three of the six departments are led by women — Lindsay, Kristi, and Ashely. And — our executive director — “the boss” as we like to say — is as well — Laura — who’s heart is filled with joy every time I call her the boss. I kid. You see — we believe that God gifts women with the gift of leadership for our good — as we hold a complementarian view of the office of elder.

THE GIFT OF LEADERSHIP IN SCRIPTURE: MOSES

Now let’s look at a moment from the life of Moses. As you may be aware, Moses was called by God to lead the Israelites out of their enslavement in Egypt. But — if you know their story — the people left Egypt only to become a grumbling, complaining, distrusting in God’s ability to provide for them — kind of people. And — a people like this — end up with all kinds of disputes, disagreements, and arguments among themselves. And Moses — because he was the leader — found himself being the judge for all of the disputes, disagreements, and arguments going on among the — wait for it — few million Israelites! Talk about a never-ending, exhausting job for Moses.

Thus — in one of the few positive in-law stories in known history — I kid — Moses’ father-in-law — a man named Jethro — has an idea. This is what we read in Exodus chapter 18.

Exodus 18:13–27 NLT

13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” 15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.” 17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.” 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves. 27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.

Moses was wearing himself out by not delegating leadership to others. He apparently mistook God’s calling on him to lead the people to mean that he alone was to do all the leading. And God has never intended leadership to be an individual endeavor — and Jethro understood this. So he gave his son-in-law some good, godly advice. Using language we find throughout the Bible — about the kinds of characteristics we’re to look for in those who lead in the church — Jethro tells Moses to select some capable, honest men who fear God and have integrity and appoint them as leaders over groups of various sizes. Because — again — one man — Moses — can’t do all the leading. And he’s not the only one gifted to lead. For the Spirit of God uses many to lead the people of God.

But notice the structure and hierarchy. Some are gifted to lead ten people. Others fifty. Others a hundred. Others a thousand. The leader of ten isn’t less significant than the leader of a thousand — both are needed! Just ask people who are in the group of ten if the one who leads them is important. But — at the same time — those being led have to understand that structure and hierarchy are needed because one man can’t handle the responsibility and time it takes to lead and care for every single individual when a group — apparently — gets bigger than around ten people. We’ll see how this plays itself out at Gateway in a moment.

THE GIFT OF LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH

But this story in Exodus — is very similar to what we read about those who led the church in the New Testament. For example, to Timothy Paul writes…

1 Timothy 3:1–13 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

We’ve looked at these verses in previous sermons on the spiritual gifts — but we return to them now looking at the importance of the spiritual gift of leadership among those who are in positions of authority in the local church. Both elders and deacons are to be good managers of their homes. Manager is the same word translated as lead in Romans — so managing in your homes — or leading in your homes — is a prerequisite for leading in the church.

And selecting capable individuals — who have the character to match — reminds me of how the church chose the first deacons.

Acts 6:1–7 ESV

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Did you notice the similarities in the situation Moses found himself in and the apostles situation here in Acts? And how a similar solution is agreed upon? I bring this up to remind us of the different leadership roles in our church, what they do, and how we all benefit when each of these groups are leading in the way God has gifted and called them to lead. Again — you can read more about this in the booklet on leadership that’s available at your campus resource center.

But here at Gateway — we’re blessed with a group of faithful men and women who serve in leadership. There are the elders — men who spiritually protect and shepherd the congregation. There’s the staff — whose role is to equip, train, and resource the members of Gateway to do the work of ministry. And there are our deacons — our lead servants. The elders, staff, and deacons all have a leadership role to play in our church.

Let’s begin with elders. Elders spiritually protect and shepherd the congregation. The way we elders describe our role is in a vision statement we have for ourselves.

Our primary responsibility, as elders, is to represent the mind of Christ as we spiritually lead Gateway Church. We’re to collectively discern his will for Gateway in all our decisions. Additionally, we’re called to be men who…

1) study, learn, and teach the Word of God,

2) shepherd the sick, lonely, elderly, and those in need,

3) disciple the children and adults of the church and seek after those who become inactive,

4) guard against dangers to the faith and life of those under our care,

5) warn, admonish, and reclaim those who stray and, when necessary, enact church discipline,

6) and seek out and raise up new leaders within the church.

We didn’t come up with this on our own — this is what our church constitution — what’s called the Book of Order — tells us is our role as your elders.

The elders — collectively — represent the mind of Christ for this church.

Together — we seek Christ’s vision for what we’re to be doing.

This isn’t a one man at the top of the org chart kind of team — the vision and direction of Gateway isn’t any one person’s responsibility or authority — it’s the responsibility of the elders together.

As is the teaching of God’s Word, and the shepherding of the people — that’s why we’ve divided our members into shepherding groups — and the discipleship of the next generation, and the guarding against false doctrines, and the disciplining of those who are ensnared by sin, as is the raising up the next generation of church leadership.

What about the church staff? The church staff are to equip, train, and resource the church members to do the work of ministry. The staff’s primary role is not to do the ministry work, but to serve the church members by resourcing and equipping them — making sure church members have what they need to do the ministry work of the church.

Now we turn to the deacons. The deacons are our lead servants. They assist the staff and elders to make sure the ministry work — that the staff has equipped the congregation to do — gets done. Deacons are key in both freeing up the elders — so we can focus on our role of shepherding and protecting — while also freeing up the staff so they’re able to equip, train, and resource the church members to do the ministry work of the church.

But there’s one more important leadership role in our church — our Life Group leaders. Those who lead a small group of people — helping them spiritually grow and follow Jesus more faithfully — so they love God and each other more passionately.

CONCLUSION

And when elders are fulfilling their leadership role, and staff theirs, and deacons theirs, and Life Group leaders theirs — and when we all see the beauty of having leaders responsible for tens, and fifties, and hundreds, and thousands — we’ll all be better served and cared for and led by those the Spirit has empowered with the gift of leadership. We’ll feel the intimacy of being led by our Life Group leaders — of course we’ll need to be in a Life Group to experience this leadership — and — as we serve we’ll be led by the staff — of course we’ll need to be serving to experience this leadership — and we’ll be shepherded by our elder — of course we’ll need to be a member to be part of a shepherding group — some gentle reminders that the care that we often desire comes by means of submitting to those who serve in a leadership role in the church.

That’s how care and discipleship work at Gateway — it can’t really work any other way. Which takes us back to where we began — and those general principles of leadership that we saw earlier. How each of us is responsible to lead ourselves — to devote ourselves to good works — including the good work of being a fully engaged member of the local church that we’re part of. Worshipping, connecting, serving, and going are what you hear us say around here a lot. And how each of us is responsible for growing as a follower of Jesus who’s a Word and Spirit Christian, who’s generous and Kingdom-minded, who makes disciples, and who makes it clear that they’re a member of this faith family.

If you’re in leadership — whatever your role may be — thank you for leading. Thank you for allowing the Spirit of God to empower and use you for our good. And to those of you who — your only leadership responsibility is that of leading yourself well — thank you for doing so. And may we all grow in our thankfulness to God for the leaders he’s appointed over us. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for the way you lead your people. You lead us through your Word — the Bible — where you tell us what to do, how to live, and what to believe. You lead us through those you’ve called to serve in roles within the church. And you lead us through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, thank you for empowering many with the gift of leadership. For those you’ve called to lead thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens — all are needed for us to be the church you’ve called us to be. Empower more — we ask — for the glory of our great Savior and for our good.

And — Jesus — we thank you for not abandoning us when you ascended to Heaven — but you called men and women to be the leaders of your church. And you — with your Father — sent the Holy Spirit to empower these leaders. Jesus — as we follow you as a church — may we follow you faithfully in whatever role we’ve been called to. For then we’ll grow in our spiritual maturity — and will care well for one another — and be a church that sees even more lives changed by the good news of the gospel. And we pray all of this in your name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available // Leadership booklet)

May you go grateful to God for those he’s called and gifted to lead his church. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.

Gifts of the Spirit: Generosity

Josh — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:53:00 +0000

‌SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)

DATE: 4-6-25

INTRODUCTION

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend — taking a look at the spiritual gifts that Paul mentions in his letter so we all understand what these gifts are and how they’re to be used in our faith family. Now the purpose of the spiritual gifts is something I have and will continue to remind us of: Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific mission to the world. – Lexham Survey of Theology

Here’s what Paul says about the gifts — in Romans chapter twelve — beginning in verse four. There we read…

Romans 12:4–8 ESV

We started off by taking two weeks to explore the gift of prophecy. Next, we looked at the gift of service — then the gift of teaching. And — last week — we looked at the gift of exhortation or encouragement. Which means that — today — we’re going to look at the gift of generosity or giving, which Paul mentions in verse eight when he writes…

Romans 12:8b ESV

8b the one who contributes, in generosity;

WHAT IS THE GIFT OF GENEROSITY?

So let’s begin by answering the question, “What is the gift of generosity or giving?” The definition that I shared with you a few weeks ago is…

Giving

The gift of giving is the divine strength or ability to produce wealth and to give by tithes and offerings for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God on earth.

You may remember that this is one of my top five spiritual gifts — along with teaching and prophecy — two other gifts we’ve looked at in this series on spiritual gifts.

