Sermon Info
Summary
This summer, our Masterclass sermon series returns with a new chapter-by-chapter study of the Book of Romans! As we move forward from our celebration of Holy Week, we know that Jesus, our Messiah, has come. We know that He conquered death, and He ushered in a new covenant between God and man. But what does this all mean for humanity in this new age, and beyond? The Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome will help us to better grasp the Gospel, the human condition, our unity with other believers, and God’s overarching story for humanity. We invite you to join us each week running through the end of July, for Masterclass: The Book of Romans. Let’s commit to being consistent and intentional in growing in our faith this summer so that we may become more Christlike and bring others to faith in His Gospel message.
Content
This summer, our Masterclass sermon series returns! Last year, we went chapter by chapter through the Gospel of Mark, learning from the life and teachings of Jesus. In these weeks to come, we will dive into Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. As we move forward out of the season of Lent and our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, we will shift our focus to a new question: What’s next? We know that Jesus, our Messiah, has come. We know that He conquered death, and we know He has ushered in a new covenant between God and man. But what does this all mean for humanity in this new age, and beyond?
The book of Romans brings new and timeless teaching from the Apostle Paul, inspired by God. Paul spent much of his life zealously dedicated to persecuting Christians — people who came to believe in Jesus of Nazareth as God in the flesh and their Lord and Savior. Paul (who, as a Pharisee, was called Saul) perceived these followers of Jesus to be heretics and enemies of the God of Abraham. But one day, the Lord showed mercy on Paul in the form of a blinding light from heaven and a fateful question: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Jesus stepped in and turned one of the most terrible deniers of His sacrifice and most ruthless persecutors of His followers into a bold Apostle for the Gospel of Jesus. Through Jesus, Paul finally knew the God of Abraham.
Jesus made Paul His representative to the Gentiles, and Paul traveled from city to city, starting churches for Jesus Christ. Ironically, the man who, as a Pharisee, believed God was only for an elite few was now tasked with bringing the Gospel to pagans and people who knew nothing of our God, Yahweh, before Jesus. Paul’s desire for the Roman church was for everyone to become united in Christ, regardless of their differences as Jews and Gentiles. In John 17:20-23, Jesus prayed that His church would be brought to complete unity. To work toward such a vision, Paul’s letter to the Romans provided a comprehensive explanation of the Gospel and how it ties God’s plan for humanity together from the beginning to the end.
Our chapter-by-chapter study of the book of Romans this summer will lead us to a greater understanding of the Gospel and its implications for our lives today. We will discover how a belief in Jesus compels us to live a life transformed by the knowledge of our personal and loving relationship with our Creator. By August, we will be better able to consider our human condition and place ourselves in God’s great story for humanity with a richer context. All the while, we will be spurred to unity with one another at church and with our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe.
We invite you to join us, starting next Sunday and running through the end of July, for Masterclass: The Book of Romans. Let’s commit to being consistent and intentional in growing in our faith this summer so that we may become more Christlike and bring others to faith in His Gospel message. Join us in prayer, meanwhile, for God to do amazing things in our church and community throughout this journey through Romans together.
