Mission Apostleable Series

Mission Apostleable

(Romans 1:1-7)

1. Do you know what the most shoplifted book in the world is? The Bible.

2. Every year ABC cuts down A Charlie Brown Christmas—a movie about the over-commercialization of the holidays—to make room for more commercials.

3. “Father of Traffic Safety” William Eno invented the stop sign, crosswalk, traffic circle, one-way street, and taxi stand—but never learned how to drive.

4. Most Christians know the basic truths of the faith, but only at a shallow level, while they may be very deep on some peripheral matters. The basics have quite the depth, however.

Main Idea: We may know the basics of our faith, but even the basic things go deeper and deeper.

I. Paul’s MISSION is Related but Different from Our Mission (1, 5-7).

Like Paul, we have a mission and are part of God’s Kingdom plan. Unlike Paul, we are not Apostles, most of us are not missionaries, and we don’t roam the European Empire!

As we go through life, we have to prioritize our identities. I am a grampa, a dad, a husband, a man, a pastor an American, an adopted Hoosier, and have a zillion interests. But I am a follower of Jesus Christ first. That is my primary identity. Have you considered yours?

A. SERVANT (1a)

1. The word servant can mean slave, a hired servant, voluntary.

2. Believers are purchased servants, purchased with the blood of Jesus.

3. We were unwittingly servants of sin, but our ownership was transferred.

4. Different kinds of servants (tutors, grunt work). May upper echelon servants had a better, freer life than average “freemen.” We are not called to be the same kind of servant as Paul, but….

5. I was not raised to be a servant; my dad often said, “Don’t get involved.”

6. Do you struggle serving the Lord and serving others?

7. Together, we need to intentionally serve God and followed through.

B. CALLED by God as an APOSTLE (1b)

Galatians 1:15-17, “But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.”

“…one’s messenger is equivalent to one’s self…” Talmud, Berakhot 5:5

Paul had been commissioned by the high priest, thus his apostle (Acts 9:2, cf. Keener)

12 spies to the promised land, the 12 heads of the 12 tribes (apostles)

Jesus taught that the 12 Apostles were to judge the twelve tribes of Israel in the Kingdom (Matthew 19:28). Paul is the 13th, the Apostle designated for believing gentiles.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

C. Set APART (1c)

D. Strengthened to bring about the obedience of FAITH (5a)

1. What is the relationship of obedience to salvation?

2. We are saved by faith alone, but that faith produces obedience.

3. If we are not obeying, we have forfeited our right to the assurance of salvation.

E. For His NAME’S Sake (5b)

1. God is very protective of His reputation.

2. Our life’s goal is to honor God’s reputation as one of His representatives.

3. Being part of God’s Kingdom is not primarily about getting the job done, but rather bringing glory and honor to God’s Name. If we really understood/believe this…not all of us are ready to receive this.

F. His mission included the Roman SAINTS (6-7).

1. Paul was set apart as an apostle; a saint is someone set apart to serve God.

2. We struggle to be like everyone else, but God calls us to differ in some points. We cannot do both and do them well.

3. We need God’s grace (help) and peace (harmony). Everyone crying for harmony.

4. These come from both Jesus and God the Father, Who are on equal footing.

Application: In what ways do we intentionally serve God?

II. Our MESSAGE and Beliefs Should Be Identical to Paul’s (2-4).

We might seek innovation in methodology, but not in theology. We have to avoid hybridizing the teachings of Scripture with our culture and producing a watered-down version of our faith that seeks to accommodate modern times.

There is no virtue in being old-fashioned, and there is no virtue in being up to date. The virtue is found in being true to the original intent of Scripture, which equals God’s will.

A. Clearly ANTICIPATED in the Old Testament

1. Mark Siefrid comments, “The [Old Testament] Scriptures are no mere record of the past. They speak to the present, as do their human authors”.