Now — giving — like many of the other spiritual gifts — is not only a spiritual gift — but is also something God expects of all his people. Like you’ve heard me say about other gifts — just because you don’t have the spiritual gift of giving doesn’t mean you’re off the hook when it comes to the commands about money, wealth, and giving that we find in the Bible.

In fact our vision is that every follower of Jesus — who’s part of this faith family — would be generous. In many ways — collectively as a church — giving or generosity is a spiritual gift that we’re known for. This was long part of Gateway’s DNA before I arrived — but is something I’m happy to continue promoting. Whether it be our Christmas Eve offering — which we give entirely away — or how much of our church budget goes to missions — and specifically to people groups around the world who have little or no access to the gospel — being generous — especially with our resources — is a characteristic of the kind of disciples of Jesus that Gateway is known for.

In fact — I’m reminded of Paul’s words about the Christians in Macedonia — when he writes…

2 Corinthians 8:1–9 ESV

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Though experiencing a severe test of affliction and extreme poverty — because of their abundant joy in their Savior — the Christians in Macedonia overflowed in their generosity. Collectively — as a church — each person gave according to their means — because giving is something God expects of all of his people. Yet — many went beyond their means in their giving. And the way Paul applies this to the Christians in Corinth — whom he’s writing to — is by reminding them that — just as they were striving to excel in their faith, speech, knowledge, and so on — to excel in their giving too. Why? Because our generosity proves that our love for God and one another is genuine. What does your generosity say about your love for God and others?

And — if that wasn’t motivating enough — Paul goes on to remind them — and us — of what Jesus gave up for our sake. He left the infinite riches of Heaven and became poor on our behalf. Born — not to a king and queen — but to a poor couple. He lived most of his life dependent on the generosity of others — as we’ll see in a moment. And — when he died — he was buried in a borrowed grave. Jesus did all of this so that — through faith in him — we are made co-heirs with him — those who are promised the infinite riches of Heaven.

EXAMPLES OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF GIVING

But — this isn’t a general sermon on giving — this is a sermon on the spiritual gift of giving. So — let’s look at some possible examples of this spiritual gift in the New Testament.

There are a few examples — from the life and ministry of Jesus — where we see something like this gift at work. You may have noticed how I keep saying that these may be examples of the gift of giving — and that’s because — in none of these do we find a statement such as “And this was the spiritual gift of giving on display.” But this doesn’t mean there isn’t something we can learn from these examples.

Here’s one from Luke’s gospel. In Luke chapter eight we read…

Luke 8:1–3 ESV

1 Soon afterward he (Jesus) went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

These women — Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna — and some others who are unnamed — financially supported Jesus’ ministry of proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Given that the church today is funded by the generosity of others — it’s interesting to notice how infrequently we hear of how Jesus’ ministry was financially funded. Which is why — when we do come across these passages — we should pay attention.

Jesus — and his twelve disciples — are able to do full time ministry because of the generosity of these women. I’m sure others supported them — gave them food to eat, a place to stay for the night and so on — but these women are highlighted by Luke. In the church today — we prefer to keep the giving of individuals private. Know that this hasn’t always been the case even though it feels “right” or “the only way” to us today.

Pastor Ben — Gateway’s founding pastor — once told me that the church he grew up in as a boy listed all of the financial givers in the church publicly. And — the list was based on how much an individual gave — with the biggest giver at the top of the list. Obviously, there might be all kinds of bad reasons to put the biggest giver at the top of the list — but think of how our view of giving in the church has changed in pastor Ben’s lifetime?

Yet Luke — inspired by the Holy Spirit — has no qualms mentioning these women by name because of their financial contributions to the ministry of Jesus. Maybe this is to highlight how the Spirit of God worked in and through these women in a special way — through the spiritual gift of generosity — as they supported Jesus and his disciples.

Here’s another possible example — this time we’re in Mark’s gospel. After warning his listener’s about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of the day…

Mark 12:41–44 ESV

41 He (Jesus) sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

For many of us — just the idea of clearing out our savings account and giving it all away — is beyond comprehension. It’s not that you’re any less of a Christian — you can’t help but think of biblical passages about financial prudence and planning — rightly so. Yet — for some Christians — especially those with the spiritual gift of generosity — it’s not that they aren’t financially prudent or that they fail to plan — the call to give all of their financial resources away is a matter of obedience.

This too — unfortunately — can become a point of division among Christians. Where — those with this gift can view other Christians — who are being faithful in their giving as commanded in Scripture — as if they’re being greedy for not giving more — or all — of their resources away. And — at the same time — those without this spiritual gift can view those with it as being financially irresponsible — which may be the case — but isn’t always the case.

As I mentioned — this is a spiritual gift that makes my top five. My wife also has this gift. At one point in our marriage we were led by God to give away everything in our bank account. Our kids were all in elementary school and younger at the time and — in the eyes of most people — this wasn’t a good time to give everything away. But this was a matter of obedience for us. Was it scary? Absolutely! But we’re never told that following Jesus won’t lead to unusual — or even scary — circumstances in life.

So — we did it. We gave everything in our bank account away. And — within two months — without being solicited or knowing about our decision — other Christians started sending us money. Like thousands of dollars. Now — listen to me very carefully — because I’m no health, wealth, and prosperity preacher — but I am one who preaches about the faithfulness of our God. And he took care of us — I believe — because we were obedient. “Well, Josh, would God have taken care of you if it wasn’t really him telling you to give everything away?” I don’t know — that’s not what happened! But — for us — it was the one time in our marriage where we felt called to do something that — in the eyes of nearly everyone else — seemed crazy. And God showed up in ways we didn’t expect or anticipate.

Like the widow — we didn’t give out of our abundance — though we have done that for most of our marriage — this was an instance of giving everything we had to live on so we could experience — not only dependence upon God to meet our needs — but his faithfulness in supplying all that we needed and more.

Here’s another possible example of the spiritual gift of giving — we’re in Acts chapter four. At this point in church history, the church had grown quickly and the Christians have started to experience persecution. Things haven’t gotten that bad for them yet — but it’s becoming evident that not everyone is going to be open to this new religion. Yet the poor, widows, orphans, and outcasts of society are finding hope in the news about Jesus. And here’s how Luke describes the church in Acts chapter four.

Acts 4:32–37 NLT

32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. 36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Our focus will be on Barnabas again — we looked at him last week — he’ll later become one of Paul’s companions in ministry. Now Barnabas is obviously not the only Christian being generous — but he’s highlighted in this story which is why we’re focusing on him. He sells some land he owns and gives all of the money to the apostles — the leaders in the church. We’re not told that he sold all of his land — or that he gave all of his wealth away — but he did give all of the money from the sale of this particular plot of land to the church. An act of generosity above and beyond the giving expected of followers of Jesus.

And — if you don’t know — the very next story in Acts is an account of counterfeit generosity. We’ve looked at the story in previous sermons — so we won’t read it now — but it’s the story of a husband and wife — Ananias and Sapphira — who sell a piece of land they owned. And — in wanting to appear to be generous like Barnabas — and the other unnamed individuals — they claim to give all of the proceeds to the church — when — in reality — they kept back some of the money for themselves.

Now — to be clear — they had every right to keep some of the money from the sale of their land — that’s not sinful — which tells us that’s not why they die — spoiler alert — if you don’t know their story. They die because they lie about their generosity. They wanted the accolades for doing what Barnabas did without the sacrifice. Which tells us that the spiritual gift of giving — just like prophecy and teaching and other gifts — has a counterfeit. Meaning — just like we’re warned about false prophets — in the Old Testament — and false teachers — in the New Testament — we’d be foolishly unbiblical to not be aware of people faking generosity in the church for ill intent.

You see — God’s church isn’t to be bought. And people will use wealth and giving as a way to try and buy the direction of a church — or threaten to hold back their giving if they don’t get their way. And God will have none of it — and neither will the elders of Gateway. Thankfully — this isn’t something we deal with often. But giving to God — and his church — isn’t done to get something in return. It’s done because it’s a commandment to obey. And — for those who recognize the beauty in Christ — which we looked at earlier — the desire to control anyone or anything with their giving will be put to death and not an option.

Now something I find conflicting — in regards to the spiritual gift of giving — is that — because giving is something that’s such a private affair among us American Christians — we’re unable to be grateful for those who the Holy Spirit displays himself through this spiritual gift for our good. Think about it. A few weeks ago I named a bunch of different people who the Holy Spirit displays himself through the spiritual gift of serving. The next week I named individuals when I preached on the spiritual gift of teaching. But if I was to start naming folks who display evidence of the spiritual gift of giving in our church — well — things would get weird, wouldn’t it?

And I think that weirdness is less biblical than we realize. Think about the passages we’ve already read. We know the names of the women who financially supported Jesus’ ministry just like we know Barnabas’s name. But I recognize the culture in which we live — so I’ll just suggest that there’s some room for us all to grow in recognizing how to be grateful to specific people among us who the Holy Spirit uses in this way. Not so we show favoritism, but so that we show honor. For all spiritual gifts are needed and all parts of the body are to be honored — and maybe the spiritual gift of giving is one of the parts of the body that Paul called “unpresentable” — but we still need to honor and show thankfulness to those whom the Spirit uses in this way.

Nevertheless, thank you to those among us whom the Spirit of God has empowered with the gift of giving. We’re a more generous church because of the Spirit using you in this way.

