DATE: 4-26-26

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 or if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.

PASTORAL PRAYER

INTRODUCTION

And we’re continuing our series in the book of James this weekend. We’re learning from the younger brother of Jesus, who believed that his older brother was God. So — if you’re here today and you’re not sure about the validity of the Christian faith — take what I just said into account. Jesus’ younger brother — someone who grew up with Jesus — believed he was God. That’s quite an argument in favor of the truthfulness of Christianity. 

Now — in his letter — James has taken some teachings from his older brother and is showing us how to apply what Jesus taught to everyday life. Thus — when we listen to James — we’re learning what it means to be wise — for wisdom is taking God at his Word and applying it to our lives. And wisdom is actually the topic James has for us today. And if you caught the title for this sermon — Godly Wisdom, Demonic Wisdom — you can probably tell that this is not only going to be a sermon about wisdom — but we’re going to discover a truth that doesn’t just lend itself to writing provocative sermon titles — but is a truth that’s going to open our eyes and minds to seeing the world in a whole new light.

So — if you have your Bible — please turn with me to James chapter three. We’ll be in James chapter three, looking at verses thirteen through eighteen today. We’re in James chapter three — beginning in verse thirteen. There we read…

James 3:13–18 ESV

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Godly wisdom and demonic wisdom. These are the two categories — or types — of wisdom that James puts before us. Before we get to them, I want us to remember something we saw months ago in one of our first sermons from this book. In the fifth verse of the first chapter, James writes…

James 1:5 ESV

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

In that sermon, one of the first things I did was give us a definition of wisdom because — if wisdom is what we lack — then we need to know what wisdom is. And in that sermon, I mentioned that there are two definitions of wisdom commonly used today. The first definition is something like “applying knowledge to a situation,” which doesn’t sound all that bad. And — it’s not — except for one significant aspect. Often — with this definition — morality and theology are not taken into consideration. For this view of wisdom is human-centric — it puts the power and responsibility for determining what is wise in our hands.

Then I pointed us to a second definition of wisdom, which is nearly identical to the first — but with one significant change. If definition one is “applying knowledge to a situation,” the second definition of wisdom is “applying biblical and theological knowledge to a situation.” And this tells us that wisdom — foundationally — is theological. And theology has to do with God. Thus, wisdom is understanding our proper place in relationship to God and — here’s the application part — responding to that relationship accordingly.

Another way of thinking of these two definitions is this: Wisdom — under definition number one — asks, “What works?” Wisdom — under definition number two — asks, “What honors God and reflects his character?” In that sermon from months ago, I went on to say, “Even in the church, the wisdom of ‘what works’ continues to dominate — at least in the church in the US. We’re such pragmatic people that the wisdom of ‘what works’ — and the success it often brings — in relationships, in business, in politics, even in the church — really excites us. But the wisdom of what works will not produce righteousness, which is the goal of biblical wisdom.  And — righteousness — as you may know — means to be right with God. And there are many people who call themselves Christians today — and many organizations that call themselves churches — who are very successful and yet are not right with God. 

Many have discovered what works — again, in relationships, in business, in politics, even in the church — and they think this makes them right with God. But our works — what we do — have never made us right with God — even works that bring about great success — and those who are biblically wise understand this. For it’s not our works — but the works of the One who’s called the Wisdom of God — that make us righteous. Which is why, according to God, wisdom means not just understanding what works, because what works and what pleases God are not always the same thing. And we who claim to follow Jesus need to be very careful of which definition of wisdom we allow to influence the decisions we make, because God will not bless the wisdom of ‘what works’ when it does not bring him honor and glory.”

And — now — two chapters later — James returns to the topic of wisdom. And he’s going to show us another reason why the wisdom we choose — ‘what works’ or ‘what glorifies God’ matters. For James tells us that one is a wisdom that is godly — or from God — while the other is demonic — or from the devil.

DEMONIC WISDOM

We’ll begin with demonic wisdom and end with godly wisdom. We’re in verse fourteen. There, James writes…

James 3:14–16 ESV

¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

James begins by describing the evidence of demonic wisdom: Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. But he warns — by way of a command — the only command in our verses, by the way — when he writes, “Don’t boast and be false to the truth.” Another Bible translation says, “Don’t cover up the truth — that you’re bitterly jealous and have selfish ambition — with boasting and lying.” Another says, “Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom.”

So, there’s evidence of demonically inspired wisdom. And one piece of evidence is bitter jealousy. A harsh, cruel, hostile rivalry towards others. Where you’re greedy and longing for something that others have, which causes you to be harsh and cruel towards them. This is bitter jealousy.

James used the word bitter earlier in this chapter, when he wrote…

James 3:11 ESV

¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

Salt water is bitter water. Fresh water has no bitterness to it. Godly wisdom — which we’ll get to in a moment — has no bitterness to it. But demonic wisdom — well — it produces bitter jealousy in those who follow its lead. Just like it produces…

Romans 13:13 ESV

¹³ orgies and drunkenness…sexual immorality and sensuality…quarreling and jealousy.

This kind of wisdom entices our flesh — our sinful desires — to give into all kinds of bitter and ungodly behaviors. As Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth…

1 Corinthians 3:2–3 ESV

² And even now you are not yet ready, ³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

And to the Galatians he writes…

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Fruit of the flesh, which are in opposition to the fruit of the Spirit that Paul goes on to list, is evidence as to which wisdom a person is following.

Unfortunately, bitter jealousy is just one piece of evidence of demonic wisdom. The second is selfish ambition. Selfish ambition means to be self-seeking. It’s a strong drive for personal success without any moral guardrails. This is the person who will do whatever it takes to be successful — as they define success — and rarely is God glorified in our lives when personal success is our ultimate goal. In fact, God can’t be glorified in a person’s life when personal success is their ultimate goal. Because either personal success or God’s glory will be ultimate in your life and — whichever is ultimate — will lead to the wisdom you follow.

In contrast to selfish ambition, we’re told to…

Philippians 2:3 ESV

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

Why? Because we’re to…

Philippians 2:5–11 NLT

⁵ …have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. ⁶ Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. ⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, ⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Christ — in being your Savior, if you believe in him — is also your example. And the reason why he’s your Savior is because — instead of acting out of selfish ambition — he selflessly gave his life on the cross for you. And in being loved this way — when you taste and see the love Jesus has for you — you follow his example of what it means to be wise by living selflessly instead of selfishly.

So that’s the positive reason not to practice selfish ambition. The negative reason — the warning — is this.

Romans 2:6–8 NLT

⁶ He (God) will judge everyone according to what they have done. ⁷ He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. ⁸ But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.

Those who live for themselves are those who live with selfish ambition — it’s the same phrase in the original language. And those who listen to the demonic wisdom of our enemy will display a selfish ambition in their life. Which — Paul warns — will result in them experiencing God’s anger and wrath for all eternity.

And what does this bitter jealousy and selfish ambition produce? In verse sixteen, James writes…

James 3:16 ESV

¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Disorder and every vile practice are the outcome of demonic wisdom in one’s life. Disorder’s an interesting word. It has the sense of an insurrection — think of a violent group causing a disturbance. It’s a word often used to describe what life will be like in the end times. For example, Jesus said…

Luke 21:9 NLT

⁹ And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.”

But James is saying that this is an insurrection — not out there — but that jealousy and selfish ambition cause an insurrection within you. Sure, this will have consequences to your relationships, your health, potentially your finances — those may be a result of the vile or evil practices you end up doing — but all of this is self-inflicted because of the wisdom you’re following. An inner war — an internal insurrection — a disorder in one’s life.

Let’s return to how James describes this demonic wisdom. In verse fifteen, we read…

James 3:15 ESV

¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

So he describes this wisdom not solely as demonic — he also calls it earthly and unspiritual. It’s a wisdom — not characterized as coming down from heaven — but as coming from here on earth. It’s unspiritual — as opposed to spiritual. And all of this is James’s way of saying that this is wisdom that comes from our fallen world.

Earthly versus heavenly are contrasted in a variety of places. For example, Paul says…

1 Corinthians 15:40 ESV

⁴⁰ There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.

Our earthly bodies — these bodies subject to disease, decay, and death are different than the heavenly bodies God’s people will experience for all eternity.

But earthly versus heavenly isn’t just a contrast of physical material. It also includes philosophies, thoughts, and motivations that drive us. For example, Paul also writes…

Philippians 3:18–19 NLT

¹⁸ For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

The desires of those who oppose Christ are earthly, not heavenly. Resulting in them only thinking about their life now — here on earth — and not the life that is to come.

Paul also writes…

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

¹⁴ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

The opposition of earthly and heavenly — of the natural versus the spiritual — goes so far that those who are “natural” — meaning those who don’t have spiritual life — can’t accept the things of the Spirit of God. They need spiritual life given to them first — in order to discern and accept spiritual — or heavenly — truths.

There’s much more that God’s Word says about the earthly versus the heavenly — the natural versus the spiritual — but I think you get the point. This wisdom — wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic is not from God and doesn’t please him. Instead, it leads to ruin and destruction. It leads to evil thoughts and actions. It leads to misery and — ultimately — to one’s eternal death.

So — don’t lie to yourself. That’s James warning to all of us. Do an honest evaluation of the wisdom you’re following.

GODLY WISDOM

Which leads us to godly wisdom. This is wisdom from above — wisdom from our Father in Heaven. And — I’ll remind us of this later — but keep in mind that James is trying to help us apply what his older brother — Jesus — taught. So see if you can think of what Jesus said that James may have been thinking of with these words. I’ll get us all there — but see if anything comes to mind. We’re in verse thirteen. There, James writes…

James 3:13 ESV

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

And skipping to verse seventeen, we read…

James 3:17–18 ESV

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James begins by telling us that the wisdom from above — that is, wisdom from God — displays itself in one’s life as good conduct. Meaning — being wise leads to good works — a topic James has already touched on in his letter. 

So if you think you’re wise, what good works do you have to show for it? And — to be wise — in the present — would mean to have good works — and these are good works according to God — that are also in the present. Meaning past good works may validate past godly wisdom, but present godly wisdom in your life will be accompanied with present good works.

But — as I said — we’ve already touched on faith and good works in a previous sermon, so let’s focus on the characteristics of godly wisdom. We spent quite a bit of time on demonically inspired wisdom — let’s spend some time on godly inspired wisdom. James says…

James 3:17–18 ESV

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

What are the characteristics or qualities of godly wisdom? Godly wisdom is…

• Pure
• Peaceable
• Gentle
• Open to reason
• Full of mercy
• Full of good fruits
• Impartial
• Sincere
• And godly wisdom results in a harvest of righteousness — or right living — that’s sown in peace by those who listen to it.

Godly wisdom is pure — meaning — it’s holy. It has no faults. For the God who gives this wisdom is pure and holy himself.

Godly wisdom is peaceable. It promotes a state of wholeness, well-being, and happiness. It’s free from a quarrelsome attitude.

Godly wisdom is gentle. It’s kind, tolerant, fair, and fitting. It’s lenient and merciful towards differences of opinion. It’s thoughtful and respectful of other people’s feelings.

One of my favorite sections of the Bible highlights the importance of gentleness in the life of those who follow godly wisdom. The apostle Peter writes…

1 Peter 3:14–16 NLT

¹⁴ But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. ¹⁵ Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. ¹⁶ But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Even when you experience suffering, for following Jesus and his wisdom from heaven, be ready to explain why you’re willing to suffer to those who oppose you and do so in a gentle and respectful way. Of all the characteristics of godly wisdom we can display to the world, this one — gentleness — may be the biggest opportunity to distinguish godly wisdom from the natural, unspiritual, and demonic wisdom that runs rampant in our culture today.

Godly wisdom is also open to reason. As Christians, we believe in objective truth. Yet, godly wisdom — in being open to reason — reminds us that we’re not all-knowing — only God is. And we may have faults in our reasoning — though God doesn’t — thus we need to be open to reason. We need to be open to being wrong. Open to adopting or changing our position or belief about something, given sufficient reason or evidence. Instead of quickly responding with the “wrong meme,” which is the way of our culture, godly wisdom is open to reason. To say it another way, those who follow godly wisdom know that they’re not right about everything. And being a “know-it-all” is an indicator that one is not following godly wisdom.

Godly wisdom is full of mercy — it’s compassionate. As Jesus said to his religious opponents…

Matthew 23:23 NLT

²³ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Or as James previously told us…

James 2:13 NLT

¹³ There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

Godly wisdom is made evident by the mercy it shows to others.

Just as godly wisdom is also full of good fruits. Good fruits are the consequences of the wisdom from heaven. Whereas disorder and every evil practice are the consequences of demonic wisdom, godly wisdom produces godly results. And as James earlier told us…

James 1:18 NIV

¹⁸ He (God) chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Our lives are to be the firstfruits of God’s saving and restoring work to his creation. And — in following his wisdom — more good fruits will be produced in our lives.

Godly wisdom is impartial — it’s nonjudgmental. Where demonic wisdom causes division, godly wisdom produces unity. Godly wisdom fights against our natural, unspiritual tendency to divide.

Additionally, godly wisdom is sincere. It’s without hypocrisy. It’s genuine.

And godly wisdom leads to a harvest of righteous living — resulting in peacemaking being a characteristic of those who follow God’s wisdom.

CONCLUSION: JESUS ON GODLY WISDOM

And it’s this final result — this harvest of righteous living — that leads us to the teaching of Jesus that James may have been thinking of. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said…

Matthew 5:3–12 ESV

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. ⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. ⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Though James doesn’t address everything Jesus says here, did you notice quite a bit of thematic overlap?

• Godly wisdom is pure. And Jesus said, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure.”
• Godly wisdom is peaceable. And Jesus said, “God blesses those who work for peace.”
• Godly wisdom is gentle. And Jesus said, “God blesses those who are meek” — another word for gentle.
• Godly wisdom is full of mercy. And Jesus said, “God blesses those who are merciful.”

I’m sure we could find even more connections — but that’s enough to show us that the godly wisdom that James speaks of — will lead to the godly living that Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount. For — remember — James wants us to apply wisdom to life — for just knowing the wise thing to do isn’t enough. Wisdom leads to action. And we’re all guided by some wisdom that leads to the actions we choose. The question — that James is forcing us to ask — is this: Does the evidence in your life show godly wisdom or demonic wisdom to be your guide? And if you’re not satisfied with the evidence in your life, which wisdom do you need to start listening to and following?

As I prepared for this sermon, I came across some words that I thought would help us all take what we’ve heard and begin applying it to our lives.

One author said, “These characteristics [of godly wisdom]…are hard to acquire and hard to maintain. They can only be sustained at great personal cost. They only appear where there has been a steady habit of prayer and self-discipline; even then, they may take a while to show themselves. It would be worth spending the time to work through the words in [James’s] list one by one. Do it slowly. Review your life in the light of them. You might want to make a note of the times, the places, and particularly the people, that make it hard for you to live in this way — and then pray for strength, and for this wisdom from above, to hold firm when the challenge comes round once more. Some of the people you meet every day are people who follow godly wisdom, and others are people who follow demonic wisdom. Which one would you rather see coming towards you down the street? Which one would you rather have as a neighbor? [Which would you rather work with or be married to?] The question answers itself. The challenge is to become that person yourself. Someone who listens to, submits to, and follows the wisdom that comes from above.”

May we all be committed to listening to the wisdom that’s from above. The wisdom that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. For then — and only then — will a harvest of righteousness be sown in peace through our lives — as individuals — and as a church. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Father in Heaven, by wisdom you founded the earth; by understanding you created the heavens. O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. True wisdom and power are found in you; counsel and understanding are yours. Only you can tell you the future before it happens. Everything you plan will come to pass, for you do whatever you wish.

Spirit of God, when it comes to grasping all of this — of truly understanding what we’ve heard today — we admit that our minds seem so incapable. We say with the psalmist, “How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!” We confess that “Your thoughts are nothing like our thoughts. And your ways are far beyond anything we can imagine.” So help us, we pray. Help us to trust that you will use the wisdom from above to change our lives.

And, Jesus, all of this is possible because you not only lived a life full of godly wisdom, but are the wisdom of God come in the flesh. The evidence in your life is clear. All that you do or say is pure and peaceable. You are gentle and full of mercy. You’re sincere, and a harvest of righteousness is being produced in the lives of your people because of your transforming love.

