Note: This is the sermon manuscript that Ben carried into the pulpit. Feel free to use it in any way to advance the kingdom of God.
Christianity 101:
What On Earth Am I Here For?
Romans 15-16
Englewood Baptist Church
Sunday Morning, July 20, 2008
Today is a monumental day. We are finishing our study in the weighty book of Romans. We have spent 19 weeks in this book and, in many ways, I feel like I have cheated you. There is so much more to talk about, but I will challenge you to go deeper in your personal study. Dig deeper in the book of Romans and you will be like the deep sea diver that stumbled upon the sunken Titanic. He had no idea what important things lurked below. In the same way, when you commit yourself to serious study of the Bible and you make a commitment to read it throughout the week, you will be astounded by what you uncover. God will show himself to you in ways you never dreamed. My job as a preacher is to whet your appetite and stir your interest in the best-selling book of all time, which is the Bible. It is greatest success manual ever written, the most valuable treasure map ever drawn. Follow it, study it, and you will not be disappointed.
We look today at chapters 15-16. The title of my message is “What on Earth Am I Here For?”
There are some things in this world that you just have to stop and wonder: Why did God create that? Mosquitos, for example. We could have done without those. How many of us sit on a blanket watching fireworks and say to ourselves, “Thank you, Jesus, for these bugs that are taking my blood.” Or how about snakes. It wouldn’t bother me if I never saw another snake again. People who keep these things as pets in their houses need serious psychological help. Never own a pet that would like to eat you. Just a simple rule to live by. How about one more. How about this…
The Yawn. Why in the world did God create the yawn? Do you know that we have the technology to see a star a million miles away, but scientists are still clueless as to why we yawn. We do it from the time we are born, and we don’t know why. And yawns are contagious. That picture alone will many of you to yawn in the next few minutes. Anybody have the urge yet? You will.
Mosquitos, snakes, yawns…why did God create them? But here is a bigger question—the one I want to deal with today: why did God create you? There are people all over the world asking that question today. Is there a Creator and if so, why did he create me? What on earth am I here for?
You have probably heard of this book, The Purpose Driven Life. The author, Rick Warren, has sold squillions of copies! Why has it been sold so wildly popular? Because there is a question on the cover that catches the eye of every man and woman: What on earth am I here for? The opening paragraph of the book is gripping:
It’s not about you.
The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. –Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
What a great way to start a book. And today as we look at the end of the book of Romans, Paul concludes in a wonderful way. Contained in these chapters are 6 ministries that every Christian is called to do. If you wonder, as a believer in Christ, what you are supposed to do on this planet, let me pluck out 6 assignments for you.
Since I’m covering two whole chapters today, I am forced to pull out the highlights, but look with me in Romans 15:8 and you will see a key word that pops up over and over and over. Romans 15:8 says, “For I tell you that Christ has become a servant (that word means “minister”) of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises of the patriarchs…. Christ came as a minister.
Look at v.16. Paul says I am called, v.16, “to be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles….” There is that word “minister” again. Look now at v.31, “Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service (or ministry) in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there.
One more verse. Look at chapter 16, v.1. “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church…”
Over and over again, Paul uses this word servant or minister. The idea is simple: life is all about service and ministry. Did you know that God has called you into full-time ministry and service? Now, that may not mean that you work on a church staff or that you move your address overseas as a missionary, but God has called you to serve. One pastor said it this way, “There is no such thing as an inactive church member. You are active. The question is: are you actively building up the church or are you actively tearing her down. Either way, you are active.
God has called us all to the ministry of building up his church. Now let me show you the specific ways that you are called to minister.
What On Earth Are You Here For?
1. You are called to the ministry of encouragement. (15:5)
Look with me at 15:1-2, 5.
V.5 is key. Our God is a God of encouragement. And we are called to encourage one another. V.2 says that we should build one another up. Have you ever been in a stale room—a room that was cut off from a fresh flow of air? Maybe you were at an indoor sports event that was packed out: standing room only. All these people were squeezed like sardine into one building for a few hours. When the game was over, you finally fought through the crowd and exited the building. As you walked out into the cool night air, it was refreshing. It was literally a breath of fresh air.
Did you know that the church ought to be a place like that? When people come to Englewood and they worship with us and they join a Sunday School class or they attend an event, they should feel like they just stepped into fresh air. An atmosphere of encouragement is hard to find in this world. When you walk into an environment like that, there is refreshment and acceptance. Look at v.7…
Most people today don’t feel accepted. They get beat up emotionally all week long—they are criticized, put down, made to feel small—this is what worldly people do to one another. But, not in the church. The God of the church is the God of encouragement and people should not seek to please themselves here, but instead, they should build one another up.