CONCLUSION: SOME REMINDERS ABOUT GIVING

I’d like to conclude with some reminders about giving. Though these are some general reminders — for those with the spiritual gift of giving — these are the verses that make your heart sing. And for those who have yet to develop or discover if they’ve been given this spiritual gift — may these verses stir in you a desire to pursue being used by God in this unique way.

On his way to Jerusalem — Paul called for the elders of the church in Ephesus to come and meet with him. He reminds them of what he taught them while he was with them. He warns them about people who will try to lead the church astray. And then he says these final words to the church leaders.

Acts 20:32–35 ESV

32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Final words matter. We don’t just save our best words for last — we save the most important matters for last. And — in his final words to these church leaders in Ephesus — Paul quotes Jesus in saying, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” Paul used some of his last words to remind these church leaders about giving.

Similarly — years later when Timothy was pastoring this same church in Ephesus — Paul would write to him…

1 Timothy 6:6–19 ESV

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Be watchful of what you desire — for those who desire to be rich will find themselves in eternal ruin and destruction. The love of money leads many away from following Jesus. And those who follow Jesus are to flee from such things. And instead are to pursue righteousness — being right with God — godliness — becoming more like Christ — faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness as we hold firmly to the eternal life we’ve been given.

And — in the age in which we live — we are the “rich in the world.” The least wealthy among us are still rich compared to the vast majority of the world. Thus we’re to take to heart Paul’s command to not set our hope on riches, but on our God who’s so generous that he richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

So do good. Be rich in your good works. Be generous and ready to share with anyone in need. For — in doing so — you will be storing up treasures in Heaven where you will experience God’s presence — and his glorious riches — for all eternity. Let’s pray together.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for being rich in kindness and mercy towards us. For being generous to us by providing us with all we need and infinitely more in Christ.

Spirit, what a unique way you’ve called your people to live. You call all of us to be generous — and yet you empower some of us to display your power through the spiritual gift of giving. This is a gift we need in order to grow into our full maturity in Christ as a congregation. Thank you for those you’ve called and gifted in this way.

And — Jesus — you left the riches of Heaven to come to earth for our sake. And — because of your love for us — as displayed on the cross — we’ve been made co-heirs with you. Eternal riches will be ours for you have guaranteed this in your blood.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — generously pour out your favor, grace, mercy, and kindness on those who don’t yet believe in Jesus by drawing them near to you and giving them the gift of eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available / ELDERS AVAILABLE)

May you go with grateful hearts for the Spirit’s work in making us a generous people. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.

Gifts of the Spirit: Exhortation

Josh — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

‌SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)

DATE: 3-30-25

INTRODUCTION

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend — taking a look at the spiritual gifts that Paul mentions in his letter so we all understand what these gifts are and how they’re to be used in our faith family. Now the purpose of the spiritual gifts is something I’ve reminded us of each week: Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific mission to the world. – Lexham Survey of Theology

Here’s what Paul says about the gifts — in Romans chapter twelve — beginning in verse four.

Romans 12:4–8 ESV

We took two weeks to explore the gift of prophecy — followed by a week to look at the gift of service. And — then — last week we looked at the gift of teaching. Which means that today we’re looking at the gift of exhortation, which Paul mentions in verse eight when he writes…

Romans 12:8 ESV

8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation;

WHAT IS THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION?

So let’s begin by answering the question, “What is the gift of exhortation?” The definition I shared with you a few weeks ago is…

Exhortation/Encouragement

The gift of exhortation is the divine strength or ability to strengthen, comfort or urge others to action through the written or spoken word and Biblical truth.

So exhortation and encouragement are related words — though encouragement is a more familiar word to many of us. Yet — though related — the two words do have a slight difference to their definitions. One definition of biblical exhortation is “an urging done by someone close beside.” (Got Questions?) Another is “an urgent recommendation or encouragement to pursue a course of action.” (Logos Factbook)

Whereas biblical encouragement is defined as “giving someone confidence or boldness to do something.” (Logos Factbook) Or as “one person inspiring another person with comfort, counsel, and confidence.” (June Hunt)

So the words have similarities and differences.

Like all spiritual gifts — exhortation is a supernatural ability. In fact — the Greek word translated as exhort or comfort in verse seven — is related to something Jesus promised to us. Let’s see if you can figure out what I’m referring to.

John 14:15–17 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

What I was referring to is the word “Helper” — which refers to the Holy Spirit. In other places the Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter, Advocate, or Counselor.” I bring this up to remind us — again — that these spiritual gifts are not natural talents or personality traits — but are displays of the Holy Spirit working in and through the people of God. And — with this particular spiritual gift — the work that Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit would do — comfort, advocate, counsel, and so on — is made evident. What an important spiritual gift for the church today.

Now — for me personally — of all of the spiritual gifts — this is the one I currently long for the most. Because — though I can’t say for certain — my guess is that you — like me — love to be around people who have this spiritual gift. Why? Because they’re so encouraging even as they challenge you to grow in your faith and take steps of obedience. When the Holy Spirit displays himself through others in this way — it’s hard to be offended by their correction because you know that you’re being loved. And — if you remember what I said about preaching a few weeks ago — how spiritual gifts come into play as much as an individual’s personality — when I hear others — who have the gift of exhortation teach God’s Word — I just love it and long for more of it in my preaching.

Now — before we go any further with this gift — and its connection with the gift of teaching — which is important — let’s look at some examples of exhortation in Scripture. Think of this as a big overview of the many ways exhortation and encouragement are seen in the Bible. And I know that — for some of us — a bunch of different Bible verses may be hard to follow. If you don’t know — my sermon manuscripts are available on both our church website — gatewayepc.org — and our church app. We make them available so you can follow along with me, go back and look at them for reference in the future, and so on. But — when we talk about topics — like these spiritual gifts — we must see what Scripture as a whole has to say — because often just looking at a verse or two won’t give us the full biblical picture.

Some of these will be examples of how all Christians are to exhort one another — even if we don’t have this particular gift — while others will be examples of this particular spiritual gift at work.

Now for some examples. In the longest teaching we have from Jesus — his Sermon on the Mount — at one point he says…

Matthew 5:4 ESV

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Most likely the mourning — the sorrow — that Jesus is referring to is due to the condition the nation of Israel was in at the time when he said these words. If you’re unfamiliar with the history of the Jews — the Old Testament records for us a rollercoaster of a relationship between them and God. Now God was steady — he was always faithful to them — yet they — the Jews — would go through seasons of faithfulness and seasons of unfaithfulness. And — many times — the consequence of their unfaithfulness was life in exile — where their land — called the Promised Land — was occupied by other nations. In Jesus’ day it was the Romans. And the Temple — the sacred place of worship for the Jews — was still under construction — because twice it’s been destroyed by occupying nations.

So the people’s mourning and sorrow was due to them being occupied and under the control of Rome. And — the comfort — Jesus speaks of — is the future fulfillment of the Kingdom of God being restored. That’s what many of the Jewish listeners would have understood.

Yet — some would have also understood this mourning to be a sorrow due to their sin. Others still would have thought of difficult situations they were going through. The beauty of biblical truth is that — though there’s one meaning of the text — those who mourn will be comforted — the applications are many — for countless are the reasons for our sorrow.

Regardless if your sorrow is due to the immoral state of our nation, or a sin you’ve committed that’s caused pain in the lives of others, or is due to the choices an adult child of yours is making — blessed — Jesus says — are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Yes — God himself can and does comfort his people. And — yes — more specifically — the promised Comforter — the Holy Spirit who lives in us — comforts his people when they are in sorrow. But also — yes — the Holy Spirit wants to comfort those who are in mourning through individuals whom he’s empowered with this spiritual gift.

What an intimate call for some among us. To be with people in their hardest moments of life knowing that the Holy Spirit will use you to bring them comfort. Yes — all Christians are called to “weep with those who weep” — but those with this spiritual gift have a way of being a source of encouragement in people’s lives when they need it most.

Here’s another example of exhortation, encouragement, and comfort in the New Testament. We see this in a man named Barnabas. In Acts we read…

Acts 11:19–24 ESV

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Due to persecution — the Christians had spread throughout the Roman Empire. Christianity was no longer solely in the hands of the apostles who’d been taught by Jesus. And so these ordinary Christians spread out — yet they keep proclaiming the gospel — for they know that Jesus’ mission for the church was as much for them as it was for the apostles. Yet there’s always been a need to ensure that what’s spreading is the true gospel — for history shows that false gospels and even — “almost the gospels” — spread right alongside the true gospel. So Barnabas — an early church leader — goes to check in on these Christians who’ve been dispersed because of the persecution in Jerusalem. And look at what he does when he finds these faithful ordinary Christians doing the Lord’s work.

He’s glad — he rejoiced because of what they were doing. And he exhorted them — he encouraged them and urged them to remain faithful in the work they were doing. And — because of their faithfulness and Barnabas’ exhortation — a great many more people believed in Jesus.

Again — that’s my dream role in the church. To show up and — not be viewed like a health inspector showing up to surprise a restaurant or a Bible referee ready to call fouls when you answer a question in Life Group when I’m visiting — but am there to encourage you to keep doing the good work of the Lord that you’re doing. Yes — people need to be corrected when they err. Yes — instruction is important. Yes — doctrine matters. But — more often than not — people just need some encouragement. That’s what Barnabas was able to give to these Christians.