For your glory — Father, Son, and Spirit — we commit to following your wisdom. And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

As you go, may you commit yourselves to listening to and following the wisdom from above. Amen.

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

DATE: 4-19-26

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 or if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.

PASTORAL PRAYER

INTRODUCTION

We’re continuing our series in the book of James this weekend. In his letter, James has taken some teachings from his older brother and is showing us how to apply what Jesus taught to everyday life. Thus — when we listen to James — we’re learning what it means to be wise — for wisdom is taking God at his Word and applying his Word to our lives. So let’s see what James has for us today.

If you have your Bible, please turn with me to James chapter three. We’ll be in James chapter three — looking at verses one through twelve together today. We’re in James chapter three — beginning in verse one. There we read…

James 3:1–12 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Years ago, someone said, “Direction, not intention, determines your destination.” What the person was pointing out is that — often — we give our intentions way more credit than they deserve. 

• We may intend to improve our health. 
• We may intend to have a loving marriage. 
• We may intend to raise our children to know and love Jesus. 

There are lots of things that we intend — or have the intent to do — but direction, not intention, ultimately determines our destination.

Our intention is to improve our health, but for many, our direction is towards an inactive lifestyle and foods that are full of sugar and other highly processed ingredients that aren’t great for us. And, our direction determines our destination — not being as healthy as we intend to be.

Our intention is to have a loving marriage, but our direction — working extra late hours to impress our boss, coming home and gluing ourselves to screens, not praying together as husband and wife — leads to a marriage that resembles having a roommate rather than a spouse.

Our intention is to raise our children to know and love Jesus, but our direction — not having family devotional times, not regularly attending church, allowing sports and other activities to control our calendars — leads to children who are disinterested in Jesus.

Direction, not intention, determines your destination.

But what determines our direction? What causes us to go this way instead of that — to make this decision instead of that one? If direction, not intention, determines our destination — what determines our direction? James is going to tell us that it’s our words. The words we say out loud and the words we say to ourselves in our heads, are what determine our direction in life. And — to make this personal — your words are determining the direction of your life.

Earlier in James, we read…

James 1:19 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

James also told us…

James 1:26 ESV

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

So the tongue and our words aren’t a new topic for James. He’s just going to show us a bit more about this very practical topic — the power of our words.

But there’s one more question for us. If direction, not intention, determines our destination. And our words are what determine our direction — what determines our words? I mean, if our words are this important — if they determine our direction, which leads to the destination our lives are headed to — what determines our words? This is the question we’ll let Jesus answer.

But before we get to his answer, let’s return to our verses, where we find a warning about our words. Then we’ll look at both words of cursing and words of blessing, before we turn to Jesus’ answer to our final question.

A WARNING TO TEACHERS (AND TO ALL OF US)

So, first, a warning. We’re in verse one.

James 3:1 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

So James starts with a warning directed at teachers. And, to be clear, he means teachers of God’s Word. And his point is this: Those of us who teach God’s Word use words to do so. And, because we use words, we’re going to be judged with greater strictness because the words we say — one — usually have a much bigger audience than what most people experience — and two — when one teaches God’s Word, you are saying words of eternal importance. 

Now, with this warning, James isn’t trying to get Bible teachers to quit. He doesn’t want to stop people from becoming Bible teachers. He’s just warning us that the more words you speak, and teachers speak more words than most, the more evaluation God is doing of what you say. And, unfortunately, the more you speak, the more you can become careless with the words you say — especially when we fail to heed the warning James gave earlier about being quick to listen and slow to speak. 

On Tuesday, I was at BGSU to do a Q&A session with students. I’ve been doing this for a few years now. And college ministries always start past my bedtime. We spent over an hour on questions and answers, with follow-up questions sent in response to something I said in my answer to a previous question — it was a great time, and I love seeing how eager the next generation is to understand how the Christian faith applies to life. 

This is just one example of how teachers of God’s Word are often asked to give their opinion on something or answer an individual’s question, meaning they speak, speak, speak into all kinds of situations. And more words usually — not always — but usually more words mean more errors — especially when it’s past your bedtime. Thus, those who teach — and not just preach on a big stage like this — but those who take on any form of teaching the Bible to others — are warned: Be careful with your words.

But James’s warning isn’t solely for those of us who teach. In fact, his warning to teachers is meant to grab our attention — so that we hear his general warning that’s for all of us. James continues in verse two with…

James 3:2 ESV

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Notice that he doesn’t say that teachers stumble in many ways. Nor does he say that “only teachers” stumble in many ways. The verse says, “We all stumble in many ways.” And “we” is inclusive. It includes teachers and non-teachers. It includes men and women. Young and old. Christians and non-Christians. His point is simple: All of us have stumbled when it comes to the words we’ve said.

The word “stumble” means to be defeated. Defeated by what? Sin. This is the word James used in the previous chapter when he wrote…

James 2:10 ESV

10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

“Fails” is the same word as “stumble.” Remember, when it comes to being right with God by the law, the standard is perfection. You must obey all of the law, or you’ve failed. And now — in our chapter — James acknowledges that we’ve all failed — or stumbled — in many ways when it comes to the words that come out of our mouths. For if you hadn’t stumbled — or failed — with your words, you’d be a perfect man or woman. You’d be able to control your entire being when it comes to sin and its temptations. He explains it this way.

James 3:3–8 ESV

3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

By way of illustration, James shows us the power of our words. Though we’ve got some folks in our church with farms and animals, horses and bits aren’t used by as many of us as in James’s day. The same goes for rudders of a ship. If we were to use a twenty-first-century illustration, we’d say the tongue is like the steering wheel in your car. The steering wheel is a small part of the car, but it determines the direction the car is headed. And that’s what your words are like.

In contrast to our tongues, James first brings up animals. And he reminds us of how we’ve tamed all kinds of animals and creatures. We can go to a zoo, see all kinds of dangerous animals behind glass, and be amazed by their beauty without fearing their power. That’s what the word tame means in our verses. It means to subdue or make something your subject. And, what James is saying, is that though we’ve tamed and made subject all kinds of beasts and animals — this little part of our body — the tongue, representing our words, can’t be tamed. We can’t subdue it, we can’t break it in, we can’t make it our subject. Even those of us who “bite our tongues” still say some awful things to other people or to ourselves.

James goes so far as to say that the tongue is set on fire by hell, and the tongue sets our lives on fire. I wonder if you’ve experienced this? 

You don’t have to live very long to be burned by the fire of hell coming out of the mouth of someone else, do you? Just like it doesn’t take long in life to see how your words can cause destruction and pain, not only to others, but to your own life. 

• Our lives can be suddenly on fire because of some words that came out of our mouths. 
• Relationships are no more because words of fire came out of your mouth. 
• Unemployment because words of fire came out of your mouth. 
• Self-hatred because of words of fire that — even if they’ve never been spoken out loud — are on repeat in your mind constantly — setting your life on fire. And not a holy refining fire — but the destructive fire that comes from hell.

James — being familiar with the Old Testament — probably had passages in mind like…

Proverbs 16:27 NLT

27 Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.

He may have been thinking of…

Proverbs 26:21 NLT

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

People who like to quarrel and fight use their words like hot embers, igniting a fire. And though fire isn’t mentioned, James could’ve been thinking of these words of King David.

Psalm 140:1–3 NLT

1 O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, 2 those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. 3 Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips.

Which is quoted by Paul when he writes…

Romans 3:10–14 NLT

10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous — not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” 13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

• Foul talk — words that have a stench to them like decaying flesh. We once had a mouse die in the wall of our home. The stench — from such a small creature — was awful. 
• Our tongues are filled with lies — like venom dripping from our lips. We put labels on bottles to make sure we avoid ingesting poison. If only we had labels to warn people that poison was about to be spewed at them from our mouths.
• And our mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. 

What an indictment about our words — about your words — about my words. 

I wonder how you’re responding to what God’s Word is saying to you about your words? 

• Are you dismissing what you’re hearing — “none of this is true of me.” 
• Are you pointing the finger — “So and so needs to hear this.”
• Are you ashamed — “Man, I’ve said some horrible things.” 
• Or are you hoping for an answer — “What am I supposed to do about this?” 

How are you responding to what God is saying to you about the words you speak?

Something important for all of us to see is what James says in verse eight. He says…

James 3:8 ESV

8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

About this verse, Augustine — who lived in the fourth century — said, “James does not say ‘no one came tame the tongue’, but ‘[no human being],’ so that, when it is tamed, we admit that it was done by the mercy of God, the assistance of God, the grace of God.” 

So, first, know that it’s impossible for you to tame your tongue. That’s the bad news. Now, the good news. Though it’s impossible for any human to tame their tongue, it’s not impossible for God. In fact, God’s power over our tongues is seen in an incredible moment in the early life of the church. Forty days after Jesus’ resurrection…

Acts 2:1–4 NLT

1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

These tongues of ours — which can spew fire from hell that burns others and sets destruction to our lives — God — as we just saw — is able to use for his own purpose. He can set his people’s tongues ablaze with a message of holy fire — the gospel — the news of what Jesus has done in his life, death, and resurrection. And when God’s people submit their words to God’s authority, the gospel message will go forth like a fire setting a forest ablaze. 

And the question for each of us is this: Which fire will come out of our mouths? Words that come from the fire of hell or words that come from the fire of Heaven?

WORDS OF CURSING AND BLESSING

Which leads us to words of cursing and words of blessing. Let’s briefly look at the difference between the words from hell and the words of Heaven. We’re in verse nine. There, James writes…

James 3:9–12 ESV

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

In the beginning God spoke, and he said, “Let there be light” — and there was light. God speaks, and blessings follow. Whether it be life to all that exists or a wife for Adam, who was alone in the Garden. God speaks, and blessings follow. 

And a truth that James emphasizes is how all people are made in the likeness of God. Part of our being made in God’s likeness — or image — is that God created us to use our words in a way that images — or reflects — or is like the way he uses words. And how are we to reflect — or imitate — how God uses words? By speaking words of blessing.

But — after God speaks — we come to Genesis chapter three, where Satan speaks. And do you know what Satan got Adam and Eve to doubt? God’s word of blessing to them.

Genesis 3:1–4 NLT

1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.

Now the woman spoke back to Satan with information that wasn’t accurate. And Satan both uses her inaccurate words — and twists God’s words — resulting in the man and the woman disobeying God, leading to sin entering God’s creation and us all living under a curse. The snake of hell spoke words from hell to deceive the man and woman into inviting hell into God’s perfect creation. And ever since, we’ve all used our words to curse each other.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never”…how does it go? That’s right. “But words will never hurt me.” What a lie. One person has said, “It’s a terrible thing that children have gotten hold of this nursery poem. Let me tell you what the poem should say. [It should say…} ‘Sticks and stones can only break my bones, but words can pollute and distort and destroy my very soul.’ [But that] doesn’t rhyme.”

With our words, we curse people who are made in the likeness — or image — of God. And, we do so, as Christians. We curse people with our words while we use our words to bless our God in Heaven. And, about this reality, James says…

James 3:10 NLT

10 Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

Though a freshwater spring does what God created it to do — it produces fresh water. And though a fig tree produces figs, as God created it to do. And an olive tree produces olives, and a vine produces grapes, and an apple tree produces apples, and so on — though all of these creations do what God made them to do — our tongues don’t. Our tongues are like a banana tree producing apples. Yet our tongues — which were created to produce words of blessing — which demonstrate our being made in God’s image — instead produce words of cursing in the image of our Enemy. So, yes, James. This isn’t right!

CONCLUSION: JESUS THE TEACHER TO LISTEN TO

Which leads us to our only hope. His name is Jesus. And Jesus said quite a bit about our words. To some religious leaders, he said…

Matthew 12:34–37 NLT

34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Another time he said…

Mark 7:20–23 NLT

20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Ultimately, the words of cursing that we speak — whether to ourselves or to others — reveal something about the condition of our hearts. It reveals to us the curse we all live under because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God’s words of blessing to them. And we’re incapable of changing the condition of our hearts. Thus, we need a word spoken to us by Someone whose words can change us — and our hearts — forever. 

As someone has said, “We need words. Words are powerful. We don’t have a self without words. You can say all you want, ‘All that matters is how I feel about myself.’ No. Somebody from the outside has to tell you you’re valuable. Somebody from the outside has to tell you you’re great. Somebody from the outside has to tell you you’re acceptable, or you won’t believe it. The Bible tells us God said to his Son, “You are my beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased.” The Bible tells us that if we believe in Jesus, the Father loves us in the same way as he loves his own Son. Until you hear over and over and over in your own heart through prayer, through reading the Word of God, through a variety of ways, unless you hear God saying to you, “You are my beloved child in whom I’m well pleased”…Until you hear a word from the outside that tells you who you are, you’re going to be trying desperately, through all kinds of duplicity and all kinds of deception, to create a self by getting people to tell you how great you are…[You see,] underneath it all, we know we’re unacceptable until [a] word from the outside [says…] “This is my beloved child in whom I’m well pleased.” That’ll heal your tongue. It’ll set your tongue on fire with a different kind of fire, the fire that came down at Pentecost, [a fire] not from hell but from heaven.”

I wonder if, even right now, you’re hearing that life-changing word from Someone else? A word from the God who created you. A word from Jesus, who came to live and die for you because he loves you. A word from the Spirit of God who is saying right now, “Receive my word: You are loved. You are forgiven. You are set free from the curse. You are mine.” I wonder whose word you’re listening to right now? The word of the Serpent, who wants to keep you enslaved under his curse, or the word of the God who is in Heaven, who created you, and who wants to set you free?

Later this year, my friend and fellow pastor, Alan Wright, will be with us. Alan has written many books, including The Power to Bless: How to Speak Life and Empower the People You Love. I was so impacted by Alan’s book that I bought all the staff and elders a copy for Christmas last year and invited Alan to come speak on the topic so we can all learn to use our words to be better blessers of others. 

So if you want to be someone who uses your words to bless God and others — and even yourself — grab a copy of Alan’s book — again, it’s titled The Power to Bless. There’s a QR code at your campus’s Resource Center if you forget the title. If your Life Group is looking for something to study, it’d be a great option. And be sure to block off your calendar for the weekend of October 18th when Alan will be with us. He’s going to teach a Saturday seminar on blessing others with our words and preach for us during our worship services that weekend. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for being a God who speaks. Who speaks words of blessing over your people and creation. As Creator, you have made each of us in your image — creating us to use our words to mirror your words — which are words of blessing.

Spirit, we confess that because of the curse and our own sinful choices, we’ve often used our words to curse others instead of blessing them. We’ve even used our words to curse ourselves. We confess this, ask for forgiveness, and Spirit, we ask you to lead us in a new direction with our words. Teach us how to bless. Guide us in what we say. All so that we reflect our God who blesses others with his words as we bless a world full of people who are desperate to hear some good news.

And, Jesus, you are God’s Word in flesh. The perfect Word of blessing to your people. And you continue to speak words of blessing to us. May we have ears to hear, so that our hearts and lives are forever changed, so that we head in a new direction. A direction of blessing others — for that is who you have called, created, and saved us to be. Thank you for this purpose. And we pray all of this in your name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available / Resource Center for QR to book)

May you go imitating the God who had created you in his image by using your words to bless others. Amen.

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

DATE: 2-15-26

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.

PASTORAL PRAYER

Last week we reintroduced an ancient practice in our worship service — a time of pastoral prayer. Where — each week — we’ll be more intentional about praying for people, circumstances, and situations going on in our congregation, community, country, and world. 

Today we’ll be praying for the marriages in our congregation, for Findlay High School students — as they grieve due to one of their classmates taking his life this past week — for president Trump, and for Muslims around the world as Ramadan begins this week. 

So — with that — please join me in prayer.

Heavenly Father, what a faithful God you are. When we are faithless — you remain faithful — for faithful is who you are. 

Faithful is something you call us to be in our relationships as husbands and wives. You tell us to, “Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.” (Heb 13:4 NLT) You command husbands to, “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.” (Eph. 5:25b) And wives are to “respect her husband.” (Eph. 5:33b NLT)

Holy Spirit, empower the husbands and wives among us so that we are faithful to our spouses demonstrating our faithfulness to you. For one cannot claim faithfulness to God while being unfaithful to our spouse. Thank you for these commands and your vision of what our marriages are to be. And thank you for empowering and equipping us to fulfill your vision for marriage.