Did you know that there are two types of people in the world? Just two. There are lost people that need to be saved. And, there are saved people that need to be encouraged. Encouragement is a powerful force in the world. The writer of Hebrews says,
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… Heb.10:24
That is what a word of encouragement does. It spurs us on and puts wind in our sails, and we all need it. I received an email this week from a college student and it made a huge difference in my day. I was about to begin studying for this sermon and I just couldn’t get motivated. I decided to check my email real quick before cracking open the books. This young lady gave me permission to read this. This is what the email said…
Ben,
My name is Katy Williams and I am a student at Union University. This summer I have been in Iowa City doing research with the University of Iowa. I’ve been here since the end of May and will be here until July 31st. It’s been difficult here. I’ve had to deal with the flood that hit the mid-west, moved several times because of the flood and dealt with being homesick for family and friends. I was really feeling low until I downloaded one of your sermons to my ipod. I’m not really sure how many times I listened to it. Since then I have subscribed to the podcast and listen to them the whole time I am working in the lab.
Besides making me feel better, I’ve felt God stirring things in my heart as well. Thanks for bringing a little bit of home to me here in Iowa.
Katy
And I wrote that girl back and I said, “You have no idea how much that meant to me. I was so encouraged to know that someone is being blessed in Iowa by the ministry of Englewood.” After I read that email, I was spurred on. All of us need a word like that from time to time.
Are you an encouraging person? Do you know that people naturally gravitate toward places of honor? Ladies, if you are always searching for ways to encourage your husband verbally—focusing on his good qualities…guess what will happen? He will love coming home to you every night. Parents, if you are constantly watering your kids down with encouragement—telling them how special they are—guess what will happen? They will want to come home more often. It’s human nature! We gravitate to places of honor and encouragement, and the church ought to be a magnet for hurting people because it is a place where people are honored and encouraged. If you are a critical person, repent, and ask God to give you a spirit of encouragement. You are called to that ministry.
2. You are called to the ministry of evangelism. (15:8)
Look with me at v.8 and then v.16. Paul says that Jesus Christ was called to minister to the Jews and that he had been set apart to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. Evangelism is top priority.
It is no secret that when Jesus called Peter and Andrew to leave their nets that he intended for them to become fishers of men. Jesus said in Luke 19:10 that he came to seek and to save what was lost. His business should be our business.
Last week, I preached on the importance of unity in the church and one member came forward and shared a quote with me from Max Lucado that I think is very appropriate. He said, “When God’s people stop fishing, they start fighting.” And God has called us to stay focused on the mission of reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus came proclaiming salvation to the Jews. Paul took it the Gentiles, and we are called to take it to anyone who will listen.
Let me read v. 16 to you again. Do you see that Paul viewed evangelism? Every person saved was an offering to the Lord. It was a way of worshipping God—leading people to his Son. There is not one person here that God does not want to use for the purpose of evangelism.
Charles Spurgeon may have been the most evangelistic preacher to ever walk the earth. His heart hurt for lost people like no other preacher that I have read. Listen to what said about hell:
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned or unprayed for.” --Charles Spurgeon
Not one person should go to hell unwarned or unsprayed for. Are you convicted about your lack of passion for evangelism? Ask God to give you a heart like Jesus—who came for one purpose—to seek and to save people from hell. This fall, we are going to be focusing on evangelism. The staff and I are working hard on a 7-week emphasis for reaching people and loving them into the kingdom. More information is coming, but we all need to be ready to share the reason for the joy that we have.
3. You are called to the ministry of giving. (15:25-27)
What was happening there? The Gentile believers had taken up a love offering to help the poor believers in Jerusalem. It seems that there was a time of persecution and famine going on in Jerusalem, so the Gentile churches collected some money to build up their brothers and sisters in Christ. I want you to notice that it says the Gentiles owed it to the Jews. That is, they were indebted to them. Do you wee that in v.27? Why did they owe it to them? Because the Jews had brought them the message of hope and the Word of God. And it was only fitting that the Gentiles now give back…it was giving out of gratitude.
One of the marks of a healthy church is the attitude of gratitude. We give back because we have been given so much. Do you understand how indebted you are to others? That nice padded pew that you are sitting on? Who do you think bought it? This beautiful sanctuary…who paid for it? The Sunday School room that will meet in today…with what money was it purchased? For most of us in this room, it wasn’t our money that paid for it. Those things were paid for by the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of older saints in this church. We get to enjoy worshipping and gathering in this place because someone cared enough for us to provide it. Since 1950, believers have labored in this church and given beyond what they could give to make this church what it is today and we should all be grateful. Even more than that, we should be exceedingly grateful to God for what He has done for us. He purchased us back from the dead, and the paid the highest price possible—the blood of his son. We are greatly indebted.
Why do I say all this? Because when we pass the offering plate in our worship services, we should be motivated to give because we have been given so much. And all that God asks of us is that we show a little gratitude, and give a portion of what is already his. We are all called to be givers. Are you giving your money to the Lord and to the church? I have to wonder if you truly understand what happened at the cross—if you refuse to give back. Have you really comprehended all that God has given to you? Because when you do, then putting dollars in an offering plate seems like such a small way to give back. God has called you to be a giver.