When I was brand new to working in the church — I was on staff of a large church where I oversaw adult discipleship — in our church, think membership class, equip classes, and our Life Groups. There was a man in the church — Wayne Detzler — who was in his 70’s at the time. He had multiple advanced degrees — including a PhD. He’d worked at multiple seminaries, was the president of a seminary at the time, had been a missionary overseas in Asia, and was part of Billy Graham’s team back in the day. And I — well — I had a jazz saxophone degree, no seminary education, and a lot to learn in my late 20’s.

Wayne asked me to co-teach an adult class with him. We went through books of the Bible verse by verse teaching a class of about a hundred people. And all I remember from that time is Wayne encouraging me. We both knew — he especially knew — that I had a ton to learn. Yet that’s not what Wayne focused on. Instead he encouraged me, and encouraged me, and encouraged me to keep teaching, to keep studying, to keep preparing for the class.

We were in a small group together and he let me lead. We went through Ephesians and — when we finished the book — Wayne gave me a copy of the book he’d written on Ephesians. He waited until after we were finished to tell me he’d written a book on what we’d been discussing. And — on the inside page — Wayne wrote, “Thank you for leading our group into a deeper understanding of Ephesians.”

It’s not an exaggeration to say that I wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for the Holy Spirit using Wayne to exhort me in being faithful to the work God had for me to do.

I wonder how many Wayne’s there are among us? People with this spiritual gift who the Holy Spirit wants to use to encourage others — especially the next generation — so they remain faithful to the work God’s called them to.

Later on in Acts there’s a theological controversy that the church has to deal with. The leaders of the church gather in Jerusalem, discuss the issue, and come to a conclusion on the matter. And they send their conclusion in the form of a letter to the church in Antioch by way of Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas. After the letter was read to the Christian in Antioch, we read…

Acts 15:32 ESV

32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

Remember that one purpose of all spiritual gifts is the strengthening of the church. And these two men — Judas and Silas — who we also see were prophets — encouraged the Christians in Antioch — and strengthened them.

In the apostle Paul’s life we find moments like…

Acts 20:1–2 ESV

1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.

After a riot in Ephesus — where a large crowd would’ve killed Paul without thinking twice about it — Paul wanted to make sure that he encouraged the Christians who lived there before he departed from their city. I bet they needed some encouragement, right? That’s a hostile city to live in as a Christian. Thus the Holy Spirit used Paul to strengthen the resolve of those who’d continue to live there and fulfill the ministry Jesus had called them to.

And — in my mind — what may be one of the clearest displays of the supernaturalness of this gift — while on a ship at sea that’s caught in a deadly storm and everyone on the boat assumes they’re going to die…

Acts 27:33–34 ESV

33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.”

Due to Paul’s exhortation in the middle of raging seas — the men listened — and not one of them died — they all made it to shore. In times of chaos and uncertainty — a word of exhortation — the Holy Spirit speaking through someone — can bring a peace that surpasses all understanding — a powerful word that may even result in the lives of many being saved.

What a spiritual gift to be appreciated and thankful for — that God the Holy Spirit chooses to use some among us in such a powerful way.

Though it shouldn’t surprise us that the Holy Spirit would display his power through some of us in this way. After all, Scripture does say…

2 Corinthians 1:3–6 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

I wonder if Paul was thinking of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount — that we read earlier — when he wrote these words. That our God will provide supernatural comfort to his people when we experience affliction and suffering. For sufferings are guaranteed to come. There’s no escaping heartache in this world cursed by sin. We’re in a spiritual war with an enemy who’s afflicted saints in the past — go read the first two chapters of Job if you don’t know his story — and the man whose words we just read — Paul — is the one who said with confidence…

Acts 20:22–24 ESV

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Dear Christian, you can face affliction, uncertainty, persecution, and sorrow with confidence if you live under the authority of the Word of God and by the power of the Spirit of God. And — even more so — you don’t have to do this alone — you can’t do it alone. For the Spirit of God empowers others with his gift of exhortation and encouragement to strengthen you in the hard days of life.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

And…

Hebrews 3:13 ESV

13 Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

And…

2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

EXHORTATION AND GOD’S WORD

Before we look at how we should respond — I want to remind us again of our discipleship value of being Word and Spirit Christians here at Gateway. For we want to be followers of Jesus who live under the authority of the Word of God — the Bible — as we live empowered by the Spirit of God — including the Spirit’s gifts.

And the spiritual gift of exhortation has a strong connection with God’s Word — especially to our obedience of God’s Word. For example, in the gospel of Luke we read…

Luke 3:18 ESV

18 So with many other exhortations he (John the baptist) preached good news to the people.

John was preparing the way for Jesus. He preached repentance — turn from your sins — and faith — turn to the living God. He called people to respond to the Word of God and he did so with many exhortations.

Or Peter — in the first sermon he preached — after quoting from the prophet Joel — which we looked at weeks ago — we read this…

Acts 2:40 ESV

40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Peter calls the people to respond to the Word he just preached to them. By exhorting them — he encouraged them — to respond to the Word.

Or as Paul began the chapter of Romans we’re in with the words…

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to (I exhort or encourage) you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

As you heard me say before — because of all the theology Paul taught in the first eleven chapters of Romans — he now appeals to us — he exhorts us — he encourages us to make Jesus look glorious through how we live because of what we believe.

Later he writes these words.

Romans 16:17 ESV

17 I appeal to (again, I exhort or encourage) you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Words to be obeyed — not just then — but even in our day.

Or that — pastors today — like Timothy — should…

1 Timothy 4:13 ESV

13 …devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Look at how the Word is to be my central focus as a pastor. Reading the Bible. Exhorting others to obey the Bible. Teaching the Bible.

The Spirit gives these gifts — all of the spiritual gifts — not to contradict the Word of God — but to help us live more faithfully to the Word of God.

RESPOND LIKE JESUS

Now — as we close our time looking at the spiritual gift of exhortation — I want to exhort all of you — appeal to you — and encourage you to respond to exhortation like Jesus did. For the Savior you follow — if you believe in Jesus — responded to the exhortation of others in this way.

Mark 1:40–41 ESV

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him (exhorting Jesus), and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

In response to the exhortation of this leper — Jesus — moved with pity — full of compassion and love for this man — touched the untouchable — and healed him.

Or — when a ruler of the synagogue — a man named Jairus — approached Jesus, and fell at his feet…

Mark 5:23–24 ESV

23 and implored him (exhorted him) earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he (Jesus) went with him.

In response to this desperate father — Jesus — went with him and healed his daughter.

Another time — after returning from Tyre and Sidon and arriving in the region of the Decapolis — some people…

Mark 7:32 ESV

32 brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him (they exhorted him) to lay his hand on him.

And in response to their exhortation — Jesus healed the man.

Or when Jesus and his disciples…

Mark 8:22 ESV

22 …came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him (exhorted him) to touch him.

Jesus — responding to their exhortation — touched the blind man and healed him.

If the Savior we follow could humble himself — stoop down to our level — and respond to our exhortations — our begging and pleading and desperate cries — how much more so should we respond to the Spirit of God when he exhorts us through our fellow Christians that he’s empowered with the gift of exhortation?

What a blessing this spiritual gift is for us. And what a blessing — and what an important part of our faith family — are those whom the Spirit displays himself through this gift. For the Spirit does so for our good and for Jesus’ glory. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Father, as we’ve been reminded — you’re the God of all comfort who comforts us in our afflictions so we might comfort those afflicted. Comfort your people. And use us to comfort one another.

Holy Spirit, you’re the promised Comforter who lives in the people of God — giving us a peace that surpasses all understanding. Give us this peace, we ask.

And Jesus, you’re the One who calmed the raging seas with a spoken command. Though your disciples were scared for their lives — you spoke a word and creation obeyed. Speak to us and lead us to obey.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — fill us with your words of exhortation and encouragement for the good of others and for your glory. Specially anoint many in this faith family of ours with the spiritual gift of exhortation. And — right now — through me — call some to believe in Jesus — to respond to the most encouraging words they will ever hear: You are loved by God.

We pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Gifts of the Spirit: Service

Josh — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 05:23:00 +0000

‌SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)

DATE: 3-16-25

INTRODUCTION

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend — but we’re in a series within our Romans series. For Paul has mentioned spiritual gifts in his letter — so we’re taking time to explore the spiritual gifts he mentions so we all understand what these gifts are and how they’re to be used in our faith family. Now the purpose of spiritual gifts is something I’ve reminded us of each week: Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific (or saving) mission to the world. – Lexham Survey of Theology

And here’s what Paul says about the gifts — in Romans chapter twelve — beginning in verse four. There we read…

Romans 12:4–8 ESV

After taking two weeks to explore the gift of prophecy — today we’re going to look at the spiritual gift of serving. And serving is something that — Christian or not — most people appreciate and value when we see it in others.

We tell veterans “Thank you for your service.”
We want “servant leaders” in the workplace.
When I was in the Army one of our values was “selfless service.”
And — here at Gateway Church — we have the expectation that all of our members serve. And — by serving — we specifically mean serving one another in our faith family — not those outside of our church — we call that going.

So — with this spiritual gift of serving — we immediately see that it’s one of the spiritual gifts that — though some have the gift — all Christians are still expected to serve one another.