For our community — we lift up Findlay High School, the students who attend, the teachers and staff, and especially the family of the student who took his life this past week. Father, Son, and Spirit, may you lead, guide, and direct pastor Chris as he ministers to this family in their time of deep grief. For the students who are in shock, confused, perhaps feeling hopeless — may the staff, teachers, coaches, and others who follow Jesus — be used by you to give comfort, hope, and peace in the days ahead. 

Tomorrow our nation celebrates president’s day. So it seems fitting to lift up our nation’s president to you today. Father, may you draw President Trump closer to you. I have no idea the condition of his heart or his faith in you — I don’t personally know the man — so I ask that you do the work in his heart that will bring you the most glory. Help him to recognize the potential he has to point people to Christ and may he use the influence you’ve given him to do so. 

And for our world, we pray for the billions of Muslims as this week begins Ramadan for them. During the weeks ahead — as they seek our spiritual truth — Jesus may you awaken their hearts to you — the one who is the way, the truth, and the life. Spirit, give them eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to receive the truth about who Jesus is so they believe in him and find everlasting life. 

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

INTRODUCTION

We’re continuing our series in James this weekend. We’ve been learning what it means to be wise from the younger brother of Jesus on a variety of topics. And today’s topic — like the ones we’ve previously looked at — is practical for all of us — Christian or not. So let’s see what wisdom wants to teach us today.

If you have your Bible, please turn with me to James chapter one. We’ll be in James chapter one — beginning in verse twelve. There we read…

James 1:12–15 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

We’re going to do something different today — and that is — we’re going to start at the end of our verses and work our way back to the beginning. We’re doing so because this will lead us to James’ point — which he states in verse twelve. And I don’t want us to forget his point — so we’ll save it until the end.

So this backwards journey of ours will begin by looking at where temptation comes from. Then we’ll see a way that God is not like us. And — finally — we’ll discover God’s purpose in our trials.

Where temptation comes from. How God is not like us. And God’s purpose in our trials.

WHERE TEMPTATION COMES FROM

So — first — where does temptation come from? We’re in verse fourteen.

James 1:14–15 ESV

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Now — to me — these two verses are like a bad version — or a bizzaro world version — of one of Jesus’ parables. If you don’t know — a parable is a short story that teaches a moral truth — and Jesus loved to use parables to teach his listeners. And — the parable I’m thinking of — is the parable of the soils.

We’ll look at this parable in a few weeks but — for now — know that it’s a story where Jesus compares our hearts to different kinds of soil. And Jesus’ point is that when the message of hope — what’s called the gospel — the news of what Jesus has accomplished in his life, death, and resurrection — when the gospel is heard — it’s similar to a farmer throwing seed out onto a field. The seeds that are thrown are all the same — what matters is the condition of the soil on which the seed lands. And Jesus’ point for his listeners — and us — is for us to each examine the condition of our hearts and our receptivity to the gospel message.

Now here — in James —we have a similar opportunity — an opportunity to examine our hearts. For our heart is either soil that produces a gospel harvest — a harvest of life — or — as James is making clear — our heart is soil that produces death. Because James says that those who — when tempted — give into the lure and enticement of their desires — James says that these people create the right conditions for the seed of those desires to give birth to sin — which — when matured — leads to death. Jesus talks about a seed that produces life — while James talks about a seed — or a desire of our heart — that produces death. 

Something interesting to be aware of is that the word James uses — that we translate as “desire” — is a neutral word. Meaning — though we may read into his statement “sinful desires” — that’s not what James meant. He simply means “desires” — and desires can be good, neutral, or sinful. But by using this neutral word for “desire” — what James is saying is that — even non-sinful desires — can lead to death. For even good desires can lead to sinful decisions when — instead of trusting God and his timing — we do whatever we can to get what we want.

This is the individual who desires to be married — a good desire — and — instead of waiting for God’s timing — takes things into his own hands and finds himself married to someone who does not love Jesus. And — inevitably — the person who doesn’t love Jesus influences the person who does more than the other way around. As a pastor — I’m telling you — this is just how it works. Thus — this non-sinful desire — to be married — results in a life that seems more like death. Why? Because sin controls the marriage you’re in.

That’s just one example that shows how our desires can entice us. Now the word “entice” means “to be baited.” This is where the desire we have — again — not necessarily a sinful desire — but this is where a desire we have is like a worm on a hook baiting us to take a bite.

“Wait. Josh, are you saying we’re the fish?”

In what James is describing to us — yes — that’s exactly what I’m saying. We’re the fish — not the one fishing.

Now the Bible does give us some examples of what the fishermen are like — those who are trying to entice — or bait us — by our desires. The apostle Peter tells us…

2 Peter 2:12–14 NET

12 But these men, like irrational animals — creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed — do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed,13 suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, they are stains and blemishes, indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you. 14 Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children!

“They entice unstable people” — which reminds me of all of the “tossing to and fro by the winds and waves” imagery that James used earlier in his letter.

Peter goes on to say…

2 Peter 2:18–19 NET

18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.19 Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.

So these false teachers lure people — even God’s people! — into sin and corruption by getting us to bite down on the hook so they can reel us into death. But notice how they hook us. They appeal to our desires and promise us that freedom will be the result of us getting what we want — only to enslave us all over again to the sin we were freed from.

Again — James warns us…

James 1:14 ESV

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

We’ve looked at the words “desire” and “entice” — now the word “lured.” The word that James uses — that’s translated as “lured” — is only used here in the New Testament. And the word means “to be dragged away.”

So — back to our fishing illustration. Our desires — sinful or not — bait us like a worm on a hook to a fish. And — once we’ve taken the bait — we’re then dragged off in a direction we do not want to go — towards death — just like a fish on the end of a line.

Friends — my concern right now is that some of us think we’re above being dragged off — against our will — in the direction towards death. We think such things may happen to others, but not to me. And such thinking is exactly what false teachers — used by our enemy, Satan — use to get us hooked on their lines of deceit and lies.

• It’s the husband who thinks that a little porn is OK. You’re on the line being dragged to death.
• It’s the student who thinks a little cheating is OK. You’re on the line being dragged to death.
• It’s that extra glass of wine to numb you to the pain you don’t want to face. 
• Making the time to scroll on social media while never finding time to be in God’s Word.

This isn’t meant to make you fearful of the desires you have — but is meant to make sure that all of your desires are submitted to God and his authority over your life. Because — the answer to our question — where does temptation come from — is: It comes from within us — from within you. That’s what James is telling us.

Though outside factors may play a role — ultimately — we’re responsible for the decisions we make — you’re responsible for whether or not you give into your desires — for whether or not you take the bait and get dragged off in a direction you never intended to head in.

GOD IS NOT LIKE US

But there’s someone who tends to get more of the blame than others — when it comes to us taking the bait. And — unfortunately — it’s not the false teachers that we just learned of. It’s not even Satan. And it’s definitely not ourselves. No — usually at the top of mankind’s go to for casting blame — is God. So let’s see what James has to say about God and our temptations. We’re in verse thirteen.

James 1:13 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Here — James pushes against what many people believe. Because it’s our nature — in not wanting to be responsible for giving into our desires — to look for someone else to blame. And many people have no issue in blaming God. 

“If God’s really in control of everything — as you Christians say you believe — then he shouldn’t have put that drink in my hand, or that porn on the internet, or that opportunity to cheat on my spouse in my life.”

Yet James say’s, “God does not tempt us with evil” — which is another way of saying that God doesn’t tempt us to sin. James also gives us a profound truth about God — for he tells us that God also can’t be tempted with evil.

You see — God is holy — which means he’s completely pure and without sin. Thus he has no inclination to sin or to be tempted by it. God is also righteous — which means he only does what is right — and — he does what is right all the time — in every situation — including every situation in your life — Christian or not.

So the question then becomes, “If God can’t be tempted with evil — and if he doesn’t tempt us with evil — then what’s his purpose in the trials — or temptations — that we face? Because he doesn’t stop them. And — if he doesn’t stop them — then what’s his purpose in them?” For as Scripture tells us…

Romans 8:28 NLT

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

And “everything” means “everything.” Nothing is excluded. So what’s God’s purpose — or his goal — in us facing temptation?

We find our answer in two Old Testament accounts that would’ve been familiar to James and his original readers. One is from the book of Job — and the life of the man for whom the book of Job is named. And the other is from the book of Genesis — from the life of Abraham.

First — Job’s story. Job’s story begins this way.

Job 1:1–5 NLT

1 There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless — a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters. 3 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. 4 Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. 5 When these celebrations ended — sometimes after several days — Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Here we learn that Job is blameless, a man of integrity, he feared God, and he avoided evil. We learn about his family and his wealth. And we even learn that he offered sacrifices to God on behalf of his children — just in case they had sinned. If ever there was a man devoted to God — it was Job.

But — after these opening words — quite possibly one of the strangest events in all of the Bible takes place. We’re taken to the heavenly court — where angels are present before God— and Satan’s there too! And here’s what happens.

Job 1:7–12 NLT

7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” 8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless — a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” 9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

Now what comes next is a shock. We learn that Satan takes everything away from Job: his animals, his wealth, and even his children — they’re all killed. It’s one blow after another after another. And how does Job respond to all of this tragedy?

Job 1:20–22 NLT

20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” 22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

As you can imagine — Job’s response did not please Satan. So we’re taken back to the heavenly courts and God asks Satan how things are going with Job. And…

Job 2:4–6 NLT

4 Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. 5 But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 6 “All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.”

And we’re told that Satan strikes Job with a disease on his skin that covers him from head to toe. The pain was so unbearable that Job took broken pottery to scrape at his skin. And…

Job 2:9–10 NLT

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

The book of Job — which is part of the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, by the way — goes on to record the back and forth conversation Job has with some of his friends. And — in the end — though Job is an imperfect man — he did receive correction from God — he’s proven faithful.

And that was God’s purpose in allowing Job to experience this trial in life — along with all of the temptations that came with his suffering. God proved to Satan that Job was a man who — with integrity — meant it when he said, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!” 

A question you must wrestle with is this: Is your God this sovereign? Can he use temptation, suffering, trials, persecution, and even extreme hardship in your life to prove to Satan that you are a man or woman of integrity when it comes to your faith in Jesus? Does God have that kind of authority over your life — or — would that be him taking things a bit too far?

Now we turn to Abraham. At this point in Abraham’s life, God has promised to him that one day he would be the father of many nations. It was an incredible promise for many reasons — one of which was that Abraham — and his wife, Sarah — we’re old. And — I mean — old, old. We’ve got a few ladies among us in their nineties and I don’t think any of them are eager to have a child at their age — but that’s the age bracket Abraham and Sarah were in when Isaac was born.

Now Isaac is the promised child — the child through whom God’s promise to Abraham would be fulfilled — the son through whom descendants would come numbering like sand on a seashore — like the stars in the sky. Yet here’s what happened.

Genesis 22:1–19 NLT

1 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son — yes, Isaac, whom you love so much — and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” 6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” 12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 15 Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven. 16 “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed — all because you have obeyed me.” 19 Then they returned to the servants and traveled back to Beersheba, where Abraham continued to live.

A different kind of test than what Job faced. So what was God’s purpose in this test in Abraham’s life? God’s purpose was for Abraham to learn that his God will provide for his every need. And as we learn in the New Testament…

Hebrews 11:17–19NLT

17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

God’s purpose was never for Abraham to kill Isaac — God’s plan was always to provide the ram as a substitute. But Abraham would never have known this was God’s purpose without first going up the mountain in complete trust that — somehow, someway — Isaac would survive — even if it meant God raising his son from the dead.

CONCLUSION: GOD’S PURPOSE IN OUR TRIALS

And both of these biblical examples lead us to our final point: God’s purpose in our trials. We’re in verse twelve.

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Notice how — though the English word “tempt” is used throughout our verses — here the word “trial” is used. There’s a reason for that. James uses a different word in the original language here. It’s a word that often can mean “temptation” — but here — the word has a different sense to it. Instead of “temptation” the word means “examination.”

So James is saying, “Blessed is the man — or woman — who remains steadfast under examination.” And this helps us to understand God’s purpose in our trials — or examinations — that often include us being tempted. For God’s purpose — just like with Job and Abraham — God’s purpose for the trials in your life is not to see you fail and give in and take the bait — his purpose is that you will remain steadfast during the examination.

James goes on to say, “For when he has stood the test” — “stood the test” means to be approved or to be accepted. Approved by whom — accepted by whom? Like Job, approved by God. Like Abraham, accepted by God.

Friends, what greater reason do we have to remain steadfast under trial — to stand firm when tested — to remain faithful to God when we’re being examined by circumstances in life — than to know that this is an opportunity to please our Father in Heaven — to be approved by him — to be accepted by him?

We see this in children, don’t we? They want the approval of their mom and dad. They desire to be accepted by those in authority over them — like a teacher. In fact — I find it quite common for us to never grow out of this desire to be approved and accepted by others. And — here — James tells us how we can please the God who created everyone and everything.

How awesome is that? What a different way to view the current trial you may be in the thick of right now? To see it as an opportunity to be approved by your God as you remain steadfast and faithful to him while in this trial. To see it as an opportunity to be accepted by the God who loves you and sent his Son to rescue you. To see it as an opportunity to experience your God providing for your every need.

• This is what God did for Abraham after he stood the test on the mountain. A ram was provided to be the substitute for Issac.
• This is what God did for Job — when he restored everything that Job had lost.
• And this is what God has promised to you — if you believe in his Son. For Jesus is One who substituted himself in your place — as he stood firm during the test on the mountain — when he gave his life — in love — for you.
• And — in doing so — he guaranteed an eternal inheritance for those who believe in him. For he’s promised his people the riches of Heaven which are his. For those who give up the desires of this world for him — will be blessed beyond what they can imagine.

And Jesus has done this — because — he knew that we’d never pass the test on our own — he knew that we’d all fail the exam of life — he knew that none of us would remain steadfast and would — instead — bite on hook after hook after hook — being dragged off towards sin and death to the delight of the one who — just like with Job — wants to destroy our lives. 

So Jesus did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves: He passed the test. He earned for us his Father’s approval and acceptance by living the perfect life of faith on our behalf, and gave his life as the payment for our sins, rising from the grave, defeating the power of sin and death — so that — we’ll be giving a crown of life — which God has promised to those who love him.

May these sweet words of truth ignite in your soul a great love for — and a desire to live faithfully for — the God who uses trials in your life to remind you of his great love for you. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Father, what love you have for us. That even the trials we face are meant to remind us of your great love for us. For your purpose — in us facing these trials — is not our failure and demise — but for our victory.

Holy Spirit, when we’re in a trial it can be hard to remember your purpose. So remind those who are in the midst of pain, suffering, hardship, disappointment, grief, uncertainty — and whatever form of trial they may be facing — remind them — right now — of your purpose. For them to remain steadfast. To pass the test. To prove to them your power and love. 

And — Jesus — the only hope we have in prayers like these being true — is what you’ve done — in love — for us. You not only stood the test — like Job — but are the truly innocent sufferer. You gave up everything for our sake — and did so willingly. You not only climbed up the mountain — like Abraham — but you didn’t receive a substitute sacrifice — you were the substitute sacrifice — in our place — for our sins. 

You remained steadfast. You passed the test. And — because you did so on our behalf — through our faith in you — we can now do so. For your Spirit in us — and your love for us — are more powerful than any trial or temptation we may face. Help us to believe this wonderful truth. To believe it more. And to believe it even more. We pray all of this in your name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

No matter what you may be facing in life — may you know that God’s purpose is that even this moment is meant to remind you of his great love for you. Amen.

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

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.

DATE: 11-16-25

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

Can you believe it? Today we finish the book of Romans.

• We began Romans back in 2017. I wasn’t even the Senior Pastor at the time — that’s how long ago we started Romans. We finished chapters one and two of Romans that year.
• In 2018 — I was the Senior Pastor now — we looked at chapters three and four.
• In 2019 we looked at chapters five, six, and seven — woo-hoo — three whole chapters that year!
• But — then — things slowed down quite a bit for us. Romans chapter eight was eighteen sermons long — which we split between 2020 and 2021.
• We then took a two year break — no Romans in 2022 and 2023 — you may not even remember that. I knew we’d taken a break but had forgotten how long it was.
• But we picked right back up — in Romans chapter nine — in September of 2024. And — other than breaks for Christmas and Easter, a short series on suffering, and our recent two week break — we’ve been in Romans ever since.