4. You are called to the ministry of prayer. (15:30-31)
Paul prays for two things: for protection and for reception. There were unbelievers in Judea that wanted to kill him. Just like a deer hunter in the stand, there were people with a scope on Paul looking for the opportunity to take a shot. He begged the believers to pray for his protection, but not just that, he prayed for a reception of the gospel. Just like you and I, Paul hated to waste time and he didn’t want to go to any place and spin his tires. He wanted to see people saved and asked for prayer so that his ministry would be effective. Do you believe in the power of prayer?
I read recently about a dispute that happened in a small conservative town. There wasn’t a place to get a drink for miles around, so a local business man saw an opportunity: He started to build a tavern.
Well, the Baptist Church liked the idea of “dry town” and the congregation started a campaign to block the bar from opening. They prayed and they prayed and they prayed that the Lord would not let this happen.
Lo and behold, the night before the grand opening, a bolt of lightning struck that tavern and hours later, it was lying in ashes. The church folks celebrated and the bar owner sued the church. He was convinced that all that praying business was ultimately what destroyed his business.
Of course, the church vehemently denied all responsibility before the court and after hearing both sides of the case, the judge finally spoke up. This is what he said:
’I don’t know how I’m going to decide this,’ the judge said, ’but as it appears that I have a bar owner that believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church that denies it.’
The story makes an excellent point. How often are we like that church? We say that we believe in the power of prayer, but we deny it by the way that we live. We spend more time worrying and fretting and stressing and telling everyone with willing ears about our problems. All the while, Scripture says, “let us approach the throne of grace with confidence.” “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
God has called you to be a man or woman of prayer.
5. You are called to the ministry of fellowship. (16:1-24)
Listen to me. You cannot love God and divorce His bride. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you must care about people. And I would say this, if you claim to love the Lord, but you have no heart for helping people, then you should reconsider whether you understand what this book is all about. Jesus cared about people. And not only that, the Apostle Paul cared about people.
In this closing chapter of Romans, Paul mentions by name 26 different people. He says, “Say hello to Priscilla for me, and Aquila, and Mary and Rufus and Julia. And on and on and on he goes. There is long list of people that he greets personally. He cared about them. They were like part of his family. Most preachers pass over chapter 16 when preaching through the book of Romans but I believe that is the most heartwarming portion of the entire letter. When you read over those names, you can’t help but notice how much this man cared for individual people.
Tucked away in the Bible Exposition Commentary are these words from the pen of Warren Wiersbe:
What is the significance of this [list]? It shows that Paul was a friend maker as well as a soul winner. He did not try to live an isolated life; he had friends in the Lord, and he appreciated them. They were a help to him personally and to his ministry. In my own reading of Christian biography, I have discovered that the servants whom God has used the most were people who could make friends. They multiplied themselves in the lives of their friends and associates in the ministry. While there may be a place for the secluded saint who lives alone with God, it is my conviction that most of us need each other. We are sheep, and sheep flock together.
–Warren Wiersbe, in The Bible Exposition Commentary
What a gem of truth that is. At the end of a lengthy letter about theology—15 chapters of stout, thick theology—Paul now takes the time to mention 26 people by name. Why? Because servants care about people, and Paul was a servant. He was a minister, and so are you. You are called to fellowship with people and to serve others. That’s why we have Sunday School classes here. That’s why we are having these fellowships tonight. Those groups provide you with an arena to practice servanthood and to minister to one another.
6.You are called to the ministry of worship. (vv.25-27)
Paul concludes this letter to the Romans with a beautiful doxology that is seasoned with words of worship. Let me read it to you, v.25+.
Do not miss that bottom line of the book of Romans. The last words are this, v.27, “to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
The reason that you are on this earth is to bring glory to God. It doesn’t really matter who writes your paycheck. Whether you are a teacher or a seamstress or a factory worker or an engineer or a lawyer or nurse or a taxi cab driver. Wherever you are and whatever you do, you are to do it with an attitude of worship.
In Colossians 3, Paul is exhorting the slaves that had become Christians in the early church. Now, it’s important for you to know that no where in Scripture is slavery taught as an acceptable practice in society. What Paul is doing here is giving instructions to those who find themselves in that unfortunate place in life. They have lost their freedom. Look what he says:
Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. Col. 3:22-24 (The Message)
And church, that is where the book of Romans ends, with that same idea. May God receive all the glory for your life. Wherever he has placed you, do your best. Work from your heart, and the all-wise God will reward you one day with an inheritance beyond your wildest imaginations. You are called to the ministry of worship—7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. You’ve got one shot at this life. Give God everything you’ve got to the glory of God, you won’t be disappointed.
What on Earth are you here for?
1.To encourage
2.To evangelize
3.To give.
4.To pray.
5.To fellowship with believers.
6.To worship.
If you are not doing those 6 things, then you are missing out on what life is all about.