For example, in Galatians Paul writes…

Galatians 5:13 ESV

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

And — one another — means “your fellow Christians” in this verse. And this is just one example for all of us — even those without the spiritual gift of serving — where we see the expectation that we’re to serve each other. In fact — though I mentioned how this is an expectation we have of members of Gateway — from God’s perspective — this is the expectation he has of all of his people. For — to be a Christian — is to be a person who serves his or her fellow followers of Jesus.

But this sermon isn’t about serving in general — we’re focusing on spiritual gifts — and today — specifically the spiritual gift of serving. So let me remind you of the definition of this spiritual gift — I shared this with you a few sermons ago.

Service

The gift of serving is the divine strength or ability to do small or great tasks in working for the overall good of the body of Christ.

Notice the connection of this gift with the body of Christ — the church. Thus — to repeat what you’ve heard me say a few times already — this spiritual gift — like the other gifts — is to be used for the sake of strengthening and building up the local church that you’re a member of.

We find this spiritual gift in verse seven of Romans chapter twelve where Paul — after talking about being a member of the body — writes…

Romans 12:7 ESV

7 if service, in our serving;

Now — I want to say early on — that this is one of the spiritual gifts that I think is easy to undervalue. Both — for those of us who are benefited by the Spirit working in and through others in this way — and — it’s easy to undervalue this gift if we’re the ones with it. Because — right — this gift seems so ordinary. It doesn’t seem like a big deal — especially after spending two weeks talking about the gift of prophecy — which is why we’re taking time to understand all of these gifts better because we need all of these gifts operating in our church in order for us to grow up and mature spiritually as a faith-family.

EXAMPLES OF SERVING IN THE BIBLE

Something interesting about the spiritual gift of serving — to me at least — is that Paul uses the same word for serving — in verse seven — that has a range of meaning, including “ministry, relief, and distribution.”And it’s a word that’s used in an interesting way in a passage that’s familiar to many of us — a passage we looked at last week while exploring the spiritual gift of prophecy.

In Acts chapter six we read…

Acts 6:1–7 ESV

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

As I mentioned last week — many believe this is the beginning of the leadership position in the church known as deacons. And the word — in the original language — that we translate as deacon is related to the word serve in our verse in Romans. Why does that matter? Well this tells us that deacons are the chief servants in the church — they are the lead servants. They’re not the only servants — but they have a special leadership position in the church that’s meant to free up the elders so we can fulfill our unique leadership role in the church.

Now something you’ve heard me say before — in this series on spiritual gifts — is that having a specific gift doesn’t necessarily mean that the individual is called and qualified to hold the position — or office in the church — that’s associated with a gift. And this is true for the gift of serving and the office of deacon in the church. Not all with the gift of serving will be deacons — but one would rightfully expect all deacons to have the spiritual gift of serving.

In the passage we just read in Acts — there are three different English words that are all related to each other in the original language of Greek: distribution, serve, and ministry. Luke uses the word distribution to help us understand the problem: Greek widows in the church weren’t receiving their daily distribution — most likely referring to the food they needed to make it through the day.

The twelve disciples — the top leaders in the church — have this situation brought to their attention. And their response is, “It’s not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Which gets us to the second of our three related words — serve. And this situation shows us the distinction between speaking gifts — and associated roles in the church — and serving gifts — and their accompanying roles in the church. One’s not better than the other — both roles are equally needed for us to reach our full spiritual maturity as a local church.

Now — what may strike an appalling chord to you — is the apostle’s response to the situation. I mean — who do they think they are — so high and mighty they can’t personally care for the neglected widows? Don’t they know that’s what pastors are supposed to do?

Yet — after saying it wouldn’t be right for them to neglect preaching the word —and after suggesting that the church select others to help meet this need — because the widows should be cared for — the disciples go on to say, “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The final of our related words of distribution, serve, and ministry.

You see — the widows must be taken care of AND the word of God must be preached. Both are important ministries in the church. Both are ways that others are served. And when — instead of putting these two ministries in opposition to each other — and — instead — when we see the beauty of pastors preaching and servants serving — we’ll find ourselves growing to even greater heights in our spiritual maturity as a church.

Where — like these widows who — apparently didn’t claim to be neglected because Peter or John or James — or any of the other twelve — didn’t personally make sure they were fed — but instead the widows received the care provided by those the Spirit of God had gifted to meet their needs. This is when the church is operating in a beautifully supernatural way — when we allow those gifted with speaking gifts to serve us with them — and those gifted with serving gifts to serve us with them. But when we put everything on one man’s shoulders — or on the elders — not only will we never feel cared for — we’ll remain spiritually immature as a church — which we should expect when we go against his Word to us.

Now — I mentioned this earlier — but I want to do so again: Just because someone has the spiritual gift of service — that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re called to be a deacon. Other factors matter? For example, did you notice the character of the people who were to be chosen for this role?

Acts 6:3 NLT

3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

They need to have a good reputation, be full of the Spirit — there’s being filled with the Holy Spirit language again — and full of wisdom.

In one of his letters — Paul writes this about deacons.

1 Timothy 3:8–13 NLT

8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

These are Christians — not only with the gift of serving — but who have been tested and endured in the faith over time — who have a track record of perseverance and faithfulness — are well-respected and so on.

And — now — let’s marvel at the results of these spiritually gifted servants fulfilling this role in the church.

Acts 6:7 ESV

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

This is why there’s no insignificant gift. The twelve disciples and these seven deacons partnered together — each allowing the other to use the gifts the Holy Spirit had given to them — and the result is the multiplication of those who believed in Jesus.

Does anyone want to see a multiplication of those who believe in Jesus happen through our ministry as a church? I know I do — I bet many of you do as well. This can be our reality — but only when those with the spiritual gift of serving use their gift to help us mature in our faith as a local church.

If you want to know more about the role of deacon — I’ve written this booklet on church leadership. They’re available for free at your campus Resource Center and are also on our church website — gatewayepc.org/booklets — if you prefer a digital copy. In this booklet I give more details about this role — along with answering a variety of questions on church leadership.

THIS GIFT AT GATEWAY

But I want to return to the idea of there being no insignificant gift — and no insignificant members of this local church. In many of his letters, Paul praises individuals by name who had demonstrated faithfulness in following Jesus. Often these are sections of his letters that can seem irrelevant to us — impractical — just a bunch of names of people we don’t know and especially don’t know how to pronounce. Yet we couldn’t be more wrong about these passages being irrelevant. I find these portions of Paul’s letters to be so encouraging as he honors different individual members of the local church.

For example, in First Corinthians chapter sixteen Paul writes…

1 Corinthians 16:15–16 NLT

15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion.

Paul specifically names this man — Stephanus — along with his household. He reminds his readers that these were some of the first people to believe in Jesus in Greece. And — in defending their position of authority in this local church — Paul says, “Stephanus and his household have given their lives to serving God’s people.” I can think of few statements that would be higher commendation than this.

Or at the end of Romans Paul writes…

Romans 16:1–2 ESV

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

Some of your Bible translations may even have the word deacon in place of servant in verse one. Here’s a woman who Paul praises because of her service in the church. And he encourages the Christians in Rome to help her in whatever she needs from them. And — if you don’t know — Phoebe is the first of over thirty individuals named — or referred to — in the last chapter of Romans. Paul loves to encourage and honor others by naming them and highlighting the good work they are doing for Jesus.

So I thought it would be good to mimic Paul today and give some public honor to some servants of our faith family. Obviously we don’t have time for me to name everyone — but these are some of our spiritually gifted servants — who never long for the stage and bright lights — in fact — I’d guess that most of these folks are all terrified that I may be about to mention them. So I won’t use any last names — first names only — to limit their concerns — but I do want to take time to pause and hear reason upon reason upon reason for us to be thankful to God for folks who faithfully serve us as they allow the Spirit of God to use them for our good and God’s glory.

These are examples of God’s Spirit at work among us. Marvel at the supernatural work of God for which we are to be thankful for.

There’s Rodney — or Rod — as his volunteer sticker says. Rodney serves on our security team, picks up teens who wouldn’t make it to youth group without a ride, cleans bathrooms, takes out trash, and even shows up on a week day to get up on the roof to help fix an HVAC unit or — over at North Main — will take a look at the boiler.

There’s Mike who shows up early on Sunday mornings to set up the Kidway gym at our County Road 9 Campus. Kids — Mike is why you get to play gaga ball over here at our County Road 9 Campus — he sets it up for you.

Rose and Brandon serve in our cafe. One week they opened the fridge up to discover that coffee creamer had leaked everywhere. It was a big time mess — which they took the time to clean the entire fridge out so they could wipe it all down.

I’ll stick with the cafe for a minute. Tara comes in during the week to clean and organize the cafe so it’s ready for the next weekend. Over at our North Main Campus, Becky keeps up with the cafe inventory — as well as communion supplies. She texts a detailed list of what’s needed so everything can be ordered on time by a staff member.

Speaking of communion. Whether it be Matt — who took care of communion by himself for years — or Chad and Sarah, or more recently — Chad and Kristin and Abe — that’s at our County Road 9 Campus — over at North Main Jay and Coleen did so for years and now Peggy takes care of the communion prep. These folks come in during the week to cut all of those bread squares and fill up all of those plastic cups with juice for us. It may not seem like a big deal — but we’re talking thousands and thousands of little pieces of bread and plastic cups being filled every year.