So — if you’re newer to Gateway — maybe today’s your first day with us — obviously you’re coming in at the end of a long investment for some of us. But know that you can catch up on all that you’ve missed by going to our website — gatewayepc.org — where you’ll find all of the sermons that have been preached from the book of Romans. 

And since you know what’s ending today — here’s what you can expect for the rest of the year. Next week — one of our elders — Matt Heft — will be preaching as part of our Westminster Shorter Catechism series. A catechism — if you don’t know — is a resource that has questions and answers that focus on what we believe. I find catechisms to be a very helpful resource because — often — a question I’m asking is answered in a catechism.

That’s next week. Then we’ll begin our Christmas series — which will take us up through Christmas Eve. And — the final Sunday of the year — December 28th — we’ll have a combined campus worship service. Only one worship service that morning and we’ll all gather at our County Road 9 Campus. That morning will be focused on prayer and — you won’t want to miss it because — one — it won’t be live-streamed — so no online option that day — two — we’ll be taking the Lord’s Supper together — and three — we’re going to have some Gateway family members visiting with us who we sent out earlier this year to serve in a country that — in 2025 — is ranked as the tenth most dangerous place for Christians. I’m going to interview them during the service so you all will get to hear directly from them. But — since we’re live-streaming right now — I won’t say their names or their location — but — if they’re watching — we love you and look forward to seeing you soon.

So that’s what you can expect in the coming weeks. But now let’s turn to our final verses in the book of Romans. Here are Paul’s final words to the Christians living in Rome. We’re in Romans chapter sixteen — beginning in verse seventeen.

Romans 16:17–20 ESV

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And skipping to verse twenty-five we read…

Romans 16:25–27 ESV

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

In Paul’s concluding words to the Christians in Rome we find his final words of warnings and his final words of blessings to them. Final warnings and final blessings. This is Paul’s focus as he ends his letter — and it’ll be our focus for our final sermon in Romans.

FINAL WARNINGS

First, his final warnings. We’re in verse seventeen.

Romans 16:17–19 ESV

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

After praising so many in the church — which we looked at last week — Paul takes an abrupt turn here. “Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you’ve been taught; avoid them.”

Watch out! Be careful! Don’t be duped — because — there are people in the church who cause division and create obstacles. These people don’t serve Jesus — regardless of what they say — they don’t serve Jesus — they serve themselves. And these people are cunning and are able to deceive those who are naive. Paul’s final warning to the Christians in Rome.

But this isn’t the only time Paul shared such a warning. To the Christians in Corinth Paul wrote…

2 Corinthians 11:12–15 NLT

12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

To those in Philippi he writes…

Philippians 3:2 ESV

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

And later he tells them…

Philippians 3:18–19 ESV

18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

And notice the similar language between Paul’s description — of the kind of people we’re to watch out for — and what’s found in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 6:16–19 ESV

16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

• False apostles. 
• Deceitful workers. 
• Servants of Satan who disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. 
• Evildoers. 
• Enemies of the cross of Christ. 
• Lying tongues. 
• Hearts that devise wicked plans. 
• Those who sow discord. 
• People whom Paul warns us to watch out for.

About Paul’s description — that these people use “smooth talk and flattery” — one pastor has said, “The word for flattery [means] blessing. And smooth talk…means pleasant and plausible. So the reason we must be so vigilant over biblical doctrine is that those who depart from it take simple people with them by pleasant, plausible speech that presents itself as a blessing. False teachers don’t get a following by being rough and harsh. They get a following by being nice.”

Be vigilant in knowing what you believe — don’t be naive or simple — because the naive will be led astray by the pleasant, nice sounding words of false teachers. 

But here’s my question for us: How do you know when you’re dealing with someone who’s misguided versus someone who’s using smooth talk and flattery to be divisive so they lead people away from the truth?

Meaning — how do you know when someone’s a false teacher versus a mistaken teacher? There is a difference!

But it’s so hard to know who’s who, isn’t it? Perfection can’t be the standard — for we all make mistakes — even doctrinal ones. But how do you know if it’s not a mistake — but is intentional deception meant to lead people astray?

Here’s something I’ve learned having been a pastor for nearly twenty years: Rarely does the conversation go well when someone says to me, “Pastor, this book (or this sermon or podcast or whatever) has changed my life. Would you read (listen or watch) it and tell me what you think?” Because — when whatever they share is bad  — meaning it’s deception or heresy or the like — me saying so doesn’t go well.

Here’s a real life example. A few years ago I was given a book by a member of Gateway. He handed it to me and said, “This book has changed my life!” Now I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover — but — by the title I knew it was a health, wealth, and prosperity kind of book. If you’ve never heard of that phrase before — it’s a false gospel that teaches that God always wants you to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous — usually accompanied by a request for money to be sent to their ministry so that God’s blessing on your life can be guaranteed. And — if the blessing seems to be delayed — well — you probably need to send a bit more money — to their ministry, obviously — so the blessing gets to you faster. I so wish that wasn’t an exaggeration.

But I read the book. And I told the guy — who gave it to me — that I’d read it, had some concerns, and would like to talk to him about it. We met on my front porch. And do you know what happened? Every concern I brought up — even with Bible passages to back up my concern — he dismissed because, “He had discovered the truth and I just wasn’t willing to accept it.” Afterall, that’s exactly what the author told him would happen — the author literally wrote to expect that your pastor is going to disagree with the “truth” found in this book. Talk about a worker of Satan.

But here’s the sobering part to this story: The guy who was duped by the book wasn’t a new Christian. He’d been at Gateway longer than I’d been. He’d sat under solid Bible preaching for years — and yet — was deceived by the smooth talk and flattery of an author. And he left Gateway because I disagreed with an author that had changed his life.

I bring this up to let you know what’s become my ministry philosophy when it comes to the true gospel versus false gospels. It’s based on a well used preaching illustration that — turns out — is actually true! The illustration is about federal agents and how they’re taught to spot counterfeit money. They’re taught to spot counterfeit money by studying — not counterfeit — but real money. 

Here’s how this relates to my ministry philosophy: Instead of warning you of false teachers that are writing books, preaching sermons, and producing podcasts — my goal is to make you so familiar with the true gospel that you’re able to spot an impostor without my help. That’s what grieved me about the man who left Gateway. Somewhere, somehow he’d not become familiar enough with the true gospel to not be deceived by that wicked imposter.

And my ministry philosophy is also why I emphasize the difference between the essentials of our faith and the non-essentials. False teachers go after the essentials. And I don’t want you to mislabel a true teacher of God’s Word — who you disagree with over a non-essential — as a false teacher. Disagreements over a non-essential doesn’t mean someone’s a false teacher. 

Another reason why I have this philosophy of ministry is because there’s just not enough time in my day to make exhaustive lists of who are the false teachers and who are true teachers — but would disagree over a non-essential — and who are true teachers — who agree with all of our non-essentials — and so on. There’s just no way to keep up in our day and age with all of the books, podcasts, and sermons that are out there.

So I do my best to teach you — as clearly as I can — the true gospel — and what’s essential to the Christian faith versus non-essential. And — I do so — so you’re equipped to recognize the true gospel — and its false imposters — as you follow Jesus.

But — let’s do the even more difficult task — and move from out there — to the people out there writing books, preaching sermons, and producing podcasts — and let’s move in here — to us — to Gateway. For Paul’s writing to a local church — and he warns them about divisive and obstacle-creating individuals who were among them. What are we to do about such people?

In one of his other letters — Paul gives a clear biblical command as to what we’re to do with such people. He tells Titus…

Titus 3:10–11 ESV

10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

First warning. Second warning. Then have nothing more to do with a divisive person in the church. 

Now — think about it: Who really does this? Have you been part of a church that’s this swift to act? There’s some sort of expectation — isn’t there — to not be so “strike one, strike two…you’re out!” — when it comes to divisive people — especially in the church, right? Why?

Because no one’s a fan of church discipline — which is the topic we’re now talking about. Where someone in the church is creating division — they’ve been warned about their behavior — and they’ve been warned a second time — and now — instead of obeying Paul’s words — we give them a third warning. Maybe a fourth. A fifth. 

We start to think, “Maybe if we ignore them this will all go away.” Church leaders wrestle with, “What will the rest of the congregation think if we actually do something about this individual? Some will definitely get upset — remember — smooth talk and flattery wins people over. Others will leave. Some will want to know more than they need to know. Others will think anything we do is heavy handed and anything we say is gossip.”

What I’m pointing out to us is how the church has lost her ability to practice church discipline. Not just Gateway — but God’s Church has lost this important skill.

Do you know why church discipline is a good thing? The purpose of discipline — according to our church constitution — is…

• To maintain the honor of God.
• To restore the sinner.
• And to remove the offense (the sin not being repented of) from the church in order to keep the church pure and holy.

When Paul — in verse nineteen — tells the Christians in Rome “to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” — I wonder if he had something like the purpose of church discipline in mind. 

• For it’s good to maintain the honor of God. 
• And it’s good to restore sinners. 
• And it’s good to keep the church pure and holy. 
• Similarly, anything that doesn’t maintain God’s honor, or restore sinners, or keep the church pure — is evil. 

And when we realize that excommunication — or removing individuals from the fellowship of the church — is only reserved for the most grievous and unrepentant of sinners — which should be on the rarest of occasions — we see that most discipline that happens in the life of the church is actually what’s called discipleship. Where individual members commit to grow in Christ-likeness and holiness and purity so that God is honored in our lives. For — and I think this is obvious — the words discipline and discipleship are similar in their spelling — because — they’re words that are related to one another.

Discipline is what happens to disciples who — instead of growing in Christ-likeness and holiness and purity — head off in a sinful direction that brings dishonor to the Savior who gave his life for them. And — the practice of discipline — helps all who follow Jesus — catch a glimpse of how easy it is to head off in a sinful direction: that fleeting lustful thought that caught your attention, that desire to switch to private mode in your browser to search for porn, the ease it is to tell a lie and to believe the lies you tell, how good it feels to gossip. None of us are beyond sin — thus discipline is God’s gracious way of keeping us from destroying our lives for all eternity by giving into sin.

This is Paul’s final warning to his readers.

FINAL BLESSINGS

And — now — his final blessing. We’ll begin with a verse we’ve already looked at — verse nineteen.

Romans 16:19–20 ESV

19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And skipping to verse twenty-five we read…

Romans 16:25–27 ESV

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Paul’s final words of blessing. Words of blessing which include, “Your obedience is known to all — so I rejoice.” What wonderful words to write to the Christians in Rome. He writes a similar praise to the Christians in Thessalonica when he tells them…

1 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

This verse has become one of the prayers I pray for us as a church. For I regularly pray that “reports of our faith in God will spread and be an encouragement to others. Not for our glory — but for God’s glory.” A prayer that I’d encourage you to join me in praying for us — so that our testimony of what Christ has done for us — and is doing in and among us — encourages other churches and Christians to live more faithfully for Jesus. Where our obedience to Christ — both individually and corporately — would inspire other Christians and churches to live in obedience to Christ. That our example would spur on others to do far more for Jesus than they might have ever dared dream is possible.

But what an opportunity to rejoice. When we recognize — even more than we do right now — how God’s hand of blessing is upon us. 

• We witness people come to faith in Christ. 
• We get to celebrate when people are baptized. 
• We have parents bring their children before us with the intention of raising their children up to know and love Jesus. 
• We’ve sent a couple to one of the hardest places in the world to be a Christian. 
• We’ve got someone else leaving soon to go overseas long term. 
• Another couple is also in the process. 
• We’ve got our first pastoral resident joining us in January. Someone who we’ll train in pastoral ministry, get him the seminary education he needs, and then send him and his family out with our blessing to go pastor God’s people in a local church.
• We’re becoming more and more of a sending church — which is a blessing and a reason for us to rejoice.

Yet there’s even more blessings for us to recognize. For — in verse twenty — Paul writes…

Romans 16:20 ESV

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

A few weeks ago we looked at God’s covenant promises to his people — including us today. One promise is found shortly after Adam and Eve rebelled in the Garden. When God says…

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

As I told you in that sermon — on the cross — though Satan bruised Christ’s heel on the cross — Jesus crushed the head of our foe — for on the cross our victory was secured. Yet — as of now — our victory isn’t fully experienced. For Jesus must still return for that final day of victory to be inaugurated. But the blessing Paul reminds us — in his closing words — is that: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

So the day is coming soon — and it’s a reason for us to rejoice. But what about this: God will crush Satan under our feet.

“Under our feet? Under my feet?” Yes, under your feet. “I thought Satan was crushed by Jesus’ feet.” He was. But dear Christian — the blessing here for us is in knowing that every step of obedience we take — every moment when you choose holiness over wickedness — faithfulness over rebellion — joy in Jesus over joy in the things of this world — each and every one of these moments is a step closer to the Serpent being finally and forever defeated. Every step of faithful obedience that you take is another blow to the head of our enemy.

CONCLUSION: DOXOLOGY

Which — with such blessings bestowed upon us — is it any wonder that Paul ends his letter with worship? That’s what he does — he ends Romans with praise — what’s called doxology.

Romans 16:25–27 ESV

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

To him — the only wise God — to him who is all powerful — which means he’s able to strengthen you by his power — which he does through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To him who’s revealed what was once a mystery — that his plan has always been to save people from all nations. To him the only saving God — who brings people to faith and obedience so that his Son looks glorious to the world — to this only wise and all-powerful and saving God — be glory forever, and ever. Amen. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Father, what more can we pray than what we just heard. You are the only wise, all-powerful, and saving God whose plan has always been to rescue people from all nations.

Holy Spirit, you shine the light of the gospel into the hearts of people as the Good News is faithfully preached — as you do the wonderful mysterious work of raising spiritually dead people to eternal life. 

Jesus — all of this is possible because you gave your life in love for us. Crushing the head of the Serpent on the cross. Shedding your blood for our sins. Clothing us in your righteousness.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — to you alone be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

May you go knowing that the only wise God has — and is — making you wise and strong for his glory. Amen.

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

DATE: 11-9-25

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.

INTRO

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend. And we’re in the practical application section of Paul’s letter where — after eleven chapters of rich theological truths — he transitions to the “so what” section of his letter. Meaning he’s addressing how all of the theology — that’s found in the first eleven chapters — is to play itself out in how we live. Or at least how it should influence the way we live.

And today we start the last chapter of Paul’s letter. And — in these final words of his — Paul is very personal. In fact — I went back and forth — do I end with this sermon or with next week’s sermon — but decided to end how Paul ends his letter — even though this sermon is my favorite of the two. For in our text for today — Paul praises his friends in ministry. And today — like Paul — I’m going to praise many of you — my friends in ministry. 

PAUL’S FRIENDS

But before we get to that — let’s turn to Paul’s words. Here are his words in Romans chapter sixteen — beginning in verse one.

Romans 16:1–16 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. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

And skipping to verse twenty-one — we read…

Romans 16:21–23 ESV

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

One person has called this, “The least-preached-upon chapter of the most-preached-upon book in the New Testament.” Meaning — no book in the New Testament is preached more than Romans — one could argue that it’s the most preached book in the entire Bible — yet — no chapter in Romans is preached less than chapter sixteen. Why’s that? 

Because this is the kind of passage we long for in our devotional time, right? No! A list of a bunch of names that are hard to read — much less pronounce — thank you very much. A list of names inevitably causes us to ask, “What do a bunch of names have to do with me?” 

My hope is that — after some reflection on these names — and especially after what we do later in this sermon — that the names you read will remind you of names you know — saints among us — who are worthy of being praised and commended for their faithfulness to the Lord and their friendship in ministry.

Back to Paul. He begins by commending a woman named Phoebe. And he calls Phoebe a servant of the church. I bring her up to briefly explain why we have women deacons here at Gateway. The Greek word translated as servant — in verse one — is the same word translated as deacon in other places in the Bible. Now — it’s true that the word isn’t always translated as deacon — sometimes it’s translated as minister or servant — but in one sense — all of the people Paul mentions in this chapter are servants in the church — so why does he single Phoebe out in this specific way when he commends her to the Christians in Rome? I believe it’s because she held a special leadership role in the church — that of a deacon.

