Ministering Mentality

A. INTRODUCTION

1. In the preceding chapter Paul acknowledged a condition in the local church which will never change: every congregation is made up of individual persons, each of whom comes complete with a personal history, unique character traits, and a set of highly opinionated convictions. ( Believe me when I say that no one is more aware of this than the pastor! )

2. Paul divided the congregated believers into two groups:

a. those "w __ __ __" in the faith; and

b. those "s __ __ __ __ __" in the faith.

3. Paul had advice for those in each category.

a. To the "weak:"

(1) Don't j __ __ __ __ the "strong."

(2) Don't c __ __ __ __ __ __ others on the basis of your personal convictions.

b. To the "strong:"

(1) Don't j __ __ __ __ the "weak."

(2) Don't needlessly o __ __ __ __ __ others by means of your personal convictions.

(3) Don't e __ __ __ __ __ others to go against their personal convictions.

(4) Bear the I __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of the "weak."

4. Finally, the apostle offered general advice to those in both groups.

a. Develop strong personal convictions.

(1) Don't just "pick and choose."

(2) Develop them "before God." This represents diligent spiritual effort.

b. Focus on what b __ __ __ __ __ up others instead of on what pleases you most.

c. Don't go against your convictions! To do so is s __ __! WHEN IN DOUBT, DON'T!

5. We summed up Paul's teaching here with three short phrases of exhortation to all believers who are sincere in their desire to go with God and to grow in grace and knowledge.

a. D __ __ __ __ __ your faith.

(1) Spend much time in p __ __ __ __ __.

(2) S __ __ __ __ the W __ __ __.

(3) M __ __ __ __ __ __ __ on what you've studied.

b. D __ __ __ __ __ __ your faith.

(1) Live a life of deliberate o __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

(2) Exhibit authentic personal h __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

c. D __ __ __ __ __ your faith.

(1) Every believer is called upon to be a "personal" e __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

(2) Every believer is called upon to develop a personal a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ for his/her faith.

B. TEXT

1. Romans 15:1-7

a. In these verses Paul presents seven marks of true fellowship in the local church.

(1) c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ for one another (15:1-2)

(2) the s __ __ __ __ of Scripture (15:3-4)

- It provides the record of God's dealing with a "c __ __ __ __ __ o __ __" people.

- It is the record of the great and precious p __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of God.

- From these the believer draws e __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

(3) f __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (15:5)

- The original language requires a translation stronger than "patience."

- "It is the triumphant adequacy which can cope with life; it is the strength which does not only accept things, but which, in accepting them, transmutes them into glory." - William Barclay: The Letter to the Romans

(4) h __ __ __ (15:5)

- The believer should always be a realist, but should never be a pessimist.

- ref: Hebrews 6:13-20 ( Genesis 15:1-20 )

1 Peter 1:3; 3:15-16

(5) h __ __ __ __ __ __ (15:6)

(6) p __ __ __ __ __ (15:6)

(7) a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (15:7)

b. Our example -- the One to whom Paul always directs our attention -- is C __ __ __ __ __.

(1) He did not p __ __ __ __ Himself. (v.3)

(2) He lived His life as an act of worship. His interest: to g __ __ __ __ __ __ God. (v.6)

(3) He a __ __ __ __ __ __ all those who come to Him.

2. Romans 15:8-13

a. Paul humbly sees himself as part of God's comprehensive plan to offer salvation to the whole world -- Jews and Gentiles alike.

b. Again he sees Christ at the very center of all things:

(1) a s __ __ __ __ __ __ to the Jews on behalf of God's t __ __ __ __ (v.8);

(2) the very embodiment of God's p __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to the patriarchs (v.8); and