Erin and Kristin come in during the week to straighten up and refill all of the connect cards in our worship center. You’ve probably never thought about who does that before now.

There’s Howie, Josh, Jordan, and Kyle who serve on our security team.

There’s Martha who comes in to clean all of the nursery toys at our North Main Campus so the little ones share as few germs as possible with each other. Martha — on behalf of the North Main moms — thank you for serving.

You’ve got Amanda who makes cookies that we deliver to first time guests. We’re talking professional level cookies that look and taste incredible.

There’s Becky, Stacey, and Mary who — for years — have been the hands behind nearly every meal served at a Gateway event. Speaking of Mary — because she really loves attention — she randomly stopped by my house recently with a bag full of all sorts of paint for kid activities. She was out shopping one day and saw that paint for kid crafts was on sale, bought them out, and then donated it all to Gateway. Why? Because she just wanted to make sure we had the paint if we ever needed it for a Kidway activity.

There’s Beth who’s always part of the VBS clean up crew. She stays late — after the chaos of kids has departed — to get everything cleaned up and ready for the next day.

You’ve got Terry, Emma, and Carrie who help with childcare for our Tuesday morning women’s Bible study. They serve the kids and the moms who are growing in their faith.

There’s Karla who coordinates our youth ministry’s second Sunday suppers.

Jeff who helped refit the backstage room at our North Main Campus — in addition to doing electrical work in the building. You’ve got Dick who always jumps in with maintenance jobs around our buildings.

There’s Angelina who helps our Go department staff with all sorts of behind the scenes stuff. Keri helps decorate at Christmas time. Cooper and Andrew have helped with stage construction. And Lyn who always welcomes people when they come into the worship center with a joyful heart at our North Main Campus.

And since we’ve talked about deacons today — I don’t want to forget the great group of folks who serve us in this way: Chad, Dana, Paul, Amberly, Harlan, Lisa, Dave, Christina, Kathy, Randy, Peggy, Kristin, Michael, Abe, and Tracy — thank you for serving us.

Gateway, would you join me in thanking God for empowering these individuals — and many more among us? These individuals allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through them and we are growing in our spiritual maturity — and are closer to reaching our full potential in Jesus Christ — because they are doing so.

CONCLUSION: JESUS, THE SERVANT WE FOLLOW

Speaking of Jesus — something I love about this often underappreciated spiritual gift is how it reflects our Savior. For example, when…

Mark 10:32–45 NLT

32 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him. 33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.” 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.” 36 “What is your request?” he asked. 37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” 39 “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. 40 But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” 41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Every Christian is called to serve others — but those with this spiritual gift — serve others in a way that’s different from the rest of us. For the Holy Spirit displays himself in and through these individuals so that — those served — are being served by the Spirit of God. Through those with this spiritual gift — the rest of us are doubly served by our God. Served by Jesus — who gave his life for us — and served by the Holy Spirit — who displays himself through individuals with the gift of serving.

Which reminds me of another story of Jesus and his disciples. This takes place on the night when he’d be betrayed.

John 13:1–17 NLT

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” 10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

What’s so moving about this story is that Jesus — the one who came to serve and not be served — serves his disciples by washing their feet. It’s a moment that captures our attention as we imagine how humbling it must have been for the disciples to be served by Jesus in this way. But may we never forget how — through those with the spiritual gift of serving — we are served by the Holy Spirit. Though we don’t experience Jesus washing our feet — we do experience the Holy Spirit serving us in all sorts of ways through our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ — think of all of the examples we just heard of how we’re being served.

And that’s why — again — there are no insignificant spiritual gifts and no insignificant members of this faith family. Don’t ever think, “All I’ve been given is the gift of serving — talk about not being important” — don’t ever think that. Every member matters. We need all of us using our spiritual gifts so that we’re built up to our full potential in Christ as a church. And those with the spiritual gift of serving — reflect our Savior in such a special way — for Jesus came to serve and not be served. And through you — those with this spiritual gift — we are served by our God. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for the countless ways that you serve us — your people. Though we rightly see ourselves as your servants — we must not ignore the many ways that you demonstrate your love for us as displayed in you serving us.

When Adam and Eve recognized they were naked — because of their sin — you served them by making them clothes.
When a flood was sure to come — you served Noah and his family by giving him the designs of an ark that would be their salvation.
You served Joshua and the Israelites by giving them victory over Jericho.
Your love for us compelled you to give prophets of Old your words of warning to your people so they would return to you.
And — in the pinnacle act of your love — you sent your Son to be the Suffering Servant whose sacrifice would make us right with you.

Jesus, you are the Son of God who came to serve and not be served. You came to fulfill the promised role of God’s Suffering Servant — the one who considered others more important than yourself. You did everything out of love for your Father and your people, and you humbled yourself to the point of death on a cross. How marvelous it is to think of how you’ve served us in love.

And to you — Spirit of God — thank you for gifting so many among us with your power and presence as displayed through the gift of service. Forgive us for the times we’ve been ungrateful for the work you are doing through so many among us. And thank you for the reminders today of the reasons we have to praise you as we’re grateful for one another.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — one way you serve people is through the act of salvation. Calling us out of spiritual death and darkness and into the wonderful light of eternal life. May you serve many who hear my voice right now by saving them. And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Gifts of the Spirit: Prophecy (pt1)

Josh — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:47:00 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)

DATE: 3-2-25

As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And — if this happens to be your first time worshiping with us — or if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.

INTRODUCTION

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend but — honestly — this is sort of a series within our Romans series. For Paul has recently mentioned spiritual gifts in his letter — and we’re taking time to explore the spiritual gifts so we all understand how these gifts are to be used in our faith family. I realize that you may not be a Christian — and my hope for you is that you’ll see a glimpse of the matchless power that’s found in the one true God as we explore spiritual gifts today.

Now — the purpose of the spiritual gifts is something I have — and will continue to remind you of: Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific mission to the world. – Lexham Survey of Theology

I’m not going to say anything else about the purpose of the gifts today — you can go listen to my sermon from two weeks ago for more on that — because our goal now is to work our way through the spiritual gifts Paul mentions.

To remind us of what Paul says about the gifts — in Romans chapter twelve — beginning in verse four — we read…

Romans 12:4–8 ESV

In our last sermon in Romans — I showed you a list of spiritual gifts with a short definition for each. I also mentioned how there’s not a definitive list of the spiritual gifts. There are a few places in the Bible where we find lists of spiritual gifts — like here in Romans 12 — but in other places we read things like…

Exodus 28:3 ESV

3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.

And…

Exodus 31:2–5 ESV

2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

Are these examples of spiritual gifts in the Old Testament? Are skill, ability, intelligence, knowledge, and craftsmanship spiritual gifts? Maybe? Some Christians include all of these as gifts of the Spirit — while others only include what are found in the New Testament.

From my perspective — we don’t need to be overly dogmatic about it — as I don’t think Paul’s goal was to list out all of the possible ways the Holy Spirit empowers and equips God’s people. Remember Paul was writing to help specific churches grow and mature in their faith. Often Paul was responding to a particular situation that a church was facing — so it shouldn’t surprise us that he’d mention some spiritual gifts to one church, and other gifts to a different church, and not even mention the gifts to another church. What he wrote about was dependent on the needs of the church he was writing to.

And yet we shouldn’t be surprised that he brings up spiritual gifts to the Christians in Rome. I say this because of something Paul writes early on in his letter. Way back in the first chapter Paul writes…

Romans 1:11–12 ESV

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.

Near the start of his letter Paul says he longs to be with these Christians so he might impart to them a spiritual gift. And then he goes on to give two reasons why he wants to do this. One — so they’ll be strengthened. And — two — so that both he and they will be encouraged. And — as we’ve previously seen — strengthening and encouraging others are two reasons the Spirit equips and empowers his people with spiritual gifts.

Now — imparting a spiritual gift may sound strange to you — “Doesn’t the Holy Spirit choose who gets what spiritual gifts?” Yes the Holy Spirit does. However, we also see in the Bible that the Holy Spirit will use others to be the means by which he gives a Christian a spiritual gift.

For example — to Timothy — Paul writes…

1 Timothy 4:14 NLT

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.

And in another letter to Timothy Paul writes…

2 Timothy 1:6 NLT

6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

Paul warns Timothy — who’s pastoring the church in Ephesus at this time — to not neglect the spiritual gift he has. And Paul reminds Timothy that this gift was given to him by a prophetic word as the elders laid their hands on him. In a second letter, Paul reminds Timothy again of this moment — when hands were laid on him as he was given a spiritual gift. About this moment in Timothy’s life — one of my study Bible notes says that the laying on of hands is, “A gesture used to symbolize the impartation of power. Paul recognizes that God empowers and equips believers for ministry…and uses (the laying on of hands)…to do so.” (Lexham Study Bible)

Now — to be clear — there’s nothing magical about having elders lay hands on you and pray for you to be empowered with a particular spiritual gift. The Spirit of God can — and has — given his gifts to individual Christians without the laying on of hands. Yet I wonder what blessings we might experience if more of us would humble ourselves — and put into practice the act of having the elders pray for us to receive particular gifts through the laying on of their hands?