Let’s continue on through the names — and as we do — don’t miss the intimate details that Paul includes. For example, Prisca and Aquila — who we find in the book of Acts — about them Paul says, “They risked their necks for my life.” We have no idea what situation Paul’s referring to — but essentially he’s saying, “I’m alive and doing ministry today because of these friends of mine.”

We learn that Epaenetus was the first person to believe in Jesus in Asia. That’s pretty cool. 

Paul praises the hard work of a woman named Mary. He mentions that two of his friends experienced imprisonment. There’s Rufus and his unnamed mother — “Paul, why didn’t you give us her name?” But what a sweet statement, “She was like a mother to me.” 

I wonder if she even had a name. “A name? Why wouldn’t she have a name?” Well — not all of the names in Paul’s list are actual names.

For example…

Romans 16:22 ESV

22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Tertius is the man who’s been writing down Paul’s words. This was a common role in the Roman world — where one individual would dictate to another words to be written down. Sometimes the individual was a slave — we’re not sure but it’s possible that Tertius was a former slave.

But — Paul — after sending greetings on behalf of Timothy, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater — all people with names — I want you to imagine Paul looking at Tertius — the man writing down his words — and Paul says to him, “Tertius, go ahead. Greet them yourself.”

Now that may not seem like a big deal to you. But the reason why this is so moving is that the name Tertius isn’t actually a name — it’s a number. It means third or three. And — after his greeting — come the words, “Our brother Quartus, greets you.” Quartus means four or fourth.

Listen to what one Bible scholar said about these two men being listed in our chapter. He said, “The distribution of personhood in the Roman Empire was profoundly unequal. Very few people were recognized as a persona — the Latin word from which we get person — which is a legal term in Latin — that means that someone has a full standing in law and society to be recognized as a full human being. Only the head of households was considered a full human being and everyone else lived in various degrees of personhood. From children — who could aspire to inherit their father’s status — to women — who were always treated as property of the head of household — and then the twenty to twenty-five percent of the Roman Empire who were slaves — not based on race but on commercial or military misfortune. The Romans were very practical people — and if you didn’t really have any prospect of becoming a person — they didn’t bother with giving you a name. So if you were a male — you were often just named by your birth order. Second, third, fourth, fifth. Or a child born to a slave woman would be named “useful” — which in Greek — is the name Onesimus — which is a name in the book of Philemon.”

So according to Roman culture of Paul’s time — people — who were viewed as having no potential of becoming a full person — weren’t given names. 

If we went back through the names Paul mentions in our chapter — we’d find names typical of heads of household — as to be expected. Some of the other individuals were probably firstborn sons due to the fact that they have names — as to be expected by the culture of the day. But women are also mentioned — which is culturally stunning — remember — they were considered property in Roman culture — not fully human. And — not only women — but we find the names third and fourth as well — Tertius and Quartus.

We don’t know if Tertius and Quartus were brothers — but they were both men not given the dignity of being named by their families because — as you now know — in the culture of the time only individuals with the potential of becoming a full person were named. And the third and fourth born sons in a family had no potential. Yet look at what dignity the Christian faith gives to all people. For the Christian faith says that all people — men, women, and children — regardless of their birth order — all are made in the image of God, all have dignity, and all are fully persons.

The Christian faith gives a name to the nameless. In fact — all who believe in Jesus — we’re told — are given a new family name — because the firstborn Son of God came to earth so that we — all of the seconds, and thirds, and fourths —could be given a new name when we’re adopted into God’s family.

I hope you see the beauty in a list of a bunch of names that are hard to pronounce. For it — this list of names — shows the power of the gospel to change people’s lives. Those whom the culture of the day said, “You have no personhood, no dignity, and no value” — those whom the culture of the day was willing to discard — the gospel gave them personhood, dignity, and value. And — just like then — the gospel today gives personhood, dignity, and value to all people — for all are made in the image of God.

OUR FRIENDS

And now we turn to us — and what’s my favorite part of this sermon — and maybe of our entire time in Romans. A time for me to praise many of my friends in ministry. Now — to no one’s surprise — time for a caveat — the “there’s not enough time for me to praise all of my friends in ministry here at Gateway.” In fact, I’ve contributed no names to the list that I’m about to read. Instead, I did something much more fun. I got others involved.

I sent out an email to around forty or so folks and asked them to send me names of people who they see faithfully following Jesus here at Gateway — those who are friends in ministry. And I asked them to tell me why they sent me the individual’s name. I also asked them to keep their list to no more than five individuals. 

And I decided to put the list of names together this way — because — I know that my knowledge of what goes on among us is pretty limited. And I love to hear stories of what you all are doing that I would never know about without others telling me. 

And here’s the reply I got to my email. Here are some of the many faithful friends in ministry among us. Some women. Some men. Some young. Some not as young as they used to be. Some singles. Some married. Some people you may know and others you may not. But all are family members and friends in ministry to you and to me — people for whom we’re to be thankful to God for.

And — yes — I purposely asked for the names to not be included in the sermon manuscript on our website and app so that this would be a surprise.  

1. Randy MacDonald – He greets the kids of our County Road 9 Campus with a bag of candy and engages with them while their parents connect with others on Sunday morning.
2. Kristin Sharpe – She always makes others feel welcome and pours herself into serving our members.
3. Justin Stiles – He is consistently praying for the needs of others and thinking through ways that we can help or care for those in need. Even when he has plenty on his plate at home, he puts others first.
4. Lincoln Peters – He consistently seeks out and encourages our young kids at church.  I often see him with an arm around a young man asking about his week and engaging them on Sunday mornings.
5. Terry Jolliff – He is always spreading the gospel with those he interacts with at work, church, or in the community.  I have had multiple people tell me that if it wasn’t for Terry’s encouragement, they might not have come to church or known how Christ was working in their life.
6. Jessica Thomas and Ashlyn and Brody – as a family they serve faithfully in the nursery.
7. Heidi and all of our worship team leaders who faithfully lead us in worship each week. If you’re wondering why Heidi was named — her husband submitted her name. 🙂
8. Cory Hartman for keeping us safe every week.
9. Brinley and Bowen Fought for ushering regularly. You’re never too young to be faithful.
10. Chad Benedict for preparing communion for us.
11. Ron Beach – He is an encourager and writes a devotional every week for anyone who wants one. 
12. Laura Moore – I don’t think people appreciate how much happens behind the scenes all because of Laura (and I probably don’t know the half of it). Her faithfulness and dedication to our church family is remarkable.
13. Matt and Amberly Heft – They are a pillar in our church—modeling faith in action and setting an example worth following. They don’t just talk the talk, they go, and they inspire others to go with them. Matt also genuinely cares about raising future leaders in our church family.
14. Michael and Lauren Shivers – He graciously leads our deacons with humility. They serve as life group leaders. Lauren serves in the diverse needs ministry and both are actively involved in the VBS program. 
15. Michael and Annie Gill – They serve as life group leaders. Annie also helps with Kidway and Michael serves on the tech team on Sunday. Their family is missional in everything they do.
16. Damien and Amanda Barrientos – They serve in preschool classes and make Bible lessons engaging on Sunday mornings. Amanda also helps on respite nights for our diverse needs families welcoming the families of Gateway with a smile and a warm heart.
17. Jamie and Keri Harpst – They serve in the kid’s ministry, cafe, and women’s Bible study. They always encourage others and live out what it looks like to walk with Christ.
18. Emma McDougle – She serves faithfully with the preschoolers every Sunday as well as any event that requires childcare and does it with a smile, welcoming children into her care.
19. Krista Wachtman – She serves faithfully with the preschoolers every Sunday as well as helping in our diverse needs room.
20. Cheryl Drake – she serves faithfully every Sunday with the first graders, as well as leads the diverse needs life group, her own life group, and teaches English on Saturday mornings to students in Bangladesh. I’m sure she does much more that I am missing. To which I — pastor Josh — will add — she’s been a great mentor to my daughter.
21. Christina Lishawa – She intentionally teaches and leads her Kidway class weekly, she cares for her life group deeply, she loves others with notes of encouragement, and is willing to go on mission trips to share the good news. When she and Randy had a college student living with them last year, she frequently opened her kitchen to his fiancee — not only inviting her to dinner, but teaching her how to cook the meals they enjoyed together.
22. Renee Criblez – She goes above and beyond teaching first graders Bible literacy skills on top of teaching the weekly lesson, she’s quick to help out in Kidway with childcare or creating something to be used as a prop or tool, and is both humble and extremely knowledgeable.
23. Emily Weizer – She teaches large group monthly and is always thinking how to better communicate the Bible. She disciples her youth group girls well, has a heart for Go and missions, and is willing to help in whatever way she can.
24. Samantha Scherger – Sam is willing to Go, she leads a life group, is a greeter, and is a sub for Kidway and is always willing and ready to say yes to stepping into a classroom to help.
25. Nancy Cramer – She always fills in for the nursery whenever needed. She helps with Lifewise. She faithfully prays for the needs of others.
26. Kathy MacDonald – She schedules the greeters and has done so for years — faithfully making sure those who enter our building feel welcomed.
27. Harlan Hoy – He schedules the parking crew. Takes on parking for VBS — making sure kids are safe as they enter and exit the building. He also has taken charge of parking for our outdoor services.
28. Jordan Harpst – He is engaged in each area of our discipleship process, worshiping weekly, leading a Life Group, serving on the security team and as an usher, and going overseas to the hard places.
29. Seth Butler – He is a devoted husband and father who faithfully guides and disciples his family in their walk with God.
30. Hannah Otley – Her love for the Lord is very evident, whether helping lead worship on Sunday morning, sharing an encouraging word during Life Group meetings, or simply talking about Jesus with a supernatural kind of excitement. 
31. Michele Jewitt – She is always praying and reaching out to our Life Group for prayers and how she can be praying for us and just genuinely checking in. 
32. Heather Routson – She’s always asking how people are doing and has an amazing ability to follow up on conversations with care.
33. Jenna Wilson – The most kind person I know. She cares deeply about how people are doing and how she can be praying for them
34. Joel and Adrienne Kozlesky – They serve in many areas faithfully — including in Kidway, as Lifegroup leaders, at VBS, and have a passion for sharing the Good News to others both locally and abroad.
35. Joe McCool – He is a dedicated Christ follower who is always striving to deepen his relationship with God. He shares his love of Christ by joyfully serving and teaching in Kidway.
36. Heagan Sparling – She has a heart for teaching children about Jesus. She serves in Kidway and many other areas.
37. Ted Criblez – He is a faithful greeter with a smile and a kind word. He is there early every Sunday to open the Kidway doors, making all feel welcome.
38. Sherry Shultis – she has led the women’s Bible study for many years. She’s always an encourager. And she makes it possible for women to connect and feel at ease as they share.
39. Sandra Tietje and Annette Peverly – Both serve in the Sew Quilt Share ministry to provide materials and projects so women can use their sewing talents to bless others.
40. Etta Malone – A smiling face every Sunday as she gets around with her walker. She gives hugs to all making them feel loved and special. She is truly a blessing.
41. Chad Hermiller – he serves the youth as a life group leader and has done so for years.
42. Mike Norman – he’s willing to give guidance and help those who are looking to grow in their faith. He also gives a helping hand whenever asked.
43. Leslie Sawmiller – she will quietly sign up to bring a meal EVERY time a need is sent out for a family in our church.
44. Cori Benedict – Cori is such a servant for Christ! She strives to be a better mom everyday. She is never content with mediocrity when it comes to leading her family to the Lord.
45. Dan and Janet Blanchard – they have given their lives to fostering and caring for over 150 displaced children in our county over the years and now they faithfully care for the kids in our nursery each Sunday. 
46. Matt Sawmiller –  Matt has an evangelistic heart and has never met a stranger. He’s faithful to meet every person with love, care, and kindness and he does a fantastic job of sharing the Gospel and his faith with others. 
47. Sara Tomlinson – she serves in multiple ways, she takes the initiative in stepping out, encouraging, and supporting our faith family.
48. Dan Harmon – he serves on Sundays, and is authentic and real in conversation.
49. Abe Sparling – he always shows up and he gets things done.
50. Mike McLaughlin – he recently moved here, jumped into the discipleship process, joined a Life Group and started serving — all pretty quickly.
51. Emily Hanson – Emily does more than required as a pastor’s wife by serving our youth and going above and beyond with VBX.
52. Lyn Loewen – is a faithful usher and leads his volunteers well. No matter what’s going on in his life or health, he makes everyone around him feel welcome and loved!
53. Peggy McBride – has faithfully served as a deacon, preparing and serving communion. She also serves in other areas on Sunday, and no matter what she’s doing, she makes you feel so cared for.
54. Jay and  Coleen Kiesel – they serve in so many ways and are another couple who step up no matter the need. They bring a calm and quiet leadership to everything they do.
55. Hisako Tabogami and Elizabeth Jarrell – Both women are found serving our congregation as greeters or in the cafe. They extend the love of Christ by individually and compassionately recognizing the different people they serve.
56. Boden and Anna Fisher – Demonstrate their commitment to prayer by not only praying with individuals at the end of service, but also by regularly sharing their personal prayer requests so others can pray for them. In addition, they answered the call and recently became Life Group leaders.
57. Sam Deeter – he faithfully serves and motivates elementary students during Kidway with a smile and an enthusiasm for the Word.
58. Samantha and Kevin Boose – they seem to eagerly volunteer and serve almost everywhere. They model how they follow Jesus as a family. On days when Kevin serves on tech, you can find the whole family gathered for breakfast in between tech practice and the start of the first service. Sam’s also an amazing example of a Godly mother who tries her best (and is doing an amazing job) to raise her little disciples in a God-honoring way while also being humble enough to ask for help when it’s needed. 
59. Logan Rickle – He stood in the parking lot during pouring down rain and welcomed everyone with a smile and a wave.
60. Susan Kayser – She faithfully serves on the worship team and sets the proper tone with her piano playing during communion.
61. Lindsay Norman – She builds cohesive worship teams each week despite everyone’s busy schedules. In her prayer requests she regularly asks that God would be her portion instead of praying for her circumstances to change. Her prayers and wisdom show a deep respect and reverence for the Lord.
62. Lana Fought – I’m regularly spurred on by her faithful service and her obvious love for the church. 
63. Ashley Peters – She puts her relationship with the Lord first in the way she evangelizes and serves those around her. 
64. Katie Kramer – Her heart for people, the Lord, and her reverence for the Word show her deep love and commitment to the Lord. 
65. Nicole Dishong – For the past couple months she has come in during the week to prep supplies for the Kidway lessons. 
66. John Lynch – He serves several of our homebound members by visiting them on a monthly basis.
67. Randy and Rita Casper – They faithfully check in with and pray for several members who are suffering from prolonged illnesses. 
68. Dick and Greta Schrock – Partners in ministry by mentoring, hospitality, missions, and investing in people!
69. Paul and Ann Hadde – they serve in so many capacities at Gateway — the nursery, middle school life group, Sunday school, Christmas Tea, and VBS. They’re very generous with their time and resources to invest in — not only Gateway families — but the community as well.
70. Carsten Weizer and Morgan Cooper — two of our staff members — both spend a lot of time on Sunday mornings with their ministry responsibilities, but they’re also willing to come and serve and invest in our youth on Sunday evenings.
71. Brady Reutz – a high school student who serves alongside adults (that he didn’t already know before serving with them) to greet our members and guests on Sunday mornings.
72. Trevor and Nikki Gillig – they’re always willing to set up or clean up our cafe….even during special services such as Christmas Eve.
73. Andrew Thomas – he goes above and beyond on so much in the church. He does his official job, but is always quick to jump into other areas to use his gifts to be a blessing to others.
74. Tara McBride – she’s been helping with youth ministry for DECADES. She is so faithful with her girls and spends so much of her time investing in them.
75. Marc Krause – His dedication to serving alongside youth in the cafe is a great example of serving at Gateway. 
76. Brent Steiner – Even though his weekend schedule can be extremely demanding he always ushers us into service with a warm smile and hello. 
77. Howie Ohler – he serves regularly on the security team and warmly greets and talks to people throughout the lobby and hallways.
78. Ben Ruetz leads worship and fills in for others routinely, playing bass, playing guitar, or singing – however the worship team needs him.
79. And — as of a personal privilege — to the elders, staff, and deacons — thank you for your faithfulness in serving this congregation. And — since someone else submitted my wife’s name — I’d like to thank that individual for my free “get out of jail card” — as Emily loves for me to talk about her in my sermons. This time it wasn’t my idea — it was someone else’s.