So here’s something we’re going to do each week while we look at the gifts of the Spirit. At the end of our worship services — at both of our Gateway campuses — elders will be available to lay hands on those who desire to receive the specific gift preached on that day. This isn’t a “general come up for prayer” — we’ve got prayer teams available to pray for you in that way — instead — this will be an opportunity for us to model what we see in Timothy’s life. So at the end of the worship service — come forward if you desire the specific gift that was preached on.

And it’s OK if there’s no desire on your part for a specific gift. And it’s OK if you already know what your spiritual gifts are and have no need for us to pray for you. But — I also want it to be OK — for those who do desire a particular spiritual gift — to come forward and be prayed for by the elders. In fact — I don’t just want it to be OK — my hope is that this would become normal for us. You know — it being normal for us to do what we see in the Bible.

PROPHECY AND ITS PURPOSE

So let’s start looking at specific gifts. And we’ll start where Paul starts — with the gift of prophecy. In verse six Paul writes…

Romans 12:6 ESV

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

The definition of prophecy that I shared last week is…

The gift of prophecy is the divine strength or ability to communicate God’s truth and heart in a way that calls people to a right relationship with God.

That’s a pretty user-friendly definition of prophecy. Others have defined the spiritual gift of prophecy as…

The human report of a divine revelation. – Sam Storms

And as…

Telling something that God has spontaneously brought to mind. – Wayne Grudem

So — the first thing to notice in these definitions — is that the New Testament spiritual gift of prophecy is not the same as the gift of preaching or teaching. How do we know this? Because the gifts of prophecy and teaching are always mentioned as distinct gifts from one another — and preaching — spoiler alert — is never officially called a spiritual gift in any of the lists we find in the Bible.

Here are some examples where we see the gifts of prophecy and teaching being mentioned as distinct from one another. We’ll start with some verses that you’re becoming very familiar with.

Romans 12:6–7 ESV

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

It would be odd for Paul to say, “According to the grace given to us by God, some of us have been given the gift of prophecy — which means teaching — while others of us have been given the gift of teaching — which also means teaching.” Who writes like that? No one!

Additionally, in First Corinthians he writes…

1 Corinthians 12:28–29 ESV

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

And later he writes…

1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

If Paul meant for us to view the gifts of prophecy and teaching as the same thing — why would he go out of his way to make a distinction between the gifts?

So how are the gifts of prophecy and teaching different? Let’s start with the definition of teaching that I shared with you previously.

The gift of teaching is the divine strength or ability to study and learn from the Scriptures primarily to bring understanding and depth to other Christians.

Teaching is a gift of the Spirit where an individual — having studied the Bible — explains God’s Word to others so they understand it better. So teaching is text-based — meaning it’s an explanation of Scripture — whereas prophecy is a word or thought or vision that’s spontaneously brought to an individual’s mind by the Spirit.

Now — at this point — some of us may be concerned about the integrity of the Bible. If the Holy Spirit gives prophetic revelation today — wouldn’t these revelations need to be added to the Bible? This is an often used argument against the gift of prophecy being for today. Now — it’s a great question with an easy answer. Do prophetic revelations today need to be added to the Bible? The answer is no! Why? Because we know that not everything prophesied in biblical times was written down as part of Scripture. Here’s an example from the book of Acts.

Acts 21:8–9 ESV

8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.

Luke — the author of the book of Acts — tells us that one of the early church leaders — Philip — had four daughters. And his daughters prophesied — they were equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit with the gift of prophecy. Do you know what these women prophesied? You don’t — not from Scripture — because their prophecies are not recorded in the Bible. And there are many other examples in the Bible of people empowered by the Holy Spirit as prophets — and yet their words were not included in the Bible. And — if that was true for both prophets in the Old and New Testaments — why wouldn’t we expect the Holy Spirit to empower and equip Christians today with the gift of prophecy without this causing concern about the authority, sufficiency, and finality of God’s Word?

But — even more helpful — or challenging — depending on your view of the gift of prophecy — Paul writes these words to the Christians in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 ESV

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

And — a bit later — Paul writes…

1 Corinthians 14:24–25 ESV

24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

And near the end of the chapter he writes…

1 Corinthians 14:39 ESV

39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy…

A couple of points about the gift of prophecy. First, Paul starts the chapter off with two commands — and the commands are — one — pursue love and — two — earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. And — to make his point —he adds “especially that you may prophesy.” And near the end of the chapter he repeats the command: “earnestly desire to prophesy.”

Now — I don’t think anyone’s going to argue against Paul’s first command — pursue love. And — given that he just finished the love chapter of the Bible — it’s understandable why pursuing love is on his mind. But his command to earnestly — or eagerly — that we’re to be dedicated to desiring the spiritual gifts — especially the gift of prophecy — and — then repeats his command at the end of the chapter — well — this command many Christians justify not obeying.

But notice how this is a positive command — we’re to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy. But we also find a negative command in regards to this gift. To the Christians in Thessalonica Paul writes…

1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 ESV

20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.

Here we’re given three commands. We’re commanded to not despise prophecies, to test everything, and to hold fast to what is good. So — not only are we to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts — especially that you may prophesy — we’re also commanded to not despise prophecies. Commands in the New Testament that would seem to make it clear that this was an important and beneficial gift to New Testament Christians. And — if beneficial to them — why wouldn’t it be beneficial to us today?

Some answer this question with, “Because we have a complete Bible now. That’s why we don’t need the gift of prophecy today.” After all, Paul did write…

1 Corinthians 13:8–10 ESV

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

Now — I will concede — Paul makes it clear that there will be a point in history when prophecies and tongues and knowledge will cease: when the perfect comes. And some claim that the completed Bible is what Paul means by the word “perfect” — which wasn’t finished when he wrote these words. But if we continue reading, Paul writes…

1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then — when the perfect comes — we’ll see face to face. Now we know in part but then — when the perfect comes — we’ll know things fully — or completely — just as God knows us fully and completely. That’s what Paul says.

So…question. If the Bible is the “perfect” that Paul is referring to — who among us believes they can explain — with perfect clarity — in fact as clearly as God perfectly knows each of us — everything to us? Because that’s what Paul says will happen when the perfect comes. Any takers? It sure seems like we still see things partially, doesn’t it?

Now let me be clear: I believe that the Bible is inerrant and infallible. That it is God-breathed and without error. And — as given by the Spirit to the original authors — is indeed perfect — Old and New Testaments.

But what Paul describes as the result of the “perfect” coming — to me at least — seems to indicate that he must have been referring to a different “perfect” — something else other than the Bible — or — I should say — Someone else. For I believe that what Paul is referring to is the second coming of Christ — the Perfect Son of God — who even shares the title Word of God with the Bible. For when he returns — we won’t need the gifts of prophecy or knowledge or tongues — because we’ll be able to speak face to face with Jesus. We also won’t need the gifts of evangelism, healing, or teaching — because we’ll be in the presence of Jesus. In fact — none of the spiritual gifts will be needed when Jesus returns — for — as Paul says — when the perfect comes we’ll all see things with perfect clarity.

Alright — so back to the gift of prophecy. Many verses ago we read the purpose of prophecy. Paul writes…

1 Corinthians 14:3 ESV

3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

So the New Testament gift of prophecy has a purpose. Like all other gifts it’s meant to strengthen the church — yet the particular way the gift of prophecy strengthens the church is by building up, encouraging, and providing comfort to God’s people. In the equip class I’ve been leading — we’ve looked at various spiritual gifts — including prophecy. And this verse on prophecy is usually a surprise to people in the class. Why? Because most people think of prophecy as something about knowing what’s going to happen in the future. And — to be clear — that is a part of the gift of prophecy. But — in the New Testament — foretelling — knowing the future — is less prominent than is forthtelling — speaking a strengthening, encouraging, comforting spontaneous word to other Christians to build them up in their faith.

CONCLUSION

Next week — we’ll look at this gift again. We’ll explore the differences between prophets in the Old and New Testaments. And we’ll spend time looking at how this gift can be beneficial for us today — even beneficial for those among us who aren’t Christians. But I want to end today’s sermon with a story. A personal story that happened a few months ago. A story I asked permission to share with you all as it involves someone who’s part of our faith family.

It was a normal Sunday afternoon and I was busy doing something “super holy”. I was checking to see who had won the Rogue Invitational — which is a CrossFit competition.

Anyway…I was doing this “super spiritual” activity when my wife came to the table and said, “Josh, I think you should come to the living room and pray with us.” The “us” was her and another woman who was over at our house. The visitor had been having a rough ten days with a depression like she’d never experienced before. She had no idea why she was experiencing it. My wife invited me over because she knows that — for reasons only the Spirit of God knows — at times I hear from him in situations like this. So I asked a few questions. “Did you do anything recently, change any behaviors or medications — questions like these…” to try and see if there was something that caused the start of her depression.

Nothing.

My wife and I asked a few other questions and discovered a few things to pray for. I led the time of prayer — modeling for her a prayer of repentance for something she’d done years ago. I prayed a blessing over her because of some experiences she’d witnessed as a kid. And then I didn’t know what to pray next.

So I paused.

Clark.

That’s what came to my mind.

A name.

Clark.

And — I kid you not — here’s what I thought.

“I recently watched the documentary on John Williams. John Williams wrote the score for the Superman movie. Clark Kent is Superman. So that must be why the name Clark popped into my head. Oh boy. Now things could get weird. Do I mention the name Clark to her or not?”

All of these thoughts went through my head in seconds. And now you’re going to be super impressed with the faith of your pastor.

I said, “Does the name Clark or the word clerk mean anything to you?” I threw in “clerk” because I was too nervous to only go with Clark. I didn’t want to look any more odd than where this was already headed.

She said, “Clerk doesn’t mean anything, but Clark. I haven’t thought of that name in years.”

At this point, I apologized to her, my wife, and to God. I knew that Clark was what I heard, but I was too much of a coward to just say it. So I threw in “clerk” as if it would strengthen the odds of me not looking like a fool. Oh ye of little faith…

It turns out that Clark had done some really bad things to her years ago. So we prayed. She let go of the power Clark had on her and — in her words — “Was able to take a deep breath for the first time in a long time.”

She didn’t know what God had in store for her that day. I didn’t either. I was busy doing other “super holy” stuff. Thankfully my wife was paying attention. And she knew that God — for reasons only he knows — speaks to me in this way at times for the good of others. To strengthen them. To encourage them. To comfort them. To help them take a deep breath for the first time in a long time. And I’m not the only one among us who — I believe — the Spirit has equipped and empowered with this gift for the benefit of our congregation. A benefit we will experience only if we — as a church — pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts — especially that we may prophesy. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, today we’ve learned what it means for your ways to not be our ways. Why give us your written Word and then speak to us in other ways? It’s not what we would do — your ways are not our ways.

Holy Spirit, you’re the giver of these spiritual gifts. You choose how to equip and empower your people so that we’re strengthened and built up in the faith. And you’ve given us the Bible to help us understand what your spiritual gifts are and how they’re to be used for our benefit, to reach the world, and to make our Savior look glorious. We submit ourselves to you — empower and equip us with your gifts as you see fit.

And — Jesus — to you our Savior. You fulfilled everything the prophets of old foretold about you. Including what they foresaw about your sacrificial death on a cross. A sacrifice that is the reason why we have hope of new life — an empowered life — an equipped life — a Spirit-filled life to be lived for your glory.

Father, thank you for the gift of salvation made possible because of the life, death, and resurrection of your Son who — with you — has sent the Holy Spirit to live in, equip, and empower us as your people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Podcast Episode 12: Q&A

Josh — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:26:58 +0000

Date: August 29, 2019

Questions

How do you determine what the sermon subjects will be week to week? (5:10)

Does Shaun take music requests? We would love to sing along with some Casting Crowns songs. Also special music from one of the band members such as The Revelation song. (6:22)

I’m confused about holding your hand up in praise. I’m confused because Matthew 6:5 says “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” 1 Timothy 2:8 says, “Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” I find myself self-conscious if I lift my hand in prayer or song because of Matthew 6:5. All focus is to be on the LORD and I’m not to be the hypocrite. BUT I struggle with not giving full praise to the LORD because of 1 Timothy 2:8. There are many areas in the bible that state “lift your hand” to glorify GOD. (14:50)

On top of all the things that churches do, do you think it’s reasonable to ask churches, including ours, to do more in embracing and guiding the seemingly growing use of digital Bibles in church services? Not waiting on the use-of-technology-problems to overtake us, but try to keep up or stay ahead, and hopefully influence it (for our current and upcoming generation)… for example: 1. Continually reminding/encouraging persons to develop a personal protocol when using Bible Apps on phones/tablets in church, like turning off the social media/email alerts while in church and developing that discipline (young and old alike) to resist checking them while in church service…..so it’s no longer just to turn your ringer off. 2. Helping to identify Bible apps that best accommodate highlights and notes that would represent how we did it in our print Bibles. (18:15)

Can we have shalom now? I thought shalom by definition was only in heaven. Also, what word does Paul use for peace in verse 1? I thought he used a Greek word. I thought shalom was a Jewish word from the Old Testament. (22:55)

Are you saying that our suffering is the Holy Spirit making us holy? (25:05)

Doesn’t Satan believe in Jesus? Shouldn’t we do more than just believe that Jesus is real to be saved? What about committing to Jesus. (27:10)

EPISODE 56: Q&A

Josh — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:59:51 +0000

Date: 11/24/2020

Questions

Will there be a sermon series in the future regarding dating and it’s challenges? Or having some type of couples class regarding dating?

Probably not a sermon series (we stick to books of the Bible instead of topical, for the most part).
Great idea for an equip class.
I know youth ministry covers relationships and dating for our middle and high schoolers, but the questioner is older than that age group.

In your sermon a few weeks ago you talked about disagreements and being under authority which got me thinking about the American revolution. Were our founding fathers wrong to rebel against their authority? Taxation without representation isn’t necessarily a “moral” issue. So when is it appropriate to disagree with those in authority (in our government or in our church)?

I’m no historian.
There are some who would say that our nation began as a rebellion against authority that wasn’t the best. In many ways, we’ve never shaken that rebellion against authority which I think we’re seeing more and more in our country.
1. Father-in-law email: “Yes, I believe that the American Revolution was indeed in opposition to God’s Word.”
Here are important passages reminding us that we respect God when we respect the rulers He places in authority:
- Matthew 22:17-21 — Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”18 But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. 20 Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” 21 They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
- Romans 13:1-7 — Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 2 So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment 3 (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation, 4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. 6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing. 7 Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
- 1 Timothy 2:1-4
- Titus 3:1
- 1 Peter 2:13-15 — Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 14 or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. 15 For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.

Rejecting a system of taxation and demanding more representation are clearly not biblical reasons for conducting war against the prevailing government. If the British colonies were truly founded and sustained by Christians — as is so often claimed by fundamentalist evangelicals — the people of these territories would have prayed and obeyed rather than taking up muskets and asking France (England’s nemesis) to intervene.
In essence, the revolution was an unjustified civil war. Of course, the colonists had experienced power struggles between England and France, and they saw how the native Americans were exploited in those conflicts. The continent was politically unstable in many regards.
Consider how so many colonists were opposed to rebelling against the king for economic and even moral reasons, particularly in the southern colonies where exports of cotton, tobacco, and sugar to Britain were highly profitable — thanks to slave labor. A major migration to Canada and the British isles occurred when war broke out. In fact, the revolutionists persecuted the loyalists who resisted them. It was an ugly chapter in the history of the settlers in the New World.

When to disagree vs when to go our separate ways?

Church
1. Heresy
2. If the church supported some sort of immorality.
Government
1. Freedom to worship according to our conscience is imposed on. Meaning, they force us to all be part of a particular religion. You must worship Allah. Or be a Buddhist.
2. They tell us we can’t worship — meaning it’s illegal to worship. Illegal to gather in person or provide worship services online.
When it’s less clear?yout
1. Christians (Bonhoeffer) attempted to assassinate Hitler. Was this biblically justified?
2. My father-in-law again: I would like to add that Hitler was just another version of a cruel Roman caesar. The empire exterminated huge populations, including those in Jerusalem in 70 A.D., just as Jesus foretold in Matthew 24. Yet, Jesus did not endorse assassination; He taught His followers to pay to Caesar what was due to him.

Thank you for recommending the book Unoffendable, by Brant Hansen. I read how the author describes Christians as the people who should be known as never being offended. To put this into practice the author uses a great Lord of the Ring’s analogy to describe throwing our rings of offense into the depths of Mordor. This appears to be a life-work (something you spiritually pursue over your entire lifetime), would you agree or is the answer at the end of the book, for how to achieve this spiritual nature of being unoffendable?

Yes, I think this is a lifelong battle (because it’s a battle against sin).
1. I’ve seen the brown minivan a few more times. The one who almost ran me over. I wish I could say the van stirs in me joy and delight in Christ — as I think of God’s grace in protecting me — but I’d be covering up the depravity of my heart and lying to you if I did.
Mortification – the killing of sin (throwing our anger into the depths of Mordor).
Sanctification – growing in our holiness
Can’t forget that greater our joy is in Jesus the lesser our desire for sin will be (we get the limo ride in the end).

Is the Eucharist truly the body and blood of Christ?

Bible passages
1. Matthew 26:26-29 — Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
2. John 6:41-58 — So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me — 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
3. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 — For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Humanity and Divinity of Christ
1. Fully human and fully God
2. In his humanity, Christ is physically in one place at a time. Presently that is at the right hand of the Father.
3. In his divinity, Christ is spiritually present everywhere (omnipresence).
Roman Catholics — transubstantiation = bread and wine physically becomes the body and blood of Christ.
Lutherans — consubstantiation = bread and wine physically coexist with the body and blood of Christ. Honestly, this one has always confused me.
Zwingli (Baptists and similar; non-denominational; Pentecostals; Charismatics) — memorial view — bread and wine (juice) represent the body and blood of Christ, but nothing physically or spiritually takes place. It’s just us allowing the elements to remind us of what Christ has done.
Reformed (Gateway; Presbyterians; other Reformed churches) — bread and wine (juice) remain physically bread and wine (juice), but Christ is spiritually present in the elements. Thus it’s more than just a reminder, it’s a spiritual feast of Christ and his grace to us.
1. I believe the most faithful to Scripture and to our understanding of Jesus’ humanity (one location) and divinity (omnipresent).