CONCLUSION

I recently read a book titled The Power to Bless written by a friend of mine. At one point in the book, he addresses what many raise as a concern about blessing others. The concern is that if we bless people — or publicly praise or thank people, like I just did — that it’ll go to their heads. After all — he asks tongue in cheek — “Isn’t there too much self-love going on in our culture?”

To which he responds, “The rampant self-absorption we see in society is not the fruit of self-love. It’s the consequence of self-hatred.” He refers to the parable of the prodigal son. If you’re unfamiliar with the parable, a man has two sons. The younger — the prodigal — asks his dad for his part of the inheritance — which is another way of saying, “Dad, I wish you were dead.” He then goes off, squanders away all of his money, destroys his life, and finds himself so hungry that he longs to eat the slop being fed to animals.

The younger son thought he was loving himself, fulfilling his dreams and desires — but it was all self-hatred. My pastor friend then asks, “Would you ever, in your wildest imagination, on your worst day, do to the one you love what the younger brother did to himself?” No. Yet most of us are uncomfortable saying anything positive about ourselves in fear of sounding proud — which has bled over into it being uncomfortable to praise others for Christ-like faithfulness we see in them.

So — today — we’ve pushed back against such ideas. For praising others — and being thankful for their faithfulness and friendship in ministry — is a way we honor our God whose faithfulness works in and through his people. So may we grow even more in our thankfulness to God for our friends in ministry. And — like Paul — may we let each other know that we’re thankful to God for how he’s using them in our lives. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Gracious Father, thank you for your grace to us as seen, felt, and experienced through those around us — our spiritual family members — our friends in ministry.

Holy Spirit, prompt us — we ask — to not just think thoughts of gratitude about each other — but to share our gratitude to those for whom we’re thankful. A text message. A handwritten note. A phone call. An invitation for coffee. Spirit, help us to be people who express our thankfulness.

And — Jesus — all of the joys we experience as family and friends comes from your love for us. May our gratitude for one another always amplify our love and gratitude for you and all that you’ve done for us.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — for any who are lonely, who feel nameless, who feel less than fully human, who are desperate to be loved — may we be the family and friends they need. Open our eyes to see them — and open our hearts to love them. And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

May you go savoring the blessing of being part of a beautiful faith family — a congregation full of friends. Amen.

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

DATE: 10-26-25

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

For two weeks — we’re taking a break from our series in Romans. And — we’re doing so to prepare for our evening worship service next week. During our evening worship service we’re going to welcome new members into our faith family. We’re also going to celebrate baptisms and take the Lord’s Supper together. Three practices that have been part of the life of the church since its beginning. Yet these are three practices for which there’s much confusion and misunderstanding.

So — to prepare ourselves for our evening together next week — we’re going to look at each of these practices of the church. Today we’re going to look at church membership. Next Sunday morning we’ll look at baptism. And then — on Sunday evening — before we take the Lord’s Supper together — we’ll see what God’s Word has to say about it.

Now — if you’re not a Christian — and maybe even if you are a Christian — sermons on church membership, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper may seem absolutely irrelevant to whatever’s going on in your life right now. Something I can totally understand. Yet I’d like to offer that ancient practices — like membership, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper — help us to see how the church of today is connected to the church of the past — going as far back as what we read on the pages of the Bible. Which means that — though these topics may seem irrelevant to your specific situation — when we step outside of our individual worlds and into this corporate world known as the church — we find three topics that have much relevance for us. True even if you’re not currently a follower of Jesus — as these sermons will give you a better understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.

So baptism and the Lord’s Supper next week. And — today — we’ll look at church membership.

INTRODUCTION

Quite possibly my most infamous sermon — while here at Gateway — is a sermon from 2018 titled Looking Ahead where I preached on church membership. Since then — every few years we return to this important topic. And — every time — I go into this topic with some hesitation because it — more than just about any other topic — is the one that seems to offend folks the most.

Yet — at the same time — I go into this sermon hopeful because it seems that the number of people who sign up for our membership class increases when I preach on this topic because — for many — it’s the first time they’ve heard about the importance of membership in a local church.

In 2023 we broke a record during my time as your pastor when — after I preached on church membership — around sixty of you signed up for the next membership class. Total shock. Who would’ve thought? Not me — that’s who.

Today we’re going to look at three aspects of church membership. I’ve covered each of these in previous sermons — so think of this as a reminder for many of us. Remembering — after all — is one of the most popular commands in the Bible. While — for others of us — today may be a day for action — by responding to what you hear by signing up for the next membership class.

Today we’re going to see if membership in a local church is a biblical expectation. Then we’ll look at the benefits of being a member in a local church. And — finally — we’ll look at the responsibilities that come with being a member here at Gateway.

Is membership a biblical expectation? What are the benefits of being a member? And what are the responsibilities of being a member?

IS CHURCH MEMBERSHIP A BIBLICAL EXPECTATION?

First, is church membership a biblical expectation? To know one’s surprise — my answer is yes. But I’ll concede that there’s no clear command in Scripture — like — “thou must become a member of a local church.” But we must also acknowledge that “thou must not become a member of a local church” also isn’t in the Bible. In fact, your view of church membership — if it’s a biblical expectation or not — is based — not on a clear command — but on what theologians have called “good and necessary consequences” of what we find in the Bible.

If that makes anyone uncomfortable — know that there are many church practices that fit the category of — “there’s no clear command in Scripture, but doing this practice is based on good and necessary consequences of what we do find in the Bible.”

For example, in the Bible we find no clear command that women are to take the Lord’s Supper. Neither is there an example of a woman taking the Lord’s Supper in the Bible. There’s no command and no example in the Bible. Yet we know that the church in Corinth — which received Paul’s instructions on the Lord’s Supper — was a church that included men and women. So even though there’s no clear command in Scripture — nor an explicit example of women taking the Lord’s Supper — by good and necessary consequence of women being part of the church in Corinth — we believe it’s biblical for women to take the Lord’s Supper.

So what do we find in the Bible that leads us to a similar conclusion about church membership?

First, there’s the amount of the New Testament that’s written to local churches. Nine of Paul’s letters were written to local churches. His other four letters were written to leaders of local churches. It’s believed that Hebrews was written to several local churches in Rome. Peter’s two letters were written to local churches. John’s three letters were as well. And the book of Revelation was written to seven local churches. That’s twenty books of the New Testament — all written to local churches.

Yet I know that this point — by itself — doesn’t justify church membership. But it at least highlights the importance of being part of a local church.

Which leads us to another defense of church membership. And that’s the many biblical metaphors used to describe the church. Such as…

1 Peter 2:4–5 NLT

4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.

Here — individual people — who’ve come to faith in Christ — are compared to individual stones that God’s joined together to build his spiritual temple. Certainly, there’s a universal aspect to what Peter’s saying. But when we remember that he’s writing to local churches — we see that there’s also a local church application: We’re joined to God’s spiritual temple as found in a local church.

We’re also called members of the body of Christ. As Paul writes to a local church in Rome…

Romans 12:4–5 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.

Yes — these words are true about our membership in God’s universal — or global church — but that doesn’t mean that these words aren’t also to be applied to our membership in a local church. For they are words originally written to a local church.

Similarly — to the Christians in Corinth — Paul writes…

1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Nearly identical words to what we just read in Romans. Letters to two local churches — telling the individual Christians in the churches — you are part of the body of Christ as seen in local expressions of the body of Christ.

Whether the church is described as a flock of sheep, or a vine, or a city — these biblical metaphors describe something more than just the universal church made up of Christians from all times and places. These metaphors also describe something local. And — often — the Christians are called members in these biblical metaphors written to local churches.

Finally, there’s an expectation regarding leadership and submission found in Scripture that’s connected to the local church.

Peter writes…

1 Peter 5:1–5 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder (implication — Peter’s an elder but is not among the elders of the churches he’s writing to…) and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

And as the author of Hebrews writes…

Hebrews 13:7 ESV

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

And…

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.

And 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.

Once again — when we remember that these words were originally written to local churches — we see that the original audience would’ve heard “shepherd the flock of God that’s among you” to mean the “local church that specific elders are responsible for.” And the command “be subject to the elders” to be specific elders in your local church. The same elders whose lives you’re to imitate. The same elders who keep watch over your souls, and who will give an account to God. Elders of local churches that individual Christians are responsible to obey and submit to.

Though there’s no clear command to be a member of a local church — the good and necessary consequence of the biblical evidence we’ve just looked at leads to questions such as:

• Who are the elders among you?
• Who are the elders responsible to shepherd you?
• Which elders are you subject to?
• Who are the leaders whose way of life and faith you’re imitating?
• Which elders are you obeying and submitting to?
• Which elders are keeping watch over your soul?
• Which elders will give an account to God for their care of you?
• Which elders are you esteeming highly in love because of their work?

Questions no Christian gets out of answering — at least not while being obedient to God’s Word. And this is why I think church membership ends up ruffling so many feathers. For it forces the issue of obedience to commands in Scripture that are hard to obey while not being a member in a local church.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP?

Now let’s turn to the benefits of church membership. 

Often — when I hear from someone who has concerns about church membership — one of the questions asked is, “What are the benefits of me becoming a member?” Sometimes it’s asked in the opposite way — wondering if I and the elders will care for people who get sick and aren’t members — will we show up to the hospital to visit them — will we provide marriage counseling for non-members — and so on. And the answer — in case you’re wondering — is yes. Yes we do all of those things for non-members as well as members.

Now knowing this — you — like the person who asks the question — may wonder, “Well, then I really don’t see any benefit to becoming a member. If you get all of the same benefits without being a member — why become one?”

So what I want to do is orient our focus in a different direction. Away from the individual who is or isn’t a member — and put our attention on the rest of the church. I know this is hard — but let’s take the focus off of you — if you’re you — and I’ll take the focus off of me — because I’m me — and let’s put all of our focus on everyone else instead — the other adults, youth, and kids of Gateway. 

And here’s our new question: What are the benefits for everyone else if you become a member of Gateway? 

How about that for an unexpected twist? 

Here’s the question asked a bit differently: What benefits are you keeping others from experiencing by not becoming a member of Gateway?

Remember — someone will show up to the hospital when you’re sick — we’ll provide marriage counseling when you need it — and so on — regardless if you’re a member or not — you benefit. So what about everyone else? What benefit are you offering — or keeping from — them?

One benefit of you becoming a member is that your membership spiritually protects everyone else at Gateway. What do I mean? When you become a member of Gateway — you agree to a set of beliefs that are called the Essentials of our Faith. I read our essentials not too long ago during a sermon. But here they are again.

All Scripture is self-attesting, and being Truth requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God — the 66 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, and thereby justifies 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” (Revelation 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” (Ephesians 2:10).

Again — every member of Gateway formally says, “I believe these essentials. And if anything in my beliefs about the essentials changes — I agree to let the church know.” 

Now — let me say — because someone may be thinking it — yes — this isn’t a sure fire way to know for certain that someone actually believes and agrees with our essentials. The Bible warns of false teachers who will try to infiltrate the church to lead people astray. Yet I think it’s still good practice to have a theological line of entry that we know all members of our church have agreed to.

Especially when we read passages such as…

James 3:1 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

A warning not just to pastors who preach — but to all who teach or help others understand what God’s Word means and how it applies to life. This would include our Life Group leaders, teachers of our Equip classes, those who serve as small group leaders in our youth ministry, those who serve as large group teachers in our Kidway ministry, those who are small group leaders in our kid’s ministry, and so on.

But the benefit — to all who receive such teaching — is that you know the person teaching you has agreed to the Essentials of our Faith. Meaning — you don’t have to wonder about what they believe about God’s Word, or God, or specifics about Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, or salvation, or the church, or the second coming of Christ, or our mission until he returns, and everything else we just read. That’s all clear in the Essentials of our Faith and every member of Gateway agrees to these beliefs.

• What a reassuring benefit — I hope — to all of you who are in a Life Group.
• What a reassuring benefit — for all who sit under my preaching. You don’t have to worry, wonder, or be concerned about where I — or others — stand on the Essentials of our Faith.

Yet — we do have some loopholes right now. Though we currently require all of our adult Life Group leaders to be members of Gateway — and thus — they’ve formally agreed to the Essentials of our Faith — we’ve yet to make membership a requirement for those who teach in our next gen ministry. We have a theologically solid curriculum that all of our volunteers use in our next gen ministries that gives us some peace about this membership loophole.

And let me acknowledge that I’m sure many of our non-members — who serve in our next gen ministry — do agree with our essentials — and that’s great! But I can’t help but think that it’d give more assurance — to the families you serve — if you made your agreement to the essentials of our faith formal — which is what happens when you become a member. 

I bring this up not to throw our next gen staff team under the bus — I don’t think this was ever their decision — it’s been a membership loophole for over a decade. My reason for bringing this up is to highlight an area where some of us have an opportunity to increase the benefits our families receive by you becoming a church member. 

Here’s another benefit the church receives when you become a member. You become an equal participant when you get baptized — or when your child is baptized or dedicated. What do I mean by that?

According to our church constitution — when an individual is baptized — the members of the church are to be asked…

Do you, the members of this congregation, take responsibility for the continued Christian nurture of those being baptized today and do you promise to set a godly example by your own life?

And when parents bring their children to be baptized or dedicated — the members of the church are to be asked…

Do you, the members of this congregation, acting for yourselves and on behalf of the whole Body of Christ, as far as you are able, assume responsibility with these parents for the spiritual nurture of these children?

And are asked…

Do you commit yourself to set a godly example before these children, to provide as far as you are able, all that is necessary to the end that these children may one day confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?

I bring this up because — first — look at the benefits the individual, the parents, and the children receive from the members of Gateway.

• The members of the church commit themselves to the continued nurture and growth of the person being baptized.
• The members commit to setting a godly example to the person being baptized.
• The members commit to sharing in — with the parents — the responsibility of the spiritual nurture of the children being presented for baptism and dedication.
• The members commit to setting a godly example to the children being presented for baptism and dedication.

What benefits to those being baptized and to the parents of the children presented — a church full of individual members are committed to you and your children.

Yet — and this will be a rather strange sounding question — what’s the benefit for the church members?

The person being baptized — what benefit are you offering to the members? Parents of the children — what benefit are you offering to the members? After all — the members are making quite the commitment to you and your children. You benefit from us. So what are you bringing to the table?

To ease anyone’s concerns — here are the benefits on my mind:

• What if the person being baptized commits to becoming a member — so that — the congregation’s commitment to your spiritual growth is intertwined with your — the one being baptized’s — commitment to spiritual growth?
• And what if the person being baptized commits to becoming a member — so that — the congregation’s commitment of setting a godly example for you becomes a commitment you — as a member of this congregation — agree to set for others who are baptized after you?
• What if the parents presenting their children become members — so that — the congregation’s commitment to the spiritual nurture of your children — which is a benefit and blessing — is directly linked to your commitment to your children’s spiritual nurture through the ministry of this church?
• And what if the parents presenting their children become members — so that — the congregation’s commitment of being a godly example to your children is a commitment you make to us — and to you children — as members of this church?

Then there are benefits — not only to those being baptized — and not only to the parents of children being presented for baptism or dedication — and not only to the children — but also benefits for the members of this local church. Benefits that can be ours — and abundantly so — when — instead of making our decisions based on the benefit we’ll receive — we instead see the benefit others may be missing out on by us not being a member.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING A CHURCH MEMBER?

Finally — and briefly — what are the responsibilities when one becomes a member of Gateway Church? Two passages from Ephesians will do.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

And in the next chapter we read…

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.

The path that leads us towards the spiritual maturity that Paul describes — is summed up in our discipleship process of Worship, Connect, Serve, and Go. Where — because of our submission to one another — not just the leaders — who we’re to submit to — but in our mutual submission to one another’s spiritual growth and maturing — every member of Gateway commits to our discipleship process of Worship, Connect, Serve, and Go.

Where we each recognize the personal responsibility we have as a member of this faith family to prioritize weekly worship with our local church. Which means part of the weekend is already booked on your calendar. Because — as a member — you have a weekly event you plan on being at and you schedule the rest of your weekend accordingly.

Of course sickness happens — and we’re not against vacations — we know that college students may go home for the summer and snow birds may be gone for the winter — but what I’m saying is that all too often worshiping God in a local church can become more of an “option we’ll do if our calendar is open” instead of a “priority we plan all of our other weekend activities around.”  

And members of Gateway know it’s their responsibility to make weekly worship a priority.

As the author of Hebrews writes…

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.

The next step in our discipleship process is Connect. And the primary way we connect to one another is in our Life Groups. Life Groups are where we meet regularly with fellow Christians to discuss how the Bible applies to life and to practice care for one another. And members of Gateway agree that it’s their responsibility to be in a Life Group. 

The third step in our discipleship process is Serve. And — by serve — we mean serve each other in the church. One of the questions all new members are asked is…

Do you promise to serve Christ in his Church by supporting and participating with this congregation in its service of God and its ministry to others to the best of your ability?

And members of Gateway know it’s their responsibility to serve in our local church.

And — finally — we Go. For Jesus said…

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Every Christian has been called and commanded to go and make disciples. And — the members of Gateway — have accepted the responsibility to make disciples here in Findlay, in our nation, and to the ends of the earth.

These are the responsibilities every member of Gateway has freely accepted: To make worship a priority, to be an active participant in a Life Group, to serve the people of this congregation, and to go and proclaim the gospel. 

If you’re a member — now’s a great time to ask yourself — how am I doing with these responsibilities I agreed to when I became a member? 

CONCLUSION

Now I’ve preached enough sermons on church membership to know that I haven’t convinced everyone that it’s a biblical expectation. I also know that the benefits I presented didn’t persuade everyone. And I’m sure that — for some current members — there’s a reason why you’re not fulfilling the responsibilities we just covered.

Yet — I hope — that for some listening today — you were convinced of the biblically good and necessary consequence of church membership. And that you’ve seen the benefits you’ve received from others — even while not being a member — and now desire to be a benefit to others. And that — for some — you’ve been nudged to reengage in some of your responsibilities that you’ve allowed to be lacking in your life.

And I have this hope because — every time — thus far — the Lord’s been faithful in maturing us — just a bit more — after we’ve been reminded of the importance of church membership. May he do so once again — for all of our good — but more importantly — so we make him look glorious to the world. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, use your Word — to increase in all of our hearts and minds — the love you have for your church. 

Holy Spirit, you’re the Spirit of unity. Unite our hearts together so that — individually — we commit to being an even greater benefit to those around us.

And — Jesus — any benefit we receive from each other is because of what we’ve first received from you and all that you’ve done — in love — for us as individuals — and as your church.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — draw us closer to you and to one another. For your name’s sake we pray. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams / Resource Center to sign up for membership class)

May God use his Word to you today to grow us into the church he desires us to be. Amen.

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

DATE: 10-19-25

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 Romans this weekend and we’re in the practical application section of Paul’s letter where — after eleven chapters of rich theological truths — Paul’s now in the “so what” section of his letter. Meaning he’s showing us how all of the theology — that’s found in the first eleven chapters — is to play itself out in how we live. 

But — before we turn to our text for today — I want to let you know what to expect in the coming weeks. Starting next week — we’re going to take a break from Romans — just when we’re almost at the end — and we’re going to take three sermons to look at three important practices in the life of our church: church membership, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper — also called communion.

In a few weeks we’ll have a combined evening worship service here at our County Road 9 Campus. And during this evening service we’ll welcome new members into our faith family, celebrate baptisms, and take the Lord’s Supper together. So I thought it’d be good for us to spend some time looking at all that will be happening during that evening worship service ahead of time.

So next week we’ll look at church membership. The following week we’ll look at baptism. And then — during the evening worship service — we’ll look at the Lord’s Supper.

Then — after our short break — we’ll jump right back into Romans for the final two sermons we have left in the book.

But — today we’re in Romans — we’re not on break from it yet. And our final three sermons in Romans may end up being the most unique. For Paul — as he ends his letter — becomes quite personal in his final words. Let me show you what I mean.

Here’s what Paul writes in Romans chapter fifteen — beginning in verse fourteen.

Romans 15:14–33 ESV

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” 22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

As I said — this is a very personal section of the letter for Paul. And in this part of his letter we find two ideas: The call that God had on Paul’s life — and the call that God has on us — individually and as a church. Paul’s call and our call — that’s what we’re going to explore together today.

PAUL’S CALL

We’ll begin with Paul’s call — but know that there’s overlap even with the specific call God had for Paul and God’s call for us. But we’ll do our best to focus on Paul’s call — beginning in verse fifteen — where he writes…

Romans 15:15–25 ESV

15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” 22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.

And skipping to verse twenty-eight we read…

Romans 15:28–29 ESV

28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

In these words, Paul helps us understand how he viewed his call. And he describes his call — and I rarely do this — but we’re going to go for it today — he describes his call as that of a priest, of power, of preaching, and of planting. For those of you who’ve been waiting for some preaching alliteration — today is the day the Lord has made for you. Paul’s calling was one of priest, power, preaching, and planting.

Part of God’s call on Paul’s life was to be a priest. We see this beginning in verse fifteen where Paul writes…

Romans 15:15–17 ESV

15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.

And in verse twenty-eight we read…

Romans 15:28–29 ESV

28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Paul was called to be a priest. Where a prophet speaks on behalf of God to the people — a priest intercedes on behalf of the people to God. We’ll get to Paul’s prophetic role in preaching the gospel — in just a moment — but I want us to focus on his call which he describes as a priestly service. 

When I think of this priestly call on his life — I can’t help but think of his prayers for the Christians he writes to. Think of some of the words he wrote to others that are an expression of this priestly call on his life.

To the Christians in Thessalonica Paul wrote…

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 ESV

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

And…

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 ESV

11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

To the Christians in Ephesus he wrote…

Ephesians 1:16–21 ESV

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

To the Christians in Colossae he wrote…

Colossians 1:3–5 ESV

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

To Philemon he wrote…

Philemon 4–6 ESV

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

To Timothy…

2 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

I wonder how God might want you to enter into a similar kind of priestly service for others by praying for them in this way? In our most recent membership class, I was asked what’s the best way to encourage me as the pastor of Gateway. My answer was to pray for me. To pray for my family. And to let me know that you’re praying for me.

A recent addition to my list of life resolutions came from the sweet joy of realizing how many of you are praying for me. I worded my new resolution this way. Remember: God’s people are praying for you. I’m encouraged every time I read these words.

You may or may not be aware — but before every worship service a group of men pray with and for me. One of these men is Dave Vaas. I didn’t warn Dave that I’d be mentioning him — so Dave — warning — I’m about to pastorally brag on you. Knowing Dave — he’s probably already read this anyway. You’ll know what I mean in a second. 

As I said, Dave’s one of the men who meets with me to pray for me and my sermon before I preach. And — what I so appreciate about Dave’s prayers — is how he comes having read through my sermon manuscript. He — Randy Casper also does this — to pastorally brag on someone else — Dave and Randy will pray for a specific point in my sermon, or a section that stuck out to them — and they often pray that God will use that point or section to speak to you all. They’re fulfilling a priestly service for me and you. To Dave and Randy — and to all of the men who pray with and for me before I preach — thank you for fulfilling such an important priestly ministry that God has called you to.

Paul was called to be a priest.

Additionally, part of God’s call on Paul’s life was to be a vessel of God’s power. We see this beginning in verse eighteen where Paul writes…

Romans 15:18–19 ESV

18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

Paul was called to be a vessel of God’s power. Earlier this year we spent quite a few weeks looking at the spiritual gifts that Paul mentions in chapter twelve. In those sermons we saw how the Holy Spirit empowers every follower of Jesus with a spiritual gift that’s to be used to build up and strengthen the church. And here — in our verses — Paul tells us that living by the power of the Spirit was an important part of God’s call on his life.

A call — not only on Paul’s life — but on all who follow Jesus — is a call to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Regardless if we’re preaching, evangelizing, greeting people when they enter our buildings, enjoying the giggles and screams of terror by our toddlers, or whatever you may do around here. We’re called to live by the power of the Holy Spirit and to recognize that what goes on around here isn’t natural — but is a supernatural work of God. For — when we’re served by each other — we’re being served by the Spirit of God who’s working through each of us.

Yet don’t miss that — when Paul points to what Christ accomplished through him — he says it came about by “word and deed…by the power of the Spirit of God.” This is why part of God’s call on Paul’s life was also that of being a preacher. We’re back in verse eighteen again…

Romans 15:18–20 ESV

18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,

Paul was called to be a preacher of the gospel. And when we take these two calls on Paul’s life — calls of power and of preaching — we come to one of the characteristics we desire to see in every follower of Jesus here at Gateway. We call this being Word and Spirit Christians. Where our desire is to live under the authority of the Word of God and by the power of the Spirit of God so that we make our saving God look glorious to the world.

Obviously not all of us are called to preach the Bible — but all of us are called to proclaim the Good News. Every follower of Jesus should know the basics of the gospel — the Good News of what Christ accomplished in his life, death, and resurrection — so that — you can share it with others. 

Do you see this call on your life — to share the gospel? Are you fulfilling this call that God has on your life?

Finally, part of God’s call on Paul’s life was that of planting — or starting — new churches. We’re in verse twenty…

Romans 15:20–25 ESV

20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” 22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.

Paul was called to plant new churches. Paul had a passion for taking the gospel to people living in places where the gospel had not yet been heard. So he planted — or started new churches — which would be an outpost for the gospel in their community. This was part of God’s call on Paul’s life.

Obviously, not all Christians are called to be church planters. But we’re all called to go in some way. After all — Jesus’ final words before ascending into heaven were…

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

And as Luke records in the book of Acts…

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Something I love about us as a church — is our commitment to taking the gospel to places where it’s currently not believed. We just had our Go celebration this past week and it was great to see so many of you come together to hear stories of how we’ve been going this past year. 

We call this our commitment to being Kingdom-minded around here — more on that in a moment. But I want to acknowledge that I know how hard it can be to imagine that there are still places on this planet where the gospel isn’t heard or believed. We live in a bit of a Christian bubble here in the US. Obviously, not everyone in our country is a Christian — but it’s hard to live in the US and not hear about Jesus — there are churches everywhere! But that’s not the case across the globe.

According to Joshua Project — an organization that tracks people groups that lack the gospel — there are a little over 7,000 people groups who are considered unreached — which means they have no access to the gospel. This represents over three billion people who have little or no access to the gospel — which we rightly believe is the only means of salvation.

And — like Paul — God has uniquely called us — Gateway Church — to go where the gospel is currently not known. In fact — this calling on us is so great — and our commitment to fulfill this calling is so known — that we’re viewed as a very missional church in our denomination. If you don’t know — missional basically means spreaders of the gospel — locally and globally. Like me, you may be thinking, “Really? Aren’t we the Bible church? Or the kid’s ministry church? Or the church with rocking worship music?” All I know is that the further removed you are from us — the more we’re seen as the church who takes seriously the call to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. And I hope that you — like me — are happy to claim this reputation.

OUR CALL

Having looked at Paul’s call, we’ll now look at our call a bit more. I know we’ve done so already — but there are few more aspects of our call found in our text. We’re back in verse fourteen.

Romans 15:14 ESV

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Skipping to verse twenty-six we read…

Romans 15:26–27 ESV

26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

And in verse thirty Paul writes…

Romans 15:30–33 ESV

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

When it comes to our call — as a faith family — though this doesn’t encompass all that we’re called to — in these verses Paul reminds us of our call to be disciples who make disciples, our call to be generous, our call to be a family, and — again — our call to be Kingdom-minded. All — I hope — are familiar ideas for you — for these are four out of the five characteristics we hope to see in all who follow Jesus here at Gateway. The fifth being Word and Spirit Christians — which we looked at earlier.

First, we’re called to be disciples who make disciples. Paul writes this in verse fourteen…

Romans 15:14 ESV

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Paul praises the Christians in Rome because he knows that they’re filled with goodness, with knowledge, and — thus — are able to instruct — or disciple — one another. The call to make disciples of all nations — which Jesus gave us — is a call locally as much as it is globally. And it’s a call on us corporately — as a church — as much as it is individually. For every disciple of Jesus is called to make disciples of Jesus.

How are you fulfilling this call on your life — and how are you helping us fulfill this call as a church?

• I’m so thankful for those who make disciples by serving as a Life Group leader. 
• And for those who serve in our Kidway ministry — helping us make disciples of the youngest in our church. 
• For those who make disciples among our youth. 
• Who lead equip classes. 
• Who meet one on one over coffee or a meal to help someone else grow in their faith — that’s being a disciple who makes disciples. 
• For parents who read God’s Word to their children, and teach them to pray — making disciples in your home.

If you’re not currently a disciple who’s making disciples — and you want to become one — stop by the Resource Center before you leave. They’ll take down your name and I’m sure we can find a way for you to step into this call God has on your life.

We’re also called to be generous. In verse twenty-six Paul writes…

Romans 15:26–27 ESV

26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

How lucky are you, right? Everyone loves when the preacher talks about money — not! When it comes to our desire — for us to be a generous people — generosity must include our finances. The old “time, talent, and treasure” mantra unintentionally shifted to the idea that we have a choice — “I’ll be generous with my time, or my talent, or my treasure” — when the Bible calls us to be generous with all of it.

And here — in our verses — the Christians living in one area of the world were pleased to be financially generous with Christians living in Jerusalem. Twice Paul tells us that it pleased the Christians to be financially generous. And he tells us that it pleased them because their financial generosity was birthed out of the spiritual blessings they’d been recipients of.

I wonder how the spiritual blessings you’ve received have made you into a more financially generous person? For it’s not just in these verses — but throughout the Bible — that you’ll see a connection between recognizing and appreciating the spiritual blessings you’ve been given and how financially generous you are.

We’re also called to be a family. We’re in verse thirty…

Romans 15:30–33 ESV

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

These verses also show us our call to be Kingdom-minded. We see our call to be family in Paul’s description of this striving together — implying a unity among these Christians in their prayers for Paul. A family like unity birthed from Jesus being our Lord and the Holy Spirit filling us with love for one another.

And we’re called to be Kingdom-minded. We saw this earlier, but here Paul mentions Judea and Jerusalem — two of the areas Jesus mentioned in our call to be his witnesses.

CONCLUSION

Paul’s call and our call. God’s call on us as a church and his call on you as one of his followers. May we — like Paul — fulfill the calling to which we’ve been called — so that — we strive together in unity, and pray for one another, and find refreshment and joy by one another’s company — because — Jesus is our Lord and Savior — and because we’ve been filled with love for one another by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for your call upon us — both as a church and as individuals. For those you call as individuals you call into your church. May we never try to separate your call upon our lives — individually — with your call upon your church.

Holy Spirit, you’re the One who awakens deaf ears, blind eyes, and dead hearts to the Good News of the gospel. You give new life and we believe. This is the very first call in any of our lives. May you make this call — right now — to many who hear my voice and yet don’t believe in Jesus. Call them. Awaken them. Give them life so that they believe.

And — Jesus — for those who respond — you call to a life of purpose. That of being a disciple who’s a Word and Spirit Christian. Who’s generous. Who makes disciples. Who’s Kingdom-minded. And who fulfills his or her call as part of your faith family. What a gift it is to be called by you. What a purpose. What a thrill.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — may you use each of us to fulfill your calling upon us as a church. And may the result be unity, and refreshment, and joy among us. And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

May you respond to God’s call upon your life as we will fulfill his call for us as a church. Amen.

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

DATE: 10-12-25

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 Romans this weekend and — I don’t want to get you all too excited — but we’re down to our last four sermons in Romans. I believe that today’s sermon is the seventieth one I’ve preached during our time in Romans. And — if you think that’s a bit much — pastor John Piper preached around two hundred and twenty-five sermons when he took his church through the book. We literally could go through Romans two more times to equal that number. So — yeah — you’re welcome for the speediness at which we’ve made our way through the book.

If you’ve been with us in recent weeks and months — you know that we’re in the practical application section of Paul’s letter where — after eleven chapters of rich theological truths — Paul’s now in the “so what” section of his letter. Meaning he’s addressing how all of the theology — that’s found in the first eleven chapters — is to play itself out in how we live. Or at least how it should influence the way we live.

And we just finished a three part mini-series within our series in Romans — as Paul just concluded a lengthy section on how Christians are to disagree with one another regarding secondary issues — or what are sometimes called non-essentials.

For over a chapter Paul has stressed how uniting around the essentials that we believe — beliefs about God, salvation, sin, the Bible, and so on — along with our love for one another — will create an atmosphere of unity even when we disagree with each other over non-essential beliefs or behaviors. And this kind of unity is a signal to the unbelieving world that our faith in Christ actually affects and shapes the way we live.

For we live in a world where division is the norm. Where even the smallest and most minor of disagreements is reason for judgment, name calling, questioning of character, and so on. God dishonoring behaviors that have found their way into the church and among God’s people as we’ve taken our cues from the world instead of the Word. And — any behavior that dishonors God — brings joy and delight to our enemy and foe — the devil. And he’d much rather we fight against our fellow Christians than unite together to fight against him.

Thus the question Paul’s put before us is this: Who will we fight against? One another or our real enemy?

Now — though the mini-series on how to disagree was only a three parter — today’s sermon does reveal to us a result of what happens when we disagree biblically with one another. What result is that? That as a faith family we’ll experience and display hope-filled, Christ-exalting living. For hope-filled, Christ-exalting living is a characteristic of God’s people when they’re unitied together on the essentials of the faith and disagree — biblically — when it comes to non-essentials.

This is what we find in our text for today — which is Romans chapter fifteen — verses eight through thirteen. So if you have your Bible — please turn with me there — to Romans chapter fifteen — we’ll begin in verse eight. There Paul writes…

Romans 15:8–13 ESV

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Hope-filled, Christ-exalting lives — that’s our focus for today. For hope-filled, Christ-exalting lives will be a result of our commitment to being united and unified on the essentials of the faith. Hope-filled, Christ-exalting lives fueled by knowing that…

• One — Christ came to reveal God’s truth.
• Two — Christ came to confirm God’s promises.
• Three — Christ came to show God’s mercy.
• Which leads to Christ being our hope.

That’s where we’re headed today — today — like every time we gather together — is all about Jesus. For he came to reveal God’s truth, to confirm God’s promises, to show God’s mercy, which results in him being our hope.

CHRIST CAME TO REVEAL GOD’S TRUTH

Let’s begin by seeing how Christ came to reveal God’s truth. We’re back in verse eight. There Paul writes…

Romans 15:8 ESV

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness…

Here Paul tells us that Jesus came to earth to be a servant to the circumcised — that’s the Jewish people. And Paul tells us that Jesus became their servant to show them God’s truthfulness. 

Now — before we get to how Jesus did this — we need to remember that — part of the reason there was disagreement and conflict in the church in Rome is because there were Christians coming from Jewish backgrounds along with Christians coming from Gentile — or non-Jewish — backgrounds. The examples of what they were disagreeing over — that Paul used in the previous chapter — show us how their different backgrounds — even different religious backgrounds and upbringings — was causing division and disunity in the church.

I bring this up as a reminder because — here in our verse — Paul reminds us that Jesus came to earth as a Jewish man to show the Jewish people God’s truthfulness. Why would Jesus need to come to reveal God’s truthfulness to the Jewish people? Because the Jews had drifted from God’s truth. 

There are all kinds of reasons for their drift from God’s truth — but they’d drifted so far that — when Jesus came to earth — the Jewish people — especially the Jewish religious leaders and experts in the law — or the Old Testament — thought Jesus was a rebellious law breaker when all he was doing was revealing to them how far they’d drifted from God’s truth.

Think of how far one must drift from the truth in order to see Jesus — not as revelation of God’s truthfulness — but the opposite. I wonder how accurately your view of Jesus aligns with God’s truth? The only way to know is to compare the Jesus you believe in with the Jesus found in God’s Word.

The apostle John — in his gospel — his account of the life of Jesus — emphasizes the connection between Jesus and God’s truth.

For example, in some of the first words of his gospel — John describes Jesus this way.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word (that’s Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

A few verses later — John adds…

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

A few chapters later John records Jesus’ conversation with a Samaritan woman who he met at a well. In his conversation with her — the topic of worship comes up — to which Jesus replied…

John 4:23–24 ESV

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

True worshipers of God will worship him in spirit and in truth. Truth matters — for Jesus came to reveal truth.

And pay close attention to what we read in a lengthy encounter that Jesus has with a crowd of people. The crowd was split in their opinion of Jesus. Some believed him — others didn’t.

John 8:31–47 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide (or stay) in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They (these are the folks who didn’t believe in him…they…) answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” 39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Jesus tells the crowd — and us — that the words he speaks are words of truth. Then he adds that — in believing his words of truth — one will find freedom. Freedom from what? Freedom from being enslaved to sin. Freedom from being ensnared by the lies of the devil. Freedom from self-salvation and other false forms of salvation — for there’s only one way of salvation: faith in Jesus Christ.

• We’re not saved by our opinions about Jesus.
• We’re not saved by our political affiliations.
• We’re not saved because we attend church.
• We’re not saved because the popular vote happens to agree with Scripture.
• We’re not saved because they — the other side of whatever division we find ourselves in — welcomes worse sinners than our side.
• No — we’re saved when we repent of our sins — the big ones and the small ones — and turn to Jesus Christ in faith for our salvation — for he is the only way of salvation.

Well that sounds awfully intolerant. Is Jesus the only way of salvation? This is exactly what Jesus said to his disciples when they were troubled. Jesus said these comforting words to them.

John 14:1–7 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus is the only way of salvation. He is the revelation of God’s truth. And he is where life — the “abundant and overflowing with joy for all eternity” life — is found.

And — in his tenderness towards us — those who follow him today — Jesus says…

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.

In his love for us — Jesus — who reveals to us God’s truth — with the Father has sent the Spirit of truth to live in his people. And the Holy Spirit lives in us to lead, guide, and direct us according to the truth.

Yet Jesus is still not done revealing to us the truth. For Jesus prayed this prayer.

John 17:14–19 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Sanctify means “to make holy” — the word can also mean to be “set apart.” And — here — Jesus says that he’s set his disciples — those who believe in him — apart from falsehoods and apart from lies and has set them in the truth. 

And where is this truth found? According to Jesus — now that he’s in Heaven — truth is found in God’s Word to us — the Bible — and in the Holy Spirit — who dwells in us. Thus we long to be Word and Spirit Christians here at Gateway — followers of Jesus who are being made holy by the truth — for Jesus came to reveal God’s truth.

CHRIST CAME TO CONFIRM GOD’S PROMISES

Which leads us to another reason why Jesus came — to confirm God’s promises to his people. This is what Paul tells us in verse eight when he writes…

Romans 15:8 ESV

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

Here Paul echoes back to something he wrote earlier in Romans. Way back in chapter nine we read…

Romans 9:1–5 ESV

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Both here — and in our chapter — Paul’s wanting to remind the Christians with Jewish background that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises God had made to their ancestors — the Israelites. Promises that God made to his people are often called covenant promises. In fact, one definition of the word covenant is a “relationship God establishes with people on the basis of his promises.” (Lexham Survey of Theology)

• Examples of covenant promises would include the covenant God made with Abraham — when God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. 
• A covenant promise is what God made with the Israelites after he rescued them out of their slavery in Egypt. 
• God made a covenant promise with David — for God promised to David that — from his line will one day come a King whose reign and rule will never come to an end. Paul even alludes to this covenant promise with David in some of his first words in the letter when he writes…

Romans 1:1–4 NLT

1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

And what may be the most familiar covenant promise of all — is what’s called the new covenant.

Jeremiah 31:31–34 NLT

31 “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord. 33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

And — in Jesus — we see the confirmation of all of God’s promises come to fruition. In Christ — God shows us that he can be trusted to fulfill every promise he’s made to us. For from his birth through his death and resurrection — and all that comes in between — Jesus reveals to us the faithfulness of God in fulfilling his promises to his people. 

CHRIST CAME TO SHOW GOD’S MERCY

Which leads us to another reason why Christ came — to show God’s mercy. Let’s go back to verse eight again.

Romans 15:8–12 ESV

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

In these verses Paul quotes from the Old Testament a lot! For example, “I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name” — in verse nine — is a quote of…

2 Samuel 22:50 ESV

50 “For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name.

And…

Psalm 18:49 ESV

49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name.

David sang these words of praise to his God who had rescued him from the hands of his enemies. Though the “waves of death” nearly overwhelmed him — and the “torrents of destruction” terrified him — David called upon his God for his rescue — for his salvation — and believed that God would deliver him. And it’s in response to being saved that David praises God — and sings songs of praise to God’s glorious and mercifully saving name — and longs for these songs of praise to be sung by people of all nations.

In our verses Paul also quotes…

Psalm 117:1 ESV

1 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!

And…

Isaiah 11:10 ESV

10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

The nations, the nations, the nations! 

• People from all nations praising the God who saves. 
• Praising the One who’s a descendant of Jesse — King David’s father. 
• Praising the One who fulfills the promise that God made to David — that he would have a descendant sitting on an eternal throne as King of kings forever and ever. 
• This is the One whom people of all nations will turn to in praise.

And — in this church in Rome — the nations were represented. For many in the church were believers in Jesus who came from Gentile backgrounds. Paul acknowledges this near the beginning of his letter when he writes…

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The gospel — the Good News that God is merciful and saves sinners who put their faith in his Son — the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. People of Jewish background as well as people from all nations.

This is why you’ll often hear that one of our desires — for those who follow Jesus here at Gateway — is that we’d all be Kingdom-minded. Where our desire is for the gospel of Jesus Christ to not only change our community, our state, and our country — but that the gospel would be Good News that changes our world. For that’s what God intends his news to do. For the gospel is news of God’s mercy towards sinners who turn to his Son in faith.

Mercy for all who turn to Jesus. No matter your race or gender. No matter your nationality or socio-economic background. No matter all of the ways the world tries to divide us. Christ came to show all people the mercy of God.

CONCLUSION

And where does all of this lead? That Christ came to reveal God’s truth, that he came to confirm God’s promises, and that he came to show us God’s mercy — where does all of this lead us? What destination have we arrived at? 

To hope-filled, Christ-exalting lives.

In verse twelve Paul writes…

Romans 15:12–13 ESV

12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The root of Jesse — the descendant of King David — Jesus Christ — is the hope of all who believe in him. For Jews who believe — Jesus is their hope. For Gentiles who believe — Jesus is their hope as well. And — in being our hope — those who believe in Jesus are filled with joy and peace — echoing back to what Paul said earlier are characteristics of what it means to live according to the values of the kingdom of God.

Romans 14:17 ESV

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

For the Holy Spirit — who lives in the people of God — fills us with joy, peace, and hope — a hope that abounds — or overflows — in our lives because of what Christ has done. And — by hope — Paul doesn’t mean wanting something to be true while being uncertain if it’ll come to pass. No — hope — according to Paul — and all the authors of Scripture — is a confidence in God’s faithfulness to his people. A confidence that his words are true and trustworthy. A confidence that every promise he’s made will be fulfilled. A confidence that he is merciful to all who believe in his Son. A confidence that overflows in a person’s life — changing how they live and how they view the world. Leading to a life that is hope-filled and that exalts — or magnifies — the worthiness and beauty of Christ.

The way we describe this kind of hope-filled, Christ-exalting life — here at Gateway — is a life that worships, connects, serves, and goes.

Though a hope-filled, Christ-exalting life of worship is much more than just gathering on Sundays with God’s people — it’s no less than that. Meaning — rare is the individual who doesn’t prioritize weekly worship with God’s people who still prioritizes hope-filled, Christ-exalting living in the rest of his or her life.

And though a hope-filled, Christ-exalting life of connecting to others — or fellowship, as it’s sometimes called — is much more than gathering with God’s people in small groups — what we call Life Groups here at Gateway — it’s no less than that. Meaning — rare is the individual who doesn’t prioritize regularly gathering with God’s people to apply God’s Word to life and care for one another — who still prioritizes hope-filled, Christ-exalting living in the rest of his or her life.

And though a hope-filled, Christ-exalting life of service is much more than serving God’s people in a local church — it’s no less than that. Meaning — rare is the individual who doesn’t prioritize serving God’s people in a local church who still prioritizes hope-filled, Christ-exalting living in the rest of his or her life.

And though a hope-filled, Christ-exalting life of going is much more than a local church’s missions program — it’s no less than that. Meaning — rare is the individual who doesn’t prioritize going with people in their local church to proclaim the gospel who still prioritizes hope-filled, Christ-exalting living in the rest of his or her life.

And — like Paul — for in just a few verses he’s about to start name dropping in his letter — naming people who model a hope-filled, Christ-exalting life of worshiping, connecting, serving, and going in this church in Rome — it’s tempting for me to want to get ahead of Paul and start name dropping the many of you who are examples of what it means to live hope-filled, Christ-exalting lives here at Gateway. To praise the good works you’re doing to make your Savior look glorious to the world. To tell others of your commitment to God’s truth as revealed to us in his Word. To share stories of your trust in his promises to his people even in the midst of sorrows and tragedies of life. To thank you for displaying God’s mercy to those suffering and in need of care in life’s most sensitive moments.

But — like Paul — I’ll resist name dropping for now. That’ll come when we get to chapter sixteen. Instead — a general thank you will have to suffice for now — a thank you to the faithful ones of our Gateway Church family.

Thank you for worshiping, connecting, serving, and going. Thank you for your commitment to the truth which is God’s Word. Thank you for your trust in God’s promises. Thank you for displaying his mercy to one another. And thank you for living hope-filled and Christ-exalting lives. Thank you — for you are making your Savior look glorious to the world. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for always and only speaking words of truth. For this makes you absolutely and unwaveringly trustworthy. Thank you for guaranteeing that every promise that you’ve made to your people will be fulfilled. This also makes you absolutely and unwaveringly trustworthy. And thank you for being merciful towards us — your people. Mercy is not what we deserve — but mercy is what you’ve chosen to give — making you absolutely and unwaveringly trustworthy.

Holy Spirit, for the truthfulness of your Word to be seen and believed — we first need you to open our eyes and give us hearts to receive. For without you doing so — we remain spiritually blind and cannot see — with spiritually dead hearts that cannot respond. This act of mercy — you giving us eyes to see and hearts to respond — is the fulfillment of a promise given to your people. Open more eyes — give life to more hearts — we ask — so that more might respond and experience your mercy.

And — Jesus — we can confidently and expectantly pray such a prayer because of all that you’ve done for us. You came to seek and save those who were lost. To reveal truth to those who’d fallen for the lies of our enemy. To fulfill promises that would cost you your life — so that — we might live. For the life we live is because of the mercy we’ve received which came at the cost of your death.

But not even the grave could keep its hold on you — for there was another promise to be fulfilled. The resurrection. The defeat of death. The defeat of sin. The defeat of the devil. And the defeat of hopelessness. For your resurrection is the reason why we can live lives full of hope that make you look glorious to the world.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — thank you for truth. Thank you for fulfilling your promises to us. Thank you for mercy. And — friends — “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available / How to Grow booklet)

May you go living hope-filled and Christ-exalting lives. Amen.

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

In my recent three-part series on How to Disagree (part 1, part 2, part 3), I talked a lot about maintaining unity while recognizing that there may be (most likely, are!) disagreements among us.

One thing I didn’t say is that we should practice division. What we should practice is unity despite disagreements we may have with one another on non-essential beliefs and/or practices. This is what Paul is stressing in Romans chapter 14 and into the beginning of chapter 15. And he makes it clear that disagreements don’t have to end in division for God’s people. In fact, maintaining, unity even while we disagree with one another on non-essentials, is quite possibly one of the strongest witnesses we can offer to an unbelieving world as to how following Jesus changes a person.

For our world is divided. Unity is no longer maintained simply by being from the same country or neighborhood. Unity is no longer maintained merely by being part of the same political party or the same church. Even rooting for the same sports team won’t keep folks united these days.

The question Paul is forcing us to answer is this: Will we follow the path of a divided and divisive world, or the path of our united and unifying God? For followers of Jesus, there is only one answer.